Month: March 2018

Review: Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer @KelRimmerwrites

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Release date: April 3, 2018

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Blurb:

The 2:00 a.m. call is the first time Lexie Vidler has heard her sister’s voice in years. Annie is a drug addict, a thief, a liar—and in trouble, again. Lexie has always bailed Annie out, given her money, a place to sleep, sent her to every kind of rehab. But this time, she’s not just strung out—she’s pregnant and in premature labor. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll lose custody of her baby—maybe even go to prison. But the alternative is unthinkable.

As weeks unfold, Lexie finds herself caring for her fragile newborn niece while her carefully ordered life is collapsing around her. She’s in danger of losing her job, and her fiancé only has so much patience for Annie’s drama. In court-ordered rehab, Annie attempts to halt her downward spiral by confronting long-buried secrets from the sisters’ childhood, ghosts that Lexie doesn’t want to face. But will the journey heal Annie, or lead her down a darker path?

Both candid and compassionate, Before I Let You Go explores a hotly divisive topic and asks how far the ties of family love can be stretched before they finally break.

Review:

The drug crisis in the US is overwhelmingly horrific, I have way too many friends and family members who have struggled with addiction and it is such an ugly and awful disease. This book is uncomfortable. This book is heartbreaking. This book is also incredibly important and beautifully poignant. It sheds light on a dark corner of society, that of the pregnant drug addict. The current protocols and procedures in place regarding how to legally handle situations where a mother gives birth to an admitted baby are shocking and utterly unhelpful, definitely eye opening for me. Rimmer is such a gifted writer, there is no one better to write about such a topic.

This is told from two viewpoints, sisters Lexie and Annie. Lexie is a successful doctor who is engaged to an amazing man, seriously everyone deserves a man like Sam. Lexie’s chapters are told in the present day starting immediately after Annie calls to tell her she’s eight months pregnant and scared because she’s still been using heroin and she thinks something is really wrong. Annie’s chapters are told via journal entries that explain her road to drug abuse and events in her childhood that led her down a dark road. My heart broke for both of these women, both of their stories were painfully raw and so very honest. They are gorgeously drawn and complex characters, I can’t say enough about how invested I was in their lives.

This reminded me of a Jodi Piccoult book, it has the same emotionally charged plot coupled with extremely strong writing, this book is phenomenal. You will need tissues, it’s a total tear jerker so be warned. I’m calling it a must read and it’s going right into my top books of the year list.

Before I Let You Go in three words: Heart-wrenching, Emotional and Powerful.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: Worth Killing For by Jane Haseldine

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About Worth Killing For

Hardcover:352 pages
Publisher:Kensington (March 27, 2018)

Detroit newspaper reporter Julia Gooden returns in new mystery, where a brutal murder and a father’s sudden return may provide the answers she’s spent decades searching for . . . or lead deep into a fatal trap.

The past never really leaves us. Crime reporter Julia Gooden sees proof of this every day in her stories. A dark childhood, a negligent parent, early abandonment–any one of them can seal a person’s fate as either a villain or victim. Julia, who experienced all three, seems to have beaten the odds, finding happiness raising her two sons and a blossoming relationship with detective Raymond Navarro.

But now, after three decades of absence, Julia’s conman father has resurfaced to throw her life into turmoil again. Julia was only seven when Duke Gooden abruptly left. Barely a month later, her nine-year-old brother, Ben, disappeared. Ben was her hero and protector, and though the case is cold, Julia has never given up hope of finding him. Duke’s return offers vital clues–but it also makes her a target of those who intend to see Duke punished for his many sins.

When Julia investigates the death of a city councilman’ s young nephew, she finds links to a string of other murders . . . and to a web of greed and kidnapping that stretches back decades. At long last, Julia may be able to discover what happened to Ben all those years ago, but only if she’s willing to risk everything in her present.

