Kitty's Countryside Dream by Christie Barlow

Kitty's Countryside Dream by Christie Barlow

Published: 25th February 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 309

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Pre- Order now from Amazon

Blurb

New home. New life. New beginning. Love affairs can blossom in the most unlikely places . . .
When Kitty inherits Bluebell Lodge from her grandmother, a farm in the beautiful Staffordshire countryside, it’s time for fresh air and a fresh start. Up to her elbows in chickens and ponies, Kitty soon realises there’s an awful lot to learn about farming. Still, at least the locals seem friendly, not least her handsome neighbour Tom…

But just as Kitty is beginning to find her feet, and the possibility of love, the discovery of a long-hidden diary, by a mysterious character called Violet changes everything. Who is Violet and what is her message for Kitty? As Kitty fills in the lost pieces of her family jigsaw and discovers some shocking revelations, will her countryside dream and blossoming relationship fall to pieces? When it comes to life in the country, nothing is ever quite as it seems …

Review

Having read and adored Christie’s first two novels last year I was eager for her next novel and what a stunner Kitty’s Countryside Dream is. Just look at that cover it’s gorgeous and it just screams spring and sunshine to me which is what I think we’re all longing for.

In Kitty’s Countryside Dream we meet the lovely Kitty who has recently lost her mother and has inherited a small flat and Bluebell Lodge a farm from her late grandmother, whom Kitty knew nothing about. With nothing to lose Kitty embraces the challenge of life in the country and heads off to the farm.  Soon she is immersed in farm and village life and feels surprisingly at home around the farm and her new friends Jeannie, Tom, Lucinda and Robin. Everything is going well until Kitty discovers an old journal from someone called Violet, who is she and how does she link to Kitty? As Kitty reads the diary her whole world is turned upside down and everything she knew is questioned, will Kitty be able to make sense of it all?

I instantly adored Kitty she seemed very determined and strong. Despite having no family support anymore she moves to a new location where she knows no-one and has no clue what will happen and throws herself wholeheartedly into everything she finds there, there is no way you would get me anywhere near a chicken! I also loved that she cares about her new friends and will instantly help them when they need her without them even asking. However I think the thing I loved most about her was her slight clumsiness. The scene where she first meets Tom and she falls over her bicycle not once but twice had me in stitches, I knew then I was going to love this book.

The other characters in this book are also lovely and I just longed to be part of their little gang. With hunky farmer Tom, the lovely Jeannie whom Kitty instantly feels close to, the lovely sweet shy Robin and Lucinda, I need her as a friend if she going to bring cake every time I see her. I also loved that despite their closeness there were a few hidden secrets among them which made for interesting reading and some comical misunderstandings along the way.

Although I loved Christie’s first two novels I think this one is my favourite. I loved that is had an element of mystery to it surrounding Kitty’s past and reading about how that unravelled was so intriguing and kept me wanting to read more.

This is a lovely novel full of friendship, funny mishaps and finding out the truth. I adored everything about it, the lovely characters, the intriguing plot and the lovely village of Rosefield. I’d recommend everyone reads this as it’s the perfect book to put you in the mood for spring and it will leave you with a warm and fuzzy glow at the end.

Thank you Christie for another fabulous read, they just keep getting better and thank you to the publishers Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy. I give Kitty’s Countryside Dream a massive 5 stars! I just loved it!

Deadly Obsession by Nigel May

Deadly Obsession by Nigel May

Published: 19th February 2016

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 380

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

Sex, money and obsessive love – welcome to the marriage of millionaires Amy and Riley

Amy Barrowman grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. So when she marries millionaire Riley Hart, she can’t believe her luck. Not only does she have wealth and security for life, she has found true love. Or so she thinks…

Riley Hart is a Millionaire Man about Town. Men want to be him and women want to bed him. But to achieve Riley’s status, you have to tread on a lot of toes and make a lot of enemies.

When Riley is gunned down at the nightclub they own, Amy is determined to avenge his death. She receives a mysterious letter detailing a list of suspects including Riley’s sworn enemy, actor Grant Wilson. But with an obsessive passion brewing between her and Grant and a dangerous assassin trailing her every move it would seem Amy has opened a deadly and tempting Pandora’s Box. As Amy gives into temptation, the scene is set for a stunning climax.

Lose yourself where you don’t belong in the world of DEADLY OBSESSION.

Review

Deadly Obsession is the first book by Nigel May that I have read and it totally exceeded my expectations, it was gritty, sexy, and scandalous and an utterly brilliant read. I can totally see why he has been dubbed the “male Jackie Collins” as his writing has that glamorous and slightly dark style.

