#BookReview #Stolen #RubySpeechley #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

 

Don't miss this gripping, twisty psychological thriller, perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, J D Kirk and Freida McFadden 📚

He's been in my house.

He's taken my children.

What am I to do?

Vicki has done everything to protect her children. Their father was out of control – every day, his life embroiled in lies, drugs, chaos. So she cut him off, for good.

But when she comes home to a distraught babysitter, panic hits.

The kids are gone. And Lee says he’s not bringing them back.

Vicki can see how he persuaded the babysitter – Jess is young. Naïve. Easy to manipulate. The perfect pawn in his twisted plan.

But then Jess disappears too.

Is this just a father trying to take back what’s his? Or has something much darker wormed its way into her perfect family?

From the bestselling author of Missing comes an unputdownable story of a mother's strength, a family's secrets and the neverending question of: just who can you trust?!

Ruby Speechley is a bestselling psychological thriller writer, whose titles include, Gone, Missing, Guilty, The Uninvited Guest and Stolen. Vanished, her tenth novel, will be out on 15th July 2026.

Ruby's early novels, Someone Else's Baby, The Daughter You Left (previously, Every Little Secret), and A Mother Like You, have all been recently re-published by Boldwood Books (originally published by Hera). They Have My Baby (previously, The Face at the Window) was re-published on 14 May 2026.

Known for their twisty page-turning plots, relatable characters and gripping suspense, Ruby's novels explore dark domestic themes involving trust, secrets, confessions, betrayal, parenting and dysfunctional families, alongside crimes such as abduction, blackmail, online surveillance, and the dangers of AI and social media.

Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Ruby came to the UK as a baby and was raised here by her English father and Portuguese mother. She moved to Cheshire during lockdown in 2020 with her husband and two of her three children (and two Springer spaniels) to be near her eldest son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

You can contact her on X: @rubyspeechley

Facebook: Ruby Speechley Author

Instagram: rubyjtspeechley

Blue Sky: rubyspeechley .bsky .social

Stolen

Written By Ruby Speechley

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank Ruby Speechley, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review. 

Ruby would like to dedicate this book to her bookworm daughter Sophie. 

Dang!! Ruby Speechley wasted no time and dove straight into the intense nail biting edge of your seat scenes in her psychological thriller Stolen. Ruby’s descriptions were insanely detailed, the storyline was fast paced. I felt as if I was a fly on the wall watching the events in the prologue unfold. Being a fan of not only Ruby Speechley but of missing person cases I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this to anyone’s TBR list. 

My heart was beating outside of my chest putting myself in Vicki’s shoes not knowing what was going on with her children who she put in the care of a babysitter-Jess!! Why couldn’t she get a hold of her children or the babysitter? Why were their phones off? My anxiety was going through the roof along with Vicki’s!! I was praying that they were ok. 

Lee was my least favorite character for oh so many reasons!! You will just have to read the book to figure out why I said what I said! Let me know if you agree that he is your least favorite too! 

Stolen is very fast paced, thrilling, gripping, nail-biting, twisted read that you will want to put on your TBR list. 

#BookReview #YouWithTheSadEyes #AMemoir #ChristinaApplegate #LittleBrownandCompany

 

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"Funny, furious, and profane." —The New York Times

“Not your typical celebrity memoir.” —Jimmy Kimmel

Unflinchingly honest and darkly funny, You with the Sad Eyes unveils a side of Christina Applegate we’ve never seen, forever cementing her formidable and iconoclastic legacy. 

Christina Applegate came of age on sets and stages, expected to be on time, with lines learned, ready for lights-camera-action. What started as a financial necessity soon became an emotional escape from a tumultuous home life in the infamous Laurel Canyon scene of the 70s and 80s. She rocketed to stardom on the sitcom Married...with Children and went on to captivate audiences in classics like Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead…, Anchorman, and Dead to Me in her five-decade long career.

Then it all stopped. A Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 confined her to a king-sized bed and the company of memories she’d rather forget: memories of the self-doubt and body dysmorphia that stalked her meteoric rise, of her mother’s fight against addiction and abuse after her father left, and of the tax life had taken on her body and mind that was suddenly coming due.

