Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK

Release date: July 28, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture

Genre: Women's Fiction

Blurb:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Amanda Prowse and Kelly Rimmer will love The Lost Wife, the compelling story of a woman’s deepest secrets, and the friends and family who must learn to live without her.

‘An incredible, beautiful story of loss, love, forgiveness, moving on, overcoming grief, redemption and above all, hope.’ Renita D’Silva

When Ellie Moran passes away, she leaves her newborn son and husband Ed behind her. Their marriage was perfect, their lives everything they had hoped for. So why was Ellie keeping secrets from Ed?

Knowing he can never ask his wife the truth, Ed is struggling to cope. When the secrets threaten to tear his whole family apart, Ed turns to Rachel, the one person who sees him as more than just Ellie’s widower.

But then Rachel discovers something Ellie was hiding, something that would break Ed’s heart. Can Rachel help Ed to find peace without the wife he lost – and a second chance at happiness?

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Lost Wife!

Review:

This is broken up into three separate parts and is told from the viewpoint of Ed and Rachel. It begins in 2012 immediately after Ed loses his wife in a tragic accident just a few weeks after their son, Oli is born. Rachel is in her late twenties during this section and is trying to figure out what she wants out of life. Part two is where the two lead characters meet, Rachel works at the daycare where Ed takes Oli. The bulk of the story unfolds during part two and then part three is four years later. The pacing was dead on here, it was a really compelling read that had me hooked throughout.

This is the second book by Mansell and also my second time reading one of her novels and one of my favorite things about her writing is that there is such a lovely flow. Her style is absolutely beautiful, she writes in a really evocative way and Ed's story especially was touching and heartbreaking. I can't even imagine losing my husband, much less right after having a child and Mansell did such a wonderful job in creating his character. His grief was so raw and devastating, you could feel his pain flying off the pages and it totally broke my heart. Rachel was also very well crafted, she was relatable and kind.

This was ultimately an uplifting story, but there was so much heartache along the way, I did tear up a few times, but I also smiled quite a bit as well. Much like her first novel, things were left very open ended and while that's not always my favorite way to end a book, it truly works well here. The characters are so realistic that it's fitting when things are left a bit messy and unresolved, much like real life. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone looking for an emotional read with heart.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author:

 
 
 
 
 
Anna had a brush with 'fame' as a magician’s assistant back in 1977. She later decided that being sawn in half by her father, at barely 6 months old, was too submissive a role, vowing to channel the trauma in to something much more pro-actively creative. Having failed at acting, singing and professional murder mystery parties (she was ALWAYs the one to die!), she fell to something much more solitary: writing. How To Mend a Broken Heart is her first novel and her life was not on the line in order to write it, or her second: The Lost Wife. Anna lives on a dairy farm in Cornwall with her two children, her husband, and her ex-racing greyhound, Olive Dog.
 
Website|Facebook|Twitter|Instagram

Title: I Have Never
Author: Camilla Isley
Release Date: July 13th, 2017
Genre: Chick Lit

Twenty-nine-year-old Blair Walker is a girl with a plan, or more a girl with a list. A list of dos and don’ts to live the perfect life, land a dream career, and marry Mr. Right.

When Blair loses her job and gets dumped by her boyfriend all in one day, she starts to wonder if she’s had it all wrong. And what better way to find out than experience everything the list forbade?

With hilarious consequences, Blair will discover some items are trickier to tick off than she’d thought…

A laugh out loud romantic comedy perfect for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Sophie Kinsella, and Mhairi McFarlane. First Comes Love is a series of interconnected romantic novels. However, each book in the series can be read as a standalone novel.

Review:

Last year I read the first book in this series, Love Connection and I adored it! While you can easily read I Have Never as a standalone, there are characters from the first book in this one as well. Plus, Isley has the unique ability to come up with a totally fresh premise for her books that is always so much fun, why would you wanna miss out?!

Blair is the ideal chick lit heroine, she's sweet, a little sassy and hilarious. When her perfectly planned life starts to fall apart she decides to deviate from her list. What's on her list? Her rules for life, things like don't move in before you get a ring and don't get drunk. Instead of a bucket list it's basically the antithesis and the results were so funny! Richard from the first book is back, which totally made my day, I loved his character the first time around and catching up with him was a treat.

One of my favorite things about reading an Isley book is that I find myself smiling the entire time. There is so much humor and warmth in her books and her lead characters are always super relatable and down to earth. Her writing style is as witty and charming as the characters she creates, if you're a fan of this genre and haven't read one of her books you're missing out! I hear book three in this series is a Christmas read which just makes me even more excited!

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the author and Aimee Brown for my review copy.

Check out the full tour-

July 13th

July 14th

July 15th

July 16th

July 17th

July 19th

July 20th

July 21st

July 22nd

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: July 7, 2017

Publisher: HQ Digital

Genre: Cozy Mystery 

Blurb: 

With high tide comes murder…

When her beloved London theatre closes for renovations, costume maker Guinevere is excited to start a job at Cornisea castle, a centuries-old keep on a small tidal island off the coast of Cornwall. Imagine a whole summer full of stories of hidden treasures, fab food and long walks with her perky dachshund Dolly.

