Category: Blog

April Wrap Up

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The Halo Effect was a literary mystery, really good. 

Teach was a hot and steamy read about an forbidden romance. 

 

Royally Roma was a cute romance if a bit stereotypical. 

A Presence of Absence was a good Nordic Noir novel.

Ragdoll was brilliant! 

When We Danced at the End of The Pier was a gorgeous historical fiction. 

The Second Chance Tea Shop was a cute, romantic read.

Skintown was a bizarre read. 

Appetite for Innocence was another dark, gripping read from Berry.


I loved The Night the Lights Went out. 


White Sand, Blue Sea was an ok read. 

Will to Live is the second book in a series I’m really enjoying. 

I loved Gone Without a Trace.

The Cornish Escape was a lovely romance mixed with a bit of mystery. 

The Trophy Taker was a solid crime read. 

Forks, Knives and Spoons was a really fun book set in the late eighties/early nineties. 

Faithless was a classic Nordic Noir novel.

Kill or Die was a fast paced thriller. 

The Beachside Flower Stall was a delightful read. 

Game Point is the fourth in a series that I jumped into, loved it! 

Last Breath was another awesome book in the Erika Foster series. 

A Wedding in Italy was a gorgeous story.

Sleep Tight was another winner from Mitchell. 

I listened to the audiobook version of The French Kiss and liked it. 

Slightly South of Simple was fantastic, a perfect summer read. 

Lie to Me was a little different than I expected but still good.

Rage Against the Dying was a fantastic read.

Dead Woman Walking was fantastic.


Fear the Darkness was great, this series gets better and better. 


Ice Cold Alice was about a female serial killer, really good. 

I listened to The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living it was cute with an awesome narrator. 

A Twist of the Knife was the third in a phenomenal series. 

The Puppet Master was a decent read, a little improbable but overall good.

If We Were Villians was a really smart book.

The Girl on the Bus was a good thriller.
April was another fabulous month for me, I read 35 books! Well, two were audiobooks, I still count those. 

Choosing a favorite this month is proving to be extremely difficult for me so I’m cheating. I’m picking favorites from a few categories. 

Favorite can’t put it down read: 

Dead Woman Walking by Sharon Bolton. I just love her books, I’m planning to go back and read her earlier stuff at some point this summer.

Favorite chick lit/women’s fiction: 

Slightly South of Simple by Kristy Woodson Harvey. This is just the quintessential summer read!

Favorite series of the month: 

Well since I binged it in record time it’s obviously Becky Masterman’s Brigid Quinn series! 

Favorite thriller: 

Last Breath by Robert Bryndza, this series just keeps getting better! 

Favorite debut: 

Ragdoll by Daniel Cole just blew me away! 

The fact that I couldn’t possibly pick just one favorite just shows that I read some phenomenal books this month! I have some really great books planned for May, then as we get into summer I’ll be celebrating my first blogiversary! I’ll be doing at least one giveaway, so stay tuned. 

I’m also planning on not taking on as many tours and stuff in June/July/August. I have several reasons for this, first I need to tackle my personal TBR. I’m dying to read some stuff that’s been sitting on my shelf for months. Secondly, we should be done building our house and moving by August so I need to leave myself some time to get settled in to a new place! Third, my girls will be off school and I want to do some fun stuff with them, we also have a couple of vacations planned. I’m hoping that by easing back I can ward off blogger burnout/reading slumps too! 

How was April for you? Link me to your own wrap up if you have one and here’s to a fantastic May! 

Blog Tour: The Girl on the Bus by N. M. Brown @normthewriter @Bloodhoundbook

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Release date: April 28, 2017

Publisher: Bloodhound Books 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

A retired detective and a young woman are about to face their worst fears. 

Vicki Reiner is emotionally isolated and craves the fleeting happiness she experienced in the years prior to her college graduation. In an attempt to recapture this, she invites her former friend and room-mate, Laurie, for a break at her deserted beachside home. However, despite booking an online bus ticket, her friend never shows up and seems to have vanished. 

Unable to accept the bizarre circumstances of the disappearance, Vicki approaches the police who dismiss her concerns before enlisting the reluctant help of Leighton Jones – a newly retired detective who is haunted by the death of his teenage daughter. Despite trying to remain detached from the case, Leighton is drawn to Vicki and her search for justice. 

