Month: February 2017

Blog Tour: Combatting Fear by Sandy Vaile @Sandy_Vaile

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Welcome to my stop on the Combating Fear blog tour and a happy publication day to Sandy! I have a fabulous guest post from the author AND a giveaway for your chance to win a copy of the book.


Blurb: 

How far would you go to save a child that wasn’t yours?

Mild-mannered kindergarten teacher, Neve Botticelli, leads a double life. At home with her paranoid father, she is a combat trained survivalist who lives off-the-grid.

When self-made billionaire, Micah Kincaid, storms into town in search of his four-year-old son, Rowan, he’s pushy, entitled, and stands for everything Neve despises.

But something far more sinister than a cheating estranged wife, is lurking in rural Turners Gully, and it has its sights set on little Rowan’s inheritance. It turns out there is one thing Micah and Neve can agree on, and that’s keeping Rowan safe.

As they work together to free Rowan, they glimpse beneath one another’s guises, and realise that falling in love could be even more dangerous than hunting deadly criminals.

Goodreads|Amazon

Guest Post 

Hi, I’m Sandy Vaile, a motorbike-riding daredevil who isn’t content with a story unless there’s a courageous heroine and a dead body. When I’m not devising horrible things to do to fictional characters, I write procedures for high-risk industrial activities, mentor new writers through the Novelist’s Circle critiquing group, judge romance writing competitions, present literary craft workshops, and write the odd articles and blog.

I’ve been looking forward to dropping by for a chat with Amy, and to give you some insight into how I came to be here.

I imagine you can all relate to being side-tracked from your dreams by everyday life. Well, that’s exactly what happened to me. All through high school the plan was to become a journalist, but I moved out of home when I was 16 y.o., and then work, marriage and children all happened to divert me from writing. For more than a decade child-rearing magazines were the extent of my reading, and correspondence with pen pals the extent of my writing.

I was middle-aged when a friend insisted I read the Harry Potter series. I so loved the complex plot and diverse characters, that my inner creative being was awakened. The smouldering tinder only ignited further with each book I read, until I was desperate to write again.

Now, you many have guessed I’m not one to do things by half, so I didn’t bother starting with short stories or diary entries. No, I decided I was going to write a whole novel! Nothing to it, right?

So, I drew on my life experiences to come up with a few characters that stirred my curiosity, and formed the idea of a conflict. I wrote 60,000 words in the first six weeks. Now that’s enthusiasm! Unfortunately, the family eventually wanted to be fed and have clean clothes to wear, so I had to slow up a teeny bit.

It didn’t deter my focus though, because I’d already figured out one vital thing. The most important difference between a published and unpublished author is that one actually finished the book. So that was my first goal.

That first book represented a huge learning curve for me, because I’d left pesky little things like grammar and literary devices behind in high school, and had to learn them all over again. But learn them I did, and finish that book in nine months I did. It took another year before I felt it was polished enough to submit to publishers. Unfortunately, that manuscript remains in the figurative bottom drawer.

Now, this is the part of my journey where I learnt to embrace rejection, because there was a lot of it, but thankfully I was also tossed a few scraps of positive feedback along the way, and that’s all it took to keep me motivated.

When I saw an advertisement by Crimson Romance (a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster) for stories with gritty heroines who break stereotypes, I knew I had what they were looking for. And that’s how my first book, “Inheriting Fear” got picked up and sent into the wide world.

Now you are helping me celebrate the release of my second romantic suspense book, “Combatting Fear”, and I have to pinch myself now and again, just to make sure this high is real. (Ouch! Okay, it is.)

I’d love to hear about your literary challenges and loves.

Leave a comment on this blog and get 1 entry to win the “Combatting Fear” eBook. Subscribe to my newsletter and get 3 more entries.

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About the Author:


I’m Sandy and my motto in life is…
I’ll try anything once

To that end, I take every opportunity that presents and have a wealth of life experiences to draw on when writing.
These include riding a motorbike, skydiving, hot air ballooning, getting tattoos, swimming with sharks and turtles, and having the privilege to carry the Olympic flame.
The common denominator in my stories is courageous, gritty heroines who don’t especially need the strong heroes who sweep them off their feet, but when they do find Mr. Right, they’re not afraid to hold on tight.
My love of adventure and action sports started early, with 3-day eventing horses and cross-country running. Living in Papua New Guinea as a child meant lots of water sports, outdoor living and learning the local Pigeon English.

