Please help - memory card error

Hello,

Please can anyone help, I tried to access my memory card (SDHC 8GB) by putting it into my laptop - realised afterwards on my laptop it only says SD above the slot (not sdhc) which is why I don't think it worked/corrupted it, when I put it back in my camera it came up memory card error. I have bought a card reader off amazon (which says if for sdhc) but when I plug it in it does not recognise it and says the data on the card failed or whatever. (sorry I'm not very technical)
I have holiday pictures I really want back so don't want to reformat the card. Please can anyone help? I've been quoted £80 - £130 to send it off for specialist recovery :-(.

Thanks in advance