Melissa's Bookshelf

A group of killers, a text that changes everything, a sea serpent, and a horde of ghosts. Zac and his 6 closest friends are a bunch of sweet, thoughtful and fun-loving people, aside from the fact they're all murderers, of course. Six years after swearing to take their secrets to the grave in Zac's creaky old house, someone from the group begins to kill again and Zac realises the only way forward is to confess to their crimes and stop the one relapsing on the sin of killing. However, is Zac in the right, or is he as much to blame as the others? Paul D Coombs is an author I admittedly had never heard of before, however, after Northodox Press sent me his latest title, The Great Orme , I was very much intrigued as to what kind of tale Coombs had spun. When settling down with a coffee and picking the bookmark to match the title, I was impressed, to say the least, at what I was reading. The first page alone set a brilliantly dark and macabre tone, leading me into the story of Zac and...

When Sebastian finds the perfect room to rent in the beautiful area of Hampstead, London, he cannot believe his luck. The rent is beyond affordable, and his beautiful landlady already holds his attention. However, when Sebastian finds out the fate of Adriana's last tenant and that someone has their eyes on him at all times, his ideal life takes a dark turn. A. A. Chaudhuri is without a doubt one of my favourite authors. Each title I receive from her is a stunning, thrilling, wild ride and I am always in awe by the end. Under Her Roof  is no different. I always adore the beginning of  Chaudhuri's books; Under Her Roof  begins at the end, with someone on trial for murder. This was the best way to start this title, as while I was reading my mind was often cast back to the start, keeping me well intrigued. After the e are then introduced to Sebastian, a young writer looking to move out of his friend Jasper's house and focus on his writing. Already,  Chaudhuri has created...

  Historical fiction seems to be a niche genre these days, but after picking up Stephanie Amey's newest read I'm inclined to believe it still has a place in the bookish world. The Edge of Empire  is, admittedly, a book I wouldn't usually pick for myself to read; however, when the title was sent to me by the wonderful people at Northodox Press, I knew it was going to be worth the read. Stephanie Amey's newest book takes place in 170 AD and sees Aurelius Petrus, Optio (second in command) of Fort Bana, take on the investigation of two murdered soldiers. However, once he begins looking into the deaths of two of the Fort's own, Petrus realises something strange... The men were seemingly killed by Druids, a cult that was wiped out by Romans 100 years ago; but Petrus refuses to let sleeping dogs lie as the Optio is convinced Druids are not the cause of his men's deaths. When beginning The Edge of Empire , I wasn't completely sure what to expect as historical fictio...

  Ever been on a less-than-exceptional date? Well, Olive has been on one too many and has a myriad of dating disasters to share! When I received this book to review, I was pleasantly surprised to find a comic book-style story with a hilarious main character and stunning images to go alongside. Disaster Dates and Lucky Escapes  follows the unlucky Olive, a woman who hopes for a normal, fun date, but ends up with the weirdest of both men and women. The book follows her blunders as she almost loses her mind in the world of online dating. I absolutely loved this book. It was a short, sweet look into the world of online dating and how difficult and, even how uncomfortable it can be. The comic book style of the book went so well with the story; the brilliant illustrations matched perfectly with the conversations Olive had with her friends. Not only were the images so well-done and pretty, the way the characters spoke to one another was fantastic. It felt so real and grounded, which ...

Mystery books can sometimes be hit-and-miss, with the final twist not quite hitting home. However, A.A Chaudhuri's newest thriller, The Final Party, ticks all the right boxes - and then some. The Final Party  is a title I've been excited to read for quite some time, mainly due to Chaudhuri's two previous books, She's Mine and The Loyal Friend , being absolutely fantastic. This title sees six friends take a trip to a stunning villa in Sorrento, Italy, to celebrate one of the group's 40th birthday. However, by the end of it all one of them will be dead, and the secrets they all hold may not be as secure as they thought... What happened that fateful night in 2001? Did anyone ever find out? Will the truth come out? Chaudhuri is by far one of my favourite authors, with She's Mine  being one of my favourite crime/thriller books of all time. However, The Final Party  may have just edged itself into the top spot. The book begins at the end, with a body in the water and ...