Connect with Sandy: 

Facebook|Twitter|Website

Check out the other stops on the tour

Review: The Devil Crept In by Ania Ahlborn @aniaahlborn

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Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: Gallery Books

Genre: Horror, Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

An unforgettable horror novel from bestselling sensation Ania Ahlborn—hailed as a writer of “some of the most promising horror I’ve encountered in years” (New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire)—in which a small-town boy investigates the mysterious disappearance of his cousin and uncovers a terrifying secret kept hidden for years.


Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.


That, and there was that boy, Max Larsen…the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now, fear is reborn—and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth may be too horrifying to imagine.

Review: 

I don’t usually read horror, I’m not even sure why as the handful of books I’ve read I enjoyed, but when I saw not one, but THREE of my favorite bloggers raving about this one, I knew I had to read it! I’m talking about Sam at Clues and Reviews, Abby at Crime By The Book, and Danielle at Books Vertigo and Tea, thank you ladies for the awesome recommendation!

I was a bit skeptical when I first started this one, it was on the slow side and there wasn’t much to be afraid of. I needn’t have worried because as the book progressed, so did the creep factor. This is broken up into three parts; part one is told by Stevie a ten year old boy. His cousin and best friend Jude is missing and he’s frantic with worry. Part two is told from Rosie’s perspective, she’s a young woman living deep in the forest of Deer Valley, Oregon with her husband and she desperately wants a child. Part three is when things really start to get intense and downright horrifying as the storylines merge together. 

Even though the pacing for the beginning of Jude’s story was a bit slow for me, I was very taken in by his character. This poor kid, he lives with his detached mother, his abusive stepfather and his jerky older brother. His only friend is Jude and he’s lost and frightened without him. He stutters and does this odd rhyming thing when he speaks, so as you can imagine school is a nightmare for him. On top of all of that, he’s struggling in regards to his mental health and no one seems to care very much. I wanted to take care of this sweet boy and give him the love and affection he deserves, he really got under my skin. Then there’s Rosie whose one wish is to be a mother and when she miscarried, my heart broke. I don’t want to discuss her too much as anything I would say would be a spoiler, but my heart really went out to her. 

The setting of the small town of Deer Valley that’s surrounded by a dense forest was a perfect backdrop for the horrors Ahlborn created. From the trees that seemed to whisper secrets to the people who dared to venture into the forest to the animals who seemed otherworldly in a highly disturbing way, the author absolutely nailed the atmosphere of this book. This one is gory and graphic, I was chilled to the bone many times while reading. Have you ever been watching a scary movie and kind of watched with one eye open? That was me reading this. The epilogue was utter perfection, I was petrified and pleased by it, and by now you guys now how much a strong ending means to me. If you’re a mystery/thriller fan who doesn’t mind supernatural elements and graphic descriptions, give this one a chance. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Review: Revenge by Nigel May @Nigel_May @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: February 10, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Chick Lit

Blurb: 

If you keep dangerous secrets you’ll pay the ultimate price… 


In the South of France, playground of the rich and famous, world renowned chef Dexter Franklin is organising a night to remember. As he opens the doors to his exclusive restaurant for the first time, he’s handpicked a list of guests, as hot and dazzling as the St Tropez sun itself: 


Mew Stanton: Fashionable, beautiful and a notorious TV chef, Dexter’s ex-girlfriend has all the ingredients for success. As her books fly off the shelves, a secret from her past is about to surface with explosive consequences. 


Holly Lydon: Ex girlband star who has fallen on hard times. Forced to make ends meet she’s having to sleep her way to the top. Now she’s making headlines for all the wrong reasons. 


Rosita Velázquez: Brazilian actress extraordinaire and girlfriend of Dexter’s brother, Leland. When she’s in town everybody needs to know about it, but this is one show-stopping entrance she’ll live to regret. 


Three women have a past with Dexter and a grudge to bear against him. As fireworks ignite in the jet set capital of Europe, there’s murder on the menu. Who will be served their just desserts? 


The sun is setting in the South of France. Pour yourself a glass of champagne and sit back for a read of revenge, regrets and shocking revelations that will have you hooked to the very last page. 


Review: 

Nigel May is back with his sixth book or as he calls it, his sexy six pack, I love that! This is only the second book of his that I’ve read but I’m packing the other four the next time I head to Mexico. Full of deceit, betrayal, glitz, sex and scandal they are THE definition of a beach read. I was dreaming of a warm beach, a lounger and a cocktail the whole time I was reading this and with the majority of this taking place in St. Tropez, it was easy to escape to a stunning locale (in my mind at least!)

