Month: October 2017

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: 


If There’s No Tomorrow was a powerful and emotional read. 

The Deep Dark Descending was a hauntingly poetic thriller, I loved it!

The Mistake was a solid psychological thriller from one of my go to authors.

My TBT pick was Until You’re Mine, a really great psychological thriller!


Fifty Years of Fear was a really unique crime read.

The Welcome Home Diner was fiction with a social conscience.

I adore this series and really enjoyed Annie’s Christmas by the Sea. 

Currently Reading: 


Up Next: 


I’m not sure if I’ll read much else, were getting ready to head to California for a family vacation!! I’ll have some scheduled posts of course but things may be pretty quiet from me otherwise.

How was your week? 

Blog Tour: Delaney, And So it Began by Owen Mullen @OwenMullen6 @Bloodhoundbook

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 5, 2017

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb:

PI Vincent Delaney thought he was done with the NOPD until a string of seemingly unrelated child murders brings an unexpected invitation from the FBI, and his old boss. 


A serial killer is roaming the South, preying on children appearing in pageants, and the police want him to go undercover using his own family. Accepting would mean lying to people he loves and maybe even putting them in harm’s way. 


In Baton Rouge, a violent criminal has escaped and is seeking revenge for the brother Delaney shot dead. But Delaney isn’t going anywhere. He has unfinished business. Meanwhile, north of the French Quarter, shopkeepers are being extorted and ask for Delaney’s help. Extortion is a matter for the police. 


But what do you do when those responsible are the police? Delaney has his work cut out and he’ll be lucky if he makes it out of this alive…


I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Delaney, And So It Began today!


Review:

I’ve been a fan of Mullen’s Charlie Cameron series for awhile now and when I heard he was releasing the first book in a new series, I was thrilled! I love that it’s in a new location this time, NOLA and that once again it follows a PI that isn’t bound by the law. There’s something about a character that’s able to go rogue that really intrigues me. This is such a fantastic start to what I’m hoping is a long series!

Delaney has a really fascinating history, he was a detective but hasn’t been one for seven years. When the police and the FBI discover a serial killer is targeting young kids that enter beauty pageants Delaney is asked to consult on the case. The reasons behind his choice to quit working for the NOPD don’t become clear right away, there are flashbacks going back seven years that were tense and insightful. Delaney is just the type of lead character that appeals to me, he’s savvy and sharp but also has that great dry wit that’s a signature in Mullen’s books.

There is a lot going on here, Delaney is helping to track down the pageant killer but he also has two other cases ongoing. First, he’s hired by a group of locals that are being extorted by the cops and that is a huge can of worms in itself. Then, a madman from his past has escaped from police custody and is hell bent on revenge causing Delaney to always be looking over his shoulder. All of these separate plot threads made this an exciting read, there was never a dull moment. 

If you’re already a fan of Mullen you’ll love this one and if you haven’t read him before this is a great place to start. This is definitely his best book to date in my opinion, there is something about his style that I really enjoy.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author: 


OWEN MULLEN’S debut novel Games People Play has been long-listed for Bloody Scotland McIlvanney Crime Book Of The Year 2017


School was a waste of time for me. Or rather, I wasted time; my own and every teacher’s who tried to get me to work. It took twenty years to appreciate what they were telling me. Life has rules. They aren’t written down but they exist nevertheless. I got that. Eventually. But by then I was thirty five.

Along the way I missed an important clue. At ten I won a national primary schools short story competition – and didn’t write anything else for forty years.

SMART BOY WANTED APPLY WITHIN

As a teenager my big obsession was music. Early on I realised if I was successful I would probably be rich and famous and pull lots of girls. 

So how did that turn out? 

Well, you haven’t heard of me, have you? And this morning I caught myself worrying about the electricity bill. So the short answer is: one out of three ain’t bad. 

Running around the country in a Transit van with your mates is fun. It’s your very own gang. You against the world. Until you fall out and the dream lies bleeding on the dressing-room floor. 

When that happened I went to London [everybody from Scotland goes to London, it’s like first footing at New Year, or ten pints of lager and a vindaloo on a Friday night; a sacred tradition] and became a session singer. I also started gigging with different bands on the circuit. 

