Category: Blog

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

2 Comments


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.

Amazon|Twitter|Facebook|Instagram

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

2 Comments

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:

https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js


banner Lola's Blog Tours

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

5 Comments


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.

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

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

2 Comments


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

Website|Facebook|Twitter

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

Leave a comment


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

6 Comments


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

Blog Tour: If There’s No Tomorrow by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

10 Comments


Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: September 5, 2017

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA

Blurb: 

Lena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She’s ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications and to maybe let her childhood best friend Sebastian know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be epic—one of opportunities and chances. 


Until one choice, one moment, destroys everything. 


Now Lena isn’t looking forward to tomorrow. Not when friend time may never be the same. Not when college applications feel all but impossible. Not when Sebastian might never forgive her for what happened. 


For what she let happen. 


With the guilt growing each day, Lena knows that her only hope is to move on. But how can she move on when her and her friends’ entire existences have been redefined? How can she move on when tomorrow isn’t even guaranteed?


Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Lie to Me! If you want to follow along with the tour check out TLC Book Tours for the full schedule.

Review: 

This was my first experience reading an Arementrout book and everything I’ve heard about her books is true, she will crush your heart in the best possible way, similar to Colleen Hoover. Her writing is raw, highly emotional and so relevant and important. This will be put in my small stack of books to have my kids read when they get older, it’s a must. 

Books about vulnerable teens always get me right in the feels and this was no exception. It’s told solely from Lena’s perspective and broken into yesterday, today and tomorrow. It’s not told over the course of just three days in her life but rather the time before a major event, during and the time afterwards. I just loved Lena, she’s a bookworm who would rather spend a Saturday night tucked in with a Sarah J. Maas book than out at a party with friends, but she’s not a total loner. She has a tight knit group of friends and a best friend, Sebastian who was quite possibly the sweetest, most endearing kid I’ve read about in a long time. After a devastating tragedy, her and her friends are shaken to their very core and she must find a way to look forward to tomorrow. 

There was such an authenticity to this book, both in the scarily believable plot and the behavior of these teens. The dialogue was dead on, these kids were genuine and wholly realistic, I feel like if I had been eavesdropping on a group of teenaged friends their mannerisms and conversations would’ve been exactly like the ones portrayed in this book. 

I do want to mention that it gets off to a pretty slow start, but if you hang in there after the first third it gets better. Once it picks up the pace it’s full steam ahead and turns into something beautiful and powerful that took me on quite the journey. Much of it was absolutely gut wrenching but extremely poignant and touching, again every teen should read this the lessons inside are unforgettable and vitally important. 

Overall rating: 5/5

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

About the Author: 


# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in West Virginia.


When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K-9 partner named Diesel and her hyper Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent her time writing short stories, therefore explaining her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes Young Adult Contemporary, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal and Romance. She writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J.Lynn.


She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press) the Lux Series (Entangled Teen) and the upcoming YA Don’t Look Back (2014) and untitled YA (Fall 2014) from Disney/Hyperion. She is also published with Harlequin Teen and HarperCollins.

Website|Facebook|Twitter

September Wrap Up

13 Comments

The Accident was a twisty read, a great start to the month!


The Leftover was a really fun read!


The Summer That Made Us was the perfect late summer read.


The Scarred Woman was a really good read, I loved the authors style.


The Lies Within was a great police procedural with dashes of a legal drama and a psychological thriller.


I Hate Everyone But You was a cute YA novel but I did have some issues with it. 


Something Like Happy was an inspiring read, I loved it!

One of my TBT picks was My Husband’s Son and it was a fantastic psychological thriller.


Lie to Me was a really fantastic domestic suspense.


Something Like Family was a beautiful, moving story.


Stillhouse Lake was a creepy read with lots of action. 


House of Spines was a super unique psychological thriller.


When We Were Worthy was a story of resilient women finding hope after a tragedy.


One Day in December was a great ensemble story told over one day.


Thief’s Mark was a romantic suspense with an old school whodunnit vibe.


The Missing Girls was an excellent addition to a great series!


The Names of Dead Girls is the second in a series and I’m a huge fan of the authors writing style.


Lies She Told was a book within a book, super tricky but really well executed.


Paperbacks from Hell is a really cool, creepy read about the history of horror fiction.


Best Day Ever was a chilling look at a messed up marriage. 


She Did It was a great psychological thriller about a relationship between two women.


Despite the awful cover I liked Sweet Reality.


Cold Blood was another great installment in a fantastic series.


I love the Jake Boulder series, The Kindred Killers was great!


Maria in the Moon is a true gem of a novel. 

Coben is a master and Don’t Let Go proves that once again. 


The Beachside Christmas was another lovely addition to a great series. 

Reach for the Stars was a beautifully positive, uplifting read. 

Sugar Pine Trail was an adorable read.


In Twenty Years was my TBT pick, an enjoyable read.


A Very Vintage Christmas was a gorgeous story.


Drawing Lessons was a beautiful and bittersweet read.

I’m so excited it’s finally fall, I love everything about this time of year it’s the best! September was another great month for me, I managed 32 books. You would think that would help me to catch up on my backlog but it honestly hasn’t even made a dent. Oh well. 

While I read some fantastic books my favorite from the month was Lie to Me!

How was your month? Favorites? 

Blog Tour: The Man Who Died by Antti Tuomainen @antti_tuomainen @orendabooks

1 Comment


Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: October 10, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

A successful entrepreneur in the mushroom industry, Jaakko Kaunismaa is a man in his prime. At just 37 years of age, he is shocked when his doctor tells him that he’s dying. What is more, the cause is discovered to be prolonged exposure to toxins; in other words, someone has slowly but surely been poisoning him. Determined to find out who wants him dead, Jaakko embarks on a suspenseful rollercoaster journey full of unusual characters, bizarre situations and unexpected twists. With a nod to Fargo and the best elements of the Scandinavian noir tradition, The Man Who Died is a page-turning thriller brimming with the blackest comedy surrounding life and death, and love and betrayal, markinng a stunning new departure for the King of Helsinki Noir. 

I’m so delighted to be helping to kick off the blog tour for The Man Who Died today! I have a fantastic guest post from the author to share today. 


Guest Post: 
 The Truth is a Funny Thing

 

Two and a half years ago I found myself at another curious crossroad. Life has a habit of doing that: taking you down one road as far as you can go, then suddenly announcing that this where it ends. ‘Thanks a lot’ you might say, but it doesn’t really solve the geographical problem.

I had recently published my fifth novel The Mine, and I was trying to think of the next book. I wanted to write and needed to write – because that is what I do and have to do in order to be happy – and I was trying to get started, but it wasn’t happening. It wasn’t happening for several reasons.

 

One reason was that by that time I had written five very dark novels ranging from the icy North of The Mine to the dystopia of The Healer and I honestly felt I had given all I had in that direction, at least for the time being. (You never know about the future. I might decide tomorrow that I’m going to write something that is darker than all those five books combined.) I also realized a far more serious predicament. I had held back.

 

I had been restraining myself in my writing. I vividly remember a scene in one of the earlier books that I was writing and suddenly saw that I could make it funny. Very, very funny. But it didn’t fit the overall mood of the story. It would have stood out like a pink suit at a funeral. So I kept that alternative scene to myself and actually forgot about it for a while. Then, as I was searching for a new story, I remembered the scene and the feeling I had had at the time. It was almost an epiphany. It was obvious what I needed to do.

 

What are some of my greatest loves as far as artistic influences go? Noir. Comedies.

 

So there.

 

I was on my way. I watched and re-watched all that I had always loved so much, starting from The Marx Brothers. I love their lunacy, intelligence, sheer lovable insanity. I watched Fargo again. What a great, great film it is. (The television series is brilliant, especially season 1.) I re-read Elmore Leonard’s novels. I discovered they were even better than I remembered. He was one of the writers that got me into this writing life to start with. Same with Lawrence Block. He’s written both dark books (his Matt Scudder books are simply great noir novels and highly recommended) and lighter, funnier books starring burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr. I returned to those as well. It was like finding a well of fresh water all over again.

 

Most importantly, I followed my instinct. It’s such a cliché – to follow one’s heart – but there you go. It is true. Especially if you’re a writer. You simply have to write what you have to write. No way around it. And so many happy things followed that turn in the crossroads.

 

I told my literary agent what I was going to do. He said go for it. I didn’t have much in the beginning. Just a man going to see his doctor about flu-like symptoms and then hearing that he has been poisoned over a very long period. Then: enter the mushrooms and the mushroom business that was perfect for a host of reasons. One: I didn’t know anything about it. Two: I made nearly all of it up. Three: it had just the perfect amount of absurdity to it.

