Giveaway number two is now open but to enter you have to head over to my Twitter account! Here’s what’s up for grabs this week.
Stay tuned because I’ll have another brand new giveaway next Tuesday!
Month: June 2017
Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid @tjenkinsreid
Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: June 13, 2017
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Blurb:
From Taylor Jenkins Reid, “a genius when it comes to stories about life and love” (Redbook), comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress’s relentless rise to the top—the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?
Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.
Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
Written with Reid’s signature talent for “creating complex, likable characters” (Real Simple), this is a fascinating journey through the splendor of Old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it takes—to face the truth.
Review:
Can we start by taking a moment of silence to appreciate the beauty of that absolutely stunning cover?! It’s breathtakingly gorgeous and it’s even more so in person. This book was different than what I had expected, I assumed it would be a campy, lighthearted read where an aging movie star detailed her life. It actually had way more depth and heart than that, it explored some substantial themes including sexism, racism and sexuality especially as they were handled in the 50’s and 60’s.
Monique is shocked when her editor informs her that the Evelyn Hugo is doing her first interview in years and has specifically asked for her. In fact, she won’t do it unless Monique is the writer. The why isn’t answered until much later, but the journey there was a captivating experience. What’s more, when they meet for the first time Evelyn tells her she’s actually ready to tell the story of her fascinating and tragic life that no one in the world knows and she wants Monique to write a book. The addition of the mystery as to Evelyn’s true motivations was constantly in the back of my mind, but when it was revealed, I have to admit I was pretty shocked. The clues were all there, I just missed them.
It’s told in sections separated into one for each of Evelyn’s seven husbands. The bulk is told in the past and there are a few scenes in the present, mostly Monique reacting to what Evelyn has just told her. The big question is who was the true love of her life? I found myself so curious about this and was really into the story of her life. The price of fame is high and Evelyn paid dearly.
Evelyn was a highly complex woman, she’s bold, unflinching, fierce, unapologetic and surprisingly tender and vulnerable as well. She was so well crafted that I felt like I was getting the inside scoop on a Hollywood icons life even though she’s fictional. It was so glamorous, scandalous and filled with juicy gossip but it was also emotive and touching, I even cried at one point. It really read like the epic saga of one woman’s life and I enjoyed every mesmerizing page of this book.
Overall rating: 5/5
Thanks to the publisher and Booksparks for my review copy.
#CoverReveal Death Plays a Part and Rubies in the Roses by Vivian Conroy @VivWrites #CornishCastle
Hello lovely people! I have a really fun double cover reveal to share with you today for two books from Vivian Conroy. But first, here’s a little information about the books.
Death Plays a Part
Blurb:
Welcome to Cornisea island and spend your summer holidays in a Cornish Castle.
Guinevere and her trusted dog Dolly have arrived on Cornisea island in Cornwall for the summer. But what should be weeks of cataloguing books and sunny walks on the beach turns deadly when murder strikes!
The first book in the Cornish Castle Mystery series with the second instalment RUBIES AMONG THE ROSES coming August 2017!
Amazon US|Goodreads|Amazon UK|Kobo
Rubies Among the Roses
Welcome to Cornisea island and spend your summer holidays in a Cornish Castle.
Guinevere and her Dachshund Dolly are happily enjoying their summer by the Cornish coast – sun, sea and delicious food. Until a long-lost treasure and a mysterious death turns her holiday into a search for justice!
The second book in the brand new Cornish Castle Mystery series, don’t miss DEATH PLAYS A PART – the first in this new cozy crime series.
And now onto the big reveal…..
I adore these covers, they seem so whimsical and fun! I’ll be on the blog tour later on this summer so stay tuned…
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #imwayr
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 Book date.
What I Read Last Week:
The Party fell flat for me unfortunately.
Allie and Bea was great, a really touching read.
The Sunshine Sisters was a really fun, entertaining read.
The Identicals is Hilderbrand at her best.
The Silence was a decent read.
The Summer House was a sweet romance.
The Eyes of the Accused is the second in a series that I’m enjoying.