Praise for the Julia Gooden Mystery Novels

Worth Killing For

A first-rate thriller filled with several plot twists, heinous villains and an explosive ending. RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars, Top Pick

A complex, highly suspenseful tale of murder, revenge, and redemption. Kirkus Reviews

This exciting third installment in the series effectively mixes gritty crime and involving domestic drama. Booklist

An alluring mystery. Fans are certain to enjoy the complex plot and Julia and Ray’s evolving relationship. Publisher’s Weekly

Duplicity

Haseldine uses her experience as a crime reporter to bring authenticity to this exciting and gritty tale. Kirkus Reviews

Julia is ferociously bold and persistent in this action-packed, plot-driven mystery. Booklist

Haseldine has a gift for atmosphere, setting, and suspense, and the many twists and turns will keep readers guessing. Library Journal

The Last Time She Saw Him

A sharp, breathless thriller. From the opening scene to the last, The Last Time She Saw Him, kept me flipping the pages. I loved it! Jane Haseldine is one to watch!Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A ferocious thriller . . . no one will stop reading. Booklist

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble�| IndieBound

Review:

So I find my self once again jumping into a new series without reading the previous books, and honestly, I’m wondering why I didn’t do this years ago! I’ve heard nothing but fantastic things about the Julia Gooden series so I knew I had to take a chance and I’m really glad that I did because I loved this book!

Julia is a journalist which is always an angle that I like in crime fiction, it’s a unique viewpoint and provides a fresh perspective and usually the reporters are assertive and daring, which always keeps things exciting. Julia was a really interesting lead, her past is messy and this time the story she’s pursuing may have links to the disappearance of her brother, Ben. When a character has a personal connection to a case I’m all in, there’s something about the emotional component this stirs up that just speaks to me. I also really liked Julia and found her to be realistic, Haseldine herself is a former crime reporter so the authenticity is top notch making you feel like you’re reading about real people and not just fictional characters.

This was a twisty little read, more often than not I can see where a story is headed right before I actually get there but this time I really didn’t work anything out on my own, always a bonus! And though it definitely had twists and turns they were unrealistic or an easy cop out but they all actually made sense and added depth to the already strong storyline. I’ll be following this series closely now, there was enough left up in the air in the end that I’m definitely intrigued and eager to see what happens next.

Worth Killing For in three words: Assured, Unique and Strong.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About Jane Haseldine

Jane Haseldine writes the Julia Gooden Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing. Jane is a journalist and former crime reporter who also previously worked in politics as a deputy director of communications for a governor. Jane graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in journalism. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two sons, but previously lived in Boston, San Francisco, New York, Delaware, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. You can find her at janehaseldine.com,Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook and on Instagram @janehaseldineauthor.

Review: The Forgotten Ones by Steena Holmes @steenaholmes #LakeUnionAuthors

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Release date: April 1, 2018

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Suspense

Blurb:

In this novel from a New York Times bestselling author, the search for truth is defined by secrets and lies.

Elle is a survivor. She’s managed to piece together a solid life from a childhood of broken memories and fairy tales her mom told her to explain away bad dreams. But weekly visits to her mother still fill Elle with a paralyzing fear she can’t explain. It’s just another of so many unanswered questions she grew up with in a family estranged by silence and secrets.

Elle’s world turns upside down when she receives a deathbed request from her grandfather, a man she was told had died years ago. Racked by grief, regrets, and a haunted conscience, he has a tale of his own to tell Elle: about her mother, an imaginary friend, and two strangers who came to the house one night and never left.

As Elle’s past unfolds, so does the truth—if she can believe it. She must face the reasons for her inexplicable dread. As dark as they are, Elle must listen…before her grandfather’s death buries the family’s secrets forever.

Review:

Are secrets in books ever not interesting?! If a blurb even alludes to secrets from the past I’m adding it to Mount TBR and from the very first chapter I had a feeling that I would like The Forgotten Ones. Spoiler alert, I was right! This was a super addictive, engaging read from an author who really knows how to draw the reader in, pulling you in closer and closer until you aren’t putting the book down until the truth is revealed.

This is told from dual perspectives, Elle and David. Elle’s chapters are in the present day and David’s are a mix between the fifties and today. Poor Elle, she just wants answers and everyone in her life is SO evasive, it frustrated the hell out of me, I can’t imagine being her! When she finds out her grandfather that she thought was already dead years ago is actually on his deathbed now, she figures she may finally get some answers about her mother’s past. It’s not that easy, even though he wants to speak with her his relationship with the truth is tenuous at best. Or is it? So many questions, no answers and who is reliable? This one most definitely kept me on my toes and had me making guesses only to change my mind within pages, I just love when a book makes me do that!

This is an emotional read and Holmes managed to drag a variety of feelings out of me, I ranged from being angry and frustrated to heartbroken and sad. Anytime an author can make me feel something I’m ecstatic and she surely did that a few times over. Mental health issues play a huge role in the storyline and she handled it with grace and care all written in a beautifully fluid manner. I do think the ending may be polarizing but I loved it and found it to be a breath of fresh air. If you’ve read it and want to chat about this ending please let me know, I’m dying to know what everyone else thinks!

