Blog Tour: Dead Souls by Angela Marsons @WriteAngie @bookouture

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Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: April 28, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 
The truth was dead and buried…until now. 

When a collection of human bones is unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for Detective Kim Stone. 


As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the grave contains more than one victim. The bodies hint at unimaginable horror, bearing the markings of bullet holes and animal traps. 


Forced to work alongside Detective Travis, with whom she shares a troubled past, Kim begins to uncover a dark secretive relationship between the families who own the land in which the bodies were found. 


But while Kim is immersed in one of the most complicated investigations she’s ever led, her team are caught up in a spate of sickening hate crimes. Kim is close to revealing the truth behind the murders, yet soon finds one of her own is in jeopardy – and the clock is ticking. Can she solve the case and save them from grave danger – before it’s too late? 

I am absolutely THRILLED to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Dead Souls today! Angela Marsons is one of my favorite authors and her Kim Stone series is flawless. 


Review: 

I know that I’m a huge book pusher, but if you ever take one of my many recommendations seriously, please choose this one. Marsons Kim Stone series is amazing and it’s one where you really need to read all of the books in order to fully appreciate the talent of the author. This is book six, but fear not! These are such gripping reads that you will power through them in record time, go ahead, have a binge. I don’t think you will regret it for one second.

I think these books need to come with a prescription for Xanax, I swear every time I finish one my anxiety levels are through the roof! I do mean that as a compliment, any book that can get my heart racing is a winner in my book. This time around Kim is facing her biggest challenge yet, she’s separated from her team and is forced to work with her rival, Tom Travis. This is a struggle not only for her, but also for her team. Bryant and Dawson are now partnered up and Stacey is alone as usual, but something about not having Kim at the helm makes them all uneasy and shaken up. 

There are three different cases here, Kim is looking into bones that were unearthed during an archeological dig, Bryant and Dawson are looking into a string of hate crimes, and Stacey is going rogue looking into the suicide of a young man. With so much going on, one would think things would be confusing or disjointed, but that’s not the case here. Instead, the way the  narratives change almost every chapter really kept me on my toes and had the pages flying by.

I don’t want to delve too deep into the plot, but Marsons handled an extremely sensitive issue with grace and humility. Hate crimes are terribly prevalent at the moment and tackling such a timely issue was smart. It was certainly thought provoking for me, and while parts were difficult to read, it’s important that things like this aren’t ignored any longer. 

This is a first rate, brilliant series and no one does tension quite like Marsons. There are plenty of nail biting, heart stopping moments, but there are also so many deep, emotional moments as well. With every book you find out more about Kim, but you also find out more about the rest of the team, making the connection to them so deep and strong. Each book has a fresh, unique viewpoint and things never falter or feel stale. Bravo, Angela Marsons, bravo! 

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to Bookouture for my review copy. 

About the Author: 


Angela lives in the heart of the Black Country with her partner, bouncy puppy and potty mouthed parrot.
It has taken many novels to find that one character who just refused to go away. And so D.I. Kim Stone was born. The D.I. Kim Stone series has now sold over 2 million copies.

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Review: Any Day Now by Robyn Carr

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Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: April 18, 2017

Publisher: MIRA Books

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Blurb:

The highly anticipated sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr’s What We Find transports readers back to Sullivan’s Crossing. The rustic campground at the crossroads of the Colorado and Continental Divide trails welcomes everyone—whether you’re looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a whole new lease on life. It’s a wonderful place where good people face their challenges with humor, strength and love. 


For Sierra Jones, Sullivan’s Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She’s put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn’t yet clear. A visit with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best option to help her get back on her feet. 


Not wanting to burden or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she’s always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it’s a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. In Sullivan’s Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose. 

Review: 

This is the second book in a series about the residents of Sullivan’s Crossing but I haven’t read the first, though it wasn’t an issue at all. Apparently the first book followed Cal as he meets and falls in love with Maggie, and the second follows Cal’s sister, Sierra as she moves to town after completing rehab for an alcohol addiction. She meets a local firefighter and sparks fly, but of course issues arise. This was the standard girl meets boy, both have baggage, they fall in love, something dramatic happens, they persevere, the end. BUT what makes this book standout in a sea of similar romance novels is the fact that the characterization is fantastic and the story is infused with plenty of heart, humor and even a little suspense. 

The town itself was an utterly charming place, the perfect quaint little setting for a romance novel. Sierra immediately strikes up an unlikely friendship with Sully, who is Maggie’s father and their relationship was beyond cute. All of the residents of Sullivan’s Crossing were endearing in their own way and I can easily imagine hearing more about them in future books. This was a totally lighthearted read, the secondary characters were almost as well drawn as the main ones, the writing had an easy, laid back charm, and the storyline was sweet without being cheesy. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Claire at Little Bird Publicity for my review copy. 

