Loreth Anne White - In the Dark
A thriller set in the wilds of British Columbia, Canada, this book kept me guessing right up to the end. Thrust into a high-profile investigation in his new post, police sergeant Mason Deniaud must dig deep to overcome his own troubled past. He's straight from the city and has to rely on the experience of Search And Rescue operator, Callie Sutton. She also has a tragedy in her past, and a young son to care for. They are investigating a crashed plane with a dead pilot, and soon a story of eight passengers begins to unfold. There are flashbacks to how the eight ended up in the wilderness, in a spooky lodge with a killer on the loose. Great atmosphere, exciting, with a thrilling climax.
Sheila O'Flanagan - The Hideaway
This Irish novelist is a favourite author of mine, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It follows Juno as she flees to Spain to try and mend her broken heart. But her story isn't that simple - she believes has no right to feel the way she does, as shattering revelations have left her feeling overwhelmed with guilt. In the warm sunshine of the Villa Naranja she has time to think over recent events, and somehow begins, little by little, to live life again. She meets her Spanish neighbours, and makes friends in the little town nearby. Atmospheric, warm and full of emotion, we accompany Juno on a journey of discovery as she comes to terms with her feelings. Can life really move on, and will she ever find love again?
Nick Alexander - You Then, Me Now
Becky has always fantasised about her father, who died before she was born.Her mother, Laura, told her she was conceived during a holiday romance, and he was lost soon after, but that's all she reveals. Growing up, money's always tight. Now she's an adult, Becky and her mother take a holiday together on Santorini. It's only while she's there that Becky works out that this is where she was conceived, though she can't persuade her mother to tell her more. But the reader follows with a parallel story of Laura's trip as a naive young woman with brash Irishman Conor. There are unexpected twists and turns in this novel about uncovering secrets and making new beginnings. It's commendable that a male author has written convincingly from the point of view of two women, conveying their vulnerability and emotional development. An enjoyable read.