But when a reenactment of a medieval trial in the castle dungeons ends in real-life murder, and accusations threaten the castle’s future, Guinevere and Dolly dig deep into the island community’s best-kept secrets to unmask the killer and save their Cornish summer.

I’m delighted to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Death Plays a Part! 

Review: 

Every once in awhile I like to change things up and pick up a cozy mystery, there’s something comforting about these light mysteries that make for a nice change of pace. Death Plays a Part is the first book in a new series with an adorable and sweet lead character named Guinevere. Fans of this genre will adore her, she’s just a lovely character with that perfect combination of curiosity and charm that’s so appealing. 

This was a quick read with fairly fast pacing, the action begins right away, almost as soon as Guinevere arrives in Cornisea. The setting was both pretty and slightly spooky, it has a deep history and the residents like to tell old ghost stories and legends which added drama to the story. There was a gossipy, small town feel as well, especially as many of the members of the town had secrets they intended to keep. There were plenty of suspects to choose from and Conroy really kept me on my toes trying to figure out whodunnit. 

This was a good old fashioned mystery with no gory descriptions or graphic violence. Guinevere and Oliver made quite the pair of amateur sleuths and both were lovely and very likable. This was an enjoyable read with a puzzling mystery and I can’t wait to see what Guinevere and her sweet dog Dolly get up to next!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: July 14, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

Blurb: 

Four months ago, Rebecca Pendle’s husband disappeared. So did 14-year-old Kayleigh Jackson.

Just a coincidence? Rebecca wants to believe so… But as the police start to draw parallels between Chris and Kayleigh, it’s getting harder for her to trust his innocence.

Faced with an angry town that believes Chris has abducted the teenager, Rebecca tries to discover the truth.

But what she finds shocks her more than she ever thought. How well does she really know the man she loves?

A completely gripping, suspenseful thriller, with a shocking twist. Fans of Louise Jensen, K.L Slater and and The Girl on the Train will be hooked until the very last page.

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Reported Missing! 

Review: 

The premise of Reported Missing totally drew me in, imagine your spouse goes missing on the exact same day that a teenaged girl does. The media jumps to the obvious conclusion that Rebecca’s husband was involved in Kayleigh’s disappearance, and at first glance, it’s easy to see why. But things aren’t always as they seem and Wray takes the reader on a complicated path full of secrets and misdirection. 

The pacing of this book starts out slow, which I know can be frustrating for some people, but it worked well for me here. The slow and steady pacing made the book  more thought provoking and the second half did speed up a bit. This is very character driven, the author spends a lot of time showing how Rebecca’s life has changed since Chris vanished. She is such a mess and it was simultaneously heartbreaking and fascinating watching her unravel. Her out of control paranoia and fear caused me to experience the same feelings which is always a good sign to me!

Reported Missing was a different type of thriller, it was smart and well thought out and it didn’t rely on crazy, far fetched plot twists though it did have some surprises. It had solid writing, an interesting premise and an unexpected ending, overall an engrossing read. 

About the Author: 

Sarah Wray is originally from Yorkshire but now lives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne where she works as a technology writer and editor. She won a Northern Writers’ Award (Arvon Award) in 2015 for an early version of her first novel.

Website|Facebook|Twitter

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: July 1, 2017

Publisher: Orenda Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb:

When India falls to her death from a bridge over a railway, her sister Poppy returns home to Brighton for the first time in years. Unconvinced by official explanations, Poppy begins her own investigation into India’s death. But the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering deeply buried secrets. Could Matthew Temple, the boyfriend she abandoned, be involved? And what of his powerful and wealthy parents, and his twin sister, Ana? Enter the mysterious and ethereal Jenny: the girl Poppy discovers after hacking into India’s laptop. What is exactly is she hiding, and what did India find out about her? Taking the reader on a breathless ride through the winding lanes of Brighton, into its vibrant party scene and inside the homes of its well-heeled families, The Other Twin is a startling and up-to-the-minute thriller about the social-media world, where resentments and accusations are played out online, where identities are made and remade, and where there is no such thing as truth. 

I’m so pleased to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for The Other Twin!

Review: 

Oohhh The Other Twin was such an engrossing read, if you’re ever in the mood for a book that you can binge read in a weekend, this is it. It’s pacey, intricately plotted and really well written. 

Poppy returns home to Brighton for the first time in almost five years after her sister India dies. Even though the two were not on the best of terms, she just knows there is something off about India’s death and she starts to dig into her life, mainly her online presence. As it’s such a well plotted and complicated book, I fear discussing specific details will only spoil it. It’s on the shorter side and still manages to pack a mighty punch as Hay delivers on every level. Her writing is strong and sharp, the characterization is full of depth and substance and there is a sense of uneasiness throughout the text. 

Hay tackles some relevant social issues in such a sensitive and delicate manner, I was so impressed by the turns this one took. It’s extremely diverse but not just for the sake of being diverse, it only adds to the superb quality of the plot and makes the reader think in a profound way. She also examines the use of social media and how it effects people in both a positive and a negative way, I really appreciated this as most of the books I’ve read recently highlight the ugly side of social media without giving any credit to the great support it can lend to so many people, it was such an intelligent point. 