The unlikely pair face numerous obstacles but using a combination of methods he and Vicki track the killers who are working across the dusty freeways of North America. 

Soon Vicki and Leighton find themselves nervously waiting at a remote bus stop expecting the arrival of the bus. 

Will they ever discover what happened to Laurie? 

And can they both escape with their lives? 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Girl on the Bus. I’m hosting with Sean’s Book Reviews so make sure you check in there to see his thoughts as well. 

Review: 

I have to admit, the title of this one put me off initially. I know many of us are sick of titles with the ubiquitous Girl in it, but when I read the blurb I was intrigued enough to set my feelings of hesitation aside. I’m really glad I didn’t let something as silly as a title put me off as this was a fast paced, scary and intense read. 

There are several viewpoints in this book and quite a few characters, but not too many that the story gets convoluted. The two main characters are Vicki and Leighton, she’s a young woman who is concerned when her friend that’s due to visit never arrives and he is a recently retired detective with a painful past. I liked both of them and enjoyed seeing their relationship evolve over the course of the book. 

This was an absorbing read, I was really wrapped up in the whole thing, I kept thinking about what I would do if a loved one stepped on a bus and vanished into thin air. I think I would have the dogged persistence just like Vicki and I would search until I found answers. When she and Leighton did uncover the truth I was horrified, shocked and completely creeped out. I don’t want to say too much more about exactly why I felt those emotions, you need to read it for yourself and then we can chat! I only wish there would’ve been a bit more detail about the killer and they way they operated but overall it was a unique read that had me hooked. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Norman M. Brown is an author living and working in Scotland. He attended secondary school in Stirling where he spent more time in the library or in the nearby park with a paperback, than he did in classes… Ironically, having graduated from Stirling University with a degree in English, he soon ended up back on the classroom again – where he has shared his love of fiction for two decades. 


Having experimented with poetry, scripts and short stories over the years, he finally decided to write sit down and write the type of fiction he would like to read. The result was his crime thriller -The Girl on the Bus. As result, Norman was delighted to be signed to Bloodhound Books at the start of this year. The Girl in the Bus, is his first published novel. He is currently writing a second novel based on its protagonist – detective Leighton Jones.    

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Extract: One Endless Summer by Laurie Ellinghan @LaurieEllingham

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Release date: April 20, 2017

Publisher: HQ Digital 

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

Blurb: 
Three best friends.
Three continents.

Three months to live.


How long can you keep a secret?




Three best friends are embarking on an all-expenses paid trip of their dreams. The only catch? Every moment will be documented on film.



Lizzie’s battle with cancer is coming to an end, and now she’s ready to embrace adventure for the very first time. There are only three months, but it is Lizzie’s time to finally start living!



Jaddi is known for her stunning looks, flirtatious attitude and many conquests. But Jaddi has a secret and on this last trip together she needs to decide whether her best friends will ever know the real her.



Samantha has always been the ‘grown up’ of the group, the one with a five year plan. What Lizzie and Jaddi don’t know is that Sam is trapped, and her perfect life isn’t quite what it seems…



As they trek across the globe Lizzie, Jaddi and Samantha must come to terms with loss, love and trusting one another. But will it all be too late… 

One Endless Summer sounds like such a great read and though I didn’t have the time to read it yet, it’s coming up in my TBR as soon as possible. I have a deleted scene to share today, I love that, so many times when I finish a book I long for a bit more time with the characters. 

Extract: 

Deleted chapter from One Endless Summer

One Endless Summer follows Lizzie, Jaddi, and Samantha as they backpack around the world. And with them for every step of the way is Ben, the cameraman, sent to capture the final months of Lizzie’s life.

In the first draft of One Endless Summer, Ben had his own chapters, showing a softer side to the grumpy cameraman and a different perspective on the journey. By draft two it was clear that Ben’s voice wasn’t needed. He is still an integral part of the story, but not one the reader needed to hear. It was real Kill Your Darlings moment for me and I was sad to cut his scenes. Here is a deleted scene from Ben as he ponders his role on the trip:

 

Ben

Why did women always go to the toilet in groups? And why did they always take so long? A wry smirk touched Ben’s face as he recalled his father’s theory on the matter. The minute his mother and sister would leave in search of the ladies room, his dad would lean across the restaurant table and whisper to Ben and his brother: ‘There they go again, off to take part in the women’s world toilet origami competition. What do you think they’ll be making today? The Eiffel tower?’