Secrets of Southern Girls was mostly enjoyable, I did have some minor issues.
Currently Reading:
Up Next:
I had a really great week, I can’t complain! Hopefully this week will be just as good.
I put together a list of my most anticipated Summer Reads and my second giveaway to celebrate my blogiversary will start tomorrow!
I was also shocked and humbled to learn that I placed second in a bloggers bash award for most informative blogger! So crazy and cool ❤️
How was your week?
Blog Tour: Exquisite by Sarah Stovell @Sarahlovescrime @Orendabooks
Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: May 15, 2017
Publisher: Orenda Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Blurb:
Bo Luxton has it all—a loving family, a beautiful home in the Lake District, and a clutch of bestselling books to her name. Enter Alice Dark, an aspiring writer who is drifting through life, with a series of dead-end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend. When they meet at a writers’ retreat, the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops. Or does it? Breathlessly pacey, taut and terrifying, Exquisite is a startlingly original and unbalancing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
I’m so thrilled to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Exquisite today!
Review:
Well hello my new favorite psych thriller of 2017, I’ve been waiting to find you! This book was so completely and totally absorbing, it consumed me while I was reading it and I found myself enraptured by it. I know that it’s been getting quite a bit of hype for several months now, but it’s well deserved here. I remember several months ago when the cover was revealed and I just knew this was going to be a special book. It not only lived up to my expectations, it exceeded them and I think I officially have a giant book hangover now. But it’s totally worth it!
As far as the plot goes, I’m really hesitant to say anything beyond what the blurb reveals. All you really need to know is that it’s about a relationship between two women that turns obsessive, dangerous and rather ugly and twisted. It’s told from both of their points of view and it left my head spinning as I tried to work out who was telling the truth and who was lying. I changed my mind countless times and was so uncertain, this was a read that really gets under your skin.
Stovell has such an impressive writing style, I was mesmerized by how polished, sophisticated and smart it was. This was an intoxicating read about obsession with a darkly sexy, seductive feel that left me reeling. It was one of those books where you flip back to the prologue just to reread it now knowing what you do, things all fall into place and then you want to read the whole book again. If you like psychological thrillers this is a must read.
Overall rating: 5/5
Blog Tour: One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett @emmamitchellfpr
Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: Saxon Publishing
Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Blurb:
Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.
Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.
A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.
Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.
One to Watch is a gripping murder mystery thriller, and the third in the Detective Kay Hunter series.
I’m so excited to be hosting a stop on the tour for One to Watch today!
Review:
This is the third book in the Kay Hunter series and I’ve become such a huge fan of both the protagonist and Amphlett as an author. If you missed my reviews of the first two books here they are; Scared to Death and Will to Live. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of the series as all three books are hugely entertaining and Amphlett has the unique ability to not only come up with an interesting premise for each book, but she also perfectly balances Kay’s personal and professional life providing a well rounded reading experience. This is a solid series and this book was my favorite one thus far.
By now I’m well aware that these books are true page turners that I’ll finish in one sitting so I was well prepared. In her signature style, the author writes short, rapid chapters that add to the fast pacing. This book starts off strong and never lets up, there are no moments of boredom and the pace never lags, right on through to the end where the twists and turns just keep coming, it’s fantastic.
The case Kay is investigating was interesting, especially as the teenager who was murdered had taken a purity pledge, with a twist. Her parents had approved of and even encouraged her to get engaged to another young man from their church which both fascinated and appalled me. Besides the central investigation, Kay is still working on her own to find out who within her department has a vendetta against her. There were a couple of new developments regarding this, but I’m so curious to see where this goes! I hope Amphlett doesn’t make us wait too much longer. Bring on book four!
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Thanks to the author for my review copy.
About the Author:
Rachel Amphlett is the bestselling author of the Dan Taylor espionage novels and the new Detective Kay Hunter crime thriller series, as well as a number of standalone crime thrillers.
