Month: October 2017

Review: Murder Game by Caroline Mitchell @caroline_writes @bookouture

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

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

A serial killer is playing a terrifying game of life or death with his victims. After he captures them, a countdown begins. He marks the time by sending clues to the whereabouts of the women he has taken in three disturbing images: alive, tortured, dead. 


In a race against the clock, East London Detective Ruby Preston must play the twisted killer’s terrifying murder game and decipher the clues before more women die… 


But this isn’t the first time the police have seen such a sickening crime. The notorious Lonely Hearts Killer, Mason Gatley, was put behind bars ten years ago for murdering six women in exactly the same chilling way. Desperate for more information, Ruby persuades her boyfriend, Nathan Crosby, to use his criminal connections to set up a dangerous meeting. Because to catch this killer, she needs to think like one… 


But the closer Ruby grows to the dark and charming Mason Gatley, the more worried her team become. Is Mason really helping her catch the killer? Or is he lining Ruby up to be his next victim?


Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Peter James will be hooked by this dark and utterly disturbing thriller, packed with twists until the final page. 

I’m ecstatic to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Murder Game today!


Review:

This is the third and final book in the Ruby Preston series, I absolutely loved both Death Note and Sleep Tight and I highly recommend this series. Mitchell has the unique ability to create wholly believable characters and well plotted scenarios that are guaranteed to keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat the entire time.

I love that this case follows a copycat killer and this forced Ruby to visit the original killer, Mason in prison to see if he could be of any help in the investigation. The scenes between these two were chilling and utterly creepy, very Silence of the Lambs and so well done. Mitchell crafts the best serial killers and as a reader with a sick fascination with them, she’s one of the best. 

Fast paced and relentless, this is totally a one sitting type of read. I won’t say much about the plot itself except it’s twisty and per usual I had no idea who the killer was, Mitchell always keeps me on my toes. If you like police procedurals and haven’t read this series you should, they have such an authenticity to them and they’re entertaining and exciting, what more could you want?! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:


USA Today Bestselling Thriller Author.


Originally from Ireland, Caroline lives with her family, parrot and two dogs in a pretty village on the coast of Essex. A former police detective, Caroline has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. Published by Bookouture and Thomas & Mercer, she now writes full time and all her books have become number 1 best sellers in their categories.


Her fast-paced DC Jennifer Knight thrillers carry a hint of the supernatural and are weaved from Caroline’s personal experiences in the police and paranormal.


Set in Shoreditch, London, her DS Ruby Preston series is described as “terrifying, addictive serial killer thrillers”. 


 


Caroline also writes psychological thrillers, the most recent, Witness, has been described as “thrilling, tense, exciting, dark and twisted in the best possible way”.

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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: 


The Truth About Thea was an excellent psychological thriller.

Her Last Day was a fantastic start to a new series.

I love Croft’s style and Silent Lies was an awesome read.


No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day was SO funny!

My TBT pick was The Memory Watcher and I loved it!


I’m such a huge Gibney fan and The Lost Child was a fantastic read.


The Bitches of Suburbia was a darkly humorous engaging read.
Currently Reading:


Up Next: 


For TBT I’m doing one of these but not sure which. Both have mixed reviews so I’ll give them and try and see which one grabs my attention!


How was your week? I’m struggling, I got sick over the weekend and completely lost my voice. I have a weird head cold and a super sore throat, and of course my husband was out of town so not much help with our kids. 

Review: Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand 

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website

Release date: October 3, 2017

Publisher: Little Brown and Co.

Genre: Holiday, Women’s Fiction

Blurb: 

Raise one last glass with the Quinn Family at the Winter Street Inn. 


It’s been too long since the entire Quinn family has been able to celebrate the holidays under the same roof, but that’s about to change. With Bart back safe and sound from Afghanistan, the Quinns are preparing for a holiday more joyous than any they’ve experienced in years. And Bart’s safe return isn’t the family’s only good news: Kevin is enjoying married life with Isabelle; Patrick is getting back on his feet after paying his debt to society; Ava thinks she’s finally found the love of her life; and Kelly is thrilled to see his family reunited at last. But it just wouldn’t be a Quinn family gathering if things went smoothly. A celebration of everything we love–and some of the things we endure–about the holidays, WINTER SOLSTICE is Elin Hilderbrand at her festive best. 