​His dad had a lot of theories. Some funny, some outright bonkers, and others which made a lot of sense too, like when he’d said to Ben growing up ‘Always trust your gut, it will keep you safe. The minute you start ignoring your gut, you lose your way in life. I’ve seen it happen.’

​Ben’s gut had told him not to accept this job, but he couldn’t figure out why. He’d sworn after the Lola Frost documentary he would stop working with people, especially famous ones. Had that been the reason? Still, he hadn’t meant to sound so rude when he’d spoken to Lizzie on the plane.​

​Animals made so much more sense. Animals knew nothing of the fruitless euphoric highs of fading celebrities when they got a bump in their popularity ratings, or a mention by someone seemingly more famous than then. Always followed by the lows and the snide jealousy as someone else’s face appeared on the magazine covers. He had yet to meet a sadder and more pointless existence.

​He should be lying in a dusty plain in Botswana, capturing the birth of lion cubs. Not babysitting three girls.

​The problem he had, the reason he kept being passed over for the wildlife footage, what he hated to admit, was that he had a knack for the babysitting jobs. He didn’t get sucked into the life of the entourage like so many of his colleagues. Only filming the best bits, the part of the story the celebrities wanted the world to see. That life didn’t interest him.

​It’s why some of the producers called him Sherlock. It wasn’t just the connection to his surname. He had the uncanny ability to sense when something was about to happen, a feeling in the pit of his stomach, a sixth sense, a radar in his brain beeping at him to reach for his camera and capture a moment that would otherwise have been missed. Sometimes it was just a look, like the expression on Jaddi’s face when she’d spoken to Lizzie’s brother. A flash of raw emotion before the wall went up. Other times it was something more juicy, a sudden kiss, a lovers’ quarrel, he’d seen it all.

​Whatever it was, the warning noise on his radar beeped into overdrive as he stared at the toilet door the girls had disappeared through. How long did they need in there? Ben unzipped his holdall and hoisted his camera onto his shoulder.

​Using his foot, he eased open the door and stepped into the restroom.

​Well that scene just makes me want to read the book even more now! Thanks to Laurie for sharing that fabulous bonus material today. 

About the Author: 


Laurie lives in a small village on the Suffolk borders, with her husband, two children, and their cockerpoo, Rodney. When she is not disappearing into the fictional world of her characters, preferably with a large coffee and a Twix (or two) to hand, she is running through the countryside, burning off the chocolate intake and plotting her next chapter.

 

To find out more visit http://www.laurie-ellingham.com, or find her on Twitter @LaurieEllingham and Facebook. 

 

Blog Tour: Love and Crime: Stories by V. S. Kemanis @VSKemanis

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Release date: May 1, 2017

Publisher: Opus Nine Books

Genre: Literary short stories, psychological suspense 

Blurb: 

Eleven compulsively readable short stories… Anyone who appreciates supple writing and fine storytelling will enjoy every minute spent reading these stories” – Foreword Reviews (five-star rating)

“V.S. Kemanis is a strong writer… [A]ny reader with a love of fine writing in short story format should find pieces to savor among these well-written offerings” – BlueInk Reviews (starred review)
 Loves big and small, crimes forgiven or avenged. These are the themes that drive the eleven diverse stories in this new collection of psychological suspense by storyteller V.S. Kemanis.

Meet the husband and wife team Rosemary and Reuben, master chefs known to sprinkle a dash of magic into every dish. Lucille Steadman, a dazed retiree who can’t explain why she’s left her husband, only to discover, too late, the meaning of love and commitment in the most surprising place. Franklin DeWitt, an esteemed ballet critic who witnesses—or abets?—a bizarre criminal plot to topple a beautiful Soviet ballerina. Rosalyn Bleinstorter, a washed-up defense attorney whose stubborn belief in her own street savvy leads her unwittingly into a romantic and criminal association with an underworld figure.

These are just a few of the colorful characters you’ll get to know in these pages, where all is fair in love and crime. While the endings to these tales are not always sweet or predictable, and self-deception is rarely rewarded, the lessons come down hard and are well learned.

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About the Author: 


V. S. Kemanis grew up in the East Bay Area of California in a family with six amazing siblings and parents passionate about politics, social issues, theater and music. Mealtimes were often raucous, stimulating, intellectual and fun gatherings in a household full of family and interesting guests, musicians, actors, artists, professors and university students.

