Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 15, 2019

Publisher: Orenda

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

On Christmas Eve in 1988, seven-year-old Alfie Marsden vanished in the Wentshire Forest Pass, when a burst tyre forced his father, Sorrel, to stop the car. Leaving the car to summon the emergency services, Sorrel returned to find his son gone. No trace of the child, nor his remains, have ever been found. Alfie Marsden was declared officially dead in 1995.
Elusive online journalist, Scott King, whose ‘Six Stories’ podcasts have become an internet sensation, investigates the disappearance, interviewing six witnesses, including Sorrel, his son and his ex-partner, to try to find out what really happened that fateful night. He takes a journey through the trees of the Wentshire Forest – a place synonymous with strange sightings, and tales of hidden folk who dwell there. He talks to a company that tried and failed to build a development in the forest, and a psychic who claims to know where Alfie is…
Intensely dark, deeply chilling and searingly thought provoking, Changeling is an up-to-the-minute, startling thriller, taking you to places you will never, ever forget.

I am SO thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Changeling today!

Review:

Just in case you’ve missed me completely raving about this series in the past, here are my thoughts on Six Stories and Hydra. Changeling is the third book and while they can all be read as standalones, you really and truly do not want to miss any of them. They’re all so amazing and innovative, completely unlike anything else I’ve read before and they all come highly recommended by me. AND, they get better with each book, they honestly do and this one? I was utterly blown away in the end.

Scott King is back with a whole new podcast and this one focuses on a famous cold case, I just love those types of premises, how does a seven year old boy just completely vanish into thin air? All is slowly and methodically revealed throughout the six episodes of the podcast and god do I love the format of these books SO much! Each episode features an interview with one person who is somehow related to the case and you just never know exactly what will come to light by the end of the episode. Things get tenser and tenser the further along you get and the creep factor was super high in this one.

Wesolowski creates the most eerie and terrifying atmospheres in his novels and this was no exception. There is a hint of the supernatural surrounding the case, the forest where little Alfie disappeared is somewhat of an urban legend and the stories about the things that are rumored to have happened there are the kind that make your hair stand on end. Then, you have this intricately crafted plot that gets under your skin and the resolution?! Jaw dropping, holy shit, what did I just read moment, the kind you have to read again just to make sure you have it right. This was masterful my friends, do yourself a favor and read this ASAP!

Changeling in three words: Menacing, Frightening and Original.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 11, 2019

Publisher: HQ Digital

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Welcome to Love Heart Lane…

When Flick Simons returns to the small village of Heartcross she only expected to stay for a few days. The white-washed cottages of Love Heart Lane might be her home, but the place holds too many painful memories, and of one man in particular – Fergus Campbell.

When a winter storm sweeps in, the only bridge connecting the village to the main land is swept away! As the villagers pull together, Flick finds herself welcomed back by the friends she once left behind. And as the snow begins to melt, maybe there is a chance that Fergus’s heart will thaw too…

I’m so happy to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Love Heart Lane today!

Review:

I’m always so excited when Christie Barlow releases a new book, she’s one of my go to authors when I’m in the mood for something light and fun, yet full of depth as well. I swear each new book is my new favorite from her and this was no exception, the best part is that it’s the first in a brand new series!

Felicity was the quintessential Barlow heroine, she’s relatable, warm and kind and exactly the type of lead that can easily carry a book. Besides Flick, there’s an entire village of amazing secondary characters that gave the story heart and I can’t wait to explore them more in future books. The setting itself was picturesque and quaint, it made me contemplate packing up my own family and moving to the Scottish highlands myself!

True to form this book had quite a few unexpected moments along the way and even the main love story didn’t go exactly as I had anticipated, which I love! Being surprised while reading romance is always an added bonus, especially when I’m already enjoying a story so very much without little twists and turns. As always I highly recommend this one when you’re in the mood for something sweet.

Love Heart Lane in three words: Cozy, Charming and Delightful.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 12, 2018

Publisher: HQ Digital

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

Can you ever find true love online? 

Sophia Jones is an expert in all things online dating: the best sites, how to write a decent bio, which questions to ask and the right type of photos to use. The only thing she’s not so great at? Picking the guys…

After sitting through yet another dreadful date with a man who isn’t quite what she expected, Sophia is just about ready to give up on the whole dating scene. But her flatmate, Kate, persuades her to give it one more chance, only this time she must create a profile describing her ‘perfect’ man.