The Forgotten Ones in three words: Evocative, Engaging and Haunting.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Review: The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton

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Release date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Dafina

Genre: Fiction

Blurb:

Set in the past and present, The House on Harbor Hill is a murder mystery that tackles the issues of racial prejudice and spousal abuse in the lives of two very different women…

She’s generous, kind, and compassionate–yet Delilah Grey will forever be an outcast in the small seaside town of Camden Beach, Maryland. She takes in women shattered by abuse, poverty, illness, or events beyond their control. But no matter how far she’s come or how many she’s helped find their way back, there is no safe place for Delilah. Acquitted of her rich husband’s mysterious death decades ago, she lives in her beautiful mansion consumed by secrets–and mistakes she feels she can never atone for. . . . Until she takes in desperate mother Tracey Walters and her two young children.

Tracey won’t say where she’s from or what sent her into hiding. But her determination and refusal to give up reminds Delilah of the spirited, hopeful girl she once was–and the dreams she still cherishes. As Tracey takes tentative steps to rebuild her life, her unexpected attraction to Delilah’s handsome, troubled caretaker inadvertently brings Delilah face to face with the past. And when Tracey’s worst fears come brutally calling, both women must find even more strength to confront truths they can no longer ignore–and at last learn how to truly be free . . .

Resonant, moving, and unforgettable, The House on Harbor Hill paints an unforgettable portrait of two women struggling to forgive themselves, take a chance on change, and challenge each other to finally live.

Review:

This is one of those books that’s tricky to categorize, it doesn’t really fit neatly into any specific genre but rather it dips it’s toes into several. Parts are set in the sixties and parts in the current day so you get a historical fiction vibe and some of the writing is so beautifully poetic you think maybe it’s literary fiction. Then at times it reads like a straight up contemporary novel, but at the end of the day it all comes together and works really well regardless of the genre.

Delilah and Tracey are the main characters and while Tracey was likable enough, Delilah is the true star of the show. Her past is shrouded in mystery and in the present day she’s a spunky little firecracker, I just adored her. She has a habit of taking women into her home who are down on their luck and this is just one of her eccentricities that made me like her. Tracey’s children were also adorable and added some mischief and light to the tale.

This tackled racial issues in the sixties and unfortunately similar issues that are still happening today giving the reader much to reflect on and I can see it sparking discussion for a book club as well. Recommended for when you want a read but aren’t in the mood for anything specific, it has a little bit of everything and is extremely well written.

The House on Harbor Hill in three words: Eloquent, Moving and Character-driven.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About the Author:

Shelly Stratton is an award-winning journalist who earned her degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. Another Woman’s Man, her novel written under the pseudonym Shelly Ellis, was nominated for a 2014 NAACP Image Award. A film buff and amateur painter, she lives with her husband not far from Washington, D.C. Visit her online at http://www.shellyellisbooks.com.

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Connect with Shelly

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

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Release date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Genre:

Blurb:

When a group of neighborhood women gathers, wine in hand, around a fire pit where their backyards meet one Saturday night, most of them are just ecstatic to have discovered that their baby monitors reach that far. It’s a rare kid-free night, and they’re giddy with it. They drink too much, and the conversation turns personal.

By Monday morning, one of them is gone.

Everyone knows something about everyone else in the quirky small Ohio town of Yellow Springs, but no one can make sense of the disappearance. Kristin was a sociable twin mom, college administrator, and doctor’s wife who didn’t seem all that bothered by her impending divorce—and the investigation turns up more questions than answers, with her husband, Paul, at the center. For her closest neighbor, Clara, the incident triggers memories she thought she’d put behind her—and when she’s unable to extract herself from the widening circle of scrutiny, her own suspicions quickly grow. But the neighborhood’s newest addition, Izzy, is determined not to jump to any conclusions—especially since she’s dealing with a crisis of her own.

As the police investigation goes from a media circus to a cold case, the neighbors are forced to reexamine what’s going on behind their own closed doors—and to ask how well anyone really knows anyone else.

Review:

I don’t know if it’s a new trend in publishing or just a coincidence but recently I’ve read quite a few books about neighbors and the secrets they all have. Either way, I’m digging it and can’t see myself getting sick of books like these anytime soon. Domestic drama always fascinates me and Not That I Could Tell had plenty of juicy gossip and intrigue about not only Kristin’s disappearance, but the rest of the neighborhood as well.

