Guest Review: Pedigree Mum by Fiona Gibson

I have a lovely guest review for you today from my dear friend Kim. Kim lives in Hong Kong, we met through blogging and have been pen pals for the last few years, I am very excited as Kim is coming to the UK in August so we shall finally get to meet. She is a very lovely lady and has taken the time to review Pedigree Mum by Fiona Gibson, you can check out some of Kim's other review over at her blog, Still Reading. 

When Kerry Tambini upped sticks with her family to a new home on the coast, she couldn't have been happier. Then husband Rob made the biggest mistake of his life...
Stranded with her children in snooty Shorling, Kerry has plenty on her plate. So how can she say no to the kids' pleas for a dog when they're missing their father so dreadfully? Will adopting a wayward hound lead Kerry to a new love- or has she bitten off more than she can chew?
As she steps back into the dating world Kerry must juggle her family, her neurotic dog and try to fit in with the local pedigree mums, making her a true heroine of our time.

Kerry Tambini and her husband, Rob, get an offer to live by the sea in a small village called Shorling. After an idyllic family day out there they decide to leave the hustle and bustle of London behind and move with their two children to the coast. Then Rob makes the biggest mistake of his life and the whole family dynamic is changed.

Kerry soon realises how hard it is to bring up her children single-handedly in a village full of competitive, un-friendly mum’s. She feels heartbroken for her struggling children who are missing their father enormously, so, after months of them begging for a dog and in an attempt to cheer them up, she finally decides to adopt one.

Enter, Buddy!

The children and Kerry instantly fall in love with Buddy and his wayward ways and very soon he begins to fill part of the gap they all have in their lives. Then, just as things start to settle a little, Kerry finds she has a couple of admirers in Shorling but she struggles to feel romantic towards anyone after being so badly let down by Rob.

Firstly, let me say thank you to Dot at Dot Scribbles for sending me this book to review. This is the first Fiona Gibson book I have read and it was so enjoyable, I devoured it in a couple of days.

Underneath the funny and cringe-worthy happenings in each of these character’s lives, there are some serious issues being dealt with in the story which, on the whole, I think Fiona Gibson handles with honesty and humour. My only tiny comment would be that I feel Rob is treated very unsympathetically throughout the book and although he makes a huge mistake, I did feel a little bit sorry for him. Apart from that, I found this book to be entertaining and well worth setting aside some time to read. It is ideal for a holiday read.

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 400

Many thanks to Becke at Avon for sending this  book for review, Pedigree Mum is available now. 

Book Review: My Notorious Life by Madam X by Kate Manning

Axie Muldoon, the headstrong daughter of Irish immigrants, forced to beg for pennies as a child  on the brutal streets of New York City, grows up to become the most successful- and controversial- midwife of her time.
'Saved' from poverty by a well-meaning philanthropist, Axie is sent West with her brother Joe and her sister Dutch. But the kindness of strangers is short-loved and soon Axie returns to the city of her birth- separated from those she loves but determined to one day reunite her family.
When she is taken in by a Manhattan doctor, Axie learns the craft that she will live by- and later fight for. As a purveyor of 'lunar tonic for the relief of female complaints' she rises from the gutter to the glitter of 5th Avenue high society, and discovers that the right way is not always the way of the church or the law.
As Axie's reputation grows she finds herself on a collision course with the crusading official who would be the righteous instrument of her downfall. It will take all of her power to outwit him and save both herself and those she loves from ruin. 