#CoverReveal One to Watch by Rachel Amphlett @RachelAmphlett @emmamitchellfpr

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I’m so excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for One to Watch, which is book three in the Kay Hunter series by Rachel Amphlett! I’ll be on the blog tour next month, but if you missed my reviews of the first two books you can find them here; Scared to Death and Will to Live. 

Now onto the good stuff, here’s the blurb and cover for One to Watch. 

Blurb: 

Sophie Whittaker shared a terrifying secret. Hours later, she was dead.

 

Detective Kay Hunter and her colleagues are shocked by the vicious murder of a teenage girl at a private party in the Kentish countryside.

​

A tangled web of dark secrets is exposed as twisted motives point to a history of greed and corruption within the tight-knit community.

 

Confronted by a growing number of suspects and her own enemies who are waging a vendetta against her, Kay makes a shocking discovery that will make her question her trust in everyone she knows.

 

I LOVE this cover, it’s so striking! It’s due to be published on June 6, can’t wait! 

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: 


Dead Woman Walking was fantastic, I highly recommend it. 

Fear the Darkness is book two in a great series.

Ice Cold Alice was a chilling serial killer thriller. 

The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living was a cute book, the narrator was amazing.

A Twist of the Knife is the third in a series and I loved it!

The Puppet Master was a decent read, I had a few minor issues. 

If We Were Villians was a great literary thriller. 

The Girl on the Bus was a creepy read. 
Currently Reading: 


Up Next: 

Some of these are set in stone and others aren’t, we’ll see what I get to!


What’s your current read? 

Review: Crimes Against a Book Club by Kathy Cooperman @Kathy_Cooperman

4 Comments


Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: May 1, 2017

Publisher: Lake Union 

Genre: Chick Lit

Blurb: 

Best friends Annie and Sarah need cash—fast. Sarah, a beautiful, successful lawyer, wants nothing more than to have a baby. But balancing IVF treatments with a grueling eighty-hour workweek is no walk in the park. Meanwhile, Annie, a Harvard-grad chemist recently transplanted to Southern California, is cutting coupons to afford her young autistic son’s expensive therapy.


Desperate, the two friends come up with a brilliant plan: they’ll combine Sarah’s looks and Annie’s brains to sell a “luxury” antiaging face cream to the wealthy, fading beauties in Annie’s La Jolla book club. The scheme seems innocent enough, until Annie decides to add a special—and oh-so-illegal—ingredient that could bring their whole operation crashing to the ground.


Hilarious, intelligent, and warm, Crimes Against a Book Club is a delightful look at the lengths women will go to fend for their families and for one another.

Review: 

This was such a wickedly fun read! Annie and Sarah are long time best friends who both find themselves under financial strain.  Sarah needs cash for her IVF treatments and Annie needs money to pay for her son’s therapy. When they hatch a scheme to sell a “luxury” face cream to Annie’s wealthy neighbors it seems like the easiest way to earn money EVER, but Annie’s special, secret ingredient may land them both in deep trouble. 

This was such a funny book, Cooperman infused so much sarcasm and wit into the pages that I laughed out loud way too many times to count. Besides the two main characters, the women being duped were all colorful, quirky additions to a fantastic cast. Most are members of a book club that Annie attempts to join, but she quickly realizes these women can be downright cruel, think Mean Girls for the over forty crowd. In between each chapter Cooperman inserted snippets of each characters thoughts on different books they’ve read in the past, a very clever and funny addition. 

This was a light, playful read, totally perfect to dive into this summer, I would recommend reading it poolside with a cocktail in hand. I was highly entertained and delighted by the antics of the upper class, high society women of La Jolla and touched by the depth of the relationship between Annie and Sarah. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Lake Union for my review copy. 

Blog Tour: Remhurst Manor by @TamasineLoves #giveaway

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Goodreads|Amazon

Release date: December 8, 2016

Publisher: Made Global

Genre: YA

Blurb: 

There is a mystery that lies in the grounds of Remhurst Manor; a mystery concerning the unsolved 19th century murders of four teenagers.


Laine Brimble is slipping between two lives. Her life at home in present-day, Australia, and the life of a nobleman’s daughter living in 19th century England’s Remhurst Manor.


Until now Laine was able to keep her two lives separate (and secret). But, Laine is about to find out that – though centuries past and oceans over – Remhurst’s mysterious history is about to get a lot closer to her than she expected; a dark presence has arrived in her hometown, seeking to settle a centuries-old vendetta.