Strawser proves with her second novel that she’s an incredibly gifted writer, I was a fan of her style in her debut and I think her writing has only gotten stronger this time around. Her characterization is where she really shines, she has a fantastic ability to craft people that are wholly believable, the type of people you may live next door to yourself. You hear from several different people here, Izzy and Clara mostly and I really found Clara to be relatable and my favorite of all the characters. The suburban setting was dead on, she did a great job of creating a strong sense of place and though I may not actually want to visit Yellow Springs, I feel like I can picture it vividly.

I wasn’t in love with the ending of the authors last book but she redeemed herself big time this go around, I loved it!! Endings can make it or break it for me and this one was amazing. Another excellent book club type of read and one I would classify as a light suspense with a domestic slant.

Not That I Could Tell in three words: Engrossing, Thoughtful and Deft.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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

3 Comments

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Release date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

Fans of Jenny Oliver, Cathy Bramley and Debbie Johnson will love this hilarious and heart-warming romantic comedy! A storm is brewing on the stunning Cornish coast – but will sunshine follow the rain?

When Annie Trebarwith unexpectedly inherits Tregavara House, her much-loved family home atop the cliffs of Salt Bay, she begins to wonder: with all the good friends and warm memories she’s made in the village, could it be her forever home?

Luckily her gorgeous Poldark-lookalike boyfriend, Josh Pasco, has exactly the same idea. High on the Cornish cliffs he gets down on one knee, and Annie has everything she’s ever dreamed of.

But when a summer storm causes catastrophic damage to the beautiful but aging house, Annie and Josh are faced with tumbling tiles and a massive repair bill – and a roof that’s leaked straight onto her wedding gown…

Can the Salt Bay community save Annie’s house and her wedding – and give Annie the happy-ever-after she’s always wanted?

I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog blitz for Annie’s Summer by the Sea today!

Review:

Over the past year or so I’ve fallen in love with Liz Eeles writing and this adorable series that follows Annie as she relocates to the quaint little village of Salt Bay. As much as I was eager to read this final installment and see how Annie and Josh’s story would end it was bittersweet saying goodbye to these characters who feel like friends.

Annie’s transformation since the first book is amazing, Eeles took her on quite the personal journey. The supporting characters also went through many changes and I think this was the most emotional book in the series by far. There is still plenty of humor and lighthearted moments to be found, but there are several moving storylines as well that touched me.

I’m someone that appreciates a neat and tidy ending and the epilogue in this book was utter perfection! This is just such an ultimately satisfying series and one I highly recommended to anyone who wants a light, easy and funny read.

Annie’s Summer by the Sea in three words: Carefree, Sweet and Emotional.

Overall rating: 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.

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lizeelesauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizeelesauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizeelesauthor/

Review: The Longest Silence by Debra Webb

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Release date: March 6, 2018

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

A killer stole her voice. Now she’s ready to take it back. Don’t miss the chilling Shades of Death series from USA TODAY bestselling author Debra Webb.

Joanna Guthrie was free. She had been for eighteen years–or so she needed everyone to believe. What really happened during the longest fourteen days of her life, when she and two other women were held captive by the worst kind of serial killer, wasn’t something she could talk about. Not after what they had to do to survive.

But when more women go missing in an eerily similar manner, Jo knows her prolonged silence will only seal their fates. She’s finally ready to talk; she just needs someone to listen. FBI special agent Tony LeDoux can’t deny he finds Jo compelling–he’s just not sure he believes her story. But with the clock ticking, Jo will do anything to convince him, even if it means unearthing long-buried secrets that will land them squarely in the crosshairs of the killer…

I’m so pleased to be the stop on the blog tour for The Longest Silence today! Check out TLC Book Tours for the full schedule.

Review:

This is the fourth in a series but I jumped in here and had no problem reading this as a standalone. It wastes no time and jumps straight into the action, I found it to be a true page turner so I’m sure this made it easier for me to catch on rather quickly. Tony is an ex FBI agent who’s niece goes missing and Joanna is a woman who was abducted years ago and her case is freakishly similar to the current one. This was one of those reads with way more questions than answers and things are revealed slowly and steadily, a method which always reels me in.

I enjoyed both of the lead characters, Tony is a likable mess with good intentions and Jo is a broken woman with a seriously messed up past, I found her to be well drawn and unpredictable which always keeps me on my toes. The case itself was interesting, admittedly I did figure out the who on a few points, but not the why. Sometimes this frustrates me but this time I was so entertained that it honestly didn’t bother me at all. Webb is such a skilled storyteller that I was able to easily let my usual irritation go and just enjoy the story regardless.