I was extremely sad to reach the final page of My Notorious Life as I just did not want the book to end.
Axie Muldoon or the infamous Madam X's story is fascinating from start to finish. Circumstances dictate Axie's life, she finds herself an orphan in New York; her brother and sister lost and no-one to care for her. A Manhattan doctor takes her in and inadvertently she learns the craft of midwifery.  Midwifery was far from an honourable profession at this time; contraception was frowned upon and women entirely at the mercy of men. Although Madam X saves many women's lives and delivers hundreds of healthy babies, it is the work she does to prevent conception or to interfere with pregnancy that sees her branded as a devil in society.
Axie has fought her way to the top of society; she is one of the richest women in New York so when someone tries to take it all away from her, she is more than prepared to put up a fight.
Kate Manning fills her story with exquisite and fascinating detail. She presents the full horrors of midwifery and female suffering, of course she also shows the delights of pregnancy and motherhood too. However, it is the negative aspects that drive Axie on to help even when she knows it brings a huge risk to her and her family. Women who already have many children and no money to feed another; victims of rape; mistresses promised the world and then abandoned when with child. Axie has all sorts knocking at her clinic door, peasants and prostitutes, right through
to the wife of the Mayor of New York. Each woman has a story and these all add up and intersperse to make a truly wonderful book.
I had so much admiration for Axie's character; she fights for everything she has and is always determined to do the right thing. Her husband Charles was also an orphan and their relationship highlights the scars left behind by their experiences. They find it so hard to trust each other as they are so used to being abandoned yet they are fiercely loyal to each other and protective; both driven by a passion to better themselves.
My Notorious Life by Madam X is one of those books that I know I will read again and again. The detail included is brilliant, I felt as though I had learnt so much and Kate Manning's careful research abd attention shines through.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 448

Many thanks to the lovely Jude at Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of the book, it is available now.

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

The winner of my giveaway of The Silent Wife is:

Sonya Kemp

Congratulations! Can you please email me with your address so that I can pass it on to the lovely Ben at Headline Review.

Book Review: Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Our journey began in fire...
Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness- beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...
Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each others most private wounds and desires.
The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart..
Intensely romantic, darkly sensual and completely addictive, Bared to You will take you to the very limits of obsession- and beyond.

Bared to You is the story of Eva and Gideon and I think it is one of the better books in this genre because it does actually have a story. Yes there are some aspects that are very similar to other books; multi-millionaire businessman, young girl, power games and lots
of sex. However, Sylvia Day brought more to her story, Gideon and Eva have seriously troubled pasts. We discover a lot about Eva's in this book but not so much about Gideon's. The author delves into the murky world of child abuse and its devastating consequences. Sylvia Day does not hide the brutality of such experiences so we do literally get the characters stripped bare, we know their darkest secrets and memories.
I liked the independent streak in Eva; she has her own money and career. She respects Gideon and his success but she is not in awe of him and the world he inhabits.
There is a lot of sex in this book, I did questions how quickly Gideon and Eva's relationship progressed considering her past. Regardless of that, the tension between these two is palpable. Gideon wants to protect Eva but he is not suffocating as so many other male leads in this genre can be.
Bared to You is the first book in the Crossfire series. I shall definitely read the others as I want to discover Gideon's secrets and watch their relationship develop.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4/5

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 368

Book Review: The Memory of Lost Senses by Judith Kinghorn

When a mysterious countess arrives late in life to live in a large, deserted house on the edge of a sleepy Hampshire village, the local tongues start wagging. No one is more intrigued than Cecily Chadwick, idling away the long, hot summer of 1911 with nothing much to do. Cecily is fascinated by the exotic elderly lady, and as she gets to know her, is riveted by her tales of expatriate life on the continent.
But the countess is troubled: by her memories, her name, and by anonymous threats to reveal a ruinous secret... it is, she has decided, up to her close friend, a successful novelist who has come to stay for the summer, to put the record straight.
For aspiring writer Cecily, the novelist's presence only adds to the intrigue and pull of the house. But it is the countess's grandson, Jack, his unanswered questions about his grandmother's past and his desire to know the truth, that draw Cecily further into the tangled web of the countess's life, and the place known as Temple Hill. 

The Last Summer was one of the best books that I read last year so I had very high hopes for The Memory of Lost Senses. Judith Kinghorn has delivered another intricate tale with believable characters and secrets all the way.
It took me a little longer to get into The Memory of Lost Senses but once I had a good idea of the characters and their pasts, I was hooked.
Cora is the mysterious countess who has returned to England to watch over her grandson Jack who is about to start university. She is an extremely private woman and we are left wondering why she has returned, why she's stayed away for so long, why so many husbands and where was her childhood spent?
These questions and many others are answered as we flit between the past and the present. Sylvia is Cora's novelist friend who is there to supposedly write Cora's memoirs. Yet how can she when Cora is keeping secrets and Sylvia has her own memories of the past which differ to that of her friend. Cecily lives in the village and is intrigued by Cora and in love with her grandson. Can Cecily finally uncover the truth or will Cora's memories always remain private?
Judith Kinghorn closely looks at love in this book; love in a relationship, love between friends, what we do to protect those we love but also the ways in which we choose to hurt them.
I felt that Cora and Sylvia were quite tragic figures; Sylvia has been living vicariously through Cora and so has not actually created her own life and Cora has spent so much time keeping secrets that she hasn't had time to enjoy what really matters.
The Memory of Lost Senses will appeal to fans of historical fictio
n; the story is extremely absorbing and will keep you guessing all the way.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 4.75/5