Between home and school and the 19th century (not to mention a blossoming relationship with new-boy-in-town, David Laslett) Laine struggles to keep past and present on parallel paths … but it seems as if they are on a collision course where the inevitable outcome is death.


…will Laine unearth the mysteries lying in the grounds of Remhurst Manor? Can she be the one to finally put Remhurst’s past behind it? Can she do it before a deadly history repeats itself? 

I’m so pleased to be kicking off the blog tour for Remhurst Manor today! I have a guest post from the author to share and I also have a giveaway you can enter for a chance to win a copy of the book. It’s also open internationally!


Guest Post:

5 ways people are wrong about YA (IMHO)

You can trust me, I’m wrong a lot. I could list a whole bunch of ways I’ve been wrong. Let me give you an example of what I mean… most people navigate stairs successfully, occasionally they fall down stairs … I fall upstairs. Ouch. Try it before you dismiss it. It is a difficult skill to master but I’m particularly good at it.

When you think about YA fiction, I’m definitely picking up what you’re putting down. Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent. It’s kind of like how someone professes their favourite band is X and someone else says, ‘oh yeah? What’s your favourite song? No, other than that one’. Try this experiment – get a friend to name as many young adult books as they can off of the top of their head. Chances are they’ll go as far as the ‘chart toppers/conversation dominators’ and maybe a few of the trending titles. But if you ask them to put “books-to-movies” aside… are they drawing a blank?

I often find the conversation goes like this when I mention that I write YA – ‘I don’t need to read it to know about it’. Oh. Okay. Also, “Who are you, the book police?”

I like to think I’m somewhat of a connoisseur, nay, a savant of getting things wrong; the lineage of my biggest achievements can all be traced back to my getting something demonstrably wrong at some point. So, as I said, basically, you can trust me to tell you how wrong people are to think the things they do about young adult fiction. Are you ready?

 

1. Thinking ‘YA’ is a genre

YA is to genre categorisation what tomatoes are to vegetables. Romance, mystery, tragedy, comedy, historical, non-fiction, Splatterpunk (yes, it’s a thing) – these are genres. However, YA is really a recommended age range, not unlike the age range recommendations on the side of your board game. Or how it says on that microwave mac ‘n’ cheese packet, ‘Serves 4’ – WRONG! Repeat after me – you can eat as much of that mac ‘n’ cheese as you want to. YA is not a genre. Just as wrong are those who attempt to codify YA. If YA was a genre, why would we need to section it off even more? A genre means you have to fit certain criteria to be a part of it. YA is all about boundries, man, just like being a teenager – or how earlier you laughed in the face of that that ‘serves 4’ recommendation on your mac ‘n’ cheese. It is boundary-pushing. You don’t need to enter into it with pre-ordained tropes, expectations, etc.

2. Using YA fiction to teach Young Adults a lesson

YA is a hard-to-define badass. So don’t abuse it by putting loads of preaching “Don’t do this, Don’t do that!” lessons in your book. Yes, I’m aware I am a YA author and I’m writing a list of things to not do. But, this isn’t a novel. Plus, you’re not my real Mum. You’re not your reader’s real Mum, either. So no mollycoddling. Just write a good story – you can say “Don’t Do XYZ” all you want during your press interviews, but please leave it out of the book!

 

​3. YA is cheap entertainment

You’re a sucker if you think this one. Some YA novels are massive money spinners. They generate revenue like it’s going out of fashion (get it? ‘cause teenagers are fashion conscious). That being said, if you look at successful YA books, they’re not being pumped out like that extra 4 seasons of a sit-com that used to be good but now all the actors have a twinkle of desperation in their eyes because the network is ruining something beautiful by making it last too long. Which brings us to our next point …

4. YA is all about long epics and a continuous series of similar sounding books

Let’s set this straight. You don’t have to write a 200,000-word epic or invent a whole universe like the Hunger Games/The Deadliest Game to succeed in YA. In fact, some of the best YA is short and snappy (The Perks of Being a Wallflower – anyone?). Less is more. Y’know, Hemingway’s iceberg ‘n’ that.

5. YA is not for YOU.

False.

I am not someone to get really irritated by things; I am a firm believer that nothing is either good or bad. It is your thoughts which make it so. I am a zen master. So, if you say adults shouldn’t read young adult novels, I’ll … insert vague but disarming and over-the-top threat of improbable violence… your mother.

Put it this way. YA is not a hard-and-fast rule; it’s a suggestion. When it says, ‘for 12-17 year olds’, we’re back to the mac-n-cheese pack. If it takes your fancy … read it. Enjoy it. Whatever your age.