Now, at her most intimate and vulnerable, she unveils a story not even those closest to her fully know. She returns to the diaries she kept her whole life, finding the pain matched by joy, the losses mitigated by the extraordinary, and the weight of life lifted by her unrelenting belief that something greater lay ahead. No longer willing to lock herself away and with the perspective only our own mortality can bring, she knew it was imperative to tell it all.

You with the Sad Eyes presents a remarkable woman and her legacy. In her own words, “I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone. That’s why I’m doing this. You with the Sad Eyes won’t be some big violin scratching for my life. But it will be real. It will be filled with the ups and downs, the humor and grief of life.

So here I am.

Real me.

Lots to say.”

Christina Applegate is an Emmy® award-winning actress known for her captivating performances across film, television, and theatre. Applegate has charmed audiences throughout her career, from her breakout role as Kelly Bundy in MARRIED WITH CHILDREN to her award-winning performance in DEAD TO ME. With memorable credits along the way including ANCHORMAN, DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD, and her Tony-nominated performance in SWEET CHARITY on Broadway, Applegate has solidified her status as a Hollywood legend. In 2024, Applegate launched her own podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, ‘MeSsy’, where the co-hosts get vulnerable about life’s curveballs and living with MS. With hilarious but grounded conversations, joined by special guests including Will Ferrell, Jean Smart, Robin Roberts, and Jimmy Kimmel, they reflect on persevering through the messiness of life. Beyond her success on the screen, Applegate is recognized for her advocacy work, raising awareness about various causes close to her heart. Applegate’s talent, grace, and humanitarian work continue to inspire fans worldwide.

You With The Sad Eyes

A Memoir 

Written By Christina Applegate

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

When I had heard Christina Applegate was writing her memoir You With The Sad Eyes I knew that I needed to put it on my TBR list. I have been a fan of her acting since she was on Married with Children, Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, and more recently Bad Moms. However, I knew that with this memoir Christina would personally invite us into her private world and bravely share her MS story among other aspects of her life. She is incredibly strong to not only go through this on a daily basis but to share her journey with the world is commendable. 

The cover photo is a beautiful black and white picture of Christina. Whomever chose that picture did a great job! 

This book is dedicated to Sadie for she is the reason for everything! 

In 2021 Christina Applegate was diagnosed with MS. MS attacks the nervous system and slows down your function, your respiratory system, your organs, and everything. The disease eats away at all the things we take for granted. Some have lots of pain. Unfortunately, for Christina she has a lot of it when she wakes up with it. Christina has infusions every 6 months to slow the process down. Her stomach frequently slows down to a halt, leaving her to rush to the ER in pain. 

As you can imagine with all of this that goes on with her the worst side effect is exhaustion. She sometimes goes in a three day sleepless bender. 

My heart totally breaks for her that this has robbed Christina of her active life and who she once was! Now she escapes her reality into watching reality tv shows.

This book though is more than just about her MS a lot more!! It is about her past, her family, her childhood. Plus, there are pictures included in the book as well. I would highly suggest putting it on your TBR list. 

#BookReview #CisforChildhoodCancer #KatieVandrilla #NonFiction #MedicalMemoir

 

At sixteen, a leukemia diagnosis derails the author’s plans and reshapes adolescence into a world of hospital rooms, chemo schedules, and medical uncertainty. What follows is a candid account of growing up too fast, where sarcasm becomes a coping mechanism and laughter often coexists with fear. Supported by a steadfast family, devoted teachers, and unforgettable companions met along the way, the author learns to endure treatment while holding onto moments of joy in the most unlikely places.

This memoir goes beyond survival to explore the complicated aftermath of remission. It confronts survivor’s guilt, the emotional whiplash of “getting better,” and the lingering presence of those who didn’t make it out. Healing proves nonlinear, messy, and deeply human—marked by both gratitude and grief, and by the slow process of finding meaning after chaos.

Honest, heartfelt, and still healing, this story is for anyone facing illness, loss, or an unexpected detour from the life they imagined. It offers a reminder that healing has no timeline, strength often comes from leaning on others, and even the darkest chapters can hold moments of light. Ten percent of proceeds support childhood cancer research, because as long as children are still fighting cancer, we can do better.