Publisher: Headline Review

Pages: 400

Many thanks to Headline for sending me a copy of the book to review, it is out now! 

Giveaway: The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison

There is  a lot of hype at the moment about The Silent Wife by A.S.A Harrison:

A chilling psychological thriller portraying the disintegration of a relationship down to the deadliest point when murdering your husband suddenly makes perfect sense.
Todd Gilbert and Jodie Brett are in a bad place in their relationship. They've been together for twenty-eight years, and with no children to worry about there has been little to disrupt their affluent Chicago lifestyle. But there has also been little to hold it together, and beneath the surface lie ever-widening cracks. HE is a committed cheater. SHE lives and breathes denial. HE exists in dual worlds. SHE likes to settle scores. HE decides to play for keeps. SHE has nothing left to lose. When it becomes clear that their precarious world could disintegrate at any moment, Jodie knows she stands to lose everything. It's only now she will discover just how much she's truly capable of...

The very lovely and generous Ben at Headline Review has kindly offered one copy of The Silent Wife to be given away on Dot Scribbles. Simply leave a comment and I shall pick a winner at random, this giveaway is only open to UK residents and you have until midnight on Thursday 20th June to enter!

Good luck!

Book Review: Release Me by J. Kenner

He was the one man I couldn't avoid. And the one man I couldn't resist.
Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident and commanding: anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me.
Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressure of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bear the darkest truth about my past- and risk breaking us apart.

Release Me is about the relationship between Nikki and Damien. Nikki met Damien 6 years ago when she was competing in a beauty pageant and she has never forgotten him. They meet again when she moves to Los Angeles to pursue her career. Their attraction is instant but Nikki has some secrets from her past which she doesn't feel ready to share and Damien is clearly hiding something too.
I enjoyed Release Me and I was pleased to discover that it is the first in a trilogy. There are many comparisons to be made with Fifty Shades of Grey, if you enjoyed those then you will love this too.
Damien Stark is a very enigmatic character, he has some infuriating traits but it is easy to understand why Nikki is drawn to him. I found Nikki a little more complicated, she ha
s these secrets in her past and I felt that they were really built up even though we didn't learn that much about their cause. Maybe we will discover more about Nikki and Damien in the next book.
Release Me is a quick, sexy, escapist read. J. Kenner keeps the plot going and the reader wanting more.

Dot Scribbles Rating: 3.75/5

Pages: 352

Publisher: Headline Review

Many thanks to the lovely Veronique at Headline for sending me a copy of the book to review, Release Me is out now!

Guest Review: Melting the Snow on Hester Street by Daisy Waugh

It's time for our second guest review, this time from Linda who has a fabulous blog, LindyLit which I highly recommend you taking a look at. Linda kindly reviewed Melting the Snow on Hester Street by Daisy Waugh, here's what she had to say:

October 1929: As America helter-skelter's through the last days before the great crash the cream of Hollywood parties heedlessly on.
Beneath the sophistication and elegance, Hollywood society couple Max and Eleanor Beecham are on the brink of divorce, their finances teetering on a knife's edge after a series of failed fims. As the stock market tumbles it seems they have nowhere to turn but to the arms of their waiting lovers.
Hope is delivered in an invitation to one of the legendary weekend parties at Hearst Castle, where the prohibition champagne will be flowing and the room filled with every Hollywood big-shot around. They cannot resist one last chance of making it. After all they've survived the insurmountable once before.
Scandalous, absurdly glamorous, the Hearst party is the epitome of Golden Era decadence but for Max and Eleanor the time has come to make a decision that will change their future. Will they sacrifice everything for fame and fortune or plunge into their hidden past and grasp one last chance to love each other again?