This was a solid serial killer read, plenty of suspense and a really unique explanation behind the killers actions. I can see why Webb is such a popular author, she really has a way with words and I read this in one tense sitting which is always a fantastic sign for me!

The Longest Silence in three words: Compulsive, Dark and Intense.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for my review copy.

About the Author:

DEBRA WEBB is the award winning, USA Today bestselling author of more than 130 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency, and the Shades of Death series. With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood on a farm in Alabama.

Connect with Debra

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Review: No Safe Place by Patricia Gibney @Trisha460 @Bookouture

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Release date: March 22, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

There’s nothing more dangerous than a familiar face…

As funeral mourners stand in silence at Ragmullin cemetery, a deafening cry cuts through the air. Lying crumpled at the bottom of an open grave is the bloodied body of a young woman, and Detective Lottie Parker is called in to investigate.

Knowing the body can’t have been there long, Lottie wonders if it could be Elizabeth Bryne, a young woman who vanished without trace just days earlier. And with a new boss who seems to have it in for her, Lottie is under pressure to solve both cases quickly.

As two more women go missing from Ragmullin, Lottie and her team fear there is a serial killer on the loose. And the disappearances are strikingly similar to a cold case from ten years earlier. Could history be repeating itself?

As journalists begin to interfere with Lottie’s investigation, she fears the killer is about to strike again. Lottie is in a race against time to find the missing women, but the killer is closer than she thinks. Could Lottie be his next target?

If you love Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love the latest pulse-pounding thriller from Patricia Gibney. No Safe Place will keep you guessing until the very last page.

I’m so excited to be one of the stops on the blog tour for No Safe Place today!

Review:

If you’re a regular reader of my little blog you’re probably well aware that I’m a huge fan of the Lottie Parker series and I can’t believe this is already book four! While technically you definitely could read this as a standalone I don’t recommend it as it’s such a great mix of police procedural and thriller with deeply drawn characters and you would truly be missing out on pertinent background information.

Lottie feels like an old friend at this point albeit one that’s a bit of a mess, but a lovable mess. Her personal life is as crazy as ever and her work life isn’t much better. This series has the perfect blend of personal and professional, I’m equally invested in both and I really feel like I know Lottie as a character. Her and Boyd are one of my favorite duos, they just have such a wonderful rapport that leans to the sarcastic side which is right up my alley.

This spans the course of five days as Lottie and team work relentlessly to find missing women and a killer. It all seems like it could be related to a cold case but per usual there are more questions than answers which always keeps things fresh and exciting. There’s a large cast of supporting characters and various interesting subplots that keep things intriguing and impossible to predict where things are headed.

Strong, sharp writing, highly complex plotting and characters that I truly care about combine together to make a recipe for success for me! I’m a firm fan of these books and the author, if you haven’t started them yet, get cracking!

No Safe Place in three words: Intricate, Sharp and Gritty.

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 and has sold over 600,000 copies and has now also been published by Hachette Ireland in paperback.

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

Book 3, The Lost Child, was published on October 27th, 2017.

www.patriciagibney.com 

Review: The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey

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Release date: April 3, 2018

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Blurb:

Leaving fans “practically [begging] for a sequel” (Bookpage), critically acclaimed author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with the second novel in her beloved Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family.

After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her children deserve.

Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.

But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.

Harvey’s signature warmth and wit make this a charming and poignant story of first loves, missed opportunities, and second chances and proves that she is “the next major voice in Southern fiction” (Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author).

Review:

Last year I read Slightly South of Simple and fell head over heels in love with not only Peachtree Bluff, but also the characters and Harvey’s smooth, fluid writing. I couldn’t wait to revisit Ansley, Caroline, Sloane and Emerson and now I want to pack my stuff move to Peachtree Bluff! Ok, at least take a vacation there?!

If the cover of STSC doesn’t make you long for warm weather then I don’t know what will, it’s gorgeous and the inside is just as pretty. This time around the story centers more on Sloane and her despair and hopelessness as her husband Adam, is missing in action. It flips between her point of view and Ansley’s and the entire family is in crisis mode for various reasons. This was much more emotional for me than the first book, it played off of some of my own worst fears and Harvey writes with a passion that tugs on the heart, it’s beautiful and insightful.

The characterization in this series is fantastic, this family of women are all relatable on some level and are the kind of people I would want as friends. I loved finding out more about Sloane, many of her chapters began with an old letter from Adam and they simultaneously broke my heart and made me swoon. You do still uncover some more details about the rest of the family, but Sloane is definitely front and center and her thoughts and feelings about motherhood, being a sister, wife and daughter were SO relatable that Harvey could be plucked them right out of my own head.