Yes, he must look like Robert Pattinson and needs to own a multi-million pound business, but there are a couple of other deal breakers, too! So, when a guy comes along who ticks every box, surely there’s got to be a catch?

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

Review:

I have an odd fascination with the world of online dating, I think it’s probably because I was married well before dating apps were a thing, but I just find it simultaneously horrifying and interesting. I’m happily married and have no real interest in one of those apps, but I do love hearing horror stories of dates gone bad and messages sent by men on them and reading this was like an extended conversation with a friend about this exotic world.

Sophia was a character that I adored instantly, she was funny and relatable and exactly the type of person I would want for a friend. The whole storyline felt really fresh and relevant but it had that old school British rom com charm that I love and the humor was fantastic. I like that this wasn’t totally predictable, there were a few surprises along the way and I absolutely loved how everything worked out in the end. Highly recommended for fans of delightful romances that leave you feeling happy.

Perfect Match in three words: Charming, Sparkly and Fresh.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: January 3, 2018

Publisher: Corvus Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

Will Hurley was an attractive, charming, and impressive student at Dublin’s elite St. John’s College-and Ireland’s most prolific serial killer. Having stalked his four young victims, he drowned them in the muddy waters of the Grand Canal. Sentenced to life imprisonment when he was just nineteen, Will is locked away in the city’s Central Psychiatric Hospital.

Freshman Alison Smith moved to the Big Smoke to enrol in St. John’s and soon fell hard for Will Hurley. Her world bloomed … and then imploded when Liz, her best friend, became the latest victim of the Canal Killer-and the Canal Killer turned out to be the boy who’d been sleeping in her bed. Alison fled to the Netherlands and, in ten years, has never once looked back.

When a young woman’s body is found in the Grand Canal, Garda detectives visit Will to see if he can assist them in solving what looks like a copycat killing. Instead, Will tells them he has something new to confess-but there’s only one person he’s prepared to confess it to. The last thing Alison wants is to be pulled back into the past she’s worked so hard to leave behind. Reluctantly, she returns to the city she hasn’t set foot in for more than a decade to face the man who murdered the woman she was supposed to become.

Only to discover that, until now, Will has left out the worst part of all … 

I’m so thrilled to be the stop on the blog tour for The Liar’s Girl in honor of the paperback release!

Review:

If you’re ever in the mood for slow burning suspense you have got to check this one out! The initial premise hooked me instantly, the idea of a woman being in a relationship with a serial killer is not only terrifying but also fascinating. The idea of a ruthless killer blending in amongst us never fails to intrigue me, does anyone else ever wonder if they’ve crossed paths with a psycho or is that just me?! Anyway, this one reeled me in right away and my interest never wavered once.

This flips between the present day and then back to when Alison was a fresh faced college student, drip feeding you relevant information at a subtle pace. Though this definitely had a slower pace, don’t mistake slow for boring because it was anything but, there was simmering tension and uncertainty the whole way through. By the time I made it to the last quarter of the book the pace had picked up significantly and the intensity was through the roof. I was utterly satisfied by the end and then when I got to the final chapter I was totally blown away, an intricately plotted twist was revealed that I never saw coming for a minute! Having loved both of the authors books now I’m a firm fan, definitely recommend both of her novels for fans of well thought out mysteries.

The Liar’s Girl in three words: Complex, Steady and Engrossing.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About I’ll Be Your Blue Sky

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (December 4, 2018)

The New York Times bestselling author revisits the characters from her beloved novels Love Walked In and Belong to Me in this captivating, beautifully written drama involving family, friendship, secrets, sacrifice, courage, and true love for fans of Jojo Moyes, Elin Hilderbrand, and Nancy Thayer.

On the weekend of her wedding, Clare Hobbes meets an elderly woman named Edith Herron. During the course of a single conversation, Edith gives Clare the courage to do what she should have done months earlier: break off her engagement to her charming—yet overly possessive—fiancé.

Three weeks later, Clare learns that Edith has died—and has given her another gift. Nestled in crepe myrtle and hydrangea and perched at the marshy edge of a bay in a small seaside town in Delaware, Blue Sky House now belongs to Clare. Though the former guest house has been empty for years, Clare feels a deep connection to Edith inside its walls, which are decorated with old photographs taken by Edith and her beloved husband, Joseph.