A few weeks ago Dot who blogs at DotScribbles sent out a Twitter plea for help with review copies of novels.  I automatically replied with my interest and lucky for me she sent me a copy of Daisy Waugh's Melting the Snow on Hester Street.  So I received the beautiful book related post, then amongst the excitement a teeny bit of doubt settled in; what if I didn't like it? Can I justify writing a negative book review on someone else's blog? What if I take FOREVER to read it? Have I taken on a bit more than I can chew? And then I told myself to get a grip, waited for school to finish and the luxury of half term and picked it up from my bedside 'to be read' stack.

Melting the Snow on Hester Street tells the story of Hollywood golden couple, Max and Eleanor Beecham; it is October 1929 and America and the Beecham's are heading for disaster.  Both Max and Eleanor are slowly slipping from their pedestal at the top of the film world and yet their minds are focusing on a deep rooted past secret and the heartache it has brought to their lives.

The narrative opens with Max and Eleanor's glamorous, yet somewhat empty lives in 1929.  Despite spending the evening throwing a party for Hollywood Royalty it is clear Max and Eleanor are unhappy and have lost the spark in the marriage and there are subtle clues throughout the opening chapters hinting at what might have caused this.  I was enjoying the novel, but I wasn't overly engrossed in it at this point; yes, there was some mystery, but it was missing a really intriguing hook. And then we were transported to the lives of Matz and Eleana in the poverty stricken slums of New York in 1911 and for me the novel truly came alive.  Waugh's depiction of the lives of immigrants, fresh off the boots, is well described and she paints a perfect picture of how many arrived full of hope of achieving their American Dream and yet were faced with the horrible reality of dirty, cramped, over crowded slums and the unfair and oppressive working conditions.  Throughout the rest of the novel the narrative flicks between the two time periods culminating in the mystery of how Matz and Eleana transformed into Max and Eleanor and just what it is that has rocked their marriage.

I preferred the Matz and Eleana element of the novel as it offered a great contrast to the futility of the Hollywood lifestyle and seemed much purer than the 1920s part of the novel.  I liked how all Matz and Eleana truly had was their love for one another and how this played out amongst the backdrop of the strikes of fabric workers and an horrific (and true life) factory fire that killed 146 immigrant workers.  This part of the novel was well written and had me engrossed from the start; it certainly appealed to the historian in me much more than the 1920s section and without it I don't think I would have enjoyed the narrative as much.

Overall I am happy I offered to write this review and that Dot chose me.  It isn't a book I would have chosen to read if I had seen it in a bookshop as I tend to read mainly British fiction, but I am glad that I did read it.  I haven't read much fiction based around the turn of the century in America and it was certainly enjoyable finding out more about this particular period of history and especially about the lives of those new to America, still full of their hopes and dreams.  In the Author's Notes Waugh writes about the inspiration for certain events in the novel and it was interesting finding out that certain characters are based on real life people (although I did know that Charlie Chaplin was definitely real) and that tragic events, such as the factory fire, actually happened.  I would certainly recommend Melting the Snow on Hester Street, especially with the renewed interest in 1920s America with the release of Baz Luhrman's The Great Gatsby; it highlights the decadence and futility of life before The Wall Street Crash and arguably the hollowness of The American Dream.

Thank you again to Dot for sending me this book.

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 400

The Folio Society, Beautifully Illustrated Books

I don't normally do posts to endorse products but I really wanted to share my excitement about The Folio Society with you. I love books, especially beautiful books so I was delighted to see just what The Folio Society had to offer, they would make stunning and thoughtful gifts for any book lovers in your life. Dr S is an avid reader too, we have completely different tastes but he nearly always buys hardbacks so we have a massive collection in our house. The very lovely Kate from FMcM Associates kindly allowed me to choose a book from the society that I would send as a gift on Father's Day. It really didn't take me long to choose, Dr S is a huge Patrick O'Brian fan so I picked Master and Commander which is the first in the series. I was too excited to wait for Fathers Day when the book arrived so Dr S got an early present and has decided that he would like to collect them all!
The book arrived in a lovely gift box and as you can see from the pictures, it is very special. The cover is very eye catching with the blue and gold and it feels nice to hold. Inside the book has pictures that relate to the story and the history at the time so these just add to the overall reading experience.

