February has been a month of two halves for me in terms of reading. The first half I powered through my books however towards the end of the month I felt like I'd lost my mojo. And I didn't want to force anything if I wasn't totally feeling it. So that's what I did. And guess what... I'm in the full swing of reading again. Hooray! Here are the two books I've read in February.
Books I've read in February
1. The Prison Doctor: Women Inside by Dr Amanda Brown
Synopsis
Through the eyes of a prison doctor, these stories reveal the raw realities of the women who reside there. From drug addicts who see Amanda as the mother figure they never had, to survivors of domestic abuse fighting to reclaim their lives, to elderly women nearing release who fear leaving the only home they've known.
With compassion and unwavering dedication, Amanda listens, heals, and provides care in a place where hope is often hard to find. Heartbreaking, uplifting, and deeply human. These are the untold stories of women on the margins of society, seen through the eyes of the doctor who stands by their side.
Review
I'm very into prison and crime related topics so this book was always going to interest me. There's something about a world that's so far from my own that I just find so interesting. I enjoyed reading the women's stories and felt a lot of them really pulled on the heartstrings. Especially those from the women who found solace in prison, away from the hardships from their 'outside' lives. With that being said, there was something about Prison Doctor: Women Inside that fell flat for me. I found myself wanting more. I wanted to find out more about the women, why they were in prison and what their experiences were like. There were lots of story examples however for me I'd have preferred less examples and more substance. It wasn't a bad read. In fact it was a very easy read, which I think is great, if that's what you're looking for. But I wanted a bit more grit!
Rating - 3 stars
2. The Holiday by T.M. Logan
Synopsis
Seven days. Three families. One killer.
A dream holiday in the south of France. Four lifelong friends, their families, and a luxurious villa under the sun. It was meant to be the perfect escape. But Kate has a secret. Her husband is cheating, and she suspects the other woman is one of her closest friends. Determined to uncover the truth, she plans to catch them in the act. Yet as she pieces together the betrayal, she realises someone is willing to go to dangerous lengths to keep their secrets buried.
As tensions rise in the sweltering Mediterranean heat, Kate’s search for the truth takes a deadly turn. Because in this villa, deception runs deep... And someone may be willing to kill to keep the past from surfacing.
Review
Oh my goodness, what a book! T.M. Logan is quickly becoming my favourite author (in fact, I'm currently reading another one right now). Right from the get go I was hooked by the storyline. I love a mystery, and this one was captivating! I was itching to find out who Kate's husband was having an affair with. With Logan's usual twists and turns, this book is a real page turner! It didn't take me long to get through this one at all. The only negative I'd say about this book is the amount of characters. You have Kate as the main followed by her three friends, their husbands and their children. There are a lot of names thrown around the book and at times I had to back track to remember who was who.
The Holiday has actually been made into a Netflix series which I've popped on my list. I think it'll definitely be worth a watch however, like with most things, I think the book is going to be miles better.
rating - 5 stars
To conclude
February has been a short and sweet reading month for me. I set myself a goal for the year of reading 12 books, which feels more than doable if January and February is anything to go by. I've really caught the reading bug over the last couple of months and I can't wait to get stuck in in March. Watch this space for my next T.M. Logan book - It's a goodie!
Have you read any of the books I've read in February?
I need to read this T.M. Logan book, I've recently finished The Curfew and it's a good read. I didn't realise that The Holiday was a Netflix series, going to add that to my Netflix 'to watch' list!
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I've read nothing but the Housemade books this month but I'm almost finished and ready to dive into new authors!
Rosie
Two books is better than none - and I’ll be honest, I’ve read none in february 🤣