Ms. Kemanis holds a B.A. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and a J.D. from the University of Colorado, School of Law, at Boulder. In her legal career, she has been a criminal prosecutor of street crime and organized crime for county and state agencies, argued criminal appeals for the prosecution and defense, conducted complex civil litigation, and worked as a court attorney for state appellate courts. She is also an accomplished dancer of classical ballet, modern jazz and contemporary styles and has performed, taught and choreographed in California, Colorado and New York.

Dozens of short stories by Ms. Kemanis have been published in noted literary journals and award-winning collections. Her three novels in the Dana Hargrove legal mystery series draw on her personal experience in criminal law, juggling the needs of family with a high-powered legal career. Ms. Kemanis is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.

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Blog Tour: Tag You’re Dead by Douglas Skelton #Q&A @DouglasSkelton1

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Release date: April 27, 2017

Publisher: Saraband Books

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 

Sam the butcher is missing, and maverick investigator Dominic Queste is on the case. But it’s not because he misses Sam’s prize-winning steak pies… A dangerous man has arrived in Glasgow. He’s no small-town crook, and he’s leaving a trail of disturbing clues across the city, starting with the missing cousin of Queste’s new lover. Amidst a twisted game of cat and mouse, suspicious coppers and a seemingly random burglary at the judge’s house, Queste has to keep his wits about him. Or he might just find himself on the butcher’s block. 

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Tag You’re Dead. I have a Q & A with the author to share today. 


Q & A:  

 

Welcome Douglas. Before we start, could you tell me a little about yourself?

 

I’m a former shelf stacker, bank clerk, office paper pusher, ad salesman, civil servant, taxi driver (for two days), wine waiter (for two hours), journalist and newspaper editor. Never got the hang of any of them. I began by writing non-fiction but made the leap into fiction in 2013. I now have six crime thrillers to my name.

 

Today we are talking about your new novel: Tag You’re Dead. Could you give us a quick summary and introduce us to Dominic Queste?

 

Dominic Queste calls himself an odd-job man. He’s not a private eye in the strictest sense but he walks the same mean streets. He’s quirky (I hope!) in that he can view the world through the perspective of movies and TV shows. He’s not a fantasist, he’s too hard-headed for that, but he does love his movies. He’s also quick-witted, fast-talking and, when forced, pretty tough. In TAG, a missing person case he undertakes for his girlfriend turns lethal when he finds himself being stalked by a serial killer.

 

When we meet Dominic, first in The Dead Don’t Boogie and now in Tag, you have made it clear that his past has not been the easiest of rides – a recovering addict who has had more than a few run-ins with the police. Does the rocky background give you more leeway to develop the character?

I like characters who struggle against their demons to do the right thing. For me it does, as you say, provide leeway to develop them. People who have something for which to atone. Dominic, as one character says, is Raymond Chandler’s slightly tarnished knight. There’s more scope in someone with an edge. I was never interested in squeaky clean heroes – as a child I much preferred Batman to Superman, for instance. I’m drawn to darkness. Must be my Celtic blood.

 

 

Dominic is a one-man “IMDB” and has a film reference for every occasion, how does this become a problem for him in Tag? Also, how much of the film trivia comes from your own fascination with cinema?

The serial killer discovers Dom is a buff and uses film references and quotes to taunt him, to keep him on the knife-edge. And ALL the film trivia comes from my own film geekiness. My head is cluttered with movie trivia.

 

Tag You’re Dead is primarily set in Glasgow but you take the action out of the city too. Could you tell us about the locations which feature in the story? Have you chosen to write about places you enjoy visiting?

The story takes Dom to the Highlands, specifically the area around Loch Rannoch in Perthshire, although the specific cottages I mention are fictional. It’s a part of Scotland I love. Everywhere you look is picture postcard beautiful and the air is so fresh and clear. I’ve set it in the autumn (or the Fall, as the Americans say) and the colours are breathtaking. I would encourage everyone to visit. Dom was certainly impressed!

 

Dominic Queste has a tendency to use humour and quip his way through conversations but Tag is quite a dark read. Was that a difficult balance to achieve when you were writing?