Review: 

Winter Solstice is the fourth and final book in a series that’s followed the Quinn family over the past four years, mainly during the holidays. Winter Storms, the third book was actually supposed to be the last book, but we got this one as a bonus! I was so happy because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this family, and even a year later I’m realizing I’ll never be ready, but this really was a fitting ending to a fabulous series that proves the queen of the beach read can more than hold her own as a holiday writer as well. 

One of the biggest surprises for me was that Fast Eddie from The Rumor was in this one and he hasn’t been in any of the previous books, but it totally makes sense for him to make a cameo here. It was a blast checking in with him, Grace and their twin daughters and an unexpected treat. The rest of the narration comes from the Quinns and it was so awesome to finally hear things from Bart’s point of view. Spending time with these characters is equivalent to catching up with old, well adored friends and I enjoyed every minute with them.

This was a bittersweet ending to what’s become a highly emotional series, I don’t often cry when I read but this one got me right in the feels. It didn’t end all happily ever after, that’s not what these books are about, they’re about real life, The good, the bad, the messy and the real. In the authors note Hilderbrand revealed that she’ll begin a new series next fall and I couldn’t be more excited, if she writes it I’ll happily read it, I think she’s that good.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Extract: Broken Bones by Angela Marsons @WriteAngie @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: November 3, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

They thought they were safe. They were wrong. 

The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone – one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood. 


As three more sex workers are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on the vulnerable. 


At the same time, the search begins for the desperate woman who left her newborn baby at the station – but what looks like a tragic abandonment turns even more sinister when a case of modern slavery is uncovered. 


The two investigations bring the team into a terrifying world of human exploitation and cruelty – and a showdown that puts Kim’s life at risk as shocking secrets from her own past come to light. 
Happy Sunday everyone! One of my most anticipated releases this year is the seventh book in the Kim Stone series and it’s almost here! I have the prologue to share with you today to whet your appetite until November third when you can read the whole book. 

Extract: 

PROLOGUE

Black Country: Christmas Day


Lauren Goddard sat on the roof of the thirteen-storey block of flats. The winter sun shone a grid onto her bare feet dangling over the edge. The cold breeze nipped at her wiggling toes.


The protective grate had been erected some years ago after a father of seven had thrown himself over. By the time she was eleven she had stolen a pair of wire cutters from the pound shop and fashioned herself an access point to the narrow ledge that was her place of reflection. From this vantage point she could look to the beauty of the Clent Hills in the distance, block out the dank, grubby reality of below.

Hollytree was the place you were sent if Hell was having a spring clean. Problem families from the entire West Midlands were evicted from other estates and housed in Hollytree. It was displacement capital. Communities around the borough breathed sighs of relief as families were evicted. No one cared where they went. It was enough that they were gone and one more ingredient was added to the melting pot.


There was a clear perimeter around the estate over which the police rarely crossed. It was a place where the rapists, child molesters, thieves and ASBO families were put together in one major arena. And then guarded by police from the outside.


But today a peace settled around the estate, giving the illusion that the normal activities of robbing, raping and molesting were on pause because it was Christmas Day. That was bollocks. It was all still going on but to the backdrop of the Queen’s Speech.


Her mother was still slurring her way around the cheerless flat with a glass of gin in her hand. Her one concession to the event was the line of tinsel wrapped haphazardly around her neck as she stumbled from the living room to the kitchen for a refill.


Lauren didn’t expect a present or a card any more. She had once mentioned the excitement of her friends. How they had enjoyed presents, laughter, a roast dinner, a chocolate-filled stocking.


Her mother had laughed and asked if that was the kind of Christmas she wanted.


Lauren had innocently nodded yes.


The woman had clicked the television to the Hallmark Channel and told her to ‘fill her boots’.


Christmas meant nothing to Lauren. But at least she had this. Her one piece of Heaven. Always her safe place. Her escape.


She had disappeared unnoticed up here when she was seven years old and her mother had been falling all over the flat pissed as a fart.


How lucky was she to have been the only one of the four kids her mother had been allowed to keep?


She had escaped up here when her mother’s drinking partner, Roddy, had started pawing at her groin and slobbering into her hair. Her mother had pulled him off, angrily, shouting something about ruining her retirement plan. 

She hadn’t understood it when she was nine years old but she had come to understand it now.