And if you DO fall into the YA age bracket then that’s fine too. What I would say to someone in the age range (and sadly, I’m not any more!) is that you’re not going to be in young-adulthood forever, and sure, you can read young-adult books at any age – but there’s only a small space of time where you’re the target-audience. You’re young. You don’t have all day to read about life. So, in 70,000 words, let’s discuss life, death, and all those other ‘serious’ things you’re unfortunately going to have to deal with before you’re ready. It’s going to be hard. Or maybe not. Far be it for me to preach to you about how these are the best years of your life. Enjoy being young. Read any YA that catches your eye, whether your friends think it’s popular or not. What you’ll find is that they’re celebrations of a period of time that is going to be better in hindsight, guaranteed.

And to those who’ve moved beyond, and in some cases, well beyond the ‘right’ age range? Read it anyway! It’s not like people even need to know that you’re reading it, if that’s what you’re worried about. We live in the age of e-readers – the other people on the train (who care so much) don’t even need to know!

But anyway, I’m wrong a lot. So… make up your own mind 😉

Interesting, I agree with her. I read plenty of YA novels and I’m far past the recommended age range. Thanks so much Tamasine for stopping by today!

About the Author:

Tamasine Loves is an Australian author whose debut young-adult novel, ‘Remhurst Manor’, was first written for her high school friends and was delivered as printed serialisations and passed on in between classes. The serialisations were compiled, and there was a printed first draft of what would later become ‘Remhurst Manor’ just in time for her fifteenth birthday.
Years later, as a twenty-three-year-old uni student, Tamasine Loves turned from ‘writer’ into ‘author’ during an internship at MadeGlobal Publishing. She was introduced to the MadeGlobal team as an intern, and was then reintroduced several months later as the author of ‘Remhurst Manor’.

Tamasine has recently moved from Melbourne, Australia to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Tamasine is a sub-editor for two peer-reviewed journals. She has published short stories and poetry, but telling long tales is where her true love lies. Tamasine lists her favourite things as literature, lattes, live music, alliteration, and her cat called Morrissey (who, she insists, is indeed ‘a charming man’).

Website

Giveaway: 


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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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Goodreads|Amazon UK|Amazon US
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.    

Amazon|Blog


Review: If We Were Villians by M. L. Rio @SureAsMel @Flatironbooks

18 Comments


Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: April 11, 2017

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Genre: Mystery/Thriller 

Blurb: 

Enter the players. There were seven of us then, seven bright young things with wide precious futures ahead of us. Until that year, we saw no further than the books in front of our faces.


On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it.


Ten years ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extra. But in their fourth and final year, the balance of power begins to shift, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent.


Part coming-of-age story, part confession, If We Were Villains explores the magical and dangerous boundary between art and life. In this tale of loyalty and betrayal, madness and ecstasy, the players must choose what roles to play before the curtain falls. 

Review: 

This was a really smart, sharp book, definitely more mysterious than thrilling and very literary and profound. Oliver is the narrator and it begins when he’s about to be released from prison after serving ten years for an unknown crime. The detective that worked the case has always known that he didn’t know what really happened back in 1997 and Oliver finally tells him the truth about that year. Clearly you know that something terrible and tragic occurred, but you don’t know what exactly did happen, however you know that it involves Oliver and six of his friends and fellow actors from school. This impending sense of doom and unease worked very well alongside the atmosphere and setting of a small college shrouded in mystery. 

This was cleverly formatted as parts of it read like a play, it was divided into acts and scenes and there were even sections with dialogue formatted as a play. It was very Shakespearean as the actors at Dellecher only perform his plays, but it wasn’t confusing because Rio mixes it with modern day language and dialogue making it extremely easy to follow. 

This was an impressive debut, the seven characters were deeply developed and complex, and while I didn’t particularly like any of them, I liked following their stories. They were pretentious, egotistical and had a flair for the dramatic, they are all actors after all. What begins as a series of arguments and misunderstandings between them, often fueled by said egos and alcohol, turned into something much deeper and more dangerous in the end. This is a dark tale of betrayal, obsession, friendships, rivalries, love, and revenge all based on a group of friends with a very insular existence. Lines are often blurred as it’s difficult for them to distinguish the stark difference between real life and the characters they portray on stage, and this difficulty to differentiate proves to be a fatal error for one of the seven. The twist in the end was unexpected and satisfying leaving me with a feeling of understanding, but also sadness. 

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to Flatiron Books for my review copy. 

Extract: One Endless Summer by Laurie Ellinghan @LaurieEllingham

5 Comments


Goodreads|Amazon UK|Amazon US
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.