Back in Scotland – most of us come back with wild tales of great success, none of them true – I wondered what I should do with myself and didn’t have to wait long for the answer. Her name was Christine. We got married, I went to Strathclyde Uni and got a bunch of letters after my name, and toughing it out at Shotts Miner’s Welfare, or dodging flying beer cans at the Café Club in Baillieston, was in the past. The long hair was short now, I wore a suit and pretended to like people I didn’t like because we were ‘colleagues’.

After many adventures I started my own marketing and design business and did alright. Christine and I were very happy, we travelled all over the place; India, Brazil, Botswana, Nepal, Borneo, Japan. One day I suggested we move. To the Greek islands. So we did. We bought land and built a beautiful villa overlooking the Mediterranean. Then the pan global financial crash happened, years of fiscal carelessness finally caught up with Greece; the exchange rate dived and the cost of living in Paradise went through the roof. 

I had to do something. Then I remembered the short story competition. I had been good at writing, hadn’t I? 

I wrote another short story called The King Is Dead…the first thing I’d written since primary school. When I typed the last word [Christine taught me to type] I held the pages in my hand then started to read. An hour and a half, rooted to the chair unable to believe what was in front of my eyes. For four decades I had shunned a god given gift. And as I read I started to understand why. It was awful. Not just bad. Bloody terrible.

But I kept going.

And now, eight years and seven books later, three literary agents plus two I turned down [they were reading a different book] I am a writer. My books are on Amazon. People buy them and come back for more. 

One seasoned London agent has predicted I am destined to be ‘a major new force in British crime fiction.’

Yeah!

So is the moral: follow my example, find something you’re good at and stick with it. Hardly. I didn’t, did I? Do it your own way; it’s your life.

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Blog Tour: Always With You by Hannah Ellis @BooksEllis @lolasblogtours

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Always With You banner
This is my stop during the book blitz for Always With You by Hannah Ellis. This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 3 till 9 October. See the tour schedule here.

Always With You is only $0.99 on Amazon for a limited time!

Always With YouAlways With You
By Hannah Ellis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age category: Adult
Release Date: 3 October 2017

Blurb:
A secret kept for more than twenty years. A daughter intent on finding the truth…

In 1994, twenty-one-year-old Evelyn Taylor left England to backpack around Australia. When she stopped off in the dusty outback town of Kununurra, she never expected to fall in love with the place – and the people. But Joe Sullivan captured her heart, and when her fun-filled year in Australia came to an end, saying goodbye to him was the hardest thing she’d ever done.

In 2017, Evelyn’s daughter, Libby, embarks on her own Australian adventure. Grief-stricken following her mother’s death, she’s determined to find the father she never met.

Little does she know that digging up the past will be more complicated than she ever imagined.

You can find Always With You on Goodreads

Only $0.99 for a limited time!
You can buy Always With You for only $0.99 for a limited time on Amazon
Always With You is available to read with Kindle Unlimited.

Excerpt: 

Excerpt 1

 

“I’m going to come straight out and ask,” Heidi said, pausing from filing her nails. “Do you want a hug? We could just sit here and cry for the morning if you want? I’d deal with anyone who tried to interrupt.”

I chuckled lightly as I started the process of extracting my outer layer of clothing and readying myself for a morning of making beds and cleaning up after a bunch of strangers. “No, thanks!”

“We can find a minibar to raid if you want?”

“I don’t think so.”

“A regular-sized bar then, if you insist!”

“Did Mel message you?” I asked, pulling on the ugly grey tabard and switching my shoes for a pair of well-worn Crocs.

“Only like a thousand times,” Heidi said, swivelling to sit upright on the couch. “She told me to look out for you today. As if I don’t look out for you every day! She’s actually driving me a bit crazy. You know she had the cheek to invite me over for dinner tonight?”

“She is awful sometimes,” I said, deadpan. “What a cow.”

“But why does she think I need an invitation? Is she trying to make a point about all the times I come around without being invited? Like every Friday night for the past ten years! I’m family. Why do I suddenly need an invite?”

“Well, you’re not actually family,” I reminded her.