She had cried up here on her sixteenth birthday when her mother had introduced her to the family business and to their pimp, Kai Lord.


She’d been up here two months earlier when he had finally found her.


And she’d been up here when she’d told him to fuck right off.


She didn’t want to be saved. It was too late.


Sixteen years of age and already it was too damn late.


Many times she had fantasised about how it would feel to lurch forward onto the wind. She had envisioned herself floating to and fro, gently making the journey like a stray pigeon feather all the way to the ground. Had imagined the feeling of weightlessness of both her body and her mind.


Lauren took a deep breath and exhaled. In just a few minutes it would be time to go to work. Heavy rain, sleet, snow, Christmas – nothing kept the punters away. Trade might be slow but it would still be there. It always was.


She didn’t hear the roof door open or the footsteps that slowly strode towards her.


She didn’t see the hand that pushed her forward.


She only saw the ground as it hurtled towards her.

Ahh SO intense!! Stay tuned for my full review very soon.

Blog Tour: My Girlfriend’s Perfect Ex Boyfriend by Peter Jones @peterjonesauth @rararesources

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: October 10, 2017

Publisher: Soundhaven Books

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb: 

Adrian Turner, Mountaineer, Secret Agent, Fireman… Ade would dearly like to be any of these things, though he’d trade them all to win the heart of feisty Public Relations Executive, Paige.

Instead, he’s a disillusioned school teacher, on suspension, after an unfortunate incident with a heavy piece of computer equipment. And somebody’s foot. And Paige? Despite being his girlfriend for the past eighteen months, she still seems to have one foot out of the door and hasn’t quite committed to leaving a toothbrush in the bathroom.

​

Of course, it doesn’t help that she’s working with her ex-boyfriend, Sebastian. A man who in almost every way imaginable is better, taller, wealthier, hairier, and infinitely more successful than Ade.

​

Is Paige still in love with Sebastian? Why then did she suggest they get away for a few days? Some place romantic…

​

But when Adrian finds himself in Slovenia – with Sebastian in the room down the hall – he realises there’s serious possibility that he’s in danger of losing his job, his mind, and the woman he loves…

​

From best-selling author Peter Jones comes this hilarious romp about love, and the things people do to keep it from getting away.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for My Girlfriend’s Perfect Ex Boyfriend! I have an excerpt from the book to share today. 


Excerpt: 

I’ve had plenty of massages over the years. Most left me feeling a little… uncomfortable… which was the inspiration for this scene. We join Ade and Paige in their ‘spa hotel’ bedroom.

The toilet flushes for the third time since Paige made her early morning dash to the bathroom. And judging by some of the other sounds coming from that room, I’m guessing the Rakija is still punishing her for excesses on Sunday night. At least I hope that’s all it is. The last thing we need as a couple, on top of me losing my job, and Sebastian’s unwelcome attendance at the wedding, is a serious illness.

Paige staggers back into the room and crawls back into bed.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Peachy,” says Paige into the pillow.

“I can go down to reception and see if they can call a doctor?”

“It’s just a hangover,” she groans.

“A two day hangover!” I add. “How about we go down to breakfast? Give your body something more substantial to work with?”

“Food? Ugh.”

“It really is very good. They’ve got everything. I’m pretty sure I saw pancakes and maple syrup.”

“You go. I’m staying here.” I fold my arms. Grumpily. Well, as much as it’s humanly possible to express an emotion with the simple act of arm folding.

“How about another walk around the lake? That might make you feel better. You can build up an appetite. And there was that restaurant you liked the look of on the other side.”

“I really don’t think I can move,” groans Paige.

“You can’t stay here all day,” I reason.

“Just watch me,” she says.

“But this is our only free day! Tomorrow is the wedding!”

“Okay, okay,” she says. “How about a massage?”

“What?”

“A spa treatment,” she says. “This is a spa hotel.” I screw up my nose, and shake my head.

“Nah, I think that just means they have a pool and a steam room, I don’t think they offer anything in the way of ‘treatments’.” Which is of course, total rubbish. I know exactly what treatments they offer, as well as where they offer them. I found all that out and more whilst Paige was sleeping yesterday. Paige props herself up with pillows.

“No – I remember seeing it on the website,” she says. “They do all manner of therapeutic treatments. And they do couples. Don’t you think that would be nice?”

