My 2021 Reading Challenge – Books 26-30

Some of these books were sent for the purpose of review – these will be clearly marked. This post also contains affiliate links.

As you know, I managed to beat my challenge for 2021 but I am still carrying on reading. Here are the next 5 books from the books I have read recently…

The Pretenders by Agatha Zaza (3/5) – ARC sent by Netgalley for review

I found this book a little confusing and wished that the characters of Holly, Anne and John had been developed more.

The book is centred around a Saturday where Jasper is keen to show off his new fiance Holly to his brother Edmund. However secrets abound and so much comes out. With domestic violence, cheating, a secret child and so much more to contemplate, this was an interesting read but I felt it got a little too confusing at times and often was really slow to read and at other times raced along.

An interesting read but I just wish the characters had been fleshed out a little more. You can buy the book here {affiliate link}.

The Jigsaw Man by Nadine Matheson (4/5) – ARC sent by Netgalley for review

This often felt like the 2nd book in the series with the back story of Olivier and Henley however this was explored in plenty of detail in the book. I really liked the character of Henley although I found the mistakes she made in her personal life a little hard to understand – it was understandable why the case meant so much to her but the decisions she made surrounding others involved in the case were certainly stupid at times, especially when she had so much to lose.

I liked the character of Ramouter, someone who just wants to do good for his family and the public and I would love to see more from him. Olivier was a repulsive man and I really do hope that what many characters believe at the end is true. I was a little disappointed with the reveal of the copycat as I felt they weren’t shown much in the story and other characters would have made a lot more sense however I was very impressed by the novel and will definitely be checking more of the authors work out. You can buy the book here {affiliate link}.

A Sprinkle Of Sabotage by Fiona Leitch (5/5) – ARC sent via Netgalley for review

I adore this series. Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker is not your normal detective – she’s a divorced, baking mum of one who has moved back to her childhood area after her husband cheated on her. Nearly always having her daughter, mother and dog in tow, she always seems to end up in the thick of it.

The previous book left a potential love triangle vibe going on after Jodie’s disastrous dalliance with one of the suspects and it was interesting to see how the author built on it in this book. On one side there’s Tony, her childhood best friend, first boyfriend and someone who has always been there for her – she isn’t sure how she should feel about him because he’s like a brother to her but there is always that little flutter.

On the other side is Nathan, the investigating police officer. He and Jodie did not get on at all when they first met but now get on really well and he now allows her to help him on his cases. I am definitely Team Nathan but it is interesting to see how the author resolved the issue of the two men – let’s just say one potential romantic partnership definitely won’t be happening (although not for want of trying!).

I read this within a day, it is a fast paced fun read and I love the characters and I definitely cannot wait to read more in the series. A new firm favourite for sure. You can buy the book here {affiliate link}.

The Sister Surprise by Abigail Mann (4/5) – ARC sent via Netgalley for review

A fun and lighthearted read that also deals with some important issues. DNA testing has thrown up some real curveballs in people’s lives in recent years and it does exactly that for Ava in this book. She goes on not only a journey to find her half sister but also a journey of self discovery and I love that she put her all into helping Kian out on the farm, even helping him come up with a business plan when he faced ruin.

The bond between Ava and Moira is evident from the off before you even realise that Moira IS Moira and the animosity Ava receives from Jacqui is awful but slightly understandable also, given she’s a reminder of a horrible time in Jacqui’s life. This has some real laugh out loud moments and I really enjoyed it. You can buy the book here {affiliate link}.

The House Of Killers by Samantha Lee Howe (4/5) – ARC sent via Netgalley for review

This was action-packed and kept me gripped from the very beginning. I loved the relationship that Neva ended up having with Agent Michael Kensington and just how their whole stories and lives were inevitably interlinked. I have previously read other work from the author and will definitely read more. You can buy the book here {affiliate link}.

What have you been reading lately?