“They’re your family, and I’m your family, so I’m related to them through you.”

“Just two small flaws to that equation,” I said flatly. “I’m not related to them or you!”

“I’m your best friend!” she said, outraged. “We’re bound by the knowledge of each other’s deepest secrets and most embarrassing moments. It’s more of a tie than blood, that is. And of course Mel and Rob are your family. You say the weirdest things sometimes. I don’t know why you insist on identifying as a poor little orphan girl.”

“I don’t!” I spluttered. Heidi stared at me, her eyebrows at odd angles. “I’m not even an orphan,” I mumbled. “I have a father somewhere.”

Heidi settled herself back into the couch. “Let’s talk about him.”

“Let’s not.” Sometimes I wished I’d never mentioned my father to Heidi. The snippets of information I’d found out about him before Mum died had played on my mind for a while, and I’d confided in Heidi at the time. I still knew little more than his name. Heidi had been more excited by the revelation than me. She’d spent time searching for him on the internet but hadn’t found out much, other than that he still lived in Australia – where my mum had met him. Heidi had wanted to get on the first plane and go track him down. The more Heidi encouraged me, the more I laughed it off as a crazy idea. After all, I’d managed perfectly well without a father for twenty-one years; why did I need one now?

Because you don’t have a mother any more, the annoying voice inside my head reminded me.

 

 

 

 

Excerpt 2

 

 

“Are you seriously going to sleep there?” Andrew asked.

“My bed is taken!” I flopped ungracefully into the hammock and wriggled to get my balance right. “And this is really comfy.”

“I’m not sure it’s safe to sleep out here.”

“I’ll be okay. Everyone’s so friendly.”

“I was thinking more about the wildlife.” He glanced around, nervously. “There’s about ten thousand species of things that can kill you around here.”

“Ten thousand?” I asked, amused.

“Approximately!”

“I’m sure I’ll survive. You don’t need to babysit me!”

“Not sure I can really sleep in my bed either with all that racket going on.”

“You’ll have to find your own hammock then,” I said. “I’m not shari—” The screech that cut me off was loud, wild and far too close. Jumping out of the hammock, I was behind Andrew in a shot and clinging to his arm. “What on earth?” I said, looking up at the source of the noise.

“Bats,” Andrew said. “One of the few things around here which won’t kill you!”

“Bats?” It was too loud for bats.

“Yeah. Fruit bats are really loud. And really big.”

Rustling overhead drew my attention and the screech came again. Two huge black creatures flapped their massive wings, fighting and shrieking before taking off, causing a breeze as they left.

“Oh my God! They’re huge.”

“Yep,” Andrew agreed.

“What are you doing?” I asked when he manoeuvred himself easily into the hammock.

“I found myself a hammock, like you suggested.”

“But that’s mine.”

Light from the nearby path bounced off his eyes, glimmering as he grinned mischievously. “You got out.”

I glared for a moment. Then I walked purposefully over to the hammock and took hold of it with both hands, giving it a quick, forceful tug. Andrew flailed before tumbling out. Smugly, I reclaimed the hammock.

“You got out!” I said innocently when he brushed himself off and stood looking down at me. The hammock wobbled when he climbed in next to me, and I turned my nose up at having his feet beside my head. “You better not snore,” I said.

“You actually think you can sleep in this?”

“Why not?”

“Well, it’s pretty wobbly for one thing.” He rocked the hammock to make his point. “And did I mention the wildlife?”

“You’re a bit of a scaredy cat, aren’t you?”

“I’m not the one who jumped a mile at a little bat.”

I gave him a quick kick before I closed my eyes. “Goodnight.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt 3

 

I was happy to see Cam and his family turn up only a few minutes later. They had spent their Christmas Day on the river. Three boats pulled up to the riverbank and the rowdy occupants announced their arrival with whoops and cheers and a few of them singing “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” at the top of their lungs.

“How’s my favourite British chick?” Cam asked, giving me a hug. “Having a good Christmas?”

“Yeah,” I said, my thoughts still lingering on Joe and Beth and wondering what had happened. “It’s been really good.”

“It’s about to get better,” he said. “I’m teaching you to water-ski.”