It happened naturally. As they say, it’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye (Note – no one actually loses an eye. Or do they?) Dom uses humour as a weapon, as a defence, as a barrier, as a way to leaven his own darkness and that which lies around him. However, it’s a tricky thing to write – too much and the book becomes a comedy, too little and it becomes TOO dark. I hope I’ve struck the correct balance. My problem is that I have to often resist the need to go for the quick, or cheap, laugh – in my writing and in my own life.

 

The phrase “Tartan Noir” is widely recognised but I get the impression quite a few Scottish authors are not overly fond of it. Is it a convenient marketing hook or a chain around your neck?

It’s both. I understand why it’s done but a large part of me doesn’t see the need. We’re writing crime thrillers. It shouldn’t matter where it’s set, as long as that background comes alive, as long as the reader believes it. I see no label for crime fiction set in England, or the US. However, I am very proud to be a part of the clan – and one of the best things to come from the trend is Bloody Scotland, our very own International crime writing festival, which takes place every September in Stirling.

 

Do you believe that a number of the crime stories set in Scotland have a distinctive “voice” that a reader could identify and associate with?

There’s a great deal of superb crime writing coming out of Scotland and there’s no doubt that much of it carries that distinctive voice that comes from the setting and the rhythms of Scottish speech, just as authors from other parts of the world can do with their backdrops. Scottish readers like to see actual locations but what about those who are unfortunate enough not be Scottish? They are drawn by character, plot and readability.

 

On a final note, I’d be keen to know which authors you enjoy reading. Which inspire you or have influenced the stories you want to write?

My earliest influence was the western ‘Shane’ by Jack Schaeffer. That generated my fascination with characters trying to shake off their murky past.

The 87th Precinct novels of Ed McBain were my next big influence. They were fast-moving and funny and occasionally shocking. His dialogue was sharp and sassy. The early books didn’t have an ounce of fat on them.

There are so many great authors out there but I’m drawn very much to Americans. I think Dennis Lehane is absolutely wonderful, as is Robert Crais. Both can have a strong thread of humour running through the darkness. Although Irish, John Connolly sets his books in the States and they are fabulous.

 Huge thanks to Douglas for joining me today! 

 

 

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: 


Game Point was the fourth in a series that I jumped into and really liked!

Last Breath was another excellent addition to the Erika Foster series. 

A Wedding in Italy is the second in a perfect spring series.

Sleep Tight is the second in the Ruby Preston series, I love these books!

I finished listening to French Kiss, a fun beginning to a new series about a French detective. 


I LOVED Slightly South of Simple, I have a giveaway that’s still open for a copy!


Lie to Me was an interesting read. 

Rage Against the Dying was an outstanding read. 
Currently Reading: 


I’ve been having a Becky Masterman binge, it’s been awesome! 

Up Next: 



I’m also reading a super secret ARC that I’m excited about! More on that in May. 

I’ve been reading even more than usual as my husband is out of town and my nights after the kids are in bed are quiet. I’m also trying to scramble to read all of the books I had planned on reading in April before the months over! 

What are you currently reading? Anything good? 

Blog Tour: Lie to Me by Jess Ryder @jessryderauthor @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: April 19, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

We’re going to tell our story and then it will all stop and Mummy will be safe. You want Mummy to be safe, don’t you? 


Three minutes. That’s all it takes for Meredith’s entire world to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother she’s never known. 


Meredith can’t believe what her eyes have seen. Yet what if her memory has locked away the painful reality of her childhood? Can there be any truth in the strange and dangerous story her mother forced her to tell on camera? 


The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim? 


To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking… 

I’m so pleased to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Lie to Me today! 


Review: 

This is the type of book that I would call a slow burner, one where there’s a sense of underlying tension that’s waiting to rise to the surface. When it begins, Meri has come across an old VHS tape with her mothers handwriting on the label. This is significant to her as her mom, Becca left when she was a toddler and she hasn’t heard from her since. When she asks her father about the tape she is stunned by his strong, angry reaction and knows that whatever is on the tape means something for her, but she’s unaware that this discovery will set off a chain of events with shocking outcomes. 

This is told in two timelines, the first is Meri in the present day, and then it jumps back to 1984 and is told from Cara’s perspective. There are also some chapters told from a man named Jay’s point of view in the present day as well. At first I was a bit confused about how a cold murder case (Cara) would link to Meri but it all became clear when it’s revealed that Becca is the one who found Cara’s body and Jay was in a relationship with Cara. That may seem like a slight spoiler, but if you pick this one up I don’t want you to get discouraged as Ryder links all the plot threads together in a very interesting way. 