 

At first I was unsure of the setting. I had previously set all my novels in Helsinki and had made the city I love one of the characters in the books. Now I wanted to change that with everything else. I only had to look in my own past. I spent my childhood summers in Hamina, a small seaside town about two hours from Helsinki. I made it the golden, sunny, offbeat place that I remembered.

 

I had a blast writing the book that became THE MAN WHO DIED. By that, I don’t mean that writing was easy. It never is. But I knew I had a good story and the tone I had been missing even though I hadn’t really known it. I felt free. I was able to paint with all the colors, to go as far as I wanted, because now it all fit. It was the kind of story I wanted to tell.

 

I think I learned my lesson. As a writer, I need to trust my heart and instinct. If I love to laugh and be moved, and if I find life both tragic and comic I can’t exclude neither one. And what I hope to achieve as a writer – what I would like to do – is make the reader see the same and make the reader laugh and perhaps cry while enjoying a wild ride filled with twists and surprises.

 

Because, sometimes, the truth is the funny thing, and vice versa.

About the Author: 


Finnish Antti Tuomainen (b. 1971) was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary debut in 2007 as a suspense author. The critically acclaimed My Brother’s Keeper was published two years later. In 2011 Tuomainen’s third novel, The Healer, was awarded the Clue Award for ‘Best Finnish Crime Novel of 2011’ and was shortlisted for the Glass Key Award. The Finnish press labelled The Healer – the story of a writer desperately searching for his missing wife in a post-apocalyptic Helsinki – ‘unputdownable’. Two years later in 2013 they crowned Tuomainen ‘The King of Helsinki Noir’ when Dark as My Heart was published. The Mine, published in 2016, was an international bestseller. All of his books have been optioned for TV/film. With his piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen is one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and The Man Who Died sees him at his literary best.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review: We’ll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale @jhaleauthor @bookouture

4 Comments


Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: September 29, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Romance

Blurb: 

An enchanting story about the magic of Christmas, the importance of family, and the joy of falling in love during the most romantic season of the year…


Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing…


The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas.


Determined to raise funds for the family business, Noelle sets about revamping the bakery while juggling a surprise new job, caring for the elderly and cantankerous William Harrington in his luxurious, sprawling mansion.


As Noelle melts the frostiness of the house with cake baking, snowball fights and glittering decorations, she helps William to reconnect with a romance that has spanned decades and unexpectedly finds herself falling for his grandson – the gorgeous but mysterious Alexander Harrington…


In the countdown to Christmas, can Noelle save the bakery, reunite a family and create some magical memories of her own along the way?


Unwrap the feeling of Christmas in this beautiful novel celebrating friendship, family and love that lasts a lifetime. We’ll Always Have Christmas is the perfect treat for fans of Karen Swan, Susan Mallery and Sue Moorcroft.

I’m so pleased to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for We’ll Always Have Christmas!


Review: 

So now that it’s October first I don’t feel as bad about all my Christmas book reviews. Halloween schmalloween, bring on turkey day and Christmas decorations!! I’ve had the pleasure of reading some really gorgeous holiday books but I think I may have found my new favorite, this was such a delightful read! 

Noelle, sweet Noelle is at a crossroads in her life, she wants nothing more than to create an idyllic home for her and her son Lucas but she’s struggling. Her family bakery is about to close and it’s very dear to her as it was her grandmothers pride and joy and she recently passed away. She does not need any complications in her love life but there’s something about Alex she can’t resist, and seriously I don’t blame her, the man is pretty amazing sounding. While this is firmly a romance it’s also about family, long ago lost love and the holiday spirit and the true meaning of Christmas.

The characters in this book were fabulous, I loved Noelle’s family and her friends were pretty terrific as well but her son Lucas was the star of the show for me. His and Noelle’s bond was so beautiful, he was the cutest little guy, I just adored him. Cranky William wasn’t so pleasant at first but as Noelle slowly broke down his barriers I fell a little bit in love with him. (I think she did too!) And Alex was everything you want in a book boyfriend, he’s charming, successful, smart, romantic and generous. 

This was a swoon worthy Christmassy romance, heavy on the festive holiday feeling and giving spirit. It was cozy and warm and by the last few chapters I was giddy with happiness and ready to break out the mistletoe and dance to some Christmas music myself! I can’t recommend this one highly enough for fans of Christmas romances, it’s truly a wonderful and special book. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Jenny Hale is a USA Today and Amazon best-selling author of romantic women’s fiction. The film adaptation of her novel Coming Home for Christmas will air on the Hallmark Channel this year. Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family.  

Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|Website