Rosamund Lupton: Sister

When Beatrice gets a frantic call in the middle of Sunday lunch to say that her younger sister, Tess, is missing, she boards the first flight home to London. But as she learns about the circumstances surrounding her sister's disappearance, she is stunned to discover how little she actually knows of her sister's life - and unprepared for the terrifying truths she must now face. The police, Beatrice's fiance and even their mother accept they have lost Tess but Beatrice refuses to give up on her. So she embarks on a dangerous journey to discover the truth, no matter the cost.

What a gripping family story about sisters with a thrilling mystery included. The ending was particularly surprising but somehow slightly disappointing. A great story!

Kathleen Kent: The Heretic's Daughter

Martha Carrier was hanged on August 19th 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, unyielding in her refusal to admit to being a witch. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and wilful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. She narrates the story of her early life in Andover, near Salem. As Sarah and her brothers are also hauled into the prison, the vicious cruelty of the trials is apparent, as the Carrier family, along with other innocents, are starved and deprived of any decency, battling their way through the hysteria with the sheer willpower their mother has taught them.

This was a fascinating story about the witch trials. Harrowing and gruesome at times but still quite uplifting and positive after all.

Elisabeth Hyde: Crazy as Chocolate

Ellie and Izzy have lived a life with a mother they adored. Taking them for long midnight baths or dancing in the dark in the rain, she’s been a magical, colourful figure. Now, on the eve of her forty-first birthday, Izzy realises that she’s about to reach the year her mother never got beyond. Her father and sister are flying out for an emotionally charged weekend visit, and Izzy can’t help feeling that she’s still responsible, that there are apologies to be made.

A sweet family story about how one's childhood influences one's adulthood and capability to form emotional bonds. An easy read!

Chris Kuzneski: The Prophecy

When the prophetic writings of sixteenth-century visionary Nostradamus begin to ring alarmingly true, Payne and Jones find themselves in a life-or-death race to stop those who would use the predictions for their own dark purposes.

Again, this is a fast read! The storyline seems far-fetched at times but that is due to the topic covered in this book - the prohecies of Nostradamus will obviously delve into the mystic and mysterious. The characters are as interesting as always and despite a more unsatisfying ending, this book makes a good read.

Risa Green: Notes from the Underbelly

As a careers counselor at an elite high school, Lara Stone works with spoiled, bratty kids every day, and she is definitely not ready to have any spoiled, bratty kids of her own. At least, not now. Not when her life is going so well. But Lara’s husband has different ideas, and when he presents her with a baby ultimatum, Lara is forced to enter the underbelly of pregnancy.

Having seen the TV show I have been trying to get hold of this book for a long time! It is great fun and so true! The storylines are obviously slightly different to those from the TV series, but the characters (Julie, Lara and Stacey) are equally interesting. A fun, relaxing read!