Originally from the UK and currently based in Brisbane, Australia, Rachel’s novels appeal to a worldwide audience, and have been compared to Robert Ludlum, Lee Child and Michael Crichton.
She is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Crime Writers Association, with the Italian foreign rights for her debut novel, White Gold, being sold to Fanucci Editore’s TIMECrime imprint in 2014.
An advocate for knowledge within the publishing industry, Rachel is always happy to share her experiences to a wider audience through her blogging and speaking engagements.
Saturday Shoutout: Guest Post from author D. E. Haggerty @dehaggerty
Happy Saturday everyone! Today I have a super fun guest post from D. E. Haggerty, it’s a playlist inspired by her most recent release, Fat Girl Begone!
Release date: May 1, 2017
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Blurb:
I’m a total mess. My boyfriend dumped me – get this – because I diet too much. Not because I’m fat, mind you. Of course, this spurs me into the diet-fitness-revenge-plan of the century, which leads me to the gym and a scorching hot personal trainer. I even manage to make some cool new friends, including a millionaire if you can believe it. Things are looking up! Naturally, that’s the moment my ex decides he wants me back, the personal trainer asks me out, and my millionaire male buddy decides to throw his hat in the ring. But that’s not enough drama. No, not for me. Because I’ve also lost my job and decided to start my own business. Just call me Ms. Drama.
Warning: Bad language, bumpy roads, and embarrassing moments ahead. But there’s also more than a bit of romance and even, if we’re lucky, love. Fingers crossed.
Not endorsed by or affiliated with any brand of tequila.
Guest Post
Playlist ~ Fat Girl Begone!
D.E. Haggerty
I’m often asked if I have a playlist for my books. I usually don’t, but there are so many songs that are great matches for my latest release, Fat Girl Begone!, that I couldn’t resist making a playlist for the book and its heroine, Everly.
Shout Out To My Ex by Little Mix
Any book that begins with a woman getting her heart broken has to have a theme song like Shout Out To My Ex. Funny enough (or maybe just an indication of my age), I’d never heard this song, but it suddenly popped up on my YouTube suggestions while I was writing Fat Girl Begone! and bam! Everly’s got herself a theme song.
We Are Never Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift
It’s not possible to write a playlist for a book that includes heartbreak without including a song from Taylor Swift. There is a reason the woman is a chart-topper after all. She writes the songs that every girl or woman wants to hear/sing/shout when their heart has been broken. Fingers crossed Everly listens to the lyrics and follows the implicit advice it contains.
Try by Nelly Furtado
This beautiful song by one of my favorite singer/songwriters perfectly describes Everly’s struggle. There comes a point when Everly has got to make a decision – try or give up. There’s no way a heroine of mine is going to give up. She’s gonna Try.
I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash
This is one of my all-time favorite songs. I will often just start singing it out of the blue because I’m crazy like that. It’s also on the Thelma & Louise soundtrack. The movie makes an appearance in Fat Girl Begone! in a very sweet way. I couldn’t resist adding one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite movies to this playlist.
Wide Awake by Katy Perry
I go back and forth on Katy Perry – unsure if I like her or not. One thing’s for certain, I love this song and how empowering it is. I like to think that Everly had her own revelation about seeing things clearly for the first time during Fat Girl Begone! and that’s why I added this song to the playlist. The fact that Wide Awake is one of my favorite karaoke songs and I love Perry’s hair in the video has nothing to do with my adding the song to the playlist. Nothing at all.
Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve always been a huge Kelly Clarkson fan. Stronger is one of the most empowering songs out there. I often listen to it when I’m running and thinking I’m going to die. But if that run doesn’t kill me, it’ll make me stronger (pun intended). I like to think of Everly listening to this song on her purple iPod while riding the stationary bike at the gym – something she absolutely hates and constantly complains about!
Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars
Fat Girl Begone! is – in addition to a romance with a bunch of laughs – about self-empowerment and loving yourself – no matter what size or shape you come in. How can I not include a song entitled Just The Way You Are? This teaser perfectly fits with the song.