Here's what The Folio Society have to say about themselves:

Great books should be outstanding not only in literary content but also in their physical form: this has been the philosophy of The Folio Society since it was founded in 1947 by Charles Ede, with a dream of publishing beautiful books that would be affordable to everyone. Our pleasure in reading is enhanced by the book itself, in which typography, illustration, paper, printing and binding all play a part in creating a harmonious whole. In a world of declining publishing standards, where most books are cheaply printed, and bound using low-grade materials, The Folio Society resolutely sets store by traditional values of excellence; for our designers and production personnel the term 'quite good' means 'no good': only the best is good enough.In our 64-year history, Folio has published an astonishing range of works; fromMoby-Dick to Pather Panchali, and from the Qur’ân to Kerouac’s On The Road. The quality of our books as tactile and aesthetic objects has been a constant hallmark, but members (some of whom have been with us from our inception in 1947) have long looked beyond our exceptional covers, to the standards we uphold for each and every text. From introducers who make up the great names of modern literature and academia, and editors and picture researchers who ensure unrivalled standards of research and textual work, to our artists who have swept the board in so many illustrations awards – Folio offers a complete experience for the book-lover.

I love to give books as gifts and I know that The Folio Society is going to become a firm favourite, I highly recommend you go and have a look, especially if you are looking for that extra special gift or maybe just a treat for yourself!

Book Review: Follow Me Down by Tanya Byrne

First love. Last lie.
When Adamma Okomma has to leave her glossy high school in New York for a dusty English boarding school, she thinks it's the end of the world- or the end of her social life at least.
Then she meets the wicked-witted Scarlett Chiltern, who shows her all of Crofton College's darkest corners, and Adamma realises that there's much more to her new school than tartan skirts and hockey sticks.
She and Scarlett become inseparable, but when they fall for the same guy, the battle lines are fairly drawn.
Adamma gets the guy but loses her best friend. Then, when Scarlett runs away, Adamma finds herself caught up in something far more sinister than a messy love triangle. Adamma always knew that Scarlett had her secrets, but some secrets are too big to keep and this one will change all of their lives forever. 

I was blown away by Tanya Byrne's debut novel, Heart Shaped Bruise so I had mixed emotions when this one arrived. On the one hand I was extremely excited as I know what this author is capable of and on the other hand I was a little nervous in case it didn't live up to my expectations. But it turns out that I was more than right to be excited, Follow Me Down is brilliant and I enjoyed it just as much as Heart Shaped Bruise.
Adamma Okomma is the central character; the daughter of a Nigerian diplomat, she leaves her private high school in New York to begin at Crofton College, an English boarding school in the middle of nowhere. Initially Adamma thinks she is going to be bored senseless but then she meets Scarlett Chiltern who introduces her to Crofton's secrets; the parties, the secret ways out and the boys. It all goes wrong when Scarlett and Adamma fall for the same guy; is Adamma really prepared to lose her best friend for a guy that Scarlett has a huge hold over? Scarlett then goes missing, something she has done many times before. Whilst other people around her aren't concerned, Adamma sets out to find her best friend, she knows something is wrong. They may not be best friends anymore ut Adamma is one of only two people who truly understand Scarlett Chiltern.
The book is completely narrated by Adamma but flits between events before and after Scarlett's disappearance and the aftermath. This is such a clever narrative device; you are just beginning to discover something in one time frame when it jumps to a different one. It keeps you turning the pages as you are desperate to find out what happens.
I loved the contrast between Adamma and Scarlett; they are both from this exclusive and elite world yet they are entirely different. Scarlett in some ways is a bad influence but she also helps Adamma to grow. She can be very cruel to Adamma at times but I just thinks this serves to make Adamma stronger; she is far more mature and confident by the end of the book compared to when we first meet her.
Throughout Follow Me Down we are continually guessing as to what happened to Scarlett and the identity of the guy that both girls fall for. Both of these points are only revealed at the very end and I found myself thinking back through the book looking for the clues that had been so cleverly hidden. It is definitely a book that would deserve a second read as I am certain that you would discover even more when re-reading.
Tanya Byrne is such a good YA author, she is not afraid to tackle serious issues. I soFollow Me Down. 
metimes find with YA that an author will simply tackle an issue but not supply much of a plot. However, Tanya Byrne delivers both; her writing has real substance and I think her fans will be delighted with

Dot Scribbles Rating: 5/5

Pages: 368

Publisher: Headline

Many thanks to the lovely Sam from Headline for sending me a review copy, Follow Me Down is out now!