This had a steady pace throughout that gradually intensified as it neared the conclusion and towards the last quarter of the book, there was a twist that knocked me off balance. It was a bit different than what I had anticipated as it didn’t focus so much on the murder case or any particular crimes but rather the characters and how they all had secrets hiding in the shadows and how these lies affected them personally. It still had a tricky plot and kept me gripped the whole time and the epilogue was really strong as was Ryder’s writing style. I’m looking forward to reading what she comes up with next! 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer. After many years working in children’s media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime. Writing, that is. So she’s very excited about the publication of her debut thriller Lie to Me. Her other big love is making pots.

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#CoverReveal A Bake Off  in Cornwall @PaperDollWrites 

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I’m so excited to share the cover for Laura Briggs latest book  A Bake Off in Cornwall. First, here’s some information about the book. 

Blurb: 

Baking fever is sweeping through Cornwall this summer, and with the announcement that Cliffs House is hosting a popular baking contest, Julianne and her friends couldn’t be more excited— until Dinah announces that she’s one of the chosen contestants! Julianne promises herself to do everything possible to support her friend in the face of stiff competition … and two extremely competitive international judges…all while learning a few lessons in the kitchen under the oh-so-close tutelage of Matthew himself.


With love as the secret ingredient, and sparks flying from more than the contestants’ caramelizing torches, Book Five in the bestselling Cornwall series is a recipe for summer romance!


Doesn’t this sound cute?!
Here’s the gorgeous cover…


Isn’t it lovely? So bright, colorful and fun! You can preorder it here. 

About the Author: 

Laura Briggs is the author of several women’s fiction and chick lit novels, with themes that range from wedding planning to modern Jane Austen. Even though she tends to write stories with a romance theme, as a reader she has a soft spot for mysteries, including those by Agatha Christie and Mary Roberts Rinehart. She also enjoys books by Jane Austen, Anne Tyler, Amy Tan, and too many others to name. In her free time, she likes to experiment with new recipes and tries to landscape her yard (a never-ending project).

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Blog Tour: A Wedding in Italy by Tilly Tennant @TillyTenWriter @bookouture

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Release date: April 14, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb: 

Sun, spaghetti and sparkling prosecco. When it comes to looking for love, there’s no place like Rome – but once Kate’s found her man, can she keep him? 


Kate is living the dream with her gorgeous boyfriend Alessandro in his native city, but the reality is sometimes a little less romantic than she’d hoped. Every day in her new home is a fight against leaking pipes, her cantankerous landlord and her less-than-perfect grasp of the Italian lingo. 


All around her there is talk of weddings, but when a secret from her past is thrust out into the open, Kate must fight to prove to Alessandro’s Mamma – and the rest of his formidable family – that she truly is Italian marriage material. 


With the women in Alessandro’s life on a mission to break them apart, the cracks begin to show and Kate starts to question if Alessandro really is the man of her dreams. Can love and the city of romance conquer all, or is that just a fairy-tale? 


Let Rome steal your heart this summer in this gorgeously romantic escapist read. Perfect for fans of Jo Thomas and Abby Clements. 

I’m so pleased to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for A Wedding in Italy today! 


Review: 

This is the second in a series, I read Rome Is Where The Heart Is last month and thought it was adorable and such a perfect read for this time of year. A Wedding in Italy is the same, it’s a fun holiday read that makes you feel as if you’ve just returned from a Roman vacation by the time you finish.

What I’ve come to love about Tennant’s writing is that while she conjures up delightful images and swoon worthy romances she still manages to keep things believably realistic. In the first book I was impressed by how Kate and Alessandro were hesitant about their new relationship even though they cared very deeply for one another. This time around she stuck with a basis in reality as Kate struggles after her move to Rome. She misses her family terribly, she’s having trouble finding a job, the language barrier is frustrating and often embarrassing, and though she loves Alessandro more than ever, his meddling family is putting a huge strain on their brand new relationship. It was a nice change to read a romance where things don’t just end with a perfect, happily ever after. This was like seeing behind the curtain when the HEA moment ends and real life begins, it was so refreshing! 