“Hang on,” I say, suddenly realising I don’t have to fake ignorance after all. “Wasn’t there a sign in the lobby when we checked in? Something about not being about to offer massages due to staff sickness?”

“They’re back on again,” she says, “according to the note by the door.” I frown, get out of bed, and sure enough, there on the floor, is a note, scribbled on a small sheet of hotel note paper.

Couple massages now available!

I pick it up, my frown still firmly in place.

“Where did this come from?” I ask, coming back into the room.

“Someone must have pushed it under the door,” she says.

“Why did you leave it on the floor?”

“Well, forgive me for just wanting to get back into bed! When did you suddenly become so concerned about tidiness?” She has a point. “So are we getting a massage or not?” she asks.

“Hey!” I say brightly, “I could give you massage – how about that?” Her eyes narrow.

“What’s your problem with massages?”

“Problem? I don’t have a problem.”

“Like hell you don’t.”

“I just… I just don’t like them. Very much.”

“You never seem to complain when I give you a massage.”

“Yes well, that’s different. It’s you. You’re naked. And other stuff usually happens. As well as the massage. There’s nothing… weird.”

“Weird?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you mean by weird?”

“You know.”

“Er, no. That’s why I’m asking.”

“You don’t… wrap me in seaweed… or rub me down with an octopus, or spray me with squid ink… or something.”

Paige laughs. “What kind of massage places are you going to!?”

“Seriously! They’re all at it. I saw an advert on the internet the other day offering ‘rock massage’.”

“Rock? As in music?”

“As in pebbles! They heat them up to about a hundred degrees and then lay them along your spine. I mean… what’s that all about!?”

“Hot stone massage. It’s meant to be very nice.”

“It’s barking mad is what it is! I honestly believe there are gangs of therapists trying to outdo each other by inventing ‘new and exciting therapies’. If you told me that you could pay someone to beat you senseless with a pleasantly scented bamboo sitar I wouldn’t be the slightest bit surprised.”

Paige yawns.

“Please yourself,” she says, laying back down again. “No massage. Though it’s a shame. I rather like a good sitar beating.” She says nothing for a second or two, then adds: “You know, Sebastian actually has a qualification in massage.”

“What?” I say, after a pause so pregnant an ultrasound would identify at least ten more pauses all waiting to pop out.

“It’s true,” says Paige through a yawn. “He took some course or something, few years ago, when he was travelling round India on one of his trips.”

“Well, of course he bloody did,” I grumble under my breath. “Is there anything that man hasn’t done?”

“I bet he’s nowhere near as good as the masseuses here though,” murmurs Paige. “Not that I’ll ever know.” And with that I get out of bed, and pull on my jeans and a sweater as quickly as I can. “Where are you going?” she asks.

“To get a leaflet,” I say. “Back in a tick.”

 About the Author:


Peter Jones started professional life as a particularly rubbish graphic designer, followed by a stint as a mediocre petrol pump attendant. After that he got embroiled in the murky world of credit card banking. Fun times.

​

Nowadays, Peter spends his days writing, or talking about writing. He’s written three novels; a Rom-Com (Romantic Comedy), A Crim-Com (Crime Comedy), and a Rom-Com-Ding-Dong (a sort-of Romantic-ish Comedy, with attitude). He’s currently working on his fourth novel, which – if it’s a musical – he’ll no doubt describe as a Rom-Com-Sing-Song. (Spoiler: It isn’t).

​

He is also the author of three and a half popular self-help books on the subjects of happiness, staying slim and dating. If you’re overweight, lonely, or unhappy – he’s your guy.

​

Peter doesn’t own a large departmental store and probably isn’t the same guy you’ve seen on the TV show Dragons’ Den.

​

Follow Peter Jones

Website http://www.peterjonesauthor.com

Amazon http://amzn.to/2h17Tav

Twitter: https://twitter.com/peterjonesauth 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterjonesauthor

 

Review: The Bitches of Suburbia by Jane Owen @janeowenauthor @rararesources

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: April 9, 2017

Genre: Literary, Humor

Blurb: 

Nothing much ever happened on Horseshoe Lane – why should it? It was, after all, just a normal suburban backwater with the usual cross section of growing families, ageing pensioners, the occasional singleton and a brace of curtain twitchers. The arrival of celebrity couple, Heavenly and Travis, however, changes all that. This glamorous pair bring about a summer of competitive party throwing and ambitious home improvement projects that will have disastrous and completely unforeseen consequences.  

