Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister | Book Review

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Title & Author: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister 

Genre: Thriller

My rating: 5/5

Publisher: Penguin Michael Joseph

Publication date: 30th January 2025

Blurb:

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work, her daughter’s first day at nursery.

But husband Luke is nowhere to be seen. The only trace of him is an unfinished note. Camilla tries to put it out of her mind; there must be a rational explanation.

At work, there are welcomes back, and too many distractions.

Then it starts.

Breaking news: there's a hostage situation developing in London.

The police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.

But he isn't a hostage. Luke - doting father, successful writer, enthusiastic runner and eternal optimist - is the gunman.

What Camilla does next is crucial. Because only she knows what the note he left behind says, and the clues it might hold...

Review: 

Gillian McAllister is that author that I will autobuy without even knowing the plot of the book because I know it will be fantastic. Famous Last Words is no different.

Cam, a literary agent, is due to go back to work after maternity leave but that first day is thrown into turmoil when she discovers that her husband Luke, a ghostwriter, is caught up in a hostage situation. But he is the one controlling the siege.

Cam, Luke and baby Polly lived a normal life. How can their lives have upturned like this? 

The novel is told in dual POV from Cam and also Niall, the hostage negotiator (hooray for a Northern Irish character) and over a few timelines too. The present when the siege is taking place, seven years following the siege then another which I won't talk about too much as you just need to read to find out what happens.

The characterisation is fantastic and I really enjoyed Niall's background too as it gave us a chance to understand him and why he was the way that he was.

What I loved about this is that I could not guess where it was going. All McAllister's novels are intricately plotted so I expected that, but when the realisation of what was happening hit me, my jaw literally dropped and my husband asked if I was okay.

This is an absolutely fantastic new book from Gillian McAllister, joining her already incredible backlist. Wonderful and thrilling.

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh | Book Review

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Title & Author: Snowed In by Catherine Walsh 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Bookouture 

Publication date: 1st November 2023

Blurb:

Megan is dreading going home for the holidays. She’s the village pariah, the she-devil who left local golden boy Isaac at the altar four years ago and ran away to the big city. She could really do without the drama. Particularly as he’s engaged again, and she’s just been dumped for the fourth time this year.

Christian’s fed up of being on his own every Christmas. He doesn’t mind being alone, but he hates his family’s sad eyes and soft tones as they sit around coupled up. Because he’s actually, totally, fine.

So when Megan literally bumps into Christian in a Dublin pub, they come up with a pact to see them through the holiday season. They’re going to be the very best fake dates for each other, ever.

Rules are drawn up, a contract is signed on a wine-stained napkin. They will sit through each other’s family gatherings and be outrageously in love until freed from their annual obligations. After all, it’s only for a few weeks.

But with everyone home for the holidays, two big families to deal with alongside old friends, old flames and old feelings, things are bound to get messy. And when a snowed-in cabin and a little Christmas magic are added to the mix, anything could happen…

Review:

As soon as I finished Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh, I instantly started Snowed In, the second in the Fitzpatrick Christmas series. This is Christian's story, Andrew's brother who we met briefly in the previous book.

Megan jilts her would-be husband Isaac on their wedding day, bumping into former schoolmate Christian outside the venue who promises to keep her abscondence secret.

Five years later, the two meet again in a pub in Dublin where they are both now living, and reconnect. Megan is going back home for the holidays for the first time since she walked out on her wedding and is nervous about being back in her hometown and potentially bumping into her ex-fiance. It doesn't help that she thinks everyone hates her for what she did to Isaac with no explanation. Christian is also not looking forward to Christmas with his family as the only single sibling and dreads the onslaught of relationship questions.

Christian proposes a fake relationship deal and Megan is absolutely not on board but eventually she is won round. What can go wrong?

I love how Catherine Walsh writes. Not only do we have a cute, Irish Christmas setting with humour and romance but serious topics such as controlling relationships and family dynamics are tackled too.

I read this in basically one sitting because I just didn't want to put it down. I now feel like I have read Catherine Walsh's entire back catalogue. Loved it!

Can You Take It? by S. C. Arlette | Book Review

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Title & Author: Can You Take It? by S. C. Arlette

My rating: 4/5

Publication date: 22nd December 2024

Blurb:

IZEL

I know the FBI’s watching me. He’s watching me. Richard. The profiler who thinks he’s got me figured out.

But he doesn’t know the half of it. He doesn’t know what I've done or the secrets that haunt me.

He says he wants to help, but I’ve learned the hard way—no one really does. Trusting him would be my biggest mistake.

Yet... there’s something about him. Something that makes me want to believe.

But I can’t. Not when my life is built on lies. Not when I’m the one they’re all looking for.

RICHARD

I’m a profiler, and I’ve spent my life reading people, digging into their souls to find the truth they’re desperate to hide.

But my little suspect... she’s a mystery I can’t solve.

She’s hiding something, and I should be focused on uncovering it, but all I can think about is her.

I’m breaking every rule in the book, and the worst part? I don’t give a fuck.

The closer I get to her, the more I realize that I’m risking everything—my career, my sanity, and maybe even my heart.

The only question is, can I take it before it takes me?

Review:

This book was a wild ride. 