I frowned. “I saw a croc down there earlier.”

“You better learn to stay up on your feet then,” he said with a grin. Then he turned to shout, “Evelyn’s first attempt at waterskiing coming up! Someone get a camera and everyone gather round for a laugh!”

“Thanks!” I said, following him to the boat.

It was so much fun. To everyone’s delight, it took me a while to get the hang of it, and there were a few hilarious false starts which saw me nose-diving into the water. Then I got a feel for it and managed to get up out of the water. Cam steered the boat down the river, picking up speed as we left the house behind. He glanced back occasionally and shouted encouragement.

“Let’s turn around and show them what a pro you are,” he said after a while. We headed back and a cheer arose as we passed the house with me standing relatively confidently on the skis. Joe had returned and I caught his eye. I was having such a great time and laughed loudly before we left everyone behind again. On my next drive by, I got a bit cocky and lifted an arm to wave. Disaster. I let the rope go as I lost my balance and crashed spectacularly into the water. Below the surface, I spent a moment upside down and confused before hitting the air again, coughing and spluttering. Joe was at the riverbank and crouched to my level.

“You okay?”

“Think so,” I said, choking and reaching for his hand. “I lost the skis somewhere.”

“Don’t worry about it. Cam’ll get them. You scared me for a minute. Thought I was gonna have to brave the crocs and jump in after you!”

He pulled me out in one movement and I stumbled on my jelly legs, falling into him. “You okay?” he asked again.

“What happened?” Cam shouted, turning the boat around. “You think you’re the queen, giving everyone the royal wave?”

“I thought I was getting good,” I said, laughing.

 

 

 

 

Hannah EllisAbout the Author:
Hannah Ellis lives in Munich with her husband and two little boys. She’s originally from England and has lived in America, Australia and Ireland. As well as writing, she also teaches English to kindergarten kids. In her spare time she likes to read books, drink tea and eat chocolate. She goes jogging regularly but hasn’t decided if she really enjoys it or not. She’s a huge fan of sunshine, and the many Munich beer gardens.

You can find and contact Hannah here:
– Website
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Goodreads
– Amazon
– Bookbub

Giveaway
There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Always With You. One winner will win a signed paperback of Always With You and some swag, picture below. Open International.
Always-With-You-Giveaway

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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Review: Annie’s Christmas by the Sea by Liz Eeles @lizeelesauthor @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 6, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance

Blurb:

On the beautiful coast of Cornwall lies the idyllic Salt Bay, where Christmas is the perfect time for bringing family and friends together…


Annie Trebarwith is happily settled in Salt Bay with her beloved great-aunt Alice and gorgeous boyfriend Josh Pasco. Snow is in the air, and Christmas is just around the corner.


But when the father she’s never met, aging rock god Barry, turns up with the half-sister Annie didn’t know existed, life suddenly gets complicated. Barry and Storm are soon clashing with the entire village, and their antics are even driving a wedge between Annie and Josh.


Can Annie prevent her new family ruining the festivities and repair things with Josh in time for a cosy Christmas? Or will their relationship end up as frosty as the Salt Bay air?


Annie’s Christmas by the Sea is a hilarious and heart-warming story about family, friends and the magic of Christmas, perfect for fans of Lily Graham, Holly Martin and Phillipa Ashley.

I’m thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Annie’s Christmas by the Sea today! 


Review: 

A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading the first book in this lovely series, Annie’s Holiday by the Sea and totally fell in love with the characters, Eeles writing style and the gorgeous setting. It was great to be reacquainted with the residents of Salt Bay and as there was a pretty big secret revealed at the end of the first book, I was eager to see that aspect explored further. You could read this as a standalone but they’re such fun and entertaining reads that you really should start with the first book. 

The characters in this book are so lovable and realistic, from Annie the introverted and sweet protagonist to her boyfriend Josh the brooding hunk to spunky Kayla, Annie’s Australian mate. There are many more, far too many to list, but they are all charming and unique in their own way and I loved getting to know more about each of them. The addition of Annie’s father Barry and sister Storm added some humor and snark and plenty of awkward moments and I really did feel for poor Annie dealing with not one, but TWO family members showing up at her door unannounced. No thank you! 