When the book begins, Cher a famous burlesque dancer (think Dita Von Teese) has been strangled in her dressing room and the murderer was never found. Now it’s five years later and Dexter Franklin wants revenge for many reasons, and he has planned a night that won’t easily be forgotten that coincides with the opening of his new restaurant. He meticulously plans for this evening, taking care to ensure that several very important guests are in attendance. There’s Mew, a fellow celebrity chef and ex pop star, Holly who was in the same girl group as Mew, Leland, his estranged brother, Rosita, a Brazilian actress and Leland’s girlfriend and D.C. a food critic. Each and everyone of them has several juicy skeletons in their closets and most of them have slept with each other at some point. There are all the key ingredients necessary to mix a volatile cocktail, mainly drama, sex and scandal and May delivers on every level exceptionally well.

This book is hot and steamy, it’s always fun to get a glimpse at how the other half lives and Nigel May books are officially my guilty pleasure. I love the campy feel of his novels, there is so much bitchiness, the claws are always out especially amongst the women, but the men can be brutal as well. He knows how to create characters that you love to hate, but there are always a few, that despite their spoiled behavior still manage to wrap me around their fingers. This was a total page turner and by the end, opening night of Dexter’s restaurant, I was dying to see how things would play out. The best way for me to describe this is to say it’s a gutsy, glossy, glam thriller that makes for a titillating read. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

Review & Giveaway:  Lucidity by David Carnoy @DavidCarnoy

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: The Overlook Press

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

After his “gripping thriller debut” (Kirkus) Knife Music and sophomore “page turner” (Examiner.com) The Big Exit, David Carnoy’s Detective Hank Madden returns in this bicoastal caper that pits dreams against reality, where nothing can be taken at face value.  


Twenty years after the unsolved case of Stacey Walker’s disappearance went cold, a Silicone Valley executive hires the retired Menlo Park Police Detective Hank Madden to find her body and track down her missing husband, the prime suspect in her unsolved murder. Four months later, author Candace Epstein is pushed in front of a car near Central Park. Her editor Max Fremmer becomes entangled into the investigation of her attempted murder, though he is adamant that he is uninvolved. As he digs into Candace’s background to clear his own name, Fremmer grows suspicious of his client’s connection to a nefarious institute for lucid dreaming on the Upper East Side and its staff whose stories never seem to add up—all while an unexpected link emerges to Detective Madden’s investigation in California.


As similarities arise between the cases on each coast, Detective Madden and Fremmer forge an unlikely partnership to expose what misconduct lurks beneath the façade of the Lucidity Center—but can they unravel the secret that links their investigations together in time, or are they only dreaming? Carnoy’s Lucidity stuns with complex detail that will keep readers guessing until the final, satisfying jolt.

Review: 

You know how sometimes you read the same genre so often that things begin to feel stale? I especially feel this can be true when you read a lot of mysteries, it’s hard to come across something fresh and different, I can’t imagine how hard it is for authors to come up with something new and exciting! There was something really noteworthy about Lucidity, it gave me a new vibe while I was reading it that I really appreciated.

There are two separate narratives here; Hank Madden is a retired detective in California who has been hired to investigate a cold case as a PI and Max Fremmer, a “book doctor” and spin instructor from New York who’s client and friend, Candace was just pushed into traffic and is not expected to make it. Each chapter flips back and forth between the two men and both storylines were engrossing. There were definitely similarities between both cases, but the way Carnoy weaved them together was truly effortless and impressive, it sure kept me on my toes.

Both Fremmer and Madden were fantastic characters, the type where you feel like you could actually encounter people exactly like them in real life. Fremmer was a funny guy, his dialogue reminded me of Harlan Coben’s style and I mean that as a huge compliment, because as a writer I feel he can do no wrong. Everything about this was sharp and witty, like I said earlier it just felt really fresh. Madden was equally interesting, he was one of the last cases of polio in the US, he’s a sexual abuse survivor and a decorated cop.

I loved hopping back and forth from the east to the west coast, it kept things exciting. There were several well executed turns and red herrings along the way and things didn’t play out how I was anticipating. Besides the two amazing protagonists there was a great cast of eccentric characters to spice things up, and the concept of lucid dreaming was trippy but a really cool addition.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Chelsea at The Suspense is Thrilling Me and the author for my review copy.