I could add pages and pages more of empowering songs to this list, but the above are the songs I think fit best with Everly and Fat Girl Begone!
What a fun playlist! You can buy Fat Girl Begone on Amazon.
About the Author:
I grew-up reading everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom’s Harlequin romances, to Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn’t flipping pages in a library book, I was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly hid in the attic after returning to the law. But being a lawyer really wasn’t my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns out being a B&B owner wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript languishing in the attic before deciding to follow the husband to Istanbul where I decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where I’m currently working on my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Fat girl Begone! is my eleventh book.
Blog Tour: Secrets of Southern Girls by Haley Harrigan #Giveaway
Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Mystery
Blurb:
In this powerful, affecting debut, a young woman uncovers devastating secrets about the friend she thinks she killed
Ten years ago, Julie Portland accidentally killed her best friend, Reba. What’s worse is she got away with it. Consumed by guilt, she left the small town of Lawrence Mill, Mississippi, and swore nothing would ever drag her back. Now, raising her daughter and struggling to make ends meet in Manhattan, Julie still can’t forget the ghost of a girl with golden hair and a dangerous secret.
When August, Reba’s first love, begs Julie to come home to find the diary that Reba kept all those years ago, Julie’s past comes creeping back to haunt her. That diary could expose the shameful memories Julie has been running from, but it could also unearth the hidden truths that Reba left buried…and reveal that Julie isn’t the only one who feels responsible for Reba’s death.
Review:
Julie has never been able to get over the death of her high school best friend Reba, not even ten years later and she’s not happy to be back in her small hometown, but the allure of a diary Reba left behind is too strong for her to ignore. This is told mainly through Julie’s eyes in 2008, though there are a few brief chapters from August and Toby as well. (Toby is Julie’s cousin who she lived with after her parents died.) There are also chapters from Reba’s diary in 1997 where the truth about the months and days leading up to her death are finally revealed. I especially liked the diary entries as it was the only way to see what really happened and they were also clearly labeled. I say this because the other chapters were not labeled and I think it would’ve helped to do this in order to avoid confusion.
This was a slow burn of a book, one that takes a bit of patience in the beginning, but if you stick with it, things speed up around the halfway point and the suspense heightens. When August and Julie finally get their hands on the diary everything they thought they knew about Reba is shattered. This girl was hiding some serious secrets and nothing is as they thought it was.
I liked some of the issues this one touched on, it showed how racism was still sadly prevalent in the late nineties and how this affected so many lives in an negative way. Harrigan has a really beautiful writing style and this was a solid debut that I had minor issues with, but nothing that ruined my reading experience. If you like a read that takes a little time to warm up, but still gradually reels you in, give this one a try.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Giveaway:
The publisher is hosting a fun giveaway for a summer reads prize pack! You can enter here.
Blog Tour: The Eyes of the Accused by Mark Tilbury @MTilburyAuthor @Bloodhoundbook
Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: June 6, 2017
Publisher: Bloodhound
Genre: Crime Fiction
Blurb:
Fresh from the horrors of their last case, private investigators Ben and Maddie are plunged into a disturbing world of terror as they search for missing pregnant girl, Hannah Heath.
Drawn to Frank Crowley, a suspect in Hannah’s disappearance, Maddie is about to come face to face with true evil. As she gets close to Crowley, Maddie will learn all is not what it seems.
Crowley is just a small part of something much larger. Something so terrible and deranged, it defies reason.
When Maddie disappears, Ben is left in a desperate race against time to find her and uncover the truth.
But can Ben and Maddie both survive this time?
Happy Saturday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Eyes of the Accused.
Review: This is the second book in a series and I think that you’re better off starting with the first book as there are quite a few references to the book here. Of course if you want to ignore my solid advice you can easily start here and be just fine, but the first book was pretty good and you would be missing out on some key characterization.