Though technically this is a Christmas book as it’s set during the holidays it really doesn’t play a huge role in the storyline and could easily be read at anytime of the year. There is something about Eeles style that really appeals to me, it’s easy, light and warms the heart leaving you with a cozy feeling. I highly recommend this sweet, adorable series to anyone who needs a pick me up!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Liz began her writing career as a journalist and press officer before deciding that she’d rather have the freedom of making things up as a novelist. 


Being short-listed in the Corvus ‘Love at First Write’ competition and the Novelicious search for a new women’s fiction star gave Liz the push she needed to keep putting pen to paper …. and ‘Annie’s Holiday by the Sea’ (her first published novel) is the result. 


Liz lives on the South Coast with her family and, when she’s not writing, likes to spend time walking by the sea, and trying to meditate. Her ambition is to be serene one day …. she’s still got a long way to go.

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Review: The Welcome Home Diner by Peggy Lampman @dinnerfeed

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

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

Betting on the city of Detroit’s eventual comeback, cousins Addie and Samantha decide to risk it all on an affordable new house and a culinary career that starts with renovating a vintage diner in a depressed area of town. There’s just one little snag in their vision.


Angus, a weary, beloved local, is strongly opposed to his neighborhood’s gentrification—and his concerns reflect the suspicion of the community. Shocked by their reception, Addie and Samantha begin to have second thoughts.


As the long hours, problematic love interests, and underhanded pressures mount, the two women find themselves increasingly at odds, and soon their problems threaten everything they’ve worked for. If they are going to realize their dreams, Addie and Samantha must focus on rebuilding their relationship. But will the neighborhood open their hearts to welcome them home? 

Review: 

Let’s start with that gorgeous cover, isn’t it stunning?! I’ve not read the authors previous book and based on the blurb I was expecting it to be on the lighthearted side, basic women’s fiction with a cutesy plot. Instead this was SO much more, it definitely has its fun moments and happiness but at its core it’s much deeper and full of substance. It tackles some extremely relevant and timely current issues in a really respectful and realistic manner. It touches on love, loss, community, and quite a bit more. 

This is told from two points of view, cousins Addie and Sam and it switches back and forth between the two every chapter. It follows their lives and those of the staff and their community over the course of a year. When it begins, The Welcome Home diner has already opened its doors and is struggling to find its place in this tight knit and hesitant neighborhood. The residents are suspicious and guarded and for good reason as Detroit has had many struggles as of late. Addie and Sam were both well drawn characters with interesting histories and plenty of emotional depth, I enjoyed getting to know both of them. There is a large cast of colorful supporting characters as well with often painful, unique pasts that added an extra layer of emotion. 

This story revolves around food and Lampman’s descriptions were scrumptious. She includes a handful of recipes from the story at the end and I will definitely be trying a few out! Interspersed between the food are some heavy hitting topics such as human trafficking, race relations and gentrification of a community. It’s all handled with grace and a style all of the authors own and leaves much to be discussed, this is an ideal book club read. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

Blog Tour: Fifty Years of Fear by Ross Greenwood @greenwoodross @carolinebookbit

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 1, 2017

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

A childhood accident robs Vincent of his memories, causing him to become sensitive and anxious around others. His differences attract bullies, and he comes to rely heavily on the support of his family.

After the devastating loss of his parents, a remarkable woman teaches him to embrace life, and, little by little, he realises the world is far more forgiving than he imagined. When fragments of his memory return, he begins to unravel his past.

Who was his mother? What kind of man was his brother, Frank? And why does death surround him?

Fate is cruel. History is dark. Things are not as they seem.

Perhaps he should’ve stayed at home.
Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Fifty Years of Fear! 


Review:

This was my second Greenwood book and what struck me in the first one still resonated here, he has a knack for writing highly unique novels that fall under the umbrella of crime fiction but are not your typical read at all. There is no one killer or one police officer hunting down a maniac. His books aren’t action packed or super exciting and thrilling, BUT they are still very engaging and will take you on a very emotional journey.