When Izel's roommate is murdered, seemingly by a serial killer known at the Ghostface Killer, SSA Agent Richard Reynolds called onto the case and instructed to keep an eye on Izel because she may know more than she lets on. It turns out that her background and upbringing may bring her closer to the case than anyone could expect.

This book is a dark romance and for me, the thriller aspect of this book was absolutely fantastic. The twists were incredible and blew my mind. It was a slow starter and I did have to suspend belief for a little bit all for the purpose of entertainment but I found that I didn't care about that because I was enjoying the story so much. It was dark, emotional and heartbreaking.

When it came to the romance part between Izel and Richard I just wish there was a bit more build up and I could FEEL their feelings develop but I appreciate that there wouldn't be enough time for that. The scenes that we got between them were beautiful however.

I am a thriller lover first and foremost and what I usually dislike when it comes to dark romance, is that a lot (or at least the majority of the ones I've read!) focus more on the romance and not the plot of whatever crime etc is going on. This was a brilliant combination of both and I am excited to read more by this author.

Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh | Book Review

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Title & Author: Holiday Romance by Catherine Walsh 

My rating: 4/5

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication date: 4th October 2022

Blurb:

Molly and Andrew are just trying to get home to Ireland for the holidays, when a freak snowstorm grounds their flight.

Nothing romantic has ever happened between them: they’re friends and that’s all. But once a year, for the last ten years, Molly has spent seven hours and fifteen minutes sitting next to Andrew on the last flight before Christmas from Chicago to Dublin, drinking terrible airplane wine and catching up on each other’s lives. In spite of all the ways the two friends are different, it’s the holiday tradition neither of them has ever wanted to give up.

Molly isn’t that bothered by Christmas, but—in yet another way they’re total opposites—Andrew is a full-on fanatic for the festive season and she knows how much getting back to Ireland means to him. So, instead of doing the sane thing and just celebrating the holidays together in America, she does the stupid thing. The irrational thing. She vows to get him home. And in time for his mam’s famous Christmas dinner.

The clock is ticking. But Molly always has a plan. And—as long as the highly-specific combination of taxis, planes, boats, and trains all run on time—it can’t possibly go wrong.

What she doesn’t know is that, as the snow falls over the city and over the heads of two friends who are sure they’re not meant to be together, the universe might just have a plan of its own…

Review:

I have been wanting to read as many festive books as I can this Christmas and this one had been on my radar for a while. Although I'm not usually a fan of friends to lovers, I absolutely loved this.

Molly is a lawyer from Ireland working and living in Chicago. Every year she flies back home to her family for Christmas. The first year of doing this, her best friend (who she is definitely going to stop being friends with) has informed her of her decision to split up with her boyfriend, Andrew. Who is sitting next to Molly on the flight? Yep, Andrew, who is also Irish and flying back home for Christmas.

After that first flight, Molly and Andrew have made it a tradition to fly back home together and it is now their tenth year of doing so. A storm has hit Chicago and Molly knows how much Christmas means to Andrew and his family so she will do anything to get him back to Ireland. So off they go to Paris, London then on the ferry to Ireland.

I loved how this was written. We have the story of their long winded trip back home in the present but also glimpses from the past ten years of flying together and you can really see their friendship building. After reading about all their journeys together over the years, Andrew delivers a wonderful monologue that really gripped my heart.

There is some really brilliant Irish humour in here too with fantastic characters. I am excited to read more by Catherine Walsh.

Dashing All The Way by Chelsea Curto | Book Review

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Title & Author: Dashing All The Way by Chelsea Curto 

My rating: 5/5

Publication date: 1st December 2024

Blurb:

MARGO

After an ex-boyfriend told me I’d never be able to run a half marathon, I did what any logical woman would do: I set out to prove him wrong.

We’re going to pretend like I didn’t collapse at the finish line of the race.

It’s a good thing the hot paramedic caught me before I could fall.

It’s an even better thing I ran into him at the bar the next night.

He might be my ex’s dad and sixteen years older than me, but that won’t stop me from wanting to enjoy some holiday cheer with the man I can’t stop thinking about.

FINN

I knew who she was when I caught her, but she didn’t know who I was.

When her initial shock of my identity wore off, she came home with me.

I gave her the best night of her life.

It makes sense that I found her again at the finish line of another race, and now I’m determined to keep her around for longer than a night.

Forget the age gap. Forget her history with my son.

She might be the best Christmas present I’ve ever received, and I’m in no hurry to say goodbye.

Review:

I love Chelsea Curto's books so much. This was promoted as a novella with more spice than plot but honestly I thought it was so much more than that.

Margo is a twenty-four year old teacher and after her ex-boyfriend (who she caught cheating on her) tells her that she would never be able to run a half marathon, she decides to prove him wrong and do it.

She makes it to the finish line but after feeling a bit wobbly, she ends up in the medical tent. She instantly has an attraction to Finn, the hot paramedic but it turns out that at forty years old, he is sixteen years her senior but is also her ex-boyfriend's dad.

I love an age gap/forbidden romance and I just adored this. Curto writes amazingly with the absolute best characters but there is always a serious aspect in her books too - this time around women and staying safe whilst running. I am not a runner, I have never ran but I learned so much from this novella.