I’ve never read an Orenda book and not been able to highly recommend it to others and this is no exception. It’s an excellent psychological thriller from an extremely talented writer with a storyline that had me holding my breath, what more could you want?!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

About the Author: 

Lucy V. Hay is a novelist, script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2write consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers Deviation (2012) and Assassin (2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader for the London Screenwriters’ Festival and has written two non-fiction books, Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays, plus its follow-up Drama Screenplays. She lives in Devon with her husband, three children, six cats and five African Land Snails.

Website|Twitter|Facebook

Goodreads|Amazon US|Amazon UK
Release date: July 6, 2017

Publisher: Bookouture 

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb: 

The young woman standing on Lottie’s step was a stranger. She was clutching the hand of a young boy. ‘Help me,’ she said to Lottie. ‘Please help me.’ 

One Monday morning, the body of a young pregnant woman is found. The same day, a mother and her son visit the house of Detective Lottie Parker, begging for help to find a lost friend. 

Could this be the same girl? 

When a second victim is discovered by the same man, with the murder bearing all the same hallmarks as the first, Lottie needs to work fast to discover how else the two were linked. Then two more girls go missing.

Detective Lottie Parker is a woman on the edge, haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her family together through difficult times. Can she fight her own demons and catch the killer before he claims another victim? 

The Stolen Girls is a gripping and page-turning thriller that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni.

I’m so excited to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for The Stolen Girls!

Review: 

I was totally blown away by Gibney’s debut,  The Missing Ones and really excited that it was the start of a new series featuring Lottie Parker. I’ve been dying to read this book since I finished the first and I’m so glad to be able to tell you that book two is just as amazing as the first one!

There is a lot going on here, plenty of cases running simultaneously and tons to keep Lottie on her toes. First, the body of a young pregnant girl is found and it shakes her to her core. Then, a young foreign girl and her son show up at Lottie’s door asking for help. On top of all of that, a young local girl vanishes and she’s a friend of Lottie’s daughter, Chloe. So plenty of different plot threads and Lottie is under an intense amount of pressure both at work and at home. If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know exactly what I mean. 

This is told mainly is present day and follows Lottie and Boyd as they try and untangle a dark web with not much to go on. There are also brief chapters from an unknown child, (then eventually a man) living in Kosovo in the nineties and these were really heartbreaking. I love that this series is a lot more dense than it’s counterparts, it really allows the author to develop the lead characters in a deep manner. Lottie is still a hotheaded mess and I’m still waiting to see what happens between her and Boyd, but their chemistry is great. They both wind up having a personal connection to the cases and the pressure reaches an all time high. 

This is action packed and very dark, gritty and disturbing. There are several scenes with violence and rape, some horrifying subject matter that really gets under your skin. Once again, there are several suspects to choose from so it’s downright impossible to guess whodunnit before the author reveals all. This was an excellent addition to what’s quickly becoming one of my favorite new series and I’ll be eagerly awaiting book 3!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy. 

About the Author: 

Patricia yearned to be a writer after reading Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene and even wanted to be Nancy Drew when grew up. She has now grown up (she thinks) but the closest she’s come to Nancy Drew is writing crime!
In 2009, after her husband died, she retired from my job and started writing seriously. Fascinated by people and their quirky characteristics, she always carries a notebook to scribble down observations.
Patricia also loves to paint in watercolour and live in the Irish midlands with her children. 

Website|Facebook|Twitter

Goodreads|Amazon
Release date: June 29, 2017

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Blurb: 

Can you ever bury the past? 

She’d recognised in him something of herself: that sense of not belonging, of secrets fiercely kept . . .

Five friends, newly graduated, travel together to the Lake District. Young and ambitious, they little imagine the events that will overtake them that fateful summer, tearing their fragile group apart.

Twenty years later, they return to the same spot, summoned by a mysterious bequest. It’s not long before old friendships – and old romances – are re-kindled. But soon, too, rivalries begin to re-emerge and wounds are painfully reopened . . .

How long does it take for past sins to be forgiven? And can the things they destroy ever really be recovered?

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Every Secret Thing. 

Review: 

From reading the blurb then judging by the cover art, I assumed that this would be a fairly light read, more women’s fiction than something with more depth. To my pleasant surprise it actually had a literary feel, it was pretty profound and intelligent. 

It’s told in two main timelines, first the summer of 1995 when five friends head to their mentors house in the Lake District and then it switches to 2015. There are several perspectives here as each one of them narrates and it did take me a little bit to have all the characters straight. There are also a few chapters sporadically in the twenty year gap in between that filled in some holes in the characters lives and answered some questions that had been in the back of my mind. 

The characterization is very deep, it’s almost like a character study or a dissection of a group of people and how their interactions, both past and present shaped them. The writing style is smart and full of depth and the setting was really brought to life through the authors use of descriptive imagery. The complexity of their interpersonal relationships was really quite interesting and there was a surprising twist that I wasn’t expecting, it was well played. I think this would appeal to women’s fictiona fans looking for a book with a literary bent. 

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to Bookollective for my review copy.