This is told solely from Vincent’s point of view and begins when he is fourteen and follows him until he’s fifty. He has no memories from before he was seven and in many ways his young life was tragic. His parents are both dead while he’s still pretty young and his brother, Frank is not exactly dependable, so he’s basically on his own. For the first half, I wasn’t sure where things were headed, as much as Vincent had his struggles he had a decent life to start. Then, things took an unexpected turn and while I wouldn’t call it shocking per se, it was definitely heartbreaking. 

This was a heavy read, incredibly sad, even depressing in parts. I don’t want to stop anyone from reading this though because Greenwood is a really fantastic writer, but it has heavy themes and feels dark and full of despair throughout, there isn’t a shred of hope to be seen. It’s heavily character driven and relies on that angle more than a crazy plot line to hook you and it worked for me. Refreshingly unique and emotionally charged, grab this one for something fresh. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy. 

About the Author:


Ross Greenwood was born in 1973 in Peterborough and lived there until he was 20, 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.

Ross found himself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually, so he says “when things had gone wrong.” It was on one of these occasions that he met his partner about 100 metres from his back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. And, according to Ross, he is “still a little stunned by the pace of it now.”

Lazy Blood 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 the author the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep he completed it in the early morning hours.

Ross Greenwood’s second book, The Boy Inside, was picked up by Bloodhound Books, and now, Fifty Years of Fear, is out. All his books are thought provoking, and told with a sense of humour.

Ross Greenwood hopes you enjoy reading them. 

Please feel free to get in touch on http://www.rossgreenwoodauthor.com

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Throwback Thursday: Until You’re Mine by Samantha Hayes #TBT

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: April 13, 2013

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

You’re alone. You’re vulnerable. And you have something that someone else wants. At any cost…


Claudia Morgan-Brown finally has it all. Pregnant with a much-wanted first baby of her own, she has a happily established family of two small step-sons and a loving husband with a great career. But she is also committed to her full-time job as a social worker, and her husband travels often. So when Claudia hires Zoe to help her around the house in anticipation of the baby’s arrival, it seems like the answer to her prayers. But despite Zoe’s glowing recommendations and instant rapport with the children, there’s something about her that Claudia cannot trust.


Moreover, there has been a series of violent attacks on pregnant women in the area, and Claudia becomes acutely aware of her vulnerability. With her husband out of town for work and her family far away, who will be there to protect her? And why does she feel unsettled about Zoe? Realizing appearances can be deceiving even in her seemingly perfect world, Claudia digs deeper into Zoe’s blurry past and begins to wonder – how far would someone go to have a child of her own?


Riveting from its very first pages, Until You’re Mine is a multilayered masterwork of twisted, psychological suspense. Readers of Before I Go to Sleep and Turn of Mind will be enthralled by this multilayered novel, featuring a twisted plot that ends in a breathtaking and shocking finale. 

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!

Until You’re Mine has been recommended to me more times than I can count and I bought it forever ago and am now kicking myself for not having read it the moment I received it! This was a cleverly plotted, unpredictable read that kept me entertained and totally captivated the whole time.

This is told from three perspectives, Claudia, Zoe and Lorraine. This seems like a pretty straightforward story, but nothing is ever that simple, is it? Claudia is heavily pregnant and needs help when her husband has to leave as he’s in the Navy, so they hire Zoe as their live in nanny and it’s clear from the jump that she has many secrets. Lorraine is a police officer working on a case where pregnant woman are being attacked and murdered and her investigation causes her to cross paths with Claudia and Zoe. Pregnancy and babies are at the forefront of everything and I’m really glad I didn’t read this while I was pregnant, yikes!! 

I loved the mutual distrust between Zoe and Claudia, it added so much tension and was a bit like a good old fashioned game of cat and mouse. There is a sinister vibe, something dangerous lurking just around the corner that intrigued me to no end. The writing was slick and fluid and by the last half I was well and truly gripped. I don’t want to say too much more, but the ending of this was explosive, chilling and the last sentence? Creepily perfect! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Blog Tour: The Little Bakery on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry @AvonBooksUK

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: September 7, 2017

Publisher: Avon

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 

**Take a trip to the Yorkshire village of Burley Bridge, where a new arrival is going to shake things up…**
Growing up in a quiet Yorkshire village, Roxanne couldn’t wait to escape and find her place in the world in London. As a high-powered fashion editor she lives a glamorous life of perennial singlehood – or so it seems to her sister Della. But when Roxanne gets her heart broken by a fashion photographer, she runs away, back to Della’s welcoming home above her bookshop in Burley Bridge.