  Self-help books can sometimes be hit-or-miss, giving advice that sometimes doesn't make much sense, or doesn't come from a place of experience. Well, this is one self-help book that was written with both understanding and love. Enlightened as Hell: How to be spiritual and not be a d*ck  by Dr. Tony Ortega has to be one of the most wonderful self-help books I've read. This is a book which was come from a place of hurt, only to be crafted with love and genuine care; the result being a short yet stunning account of how to not be a better person, but how to be a better you . Ortega has written books similar to Enlightened as Hell  in the past, but within the pages, it seems as though this may be his magnum opus. I simply adored this book. I felt as though Ortega was speaking to me and me only, giving me advice that he believed in so strongly to help me not be a d*ck. The writing style was simply beautiful; it flowed expertly well, and made me feel as though I was listening ...

Santivilla is home to one of the most respected dragon fighting rings in the world; a place where man and dragon battle it out in front of huge, expectant crowds. However, one show goes terribly wrong, and changes Zarela's life forever. Now, a year later, tragedy strikes at her own family's arena, meaning she must fight with all she has to save her family name; but she needs help to do it, which is a lot easier said than done... When I heard about Together We Burn , I was immediately intrigued. I don't read a lot of fantasy, but the idea of this story really stood out and, once I'd finished the book, I was in complete awe. One of the first things I noticed about this book, was Isabel Ibanez's truly beautiful writing. This is a world like no other, and Ibanez made it come to life in such a fantastic way; it felt so real, which blew me away. Each character, especially Zarela, was crafted with such elegance, thought and love, which made the story all that more beautifu...

What do you do when fate comes knocking? Do you follow what the stars tell you, or do you trust yourself and focus on what's in front of you? That is the choice Mara must make . Mara is a 30-something recluse who has never really lived. That is, until she heads to Budapest on a trip, alone, after her best friend Charlie had to cancel. There, a fortune-teller tells her that she will find the one  - immediately. Within the next 10 minutes, he walks in. Mara is head over heels, and decides to set up her own destiny; but will this mystery man be her forever, or is there someone else that could fit the bill? I never used to like romance books so much, but after reading a couple, and checking out the plot for The Setup , I knew I had to read more. The Setup  is a book for those who enjoy whimsical stories, a roller-coaster of 'will they won't they', and a main character who is something of a hot mess. Upon starting this book, I was quickly invested in seeing how it would end....

We all have secrets, don't we? Well, Natalie, Susan and Grace definitely do. When the three women join the same fitness club, run by the seemingly perfect Jade, it seems things are going smoothly. However, Jade's disappearance threatens to release the demons from all three women's closets... After reading A. A. Chaudhuri's previous book, She's Mine , last year, I was more than excited to see what else she had in store; and I was utterly blown away. I struggled writing this review a little, not because I didn't know what to say, but because I had too much  to say. The first thing I felt while reading The Loyal Friend  was that it felt like Chaudhuri. She has kept her incredible author voice, and transferred it to yet another phenomenal tale. Her voice is one of the best I've ever read, in both thriller and otherwise. This book is immensely clever, genuinely shocking, and simply incredible. The plot was something unlike anything else I've read. I loved get...

Detective Elin Warner is back, and this time she's pulled to a retreat, made for guests to relax, rewind, and refresh, after a body is found on the beach - but someone is out for revenge, and Elin questions everything she thought she knew... As usual, when I get proof copies, I'm over the moon. However, The Retreat is  a special one for me. Sarah Pearse's previous book, The Sanatorium , was not only the start of Elin's story, but the first proof copy I ever received. First of all, one of my favourite things about  The Retreat is that it still felt like Pearse. She has a stark voice and atmosphere within her books, which I absolutely adore, and works well to connect the story, as well as the narrative itself. Pearse's writing flows so well in this book, and the chapters were rather short, too, making it very hard for me to put the book down. Writing in third person is actually a genius way to write these books, as Elin always seems to feel as though someone is watchi...