Once again this had it all, family drama, secrets, romance, humor and charm, I literally cannot wait for the next book. This is one to pick up when you want to be lost in the pages of a book, pack it for your next vacation, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

The Secret to Southern Charm in three words: Endearing, Warm and Wise.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Head over to Instagram for a chance to win a copy of STSC!

About the Author:

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina (Berkley/Penguin Random House, 2015), Lies and Other Acts of Love (Berkley/Penguin Random House, 2016) and the Peachtree Bluff Series, beginning with Slightly South of Simple (Gallery/Simon & Schuster, 2017). Dear Carolina was long-listed for the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, has been optioned for film and has appeared on numerous “must-read” lists. Lies and Other Acts of Love was a Romantic Times top pick, a Southern Booksellers Okra Pick and was chosen to be a part of the 2017 Trio display, an integration of story, art and song, which will spend the year traveling the country.

She blogs with her mom daily on Design Chic, the inaugural member of Traditional Home’s design blogger hall of fame, about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodsonharvey.com.

Harvey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Domino, Houzz and Our State. She has been seen featured in Readers’ Digest, The Huffington Post, USA Today’s Happy Every After, North Carolina Bookwatch, PopSugar, Glitter Guide and The Sits Girls. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and five-year-old son where she is working on her next novel.

Review: The Fear by C. L. Taylor @callytaylor @AvonBooksUK #OvercomeYourFear

8 Comments

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: March 22, 2018

Publisher: Avon Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

The million copy Sunday Times bestseller returns with a taut, compelling psychological thriller that will have you glued to the edge of your seat.

Happy publication day to C. L. Taylor, I’m thrilled to be helping to kick off her blog tour today! I have my thoughts about the book to share, but first I have an extract.

Extract:

I hate surprises. So much so that when Ben rang me at work on Monday and told me to keep the weekend free because he was going to surprise me, I almost ended the call. Instead I pretended to be thrilled.

‘You okay?’ he asks now. ‘You don’t get travel-sick do you?’

If I look pale it’s got nothing to do with the fact that we are rocketing down the A2 in Ben’s battered VW Golf.

‘I’m fine,’ I say. ‘But I wish you’d tell me where we’re going.’

He taps a finger against the side of his nose and smiles. ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

Ben was never meant to be more than a one-night stand. I figured he’d be straight out of my bed, and my life, the moment our sweat-slicked bodies cooled. But he stuck around. He stayed all night and then insisted on taking me out for breakfast the next day. I said yes, partly because it was less awkward than saying no. Mostly because I was hungry and I didn’t have any food in the house. We ended up staying in the café for over two hours. I learnt that he was a self-employed graphic artist, he’d never been to a gig, and his dad was a massive hypochondriac. He learnt that I was an only child, a project manager for an eLearning company and that my dad had recently died. Ben immediately reached across the table, squeezed my hand and said how sorry he was. When he asked if we’d been close I changed the subject.

I need to go back there at some point, to my childhood home in the rolling green Worcestershire countryside, to clear and clean the farmhouse and put it on the market, but there’s a good reason why I haven’t been back in eighteen years.

Are you intrigued?! You should be, this was a fantastic read!

Review:

From the moment I started The Fear I was totally hooked, Taylor drew me into a dark and tangled web and didn’t let me go until the final chapter. Lou was groomed by a much older man when she was a young teenager and now it’s many years later and she’s still struggling to get past it. Grooming is one of those words that sends a chill down my spine as a parent to two girls, the manipulation and abuse associated with it put the fear into me, what an aptly titled book.

This is told from multiple perspectives, Lou both in 2007 and via her diary entries when she was fourteen, then you hear from Chloe, the teenager who Lou fears is being used in the same way that she was and finally, Wendy. You’re never quite sure exactly what Wendy’s angle is or how she fits into the story, but when it’s revealed I did one of those, oohhh I see what you did there moments, super clever! This is extremely fast paced and sharply written, it begs to be read in one sitting as there’s so much tension and anticipation about what will happen next, both in the flashbacks and the 2007 storyline.

I don’t want to discuss the plot much more, just know that if you’re a psychological thriller fan, this is a must read. The characterization is just as strong as the writing and the story is gripping, I really couldn’t ask for more!

The Fear in three words: Absorbing, Shocking and Thrilling.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.