 

Neighbours who’ve got by for years with just the occasional chat over a garden fence about the unseasonable amount of rain or the state of next door’s garden are slowly united by suspicion as a husband goes missing, a much loved cat turns up dead on a doorstep and Enid from Number Seven is found badly injured at the foot of the cliff.   

 

Could one person be responsible for all of this? Could that person be the strange and unlikeable Hilary Jones from Number Nine? There was only going to be one way to find out and it was going to involve a lot of whiskey….

 

In this her wonderful follow up to ‘The Rock Star Known as Horse’, Owen’s riveting new story finds a murky side to the suburbs, a side where petty jealousies and neighbourly rivalries can escalate out of all control with calamitous results, all intricately observed with her usual dark humour firmly to the fore.  

I’m delighted to be one of the stops on the blog tour for The Bitches of Suburbia today!


Review:

I know some people will probably be put off by the title of this one but it’s actually what first caught my attention and made me think, now that sounds like the type of book I would like to read! I figured an author who was bold enough to use the word bitches in the title would have the type of sarcastic sense of humor that I love and boy was I right. This book was darkly humorous, sassy and a whole hell of a lot of fun.

Right from the start I got a Desperate Housewives vibe, there’s that same feisty spirit and campy, gossipy fun on Horseshoe Lane that there was on Wisteria Lane. The neighborhood is full of unique characters, some are pretty average and boring and others are downright scandalous, there’s even a married couple that are swingers!! So this is a little bit sexy, but not gratuitous but there are plenty of outrageous moments and naughty behavior. Out of all the residents I think Gertrude was my favorite, she’s a ninety something whisky drinking bad girl, what’s not to love?!

While there is some death and murder this read more like a cozy mystery with bite, it’s definitely not as cutesy as a cozy, it’s sharper and more cunning. A totally fun  read written in an easy style, I would definitely read another one of Owen’s books.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey for my review copy. 

About the Author:


Jane’s first novel, Camden Girls, was published by Penguin twenty years ago and quickly became an international cult bestseller published in many languages including Japanese, Spanish,German, Hebrew, Italian and Dutch. She’d already spent many years working in the film business working alongside stars such as Christophe Lambert, Andi McDowell, Daryl Hannah and James Remar before switching to the music business and working for bands such as The Who, Robert Plant, ZZTop and many more. Eventually, even that got boring and that’s when she wrote Camden Girls.  

 

After publication, life became interrupted by an unfortunate traffic accident and Jane moved out of London to Sussex and slowly returned to writing. Her novels don’t fit into any specific category and, frustrated by endless rejections along the lines of ‘You write beautifully but we don’t know how to sell this book’ she started self publishing. Rave reviews gave her the confidence to keep going and believe in what she was writing.

 

She’s still in Sussex, sharing her life with her musician partner, three horses and a dog and divides her day between writing and riding.  

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Q & A with Marsha Cornelius author of Up to No Good @marshcornelius

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: December 31, 2016

Genre: Cozy Mystery/Humor

Blurb:

Rachel likes to think she’s inquisitive. Her husband Brian says she’s a snoop. They’ve been married for 15 years, they work together in their home, and she’s approaching the dreaded 40th birthday. This humdrum combination has made their marriage a bit stale.

Maybe that’s why her nosy nature has escalated. She’s gotten it into her head that a house down the road might be used to make adult films. Her clues? The blinds are always drawn, and there are never any garbage cans at the curb. Obviously no one lives in the house. They just use it late at night for porn videos.

As she and Brian look into this mystery, they find that the adrenaline rush of getting caught works as an aphrodisiac as well.

But if her snooping keeps discovering unexpected dirt, it may be the last thing she ever does.

Happy Saturday everyone! I have an interview with Marsha Cornelius to share today, enjoy. 

What does a typical writing day for you look like? Describe your perfect writing environment.

 

 

Have you seen the cartoon called Family Circus, where the little boy is supposed to go out the front door to tell his dad it is time for dinner? But instead, the boy goes out the back door, chases the dog, climbs a tree, jumps in a pile of leaves, and plays tag with his sister before he finally delivers the message to his dad.

That’s my writing day.