Dot Scribbles Needs You!

ALL BOOKS HAVE NOW BEEN TAKEN, THANKS FOR LOOKING! 
I have six books up for guest review today so here's how it works:

Comments will be disabled on this post so it will be whoever emails me first saying which book you would like to read. Here's the 'rules':

1. If you want to review one of the books then please email me on dotscribbles@googlemail.com and tell me which book you would prefer. If you have a blog then please include a link to it in the email, if you don't have a blog then you can still review.
2. Please try and review the book within 3 weeks of receiving it.
3. I certainly don't expect to like every book that I read but all I ask is that you provide an honest, fair and respectful review.
4. Send me your review and I will post it on Dot Scribbles and Twitter. If you have your own blog then we can agree a date for it to go on at the same time.
5. This is only open to UK residents.

Obviously I can't make you agree to these rules but hopefully people won't ask for a book and then do a runner! You do not have to write your own blog in order to review on here but if you do have a blog then we can feature the review at the same time and include a link to your site.

The Wedding Diaries by Sam Binnie (Avon) Kiki Carlow is shocked but delighted when boyfriend Thom proposes. Planning a wedding is easy right? That's as long as you ignore:
1. The utterly bankrupting price of the only dress you'll every truly love.
2. Your suddenly pregnant sister- surprise!
3. The celebrity wedding you're covering for work which is devouring your every waking thought. 
4. The Mother of the Bride. Entirely.
Kiki soon discovers that planning the perfect wedding might just bring total chaos to the rest of her life. Can she stop being a total Bridezilla in time to marry the man she loves?

TAKEN
The Baby Diaries by Sam Binnie (Avon) A few weeks after Thom and Kiki return from honeymoon, Kiki is stunned to discover that she is pregnant. But the next nine months might be a little harder than she expected, when she's got to deal with:
1. Nausea. Heartburn. Stretchmarks. 
2. Her nightmare absent boss.
3. Crying uncontrollably at a brad advert on TV.
4. An army of Smug Mothers who seem terrifyingly like Proper-Grown-Ups.
As Kiki's due date nears, she can't help but wonder- is the life she loved gone forever?
TAKEN

The Secret Intensity of Everyday Life by William Nicholson (Quercus Books) Laura is content with her marriage, her two children and her part-time job- until an ex-lover gets in touch out of the blue. Suddenly passion and excitement are rekindled, but how much happiness has she a right to expect, and what about the pain she would cause to achieve it?
Unknown to Laura, several others in her Sussex village are living with their own unresolved inner dramas. None of them guesses at her crisis. Yet every decision they take has an impact on those around them. The secret longings of a large cast of characters interweave in a gripping story that reveals life at its richest: comic and tragic, poignant and cruel, surprising and moving.

TAKEN
Losing It by Cora Carnack (Ebury Press) Bliss Edwards is a virgin. But her plans for a no-strings, one night stand turns out to be anything but simple. Especially the next day in class when she recognises her hot new English professor. She'd left him- naked- in her bed just 8 hours earlier...
TAKEN

The Low Road by Chris Womersley (Quercus) A suitcase of stolen cash has brought three criminals together. 
One has a bullet in his side.
One has blood on his hands.
One has vengeance on his mindl.
Each has run fromt their past.
Each will not fight for their future.
A modern noir thriller. The Low Road highlights our desire to outrun our demons, and the dark consequences we face when we are forced to confront them.

TAKEN
Pedigree Mum by Fiona Gibson (Avon) When Kerry Tambini upped stick with her family to a new home on the coast, she couldn't have been happier. Then husband Rob made the biggest mistake of his life...
Stranded with her children in snooty Shorling, Kerry has plenty on her plate. So how can she say no to the kids' pleas for a dog when they're missing their father dreadfully?As Kerry juggles hectic family life and trying to fit in with the other pedigree mums. she soon finds herself adopting a dog. But will this wayward hound lead Kerry to a new love? Or has she bitten off more than she can chew?

TAKEN