But Burley Bridge, Roxanne discovers, is even quieter than she remembered. There’s nothing to do, so Roxanne agrees to walk Della’s dog Stanley. It’s on these walks that Roxanne makes a startling discovery: the people who live in Burley Bridge are, well, just people – different from the fashion set she’s used to, but kind and even interesting. Michael, a widower trying to make a go of a small bakery, particularly so. Little by little, cupcake by cupcake, Roxanne and Michael fall into a comforting friendship.


Could there be a life for Roxanne after all, in the place she’s spent 46 years trying to escape?


Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Little Bakery on Rosemary Lane! I have an excerpt to share today. 


Excerpt: 

She peered at him squiffily, wondering if there had been a trace of sarcasm in his voice. No, she was just being paranoid, and no wonder – it had been a terrible day, so of course she’d drunk too much and was feeling sensitive. But what the hell? She was tottering off now and dancing, still on her own, feeling happy and light and not caring that Sean had just thrown her a concerned look, and was shaking his head and muttering into someone’s ear, or that she was one of the oldest women in the room.

Sean waggled his hand to beckon her over but Roxanne just laughed and turned away. How boring he was, never venturing onto the dance floor. Age didn’t matter one bit! Britt was beside her now; skinny, sexy Britt, who Sean reckoned to be around forty, although no one was sure and she refused to divulge her age.

Roxanne glanced back at Sean and cried, ‘C’mon, it’s your party! Come and dance!’ He just gave her an inscrutable look and disappeared back into the crowd.

Now more people had joined Roxanne and Britt on the dance floor: Johnny, Serena, Kate, Louie and a couple of new girls from Roxanne’s preferred model agency. They were all dancing and whooping, hair flying, and nothing mattered to Roxanne anymore. Not until she glimpsed a new arrival who was looking around expectantly. Marsha! What was she doing there? Sean didn’t even know her. Roxanne stopped dancing and stared, realising now that Marsha hadn’t come alone, and that Tina Court was hovering at her side. Tina, who’d been hired as the new fashion-director-in-chief! Roxanne had seen her at enough events to recognise her, even in dim light. She was a tiny woman, bird-like with pointy features and brows plucked to the point of near-invisibility. Her long, straight black hair hung in a glossy sheet, and her wincingly tight outfit comprised a shimmery cobalt blue dress with a silver belt and towering nude heels. Marsha was still wearing the same cream shirt and dark skirt she had had on all day. Now the two women were laughing together as if enjoying a particularly hilarious joke.

Roxanne glanced around wildly for Sean, seized by an urge to demand to know why they were here. Okay, so Britt had probably pulled together the guest list, but Sean must have been involved at some point. He’d have been happy to delegate responsibility for the bar staff, the DJ and drinks – but not who was coming. Maybe Britt had insisted Sean invited Marsha, with her being an editor of a glossy magazine now? Roxanne supposed that made sense. But why Tina – the one Roxanne was apparently being so brave and stoical about? Her blood seemed to pulse at her temples as she watched them accept drinks from a waiter and gaze around as if they were utterly entitled to be there.

‘Okay, Rox?’ That was Serena, gently touching her arm.

Roxanne flinched. ‘Yes, I’m fine . . .’ She tried to carry on dancing, realising how terribly drunk she was now, and aware of several glances in her direction. She needed water or more of that puffed rice. It was too hot in here, that was the trouble; lately, her internal thermostat seemed to have gone haywire. She tottered away and stepped outside, onto the red metal fire escape where she inhaled the evening air. From here, she took in the view of London; it was unusually warm, even for late May, verging on stuffy. Perhaps a storm was brewing.

Review: The Mistake by K. L. Slater @KimLSlater @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 4, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: 

You think you know the truth about the people you love. 