This picks up shortly after the events of the first book and Ben and Maddie are about to start working a new case. A young pregnant woman has vanished and her mother has hired them to help find her. It’s bad enough when I read about someone missing (fictional or not) but knowing she was pregnant really ramped up the tension for me. Ben and Maddie are still the same sweet kids, he’s a reluctant PI while she is more daring and isn’t afraid to take risks. I really liked seeing their relationship deepen in this installment, they are both just so endearing.
Tilbury once again astounds me with the type of villains he creates. The perpetrator here was creepy, crazy and downright depraved. I’m not sure whether I should be in awe of this talent or slighty scared, but either way I’m a huge fan of his skill and throughly impressed. This is dirty and gritty, Tilbury isn’t afraid of exploring the dark depths of humanity, but once again he uses black humor just enough to take the edge off a rather intense reading experience. I’m really looking forward to the next book and I can’t wait to see what is in store for both Ben and Maddie next.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
About the Author:
Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.
After serving in the Royal Navy and raising his two daughters after being widowed, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.
He’s always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have his third novel, The Abattoir of Dreams, published, and The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused re-launched, by Bloodhound Books.
When he’s not writing, Mark can be found trying and failing to master blues guitar, and taking walks around the beautiful county of Cumbria.
Blog Tour: The Summer House by Jenny Hale @jhaleauthor @bookouture
Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: June 9, 2017
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Romance, Chick Lit
Blurb:
Some summers will stay with you forever…
Callie Weaver and best friend Olivia Dixon have finally done it: put their life savings into the beach house they admired through childhood summers, on the dazzling white sand of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. They’re going to buff the salt from its windows, paint its sun-bleached sidings, and open it as a bed and breakfast.
Callie’s too busy to think about her love life, but when she catches the attention of local heartthrob Luke Sullivan, his blue eyes and easy smile make it hard to say no. He’s heir to his father’s property empire, and the papers say he’s just another playboy, but as they laugh in the ocean waves, Callie realizes there’s more to this man than money and good looks.
Just when true happiness seems within reach, Callie and Olivia find a diary full of secrets… secrets that stretch across the island, and have the power to turn lives upside down. As Callie reads, she unravels a mystery that makes her heart drop through the floor.
Will Callie and Luke be pulled apart by the storm it unleashes, or can true love save them?
The Summer House is an absolutely gorgeous, heart-warming summer romance, about the importance of family, not keeping secrets, and learning how to open your heart.
I’m so pleased to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for The Summer House today! I also have to wish Jenny the happiest of publication days.
Review:
Can we please take a moment to appreciate the beauty of that cover?! I mean seriously, it’s stunning, it makes me want to dive right in. The Summer House was a perfectly satisfying summer read that I devoured in an afternoon. It had me longing to have my toes in the sand and the sea breeze in my hair, meanwhile I’m actually in Arizona where ninety something degrees is considered “not too hot at all!” Sigh.
Callie was the sort of character that wiggled her way into my heart right away. She was lovely, kind and warm and not in the market for a boyfriend at all. She’s way too busy renovating the Beachcomber with her best friend Olivia to worry about romance, but they say you find love when you’re not looking…
Luke is the love interest of Callie and man was he hot! I have such a vivid picture of him in my minds eye thanks to Hale’s fantastic imagery. The relationship between these two was adorable and not one of those where they fell in love within five minutes. It was realistic as Callie was cautious and hesitant to get involved. Besides the romantic storyline there was a bit of a mystery as Callie finds an old journal and a lockbox left by the previous owner of the house. I just love when a romance author adds some intrigue into the plot, it really breaks things up and adds something special.
This was just a delightful read with fabulous lead characters as well as a really fun group of supporting characters as well. The setting was totally gorgeous as well, I really felt like I could envision the Beachcomber and the town perfectly. If you’re looking for a sweet read to sink your teeth into this summer look no further, The Summer House was a highly endearing read.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
About the Author:
When she graduated college, one of Jenny’s friends said “Look out for this one; she’s going to be an author one day”. Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn’t until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to her.
Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can’t. Whilst she didn’t start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children and hundreds of thousands of words later, Jenny finished her first novel – Coming Home for Christmas – which became an instant bestseller.
Novelgossip 