I really bonded with the characters the first time around and this time I was able to deepen my connection to them even more. Alessandro’s family all play a large part in the plot and I felt similar to Kate as one part of me loved them and the other part wished they would mind their own business. Their Italian dramatics, love of food and family, and loyalty ultimately won me over in the end. Kate and Alessandro are just as sweet as ever and their passion and chemistry was hot and spicy. 

This is a lovely addition to the series, I would recommend packing them in your bag for your own vacation, they are perfect beach reads. Tennant writes gorgeous, descriptions that make you feel as if you’re strolling along in the streets of Rome and she made me hungry again with the scrumptious food explanations and details. I just hope there will be a third book coming soon?! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


From a young age, Tilly Tennant was convinced that she was destined for the stage. Once she realised she wasn’t actually very good at anything that would put her on the stage, she started to write stories instead. There were lots of terrible ones, like The Pet Rescue Gang (aged eight), which definitely should not see the light of day ever again. Thankfully, her debut novel, Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was not one of those, and since it hit the Amazon best seller lists she hasn’t looked back. Born in Dorset, she currently lives in Staffordshire with her husband, two daughters, three guitars, four ukuleles, two violins and a kazoo.

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Blog Tour:  Last Breath by Robert Bryndza @RobertBryndza @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: April 12, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Crime Fiction 

Blurb: 
He’s your perfect date. You’re his next victim.


When the tortured body of a young woman is found in a dumpster, her eyes swollen shut and her clothes soaked with blood, Detective Erika Foster is one of the first at the crime scene. The trouble is, this time, it’s not her case. 


While she fights to secure her place on the investigation team, Erika can’t help but get involved and quickly finds a link to the unsolved murder of a woman four months earlier. Dumped in a similar location, both women have identical wounds – a fatal incision to their femoral artery. 


Stalking his victims online, the killer is preying on young pretty women using a fake identity. How will Erika catch a murderer who doesn’t seem to exist? 


Then another girl is abducted while waiting for a date. Erika and her team must get to her before she becomes another dead victim, and, come face to face with a terrifyingly sadistic individual.


Gripping, tense and impossible to put down, Last Breath will have you on the edge of your seat, racing to the final dramatic page. 

I’m thrilled to be helping to close down the blog tour for Last Breath today!! Even better, I’m sharing the day with one of my blogging besties, Chelsea from The Suspense is Thrilling Me so make sure you check out her review as well. 


Well, Mr. Bryndza has outdone himself again, this is now my favorite book in this series, hands down. I know I say this every single time a new book in the Erika Foster series is released, but it’s the truth! They just keep getting better and going from strong suit to stronger and every time I finish one of these books I struggle  to catch my breath. 

Erika is out of sorts in the beginning of the book, she’s not working with the MIT and she’s restless and agitated. But fear not, she manages to bulldoze her way into a murder investigation anyway when she links the killing of a young woman found in a dumpster to a case from four months previously. The only thing the team can uncover is that the killer is using social media to stalk his victims. He knows every little thing about them from what they post online and then he uses this information to create fake dating profiles to lure them in. This is some next level stuff, it’s no Catfish, no Nev and Max there to bring things to a tidy resolution. This chilled me to the bone and had me gripped well and truly in its grasp from the first page to the very last.

Erika is my favorite female detective, hands down. Hell, she’s up there with my favorite detectives period. You get to see a softer side to her personality this time around, a vulnerability behind that tough exterior. The character development is flawless, you get to learn enough about her and the team to leave you satisfied, yet there is enough left hanging in the air to leave you wanting more. I’m most eager about seeing what happens to her personal life next, she’s at a bit of a crossroads and it could go in several exciting directions. 

The who behind the killings is revealed to the reader early on, but not to the police until the end. This was great as you see a deadly game of cat and mouse being played right in front of your eyes with the characters that you’ve grown to know and love. I love social media and use it constantly, both personally and for this blog, but it absolutely freaks me out when I think of my kids getting to an age where they’re on it. My eight year old already asks for a Facebook page! Umm, no try again when you’re 29 my love. It was such a clever plot line and so timely as the majority of us use social media daily and anyone could be watching us. Shivers. 

If you are a fan of crime fiction and you haven’t read this series, please do. It’s outstanding and you’re really missing out. Bryndza is a genius, his plot threads always come together in an impeccable manner, you won’t be able to put his books down and they’re such well written, exciting reads. 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy.