Review: With The Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni is seventeen, has a two year old daughter and is struggling to keep up in school - but she wants to be a chef more than anything. But trying to raise a two year old alone, living with a grandmother who suddenly has more doctors appointments, and a blossoming relationship that might be more trouble than it's worth, Emoni isn't sure that she can hold everything together...

This was a truly lovely book. This was different from anything that I have read before, but it was an excellent book that gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling by the end. I loved Emoni and her 'Buela - they are wonderful characters that were varied and kept the story interesting.

The selling point of this novel is the food woven throughout - recipes and references that are soulful and nourishing. This was a beautiful story, and I really enjoyed it.

Also - how stinking beautiful is this cover?!

Review: The Nursery by Asia Mackay

Alexis Tyler is a wife and mother, trying to hold everything together. But not only that, she is also an operative for the Government, saving the country on a daily basis and killing anyone who threatens the safety of the United Kingdom. But holding it all together is harder than it seems - her husband is starting to suspect her and the cracks are starting to show. Can she figure out how to balance a job that she loves and the family that she is desperate to hold onto?

This was a really great read. I didn't read the first one in the series, 'Killing It', but you didn't really need too - the story was separate from the first one and easy enough to pick up on it's own.

I really enjoyed the main character - Lex could easily be a real-life person, and the struggles in her day-to-day life are just so relatable, even if her job isn't. The storyline was gripping and definitely kept me hooked. The ending was excellent - I certainly didn't figure it out and it was a fantastic twist.

The story ends on a cliffhanger, suggesting that there's going to be a third book, and I'll definitely be looking out for it - this was a brilliant read.