 

I’ve often felt I need a seat belt on my desk chair to keep me from wandering around the house looking at dusty tabletops, or staring out at a garden choked with weeds. Let’s not get into the forays to the kitchen in search of snacks.

I used to write on a laptop that was not connected to the Internet so I wouldn’t get distracted by email, Facebook, or Twitter, but it died and I’m back on my PC.

I’ve gotten a bit more disciplined over the years, but there is still very little structure to my day.

 

My ideal writing conditions are silence and solitude. For instance, I cannot listen to music. What if I’m writing a touching love scene and Alanis Morrisette comes on with:

​Every time I scratch my nails

​Down someone else’s back I hope you feel it

Instrumentals are no good either. If I’m listening to Sojourner by Paul McCandless, I can’t very well write about some bloody massacre, now can I?

 

Solitude is a bit more challenging since my husband retired. He knows if he hears me typing, he can’t interrupt. But that doesn’t stop him from wandering into the room, standing in front of the picture window, and sighing from boredom.

And I have a very vocal cat. He’s a lot like a child that needs to tell you something the moment you get on the phone. Only the cat is usually complaining that there isn’t enough food in his dish, or it has gotten stale, or he dove into the bowl with such zeal that half the kibble spilled out onto his placemat. (And all cat owners know that a cat will NOT eat food off the floor.)

 

Tell us about the books you have written.

 

My book list is as random as my writing day because I write in different genres.

 

H10N1 – post-apocalyptic thriller about the aftermath of a deadly global pandemic. Two survivors must work together if they hope to find a safe haven.

 

The Ups and Downs of Being Dead – speculative fiction. A dying man chooses to have his body cryonically-preserved. Now he must ‘wait around’ as a ghost until science figures out how to bring him back.

 

Losing It All – women’s fiction/drama. A homeless man helps a woman and her two small children get off the streets.

 

Habits Kick Back – speculative fiction. It’s the future, and people take pills for everything: Concentration, memory enhancement, stress reduction, libido suppression, weight control. A college girl decides to stop taking them all and finds life much more difficult, but certainly more interesting.

 

A Tale of Moral Corruption – speculative fiction. A reversal of A Handmaid’s Tale. In this book, women run the world and men are in the subservient roles. The men even wear the portable wombs that are growing babies.

 

Up To No Good – cozy mystery/humor. A busybody suspects her neighbors are making porn videos in their home. She decides to investigate, with hilarious results.

 

Who is your favorite character from Up To No Good?

Definitely Rachel. Here’s a big surprise – she’s a lot like me.

I try to mind my own business, honest I do. But then I’m walking in the neighborhood and I see Al and Carol are digging up their driveway and I just have to go snoop to see what’s going on.

Folks around here know I’m a busybody, so whenever they want to know what’s happening, they ask me. (‘Hey, what’s Al doing to his driveway?’) And of course, if anyone has a juicy bit of gossip, they’re always sure to tell me. I’m like a walking neighborhood newsletter.

 

 

Where did you get the idea for Up To No Good?

There actually is a house a few miles from me that looks suspicious. The blinds are always closed. I never see anyone working in the yard, or a hose dragged out, or garbage cans at the curb. I never see a car in the driveway.

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Maybe these people aren’t slobs like me. If they use the hose, they put it away. And they don’t have a garage full of junk so they can park their car inside.

I’m not buying it. For years, I’ve speculated that no one really lives in the house. They just use the house at night to make amateur porn videos.

I worked with a woman once who was ‘dating’ a guy. He bought her fancy lingerie and took her back to his house for sex. But while they were going at it, he would groan and make faces like he was posing for a camera. When she broke her leg at work and had to wear a cast, he dropped her like a hot potato.

 

On average, how long does it take you to write a book?

I write a book a year. I’m sure I could do it in less time if I had that seat belt. (Refer to the first question above)

 

What else do you do besides write books?

In the writerly vein, I have organized a monthly literary event called A Novel Idea. I invite six authors to a coffee shop in Canton, Georgia (near where I live.) It’s at night, so guests come to sip wine or coffee, and listen to the writers talk about their work and read a short excerpt. It’s a fun night out, and everyone gets to meet Atlanta’s local authors.

 

I also teach exercise classes to senior citizens in a fitness program called Silver Sneakers. I started attending classes after my first hip replacement about three years ago. Now I teach the hour-long sessions four times a week. It’s great to get paid for doing what my physical therapist told me to do.