Three people will each receive a ecopy of Lucidity! Open internationally as long as you can receive an email from me with the file 😜

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Blog Tour: The Watcher by @nettanewbound @bloodhoundbook

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Delighted to share an extract from Netta Newbound’s new book, The Watcher with you today as part of my stop on the blog tour.


Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Blurb: 

Life couldn’t get much better for Hannah. She accepts her dream job in Manchester, and easily makes friends with her new neighbours.


When she becomes romantically involved with her boss, she can’t believe her luck. But things are about to take a grisly turn.


As her colleagues and neighbours are killed off one by one, Hannah’s idyllic life starts to fall apart. But when her mother becomes the next victim, the connection to Hannah is all too real.


Who is watching her every move? 


Will the police discover the real killer in time? 


Hannah is about to learn that appearances can be deceptive.

Extract: 

The Watcher

By Netta Newbound

.

 

Prologue


Germany – 17 years ago


Donald stepped out of the darkness and tensed as his eyes darted across the crowd of drunken revelers. It took a moment for him to spot his target. When he did, he breathed deeply and struggled to calm his pulse.

Pulling himself together, he forced himself forward, keeping the woman’s bright red jacket in his sights at all times. All his senses were on high alert, yet on the surface he fought to appear nonchalant.

He stood behind her in the queue leading to the nightclub and inhaled her scent. Fruity conditioner was the overriding smell coming from her luscious red curls, but he’d watched her dab Dune, her favourite Christian Dior perfume, behind her ears before she left the bathroom less than an hour ago.

The line shuffled forwards and he bumped into her.

“I beg your pardon.” He smiled, running his fingers through his short, prematurely gray hair.

Clair nodded, but several people spluttered with laughter followed by a tirade of German piss-taking.

Donald gritted his teeth as the fingers on his other hand found, gripped, and slowly lifted the phone from Clair’s jacket pocket.

Once inside the club, he kept his distance, watching as Clair spotted her friend at the bar. They hugged and squealed at each other for several minutes. He could pick out the odd word here and there, but he hadn’t been interested in learning the lingo—he never intended being in the country this long.

They took a seat, and he slid into the vacant booth backing onto theirs, and waited.

Within moments, more squealing followed the start of a popular song, and the girls dashed onto the dance floor.

Donald didn’t waste any time. He opened the small paper square, leaned over the table, and slipped the crushed sleeping tablet into Clair’s glass. Then, once he was sure he hadn’t been spotted, he returned to his seat to begin his wait.

An hour later, Clair made a move towards the exit. Her voice couldn’t be heard above the music, so she hand-signaled that she would call her extremely irritated friend soon.

Donald scooted around her and left the building first. He was already leaning against the outer wall by the time Clair appeared looking flustered as she rummaged in her jacket pocket.

“Are you okay?” he asked, knowing she could speak good English.

“Somebody stole my phone.”

“Bloody scoundrels. Do you want one of these?” He offered her a pack of the cigarettes he knew she’d been struggling to give up all week.

She hesitated before taking one.

He lit a match, and, after lighting his own cigarette, he leaned in to light hers.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’m sorry I don’t have a phone to lend you. I left it at home otherwise my sister would be calling me every two minutes.”

“Your sister?” A smirk played at the corners of her mouth.

Donald shrugged. “My wife died recently. I’m staying with my sister, but she keeps thinking I’m going to top myself.”

“Top yourself?”

“You know?” He made a shape of a gun with his fingers and popped it into his mouth. “Pow! Top myself.”

“Ah, kill yourself?”

He smiled sadly. “But I won’t.”

“How did your wife die?”

“Cancer.”

Clair nodded. “My mother also.”

“That’s shit. Hey, can I give you a lift home? My heart isn’t in this place, after all.”

“I should call my man. He will come for me.”

Donald shrugged one shoulder and smiled. “You don’t have a phone, remember?”

She grinned and nodded.

“No skin off my nose. I can have you home in ten minutes.”

“You do not know my address.” She leaned against the wall and her beautiful green eyes appeared heavy.

Donald could’ve kicked himself. “Can’t be too far if your man was going to come over.”

“True. Okay.” She nodded. “I will accept. Thank you.”

They walked through the passageway to the backstreet.

He’d parked his scruffy white van less than five minutes’ walk away, but Clair couldn’t make the last few steps without his support.