C is for Childhood Cancer: And Other Lessons Cancer Taught Me” ebook preorder link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GL4LDHCZ. It will be available on May 20th in ebook ($6.99) and paperback ($12.99). The paperback is 241 pages.

The time Katie met Johnny Depp thanks to Make A Wish Foundation

Author Bio:

Katie is an author and dedicated chemistry teacher whose resilience as a cancer survivor shapes her work. A Make-A-Wish recipient, she now gives back as a volunteer Wish Granter. A lifelong traveler (usually to London) and unabashed Johnny Depp/Lana Parrilla fan, she balances creativity with heart. At home, she cherishes time with her family, her husband, and their dog, drawing inspiration from love, gratitude, and the adventures that continue to guide her stories.

Instagram/Threads: @KatieVandrilla 

Website: http://www.katievandrilla.com (Media Kit: https://katievandrilla.com/media-kit/)

My Linktree: https://linktr.ee/katievandrilla

Inspiration behind the book:

I wanted to tell the story I wish I’d had while I was going through treatment—one that didn’t sugarcoat the fear, but also didn’t forget the humor. Cancer shaped my childhood in ways I didn’t fully understand until later, and writing this book became a way to process that experience while hopefully helping others feel less alone. Writing forced me to slow down and really sit with experiences I had compartmentalized for years. It didn’t “fix” everything, but it helped me understand myself better and gave meaning to things that once just felt chaotic. I hope that readers see that healing has no timeline, that it’s okay to feel conflicting emotions, and that needing support doesn’t make you weak. I hope they see that even in the hardest chapters, moments of light can still exist. And maybe inspire some to share their own stories.

10% of proceeds will go to support childhood cancer research because the story doesn’t end with me. As long as children are still being diagnosed and suffering, there’s more work to be done. This book is personal, but the mission is bigger than one story.

C is for Childhood Cancer 

And Other Lessons Cancer Has Taught Me

Written By Katie Vandrilla 

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews 

First, I want to thank Katie Vandrilla for providing me with this book so 

I may bring you this review. 

Katie Vandrilla needs to be commended for her bravery in opening up her heart and taking us with her on her journey through  C is for Childhood Cancer and Other Lessons Cancer Taught Me! Katie poured her heart and soul into this book and it showed how passionate she was about educating her readers on this topic. She even acknowledges how open and honest that she is in this book! 

Right from the beginning of this book Katie had my attention! Having your whole family take off a day and spend with you while you get your results!!I  Plus, when you had to get called down to your school’s office with your family!! I have major anxiety!! I can’t imagine what was going on inside your head during this time with the fear of the unknown! 

There were a lot of things that I loved about this book (and we will get to my ultimate fave in a bit) but I loved how Katie educated me on all things related to Leukemia. There were a lot of things I did not know about this disease that I do know about now. 

So many times my heart broke reading about how this disease was causing her so much physical pain and heartbreak. I wanted to reach into the book and give her a hug. 

She mentioned in this book about a foot drop. We both share that in common as I too have a foot drop but growing up I was told it was called a dropped foot caused by a botched surgery. I too need to watch where I walk so I don’t trip and fall. 

My favorite part of the book for Katie was her love of Johnny Depp and the great lengths she and Make-A-Wish went to go through to grant her wish to make that happen!! I can only imagine how happy she was the day she was when she finally met him!! 

One thing I learned about Katie reading this book is she is unique and that we would probably get along if we hung out! So, she has a best friend named Thumper that is a stuffed bunny since her third Easter. She shares stories about him in the book. Fast forward to today we learn that she wrote her first children’s book Thumper’s Hospital Adventures. She would daydream of what Thumper would do in the middle of the night while she was sleeping. Katie kept seeing cancer represented wrong in books and movies where they usually died at the end. There were few stories that inspired her or accurately portrayed the disease so she wrote her own. 

Jay Howcroft created the cutest cover for C is for Childhood Cancer. It is colorful and eye-catching! 

Katie is donating 10% of all of her proceeds of this book to childhood cancer research. 

This book is a must read for any child going through cancer or their caregiver.