Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.

So this book ended up being a disappointment. I was all ready to read about a woman that is dealing with a separation and finding herself single after many years as part of a couple. Instead there were a whole host of other things happening in this book that in the end didn't work together for me. Most was the fact that the main character, Chloe Piper, has a social anxiety disorder that the author uses for plot purposes. Sometimes Chloe is okay around a group of people and other times she says no to things because of how she will react. We even get a scene of her "twerking" (DEAR WHITE PEOPLE STOP DOING THIS) and her friend and his daughter upload it via Instagram so that she can get used to people watching her. I was hiding my eyes in shame and I wasn't even the one doing things depicted in this book. The romance was lukewarm and the ending was meh.

"Suddenly Single" follows Chloe Piper as she settles herself and her dog into their new home. Chloe is dealing with the breakup of her marriage and how that has impacted her ability to write. Chloe is secretly a best selling author of one book that everyone has gone crazy for in the U.K. Now that her husband has left her for another woman, she feels like her creativity is gone. That is until Chloe starts to "have feelings" for her next door neighbor Alex and meets some new people in a singles meet up group. 

So. Chloe. She was written inconsistently. We hear that Chloe didn't get over the death of her sister and parents so her shyness turned into something else which eventually led to her social anxiety disorder. But she ends up meeting her husband (after his persistence) and they managed to marry. Eventually her inability to be out among people drove a wedge and finally he leaves her. I was hoping the book would focus on this disorder and how hard it is for people out there with this. Instead Wyer decides to randomly have Chloe go out at one point, get drunk, and meet two people she has never laid eyes on before who end up talking her into going out with their group they created and has her start to meet people. Another reviewer mentioned she has social anxiety and she didn't like how this was written and I feel badly for her since she was hoping the book would touch upon the condition. 

Chloe also decides she likes someone for reasons and then rejects other suitors because of reasons. It was all so wishy-washy I was over it. I actually liked another male character for Chloe because he knew about the disorder because his own mother had it. But nope, just go for the chemistry free zone character. It didn't help though when Chloe tries to use this as a reason to not date him. I maybe went, you were literally twerking on a freaking Instagram post! Why is going to a ball a freaking issue?

The other characters in this book were not developed at all. And it didn't help when Chloe's ex comes back at on the scene. I don't get at all what Wyer was doing with that.

The writing was okay and just meh in parts in my opinion. The flow was terrible throughout. Usually I like chapter headings to set the mood so to speak for the book, but I thought that too much was happening back to back every day. 

The setting of Sunny Meadow Farm sounded interesting, but we really don't meet anyone but two other neighbors. 

The ending shows an epilogue and I was just glad to put this book behind me.  

I found myself bored reading this entire book. The flow wasn’t great the writing wasn’t either.

I was initially intrigued about reading about Chloe who is dealing with being suddenly single after finding out her husband was cheating on her. The other parts of the book were weak.

Chloe suffers from a social anxiety disorder but we see her going to events and meeting people. I think that the author kind of wrote this disorder in a haphazard way and merely used Chloe having issues for plot purposes which was annoying. I also didn’t find that Chloe and Alex were really interesting together. Chloe and Sean made more sense. 

Published by: Bookouture (19 January 2017)

ASIN: B01M9ETOCA

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4*

Synopsis:

Abigail lives the perfect life with her doting husband and adorable baby Izzy. But someone knows a secret about Abigail and they want the truth to be told.

When Izzy is snatched from a carpark, it becomes as case for Detective Robyn Carter. Someone has been sending threatening messages to Abigail from an anonymous number. What is Abigail hiding?

Robyn’s instincts tell her there’s a connection between Izzy’s abduction and two murders she is investigating. But the last time she acted on impulse her fiancé was killed. To break this case and earn her place back on the force, she must learn to trust herself again – and fast. Robyn is on the hunt for a ruthless serial killer. And unless she gets to the twisted individual in time a little girl will die ….

Review:

This story is told from the perspectives of three different people; Robyn, who is working as a private detective whilst taking a break from regular police work; Abigail, who is clearly hiding something; and eight year old Alice, whose story begins in the past. There are other central characters that add rich layers to this darkly compulsive, well written tale. 

Robyn isn't one of those characters I warmed to immediately, but more of a slow burner. By the end of the novel, I found I'd grown to like her. Setting her interact with people outside work, particularly her cousin Ross and her fiancé's daughter and ex made her seem so much more human. I'm really looking forward to catching up with Robyn on her next case. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Published by: Bookouture (23rd September 2016)

ISBN: 9781786810724 

Source: NetGalley 

Rating: 4.5*

Synopsis:

Since splitting from her husband, Charlie’s life has been stuck in a rut. Best friend Mercedes will do anything to put a smile back on Charlie’s face and so draws up a bucket list of things to help Charlie recover her mojo.

Sure enough, as Charlie works her way through the list, belly dancing and bungee jumping, she makes new friends and even begins to attract some male attention.

Journalist Jake gives Charlie butterflies but he almost seems too perfect – there must be a reason why he’s single. Perhaps Rob would be a better bet – yes he’s short and he drinks too much - but a girl can’t have everything can she?

The final challenge on Charlie’s list looms large. Can Charlie complete it and prove to herself that life is for living, whatever may have happened in the past? And can Jake get through to Charlie and stop her from settling for the single life or, the wrong man?

Review:

I don't read an awful lot of chick lit, but I know I can rely on the Bookouture authors to provide some much-needed light relief when I need a break from my beloved crime and psychological thrillers. Award-winning writer Carol E. Wyers is a new author to me, but I am familiar with her name, having recently found a copy of Life Swap in a local second hand book shop.

The premise of this novel is fabulous; two best friends agree to work their way through each others' Carpe Diem list, their version of a bucket list, undertaking the challenges. As Charlie works her way through her challenges, each more scary than the last, she gets into all sorts of trouble, often with hilarious results. I laughed so much whilst reading this book, it's got such a feel good factor! 

Charlie and best friend Mercedes seem like a couple of women I'd be friends with, and their relationship is so easy to relate to. Other characters simply add to the enjoyment, particularly adorable Bert. My only criticism would be that I worked out very early on what would happen, but I think this is acceptable in the genre, and the only thing that made me give it less than 5*.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for my honest review.

A nice easy read at 97 pages. As a mix of facts, jokes and suggestions, I recommend taking a look at the preview to see if it's your kind of book.

Occupying time in retirement is a serious subject, often overlooked. Failing to have a life focus in the twilight years can lead to serious mental illness and depression, so something like this with a good chunk of suggestions, is not as silly as it might sound!

Personally, I'm sorted. I have a musical keyboard and electric guitar ready for when I finally escape the drudgery of the nine to five. I also have a kimono collection (that's one Carol missed!) and a few other odds and sods to ensure my one remaining brain cell remains active. However, there's the question. What are you and your Grumpy going to do? That's what this book is about.

In our modern lives, we're sometimes completley spoilt for choice and thumbing through a book of suggestions can actually be the kick that makes us decide to get off our backside and do something.

As mentioned, the book is a mix of things. Did you know that a volleyball jumper apparently jumps roughly three hundred times during the average match? Some of the pre-made one-liners are not up to snuff; having heard most of them before. Carol's humour that is interjected in with the facts and suggestions are a lot better.