 

How can people reach you?

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMarshaCornelius/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/marshacornelius

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Website – http://mrcornelius.com


 

Up To No Good is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Up-No-Good-Marsha-Cornelius-ebook/dp/B01N1RNHIR

Review: The Lost Child by Patricia Gibney @trisha460 @bookouture

3 Comments


Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 27, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb:

They placed me in here and threw away the key. I look down at the gown they’ve put on me. I want my own clothes. I don’t know how long I’ve been here.


An elderly woman is found murdered in her own home, and Detective Lottie Parker and her partner Detective Boyd are called in to investigate. When they discover that the victim’s daughter is missing as well, they start to fear for the safety of the whole family…


Two days later as a nearby house is set on fire and with the body count rising, Lottie and her team begin to unpick a web of secrets and lies, as the murders seem to link back to a case investigated by Lottie’s father before he took his own life. 


With little knowledge of what really happened to her father, Lottie knows this is a case that could give her some answers. But how much does she want to know? And how far is Lottie prepared to dig to uncover the truth?


The Lost Child is a thrilling page-turner from the bestselling author of The Missing Ones and The Stolen Girls that will have you guessing right to the very last page. Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Angela Marsons and Robert Dugoni.

I’m so thrilled to be helping to kick off the blog tour for The Lost Child today!


Review:

This is the third book in a series that follows Lottie Parker, I absolutely loved The Missing Ones and The Stolen Girls and was eagerly awaiting the latest installment. I don’t recommend jumping in at this point in the series because the character development is SO great and each book reveals a little bit more about Lottie and her other team members. Also, it’s an awesome series so if you’re a fan of police procedurals and haven’t read this you are definitely missing out!

Lottie is still a lovable mess, she constantly has way too many plates spinning but she just cannot help herself, she thrives on chaos. Her kids are doing a bit better after the events of the last book but their house is still crazy and Lottie is struggling to maintain a balance between work and family life. Speaking of work, her caseload is bigger than ever, true to form there is a lot going on in this book and several interesting sub plots/cases are being investigated, there is always action and excitement in a Gibney book. Boyd is still around, much to my relief and once again, his and Lottie’s chemistry is amazing. 

This is told mainly in the present but there are several chapters from The Child, a nameless person who appears to have been raised primarily in an asylum under horrific circumstances. I wondered so many times how this could possibly relate to any of the investigations and when things all came together I was definitely surprised. 

Gibney has certainly found her stride with this series, she does a fantastic job weaving together an intricate plot with red herrings galore and excitement and tension to boot. It’s dark, gritty and intense with shocking developments and well executed twists. This case turns deeply personal for Lottie and provided more questions than answers in the end and I really cannot wait to see what happens next! 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author:


Patricia lives in the midlands of Ireland. She is an avid crime reader so naturally she found herself writing in the crime genre. 



A life changing experience in 2009, with the death of her 49 year old husband, meant she had to give up her career, and over the following few years, she rekindled her love of art and writing. 



Initially Patricia wrote and illustrated a children’s book, but her real ambition was to write a novel. And she did!



In January 2016, she joined with Ger Nichol of The Book Bureau Literary Agency. In July 2016, Patricia signed with Bookouture for four DI Lottie Parker crime novels. 



The Missing Ones (Book 1) published in March 2017 and to date has reached a high of number 2 in Amazon UK Kindle charts and number 6 in the US. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories. It is a bestseller in UK, US, Canada and Australia.



Book 2 in the series, The Stolen Girls, published on July 6th, 2017.



Book 3, The Lost Child, is on pre-order and is published on October 27th, 2017.

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Throwback Thursday: The Memory Watcher by Minka Kent #TBT

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: January 9, 2017

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

Press, tap, refresh…

 

When Autumn Carpenter stumbles upon the social media account of the family who adopted her infant daughter years ago, she finds herself instantly drawn into their picture-perfect existence. 

 

From behind a computer screen, Autumn watches Grace’s every memory, from birthdays to holidays to bedtime snuggles. But what starts as an innocent fascination spirals into an addictive obsession met with a screeching halt the day the McMullen family closes their Instaface account without so much as a warning. 