“That drink has affected my legs,” she chuckled.

He opened the passenger door of the van and carefully placed her inside before running around to the driver’s seat.

He turned the key and drove out of town.

Clair was snoring softly and he smiled, thrilled with himself for pulling it off. He knew his meek and mild appearance fooled everyone. It always had, but playing the cancer card was a stroke of genius.

Her phone rang from his pocket.

Startled, he reached for it, but he wasn’t fast enough.

Clair sat upright and stared at him questioningly.

He glanced at her, and then back at the road ahead, his thoughts in a whirr.

“Let me out!” she said, her voice high-pitched.

“Shhh, Clair. Calm down.”

“Let me out. Fucking let me out,” she screamed.

With one fluid movement, Donald smashed his fist into the side of her head. “Less of the language,” he growled as the woman slumped unconscious into her seat.

About the Author: 


Netta Newbound is the author of several best-selling psychological thrillers including An Impossible Dilemma and the Adam Stanley Thriller Series. Originally from Manchester, England, she now lives in New Zealand with her husband Paul and their boxer dog Alfie. She has three grown-up children and three delicious grandchildren. 


As a child, Netta was plagued by a wild imagination, often getting in trouble for making up weird and wonderful stories. Yet she didn’t turn her attention to writing until after her children had grown and left home.

Website

Review: Friend Zone by Camilla Isley @camillaisley

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Amazon|Author Website
Release date: February 9, 2017

Publisher: Pink Bloom Press

Genre: NA/Romance 

Blurb: 

Alice Brown fell in love with Jack the day she moved into her freshman dorm. Problem is, she’s been stuck in the friend zone ever since. After another meaningless breakup, she’s ready to confess her feelings to Jack.

Jack Sullivan has mistaken friendship for love once before and has vowed never to do it again. A varsity sports player, he’s determined to enjoy college with no strings attached.

Peter Wells is Jack’s best wingman. He enjoys his popularity as team captain and when he meets Alice, he’s ready to steal her heart.


When Jack sees Alice and Peter together, jealousy hits him hard. But will he break his vow to never date a friend?

Review: 

I loved the first Camilla Isley book I read, Love Connection so when I saw she was releasing a new book that was slightly different I was intrigued. LC focused on adult relationships whereas Friend Zone was about a group of college aged young men and women trying to navigate dating as well as friendships and school. I don’t read a ton of NA books but I have to say that I really liked this one! 

There are several narrators here, but the chapters are clearly labeled and it didn’t take me long to work out who was dating who and who lived with who. The two main protagonists are Alice and Jack. Alice has been in love with Jack since they met, but Jack is a player and he pushed Alice firmly into the friend zone straightaway. When Alice decides to try and forget about her feelings for Jack she starts dating his close friend and teammate, Peter. Of course Jack being a typical, clueless guy gets jealous and starts wondering if he should’ve dated Alice when had a chance. 

All of the characters here are attending Harvard and there’s a good mix of personalities and backgrounds. You have Alice and Jack who are both majoring in chemistry, Madison and Haley are Alice’s roommates and do computer coding and literature, respectively. Jack’s friends are mainly athletes, then there are a few chapters from Alice’s ex boyfriend Ethan and his new girlfriend Rose. It sounds like too much, but I promise it wasn’t confusing especially as they all interact with each frequently making it easy to establish their connections. I think that’s actually what set this apart from a typical story where friends turn to lovers for me. There were many side stories and relationships to follow and it kept me engaged. 

This was a really lighthearted and fun read, I’m all for some drama and they way they were hooking up and breaking up constantly made for some juicy scenes. Alice and Jack exchanged cute and playful banter that made me go awww, out loud a few times and I couldn’t help but root for them to figure it out and date each other already! Overall it was a cute and entertaining book that I read in a few hours. 

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

Review: Forever is the Worst Long Time by Camille Pagan @cnoepagan

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Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

From acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a wry, heartfelt exploration of love and loss.


When struggling novelist James Hernandez meets poet Louisa “Lou” Bell, he’s sure he’s just found the love of his life. There’s just one problem: she’s engaged to his oldest friend, Rob. So James toasts their union and swallows his desire.


As the years pass, James’s dreams always seem just out of reach—he can’t finish that novel, can’t mend his relationship with his father, can’t fully commit to a romantic relationship. He just can’t move on. But after betrayal fractures Lou’s once-solid marriage, she turns to James for comfort.