But one discovery can change everything… 


Eight-year-old Billy goes missing one day, out flying his kite with his sister Rose. Two days later, he is found dead. 


Sixteen years on, Rose still blames herself for Billy’s death. How could she have failed to protect her little brother? 


Rose has never fully recovered from the trauma, and one of the few people she trusts is her neighbour Ronnie, who she has known all her life. But one day Ronnie falls ill, and Rose goes next door to help him… and what she finds in his attic room turns her world upside down.


Rose thought she knew the truth about what happened to Billy. She thought she knew her neighbour. Now the only thing she knows is that she is in danger… 

Happy publication day to K. L. Slater!! I’m so thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for The Mistake today!


Review:

Over the past year or so I’ve become a HUGE fan of Slater, she writes dark, twisty tales with complicated but realistic characters in frightening situations that make them SUCH addictive reads. I’ve said it before, but her books really should come with a warning label so you know that once you start one you will not be able to put it down until you’ve discovered the truth. 

This is told from Rose’s point of view in the present day and sixteen years prior. Her little brother Billy, was murdered and her life was forever and irrevocably changed. The details of his death aren’t totally revealed until close to the end, but there is so much more explored throughout than Billy’s death alone. Rose in only eighteen in the flashbacks and she begins dating an older man named Gareth and is totally besotted. By the time she realizes he’s a controlling manipulator he has already begun grooming her and dictating her entire life. I felt so much sympathy for this sweet young woman, and though she has healed in some ways, sixteen years on and she still has many issues. When  she discovers something shocking from the past in her neighbor Ronnie’s attic she begins to doubt everything she thought she knew and everyone she thought she knew and could trust.

Slater’s signature style of injecting a heavy sense of dread and uneasiness is back again and she leads the reader down a tangled path of lies and misdirection that will leave your head spinning. The plot is strong and very well developed and the ending was a surprise, she sure knows how to end things on a killer twist. If you like psychological thrillers and haven’t read Slater yet you MUST, she’s a fantastic author!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Kim is the bestselling author of psychological crime thrillers ‘Safe With Me,’ ‘Blink’ and, the soon to be released, ‘Liar.’




For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected a stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.




Before graduating in 2012, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents and a book deal which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’




Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac.




She also writes award-winning YA fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books, writing as Kim Slater.

Website

Review: The Deep Dark Descending by Allen Eskens @aeskens @SeventhStBooks

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Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: October 3, 2017

Publisher: Seventh Street Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Homicide Detective Max Rupert never fully accepted his wife’s death, even when he believed that a reckless hit and run driver was the cause. But when he learns that in fact she was murdered, he devotes himself to hunting down her killers. Most of his life he had thought of himself as a decent man. But now he’s so consumed with thoughts of retribution that he questions whether he will take that last step and enact the vengeance he longs for. 


On a frozen lake near the US-Canadian border, he wrestles with a decision that could change his life forever, as his hatred threatens to turn him into the kind of person he has spent a career bringing to justice. 

Review:

Last year I read my first Eskens book, The Heavens May Fall and was completely blown away. He is an insanely talented writer and his heroes are deeply flawed and vastly interesting and unique. While the characters in each book are the same, it’s not completely necessary to start at the beginning, they each work perfectly fine as a standalone. BUT, they’re so good that I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend reading them all. 

For five years Max has been haunted by his wife’s death and he’s finally tracked down her killer. This opens with Max and an unknown man locked in an intense situation in the middle of nowhere near the Canadian border and Max finally has the chance to get justice for his Jenni. It’s tense and thrilling, the frozen atmosphere lends to the chilly scene becoming a character all of it’s own and adding a layer of danger to an already deadly story. It flips back to three days prior as you follow Max as he tracks down the killer, then flips back and forth throughout all the way up to an explosive conclusion. 

I loved the moral struggle Max was facing throughout as he tried to bring revenge to a man who shattered his entire life. There was something poetic about him having a moral battle with himself while in the frozen wilderness that was both hauntingly beautiful and chilling. Vengeance and retribution is the name of the game here, this one kept me on the edge of my seat and flipping pages at a steady rate. If you haven’t read Eskens work you’re missing out, he’s a superbly talented author not to be missed.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.