 

Frantic and desperate to reconnect with her daughter, Autumn applies for a nanny position with the McMullens, manipulating herself into Grace’s life under false pretenses. And it’s only then that Autumn discovers pictures lie, the perfect family doesn’t exist, and beautiful people? They have the ugliest secrets. 

I want to start this with a little disclaimer as I’ve added my own spin to this great weekly meme. Last week my friend Annie pointed out that my TBT pick was a 2017 release and probably not technically a throwback pick, and she’s totally right! But in order to make a dent in my massive back catalogue I HAVE to start reading some books that are on the newer side or I’ll never get caught up. Any book I feature for TBT will be one that is already out and not an ARC though and I will definitely be featuring some old favorites as well. I’ve been wanting to reread some Karin Slaughter for ages because I’m a tiny bit obsessed with her and I have a huge stack of books in my personal TBR to read as well. 

Review: 

I’m joining in again with Throwback Thursday which was created by my good friend Renee at It’s Book Talk. She started this weekly feature as a way to highlight old favorites and read books that have already been published. I have so many older books on my TBR that get ignored in favor of review copies and I figure participating in Throwback Thursday will help me to read at a least one older title a week!

I have to thank my girl Chelsea for putting this one on my radar, her Goodreads review caught my eye and she has excellent taste so I snagged a copy and I am SO happy I did! This was pure entertainment, one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in awhile and had all the things I look for in a psychological thriller.

The less you know the better here, so if the description intrigues you I say give it a shot.  It’s told via dual narratives, it flips from Autumn to Daphne and both viewpoints were equally engaging. I was completely addicted to this book, it was the type that you’re thinking about when you’re not reading it and had I been able to I would’ve devoured it in one sitting. Everything about it felt fresh and exciting and of course it was twisty, what’s a psychological thriller without some twists?! But it was a great read even without the twists, I think I just loved Kent’s style and it had a super strong ending that just worked well for me. Fans of this genre should definitely pick this up and then come chat with me when you finish it!

Overall rating: 5/5

Review: No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day by Tracy Bloom @TracyBBloom @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 24, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Romantic Comedy 

Blurb: 

A dream family Christmas or a total nightmare? Katy and Ben are about to find out…


Katy’s been stuck in the office away from her family so she wants it all: snow (fake or real), the Michael Bublé Christmas album, whatever it takes. 


There’s only one thing missing as far as her husband Ben is concerned: another baby to complete their family. But Katy isn’t so sure she’s ready yet…


Ben may be playing the role of Master Elf in the pre-school nativity but he is struggling to master his own family life. With romantically-challenged friends, an ex who refuses to go away and Katy’s mum’s 64-year-old toy boy thrown into the mix, Christmas looks like it could be going off the rails… Never mind family planning, can Katy and Ben even plan to make it to the end of Christmas Day? 


From the no. 1 bestselling author of No-one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday, this book will make you cry with laughter, and then book your flights abroad for the festive season. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Milly Johnson. 

I’m absolutely delighted to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for No-One Ever Has Sex on Christmas Day today!


Review:

This was one of the funniest books I’ve read in awhile, there was some seriously hilarious moments that had me dying! Think slap happy in terms of style and over the top comedy and that’s the type of read this was. If you’re looking for a different kind of Christmas book, this would be absolutely perfect, while the humor was my favorite part there are still some heartwarming scenes and a little romance as well. 

This is the third book in a series but I started with this one and had absolutely no problem catching up quickly. It seems Katy and Ben have had their fair share of issues in the past but they’ve managed to stick together and are happily married with a daughter, Millie. After being introduced to their circle of friends and family I can see why they’ve found themselves in some awkward situations, but man do they make for some amazingly fun scenes. Katy’s mom really cracked me up as did Ben’s best friend, Braindead. Yes, Braindead but it is a nickname but one that everyone uses freely and if you’ve read any of these books you’ll understand why! This was full of an eccentric, quirky cast that just completely stole my heart. 

This had a sassy edge that I loved, tons of sarcasm and slightly inappropriate humor that really made me giggle. I know I’ve said this probably too many times already but this really was a hysterical read, I doubt anyone could read it and NOT find it funny! 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:


Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job shopping for rollercoasters for the UK’s leading theme parks, to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn’t understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote her romantic comedy, NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY. This debut novel went on to be successfully published internationally and became a #1 Best Seller.
Back in the UK she has continued her writing career and has just launched her sixth book.

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