Exploring the house, Clare finds two mysterious ledgers hidden beneath the kitchen sink. Edith, it seems, was no ordinary woman—and Blue Sky House no ordinary place. With the help of her mother, Viviana, her surrogate mother, Cornelia Brown, and her former boyfriend and best friend, Dev Tremain, Clare begins to piece together the story of Blue Sky House—a decades-old mystery more complex and tangled than she could have imagined. As she peels back the layers of Edith’s life, Clare discovers a story of dark secrets, passionate love, heartbreaking sacrifice, and incredible courage. She also makes startling discoveries about herself: where she’s come from, where she’s going, and what—and who—she loves.

Shifting between the 1950s and the present and told in the alternating voices of Edith and Clare, I’ll Be Your Blue Sky is vintage Marisa de los Santos—an emotionally evocative novel that probes the deepest recesses of the human heart and illuminates the tender connections that bind our lives.

Review:

This flips back and forth between Clare and Edith and follows two timelines, Clare in the present day and then Edith in the nineteen fifties. The way the story flowed and weaves together was really beautiful and the authors writing was really gorgeous. I didn’t realize that this is the third book in a series and I think I probably would’ve been more invested in some if the characters if I had read the previous books, but I still enjoyed this one.

There is a mysterious aspect to this but I would definitely say it fits best in a Women’s Fiction category or even contemporary romance. There was a lot of emotion infused into the one and a poignant depth that makes it standout from cutesy Chick Lit novels. I’m really impressed with the authors writing style and would definitely read something else by her in the future!

I’ll Be Your Blue Sky in three words: Poignant, Emotional and Beautiful.

Overall rating: 4/5

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

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Photo by Tisa Della-Volpe

About Marisa de los Santos

Marisa de los Santos is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning poet with a PhD in literature and creative writing. She lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with her family.

Connect with Marisa on Facebook and Twitter.

Goodreads|Amazon|Simon&Schuster

Release date: December 4, 2018

Publisher: Gallery

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Blurb:

Charlotte Gorman loves her job as an elementary school librarian, and is content to experience life through the pages of her books. Which couldn’t be more opposite from her identical twin sister. Ginny, an Instagram-famous beauty pageant contestant, has been chasing a crown since she was old enough to enunciate the words world peace, and she’s not giving up until she gets the title of Miss American Treasure. And Ginny’s refusing to do it alone this time.

She drags Charlotte to the pageant as a good luck charm, but the winning plan quickly goes awry when Ginny has a terrible, face-altering allergic reaction the night before the pageant, and Charlotte suddenly finds herself in a switcheroo the twins haven’t successfully pulled off in decades.

Woefully unprepared for the glittery world of hair extensions, false eyelashes, and push-up bras, Charlotte is mortified at every unstable step in her sky-high stilettos. But as she discovers there’s more to her fellow contestants than just wanting a sparkly crown, Charlotte realizes she has a whole new motivation for winning. 

Review:

If ever a book was begging to be made into a movie The Accidental Beauty Queen is it! It was an absolutely adorable read and would be more than ideal as a rom com movie, it was perfection in my eyes and I’m so glad I read it before making my best of the year lists because this will definitely be on it!

This uses quite a few classic and well loved tropes that we’ve all seen before, but somehow Wilson manages to breathe fresh life into the story in such a charming way. Identical twins switch places, of course it goes horrible wrong along the way, but it was just so damn cute I didn’t even care that I knew exactly how it would end early on. That alone speaks highly of the authors talent, I was totally into this one hardcore, from beginning to end and truly enjoyed every single page of this beauty. Highly recommended for rom com fans, it’s a must read and I guarantee you’ll finish with a smile on your face!

The Accidental Beauty Queen in three words: Sparkly, Funny and Light.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I’m so thrilled to be resharing my review of The Abattoir of Dreams today as part of Bloodhound Books Christmas blog tour! This was my first book by Mark Tilbury and such a great introduction to his work, it easily earned a spot on my top reads of 2017 and comes highly recommended by me.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: February 28, 2017

Publisher: Bloodhound Books

Blurb: 

The past is never far away. 

Michael Tate has not had an easy life. With his father in prison, and his mother dead, Michael was sent to Woodside Children’s Home. 

Now an adult, Michael wakes up from a coma in hospital suffering from amnesia and paralysis. 