When Lou and James act on their long-standing mutual attraction, the consequences are more heartbreaking—and miraculous—than either of them could have ever anticipated. Then life throws James one more curveball, and he, Rob, and Lou are forced to come to terms with the unexpected ways in which love and loss are intertwined. 

Review: 

I have to start by wishing Camille a very happy publication day! 

This book made me cry. That’s a pretty big deal for me you guys, I’m not really a crier, sure I have my moments but for the most part I’m pretty stoic. To say that this was an emotional read is an understatement and if you want a read with characters that are flawed, yet able to pull on your emotions, get this book! 

James is the narrator here and I found hearing from a male perspective to be a really refreshing experience. He’s writing to his daughter, Emerson which was really sweet and if you’re worried that he may sugarcoat things because of this, don’t be. He’s brutally honest about his life and the mistakes he’s made and though he has many regrets, he’s unapologetic in a raw way. It starts in 1998 when his lifelong best friend introduces him to his new girlfriend, Lou. James immediately feels a strong connection to Lou but knows there is no way he can act on it. Right? As the time goes by and Lou and Rob face their own struggles, Lou and James continue to bond. After giving into temptation for just one night, Lou and James discover that a series of seemingly small choices have the impact to change their lives forever. 

I don’t want to say much more about the plot as this is another book that I feel is best experienced on your own. I was totally enraptured by Pagan’s writing style and finished this one rather quickly. The characters were all extremely well developed and proved that even if you don’t always like or agree with choices they make, you will still feel a deep connection and understanding about why they behaved the way they did. This would be a perfect choice for a book club as there is SO much to discuss; love, loss, how the decisions we make, however small, can have life changing consequences, family, forgiveness, the beauty of unconventional relationships, I could go on and on. It really was a beautifully told story of one man’s journey that spoke to me on many levels. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (only because parts were a tiny bit predictable) 

Thanks to Kathleen Zrelak for my review copy. 

Blog Tour: The Boy Inside by Ross Greenwood @greenwoodross @bloodhoundbook

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Amazon US|Amazon UK

Release date: February 7, 2017

Publisher: Bloodhound Books 

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

How can you make the right decisions if everything you’ve been told is a lie?

With absent parents and broken friends, twenty-one year old Ben is making choices, which are ruining his life. In jail, again, he and his cellmate, Jake, take a hostage in a futile gesture against a system they can’t control.

This powerful, beautifully written novel gives a vivid and realistic picture of those we send to prison.

Who would you rely on if you were locked up?

Do we ask the most from the ones who have the least?

Life is never easy when you are a boy inside.

Review: 

I’m delighted to be opening the blog tour for The Boy Inside today and want to wish Ross Greenwood a very happy publication day! 


I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this book, but whatever I was anticipating, it wasn’t what I received. I don’t mean that in a negative way at all, this was just so highly different from any other crime novel that I have read before. It wasn’t typical in the sense that there was a case to be solved, or a detective to follow, or even a killer narrating, things that fans of this genre have seen before and even come to expect. Instead it was a dark and harrowing look into the life of a teenager who bounces in and out of the prison system and how this effects his fragile life in many ways. 

The book starts when Ben is about fifteen and his life is ok, not too bad at all. He’s an only child and his parents are still married, and though they may not be rolling in the dough, he’s taken well care of for the most part. When his dad gets cancer and passes away, his mom turns to alcohol and Ben finds that he mostly has to take care of himself. He meets Jake, another local teenager and before too long he’s dabbling in petty crimes, and actually enjoying himself. He has no idea at the time that this will be his fatal mistake. 

The book continues to follow Ben and Jake until Ben is twenty one as he gets locked up and released only to be picked up again as he can’t seem to keep his nose clean. His struggles were awful and heartbreaking and the worst part of all for me at least, was that this is an accurate reality for many young men. Ben didn’t have the necessary resources to stay out of prison even though he never wanted to be there. His mother was battling her own demons against alcohol and he was hanging around the wrong crowd so the odds were never in his favor. This was very gritty and dark, and as much as I was rooting for Ben, it really seemed like he never had a real chance at a normal, prison free life. 

If you’re looking for an entirely different type of book that is heavily character driven, you would enjoy this one. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Ross was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until he was twenty, attending The King’s School in the city. He then began a rather nomadic existence, living and working all over the country and various parts of the world.


He found himself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that he met hs partner about a hundred metres from his back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. He’s still a little stunned by the pace of it now.


This book was started a long time ago but parenthood and then four years as a prison officer got in the way. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave him the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep, he completed it in the early morning hours.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly post to share what you recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan on reading this week. It’s hosted by Kathryn at Bookdate. 

What I Read Last Week: 


Right Behind You was another excellent addition to Gardner’s Quincy and Rainie series. 

Things We Have in Common just didn’t sit right with me, not my type of read. 

In the Shadow of Lakecrest was a good gothic historical fiction. 

Pretty Little World was a captivating read about a group of friends who try out communal living. 

No Safe Home was a clever crime novel. 

I finished the audiobook version of Cross the Line and enjoyed it immensely. 


Distress Signals was a really great psychological thriller. 

The Lost Woman was a sophisticated crime novel. 
Currently Reading: 


Up Next: 


I’m hoping to read quite a bit today, (it’s Sunday as I write this) as I don’t watch football and my husband is at a Super Bowl party so I don’t even have to have it on in the background 😂😂

What are you currently reading? What’s up next for you? 

Blog Tour: Don’t Look Behind You by Mel Sherratt @writermels @bookouture 

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: January 31, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

She got into bed but sleep didn’t come easily. Every creak in the house made her alert. She was waiting for him to come and get her. 


The small city of Stockleigh is in shock as three women are brutally attacked within days of each other. Are they random acts of violence or is there a link between the victims? For Detective Eden Berrisford, it’s her most chilling case yet. 


The investigation leads Eden to cross paths with Carla, a woman trying to rebuild her life after her marriage to a cruel and abusive man ended in unimaginable tragedy. Her husband Ryan was imprisoned for his crimes but, now he’s out and coming for her. 


As Eden starts to close in on the attacker, she also puts herself in grave danger. Can she stop him before he strikes again? And can Carla, terrified for her life, save herself – before the past wreaks a terrible revenge? 

Review: 

I couldn’t be any happier to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Don’t Look Behind You today! Catch up on the other stops for reviews and extracts. 


This is the second book in the Eden Berrishford series, I loved the first one, (you can find my review here) so I’ve been impatiently awaiting this book as I knew we would be finding out more about Eden and her past. This book sees Eden and her team looking into the brutal attacks on several local women. Simultaneously, Eden is trying to keep Carla safe, a woman who is always looking over her shoulder especially now as her absuive ex husband has just been released from jail. Lots going on here, this one is the definition of a page turner. 

All of the different scenarios here revolve around abused women making for a disturbing read, yet one that is relevant and sadly, true to life. Eden is trying to catch the man responsible for physically and sexually assaulting local women, then she works with a shelter called the Willows that provides a safe haven when battered women have no where else to turn. Carla is one of these abused women, but she works there now and does her best to keep everyone safe. Her ex, Ryan will never fully let her go and her story really pulled at my heartstrings. It’s told slowly, in flashbacks starting twenty one years ago and the truth about the events that led to him being locked away were sad and terrifying. 

I loved getting to know more about Eden personally as well as professionally. Danny, her estranged husband is back, but in what capacity? She’s still dating Joe but Danny’s reappearance puts a strain both on her relationship with Joe and her daughter Casey. The whole situation is left unfinished, leaving the door wide open for book three and there could be serious implications for Eden in the future. 

Sherratt has a knack for creating very relatable characters in a short timeframe, her books are rapidly paced and extremely engaging, yet she still manages to forge a connection between the reader and the characters. Her writing style is also very realistic which is almost creepy as you can easily picture the situations she crafts being ripped from the headlines. I read this book in a single day, it really kept me on the edge of my seat as things heated up and ended in a astonishing conclusion, but one that was wholly justifiable. 

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Mel Sherratt writes gritty crime dramas, psychological suspense and fiction with a punch – or grit-lit, as she calls it. Shortlisted for the CWA (Crime Writer’s Association) Dagger in the Library Award 2014, she finds inspiration from authors such as Martina Cole, Lynda la Plante and Elizabeth Haynes. Since 2012, all nine of her crime novels have been bestsellers. Four of her books are published by Amazon Publishing’s crime and thriller imprint, Thomas & Mercer and she has a new series out with Bookouture.

Mel lives in Stoke-on-Trent, with her husband and terrier, Dexter, named after the TV serial killer, and makes liberal use of her hometown as a backdrop for some of her books.

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