Review: The Ex-Girlfriend by Nicola Moriaty

The Ex-Girlfriend by Nicola Moriarty
Publisher: Michael Joseph
Release date: 31 October 2019

Back cover blurb: SHE WANTS HIM BACK. SHE WANTS YOU GONE.Finally, Georgia has found the one. Luke is kind, handsome, and makes her feel safe - which is what she needs after everything she's been through. The only problem is his ex-girlfriend. Luke says Cadence just can't accept the breakup, and that explains the texts, the emails, the notes... But then things start to go very wrong - will Cadence really do whatever it takes to get what she wants?

As a single woman thoroughly fed up of online dating, the opening of this novel really struck a cord with me. Women gets stood up on tinder date (by the way I hate tinder!!!) then meets complete gentleman at the bar - they hit it off, start dating ... you get the picture.

Georgia believes that Luke is too good to be true at first. Not only is he handsome and kind, but he seems to utterly adore her, and cannot believe that someone was stupid enough to stand her up. One thing keeps Georgia grounded, Luke's ex-girlfriend Cadence.

Not only does she appear to be a complete psycho, but Luke is still living with her.

Alarm bells start ringing in Georgia's head, but Luke assures her that their relationship is well and truly over, and Cadence is slightly mentally unstable and cannot accept that they have broken up. He promises that he will speak with her and Georgia trusts him.

Everything is great until Cadence begins to threaten Georgia. 

It's nothing serious at first, just the usual 'he'll soon get bored of you and come back to me' type of note. But then Georgia begins to suspect that she is being followed, and that's when things start to get really out of hand.

This is a very cleverly written book, with a major and very important twist. I will say that I did see the twist coming. But that didn't impact on my enjoyment of the novel, as even then, I felt like there was still more surprises to come (I wasn't wrong).

The Ex-Girlfriend is a lesson to us all - not just those who partake in online dating. If someone appears too good to be true. The chances are they probably are!! As for meeting people down the pub - perhaps I'll just stay single for now!!

The Ex-Girlfriend is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review - A View Across The Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman

A View Across The Rooftops by Suzanne Kelman

Publisher: Bookouture
Release date: 25 October 2019

Back cover blurb: Would you risk your life to save just one person? An incredible story of love, hope and friendship, and a testament to humanity and courage in history’s darkest days. 1941, Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Professor Josef Held has never recovered from the loss of his beloved wife – and has no intention of ever letting anyone new into his quiet, safe world. It is a world where the clock ticks steadily in his mathematics classroom, where every equation has a solution. Every day he walks the same route home, past his neighbour Mrs Epstein’s, to a home inhabited only by him and a cat he refuses to even name. But then the Nazis come for the Jews – and Mrs Epstein is killed. And Josef, in an impulsive act of courage, offers his student Michael Blum a place to hide. Michael is everything Josef is not: spontaneous, poetic, and unafraid to love. Even though his passionate relationship with a Dutch girl called Elke strictly is forbidden by the Nazis – for he is Jewish, and she is not. Desperate to give Michael and Elke’s love a chance to survive, Josef gives Michael refuge in his attic: an act of bravery and resistance that will change both of their lives. But as the dark days of war continue, with danger and betrayal at every turn, no-one can be trusted, and no one is safe. If Michael is going to get back to the woman he loves, it is down to Josef – to find the hero inside himself, and do whatever it takes to keep Michael alive. 

Regular readers of my blog will know that historical novels, particularly those set in the WW2 era are my favourite. A View Across...is certainly no different. Set in Nazi occupied Amsterdam, it offers a different perspective from the usual German/British set novels of the time.

Professor Josef Held is the most unlikely person to break the law, or be an unwitting part of the resistance. But he is a good man, and understands that those occupying his beloved country are the ones in the wrong.

Consequently when a former student of his almost literally lands on his doorstep, Josef cannot help but take him in. He understands that by hiding him he is placing them both in extreme danger, but after the Nazi's captured and murdered his neighbour, he cannot stand by and let them win.

Meanwhile Josef's niece is ignorant to the terror that the Nazi's are causing and believes that the occupation is a good thing. She is in love with a Nazi officer, and this alone puts Josef in danger. Of course, she knows nothing of his deception, but Josef cannot afford to find out whether family loyalty comes before loyalty to a cause.

As the war rages on, our characters become more vulnerable and we wonder if any of them will survive the war. A View.. is a beautifully written novel about friendship, courage, loyalty, love and loss, and I can't wait to read another by this author.

A View Across The Rooftops is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Thank You the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.