Confused and terrified, he is charged with the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend, Becky. He also learns he attempted to end his own life.

Detective Inspector John Carver is determined that Michael is sent to prison.

With no way of defending himself, Michael isleft in his hospital bed awaiting transfer to remand.

But then strange things begin to happen and hischildhood comes back to haunt him. 

Can Michael ever escape the past?

Will he ever discover the truth about Becky’s murder?

And why is DI Carver so eager to make him suffer? 

The Abattoir of Dreams is a bitter sweet story of murder, innocence and abuse.

Review:

Tilbury is a new author to me and while the blurb sure grabbed my attention, I had no idea what kind of treat I was in for. For the first time I didn’t even post what genre this book fits into, it’s far too special to be slotted into place. Sometimes a book will be labeled as one thing on Goodreads but after reading it I may add in another that I think it’ll fit under, but this time? This book cannot be properly filed into one, two or even three appropriate categories. It honestly has something for everyone, there’s suspense, a bit of horror, romance, supernatural elements and enough thrills to keep your heart racing.

It opens with Michael waking up in a hospital with no memory and he only knows a few things for sure; that he is paralyzed and what he is told, and what is revealed is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Supposedly he brutally murdered his girlfriend and then jumped off of a building, but he doesn’t even remember Becky, much less killing her. Then strange things begin to happen to him at night, is he dreaming, maybe a side effect of the pain medication he’s taking? It’s all very eerie and unsettling but beyond fascinating. I couldn’t wait to find out what had really happened and the way it was revealed to the reader and Michael was sharply clever.

The subject matter here is very dark and disturbing, it’s truly not for the faint of heart. There is abuse of every kind imaginable, it’s graphic and horrifying, but if you can stomach that, this is a must read. It evoked a wide range of emotions within me from shock, horror, sadness and tears all the way to laughter and warm moments, it was a hell of a ride. The characterization was excellent and even though I didn’t discuss all of the characters in detail, that doesn’t mean that this isn’t chock full of them, rather that I want you to discover them for yourself. The good ones will squeeze your heart and have you rooting them on, and the villains will make your skin crawl and want to vomit. (I mean that as a compliment, Tilbury has created some bad guys that may be the most despicable characters I’ve come across in years) This was a gritty and twisted read with so much heart and now if you’ll excuse me I’ll be on Amazon buying Tilbury’s other books.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for my review copy.

Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: November 30, 2018

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

He’d found an angel for his collection. But one angel at a time was never enough…

Detective Beth Young has just joined the Cumbrian major crimes team when a body is found posed in a ritualistic manner – arms spread and graceful wings attached – at a crumbling castle in the hills of the Lake District. 

The entire police force are on red alert. But Beth begins to feel she’s the only one who can follow the disturbing clues left by the twisted killer. Because she doesn’t think like everyone else. To Beth, crimes are puzzles she can solve. Even if real life is a little harder.

As more bodies are discovered in derelict stately homes across the Lake District, she knows she’s in a race against time.

But the killer is looking for another victim to add to his collection… Will Beth be able to save her? Or will he get there first?

A tenacious young detective with scars both physical and emotional, Beth Young will stop at nothing in her fight for justice for the innocent. The Silent Dead is the first book in the series. Set in the Lake District, it is perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, LJ Ross, and Peter James. 

I’m so thrilled to be one of the stops on the blog tour for The Silent Dead today!

Review:

Over the past few years I’ve become a fan of Smith’s, there is something about his writing style and overall originality that appeals to me, so when I heard he was releasing a new book that would also be the beginning of a new series, I just knew I had to read it!

I spoke of the authors originality earlier, let me expand on that now. Beth is a very new police officer and I found this so interesting, I don’t think I’ve read another police procedural where the protagonist is so early in their career. She was also extremely fascinating, I feel like there is so much to learn about her as a character and I’m eager to see what will be revealed in the next book. Then there is the case itself, talk about bizarre and creepy! The killer is not only displaying his victims in an odd manner he’s also attaching wings to their backs, and there also seems to be no rhyme or reason for the victims he chooses. Some are male, some are female and none seem to have any connection to each other. It was a highly unusual premise and one that kept me engaged.

There was something dark and twisted about this one, there are some gory scenes and heart pounding moments, especially in the end. A very solid start to a new series from an author I know I can trust to deliver a great crime read!

The Silent Dead in three words: Unusual, Twisted and Menacing.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.