In Deadly Obsession we meet Amy who is still grieving for the loss of her husband, her nightclub and her perfect glamorous lifestyle. Six months after his death Amy receives a letter handwritten by Riley dated just two days earlier telling her not everything is not as is seems and someone needs to pay for his death. Confused and upset Amy heads back to Manchester and her old life to try and figure out exactly what happened on that fateful night and if Riley is actually alive after all.  As Amy begins to unravel events leading up to Riley’s death she realises her life wasn’t as perfect as she thought and she’s actually treading in quite dangerous circles. Can she find out what really happened to Riley and keep herself safe?

I was hooked on this book from the very start, the mysterious death of Riley had me intrigued and the more I read the more I enjoyed it as more characters became involved and the plot twists kept coming. It’s a book filled with shocks and an ending that you just won’t see coming, at least I didn’t!

I loved how this book was written taking us between the past and the present so we could build up a picture of Amy’s life with Riley and now as she searches for answers. I also loved that others characters are brought to life in their own chapters so we gained the feelings and actions of all the main players in the book, making the tangled web around Amy even more convincing.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy, I’ve found another great author and cannot wait to read Nigel’s other books. I rate Deadly Obsession 5 out of 5 I loved it!

Bella's Christmas Bake Off by Sue Watson

Bella's Christmas Bake Off by Sue Watson

Published: 22nd October 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 314

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

Two best friends. One big lie. The best bake off EVER. Bella Bradley is the queen of television baking - a national treasure. Her Christmas specials have been topping the ratings for years and her marriage to Peter 'Silver Fox' Bradley is the stuff of Hello magazine specials. But this year things are going to be different. For Amy Lane, Bella's best friend from school, life hasn't held quite the same sparkle. And when Amy's husband walks out three weeks from Christmas, it seems their lives are further apart than ever. Amy has watched Bella's rise to fame fondly, despite the fact Bella was always a terrible cook. But when she realises that Bella's latest Christmas book is made up entirely of Amy's mother's recipes, the gloves are off... After winning a competition to appear on Bella's TV show, Amy is going to make sure that for Bella and her viewers, this will definitely be a Christmas to remember... A hilarious, heart-breaking and feel good read about best friends, baking and the magic of Christmas.

Review

After devouring Sue’s last Christmas book I was eager to read her next one and Bella’s Christmas Bake Off has all the ingredients for a perfect Christmas read for me. It was full of laugh out loud moments, entertaining characters, madcap plotlines all topped off with a sprinkling of glitz and glamour.

Amy Lane has just been left by her husband of twenty years for a younger, more flexible woman just weeks before Christmas. She’s gutted as she loves Christmas with all its trimmings and all the extra baking. In order to sooth her broken heart Amy switches on to watch her former childhood friend Bella Bradley serve up the perfect Christmas on her television show Bella’s Christmas Bake-Off. As she watches Amy notices that Bella is using recipes that Amy is very familiar with…because they were her mum’s.

In her anger Amy decides to enter Bella’s competition to win a Christmas cooked by Bella. When she wins Amy forces Bella to cook for the local homeless shelter St. Swithins or she’ll go public about Bella’s recipe stealing. When these two meet after twenty years the sparks fly but Amy begins to realise to how lucky she has been after the sparkly veneer of Bella’s life is peeled away.

Like her previous novels Sue has created characters that we can easy relate to because they’re not perfect! Amy is a little over-weight, she doesn’t make the best of her appearance and she’s jealous of what she believes Bella has, she does however have a caring side which makes her very likable. Although Bella appears to have the wonderful polished life that we can all lust after, once the cameras have gone away there is a very different and lonely woman left behind whose longing for friendship, this made her a very vulnerable and for me made a more likable.

I loved all the references to celebrity chefs such as Mary Berry and Nigella and the food! Oh my goodness, I don’t think it’s possible to read a Sue Watson book without having something to nibble on as the food descriptions are just delicious!

Bella’s Christmas Bake-Off is a book full of humour and comedy moments but by including the homeless shelter Sue has a given it a more serious element and this perfectly portrays the Christmas message that it’s not how much you have at Christmas that makes it special but who you share it with. The scenes from the homeless shelter felt really Christmassy to me when everyone came together to make the big Christmas dinner and these made the book all the more enjoyable.

This book is full of fun and Christmas spirit and I feel it would be the prefect book to read on Christmas Eve, providing of course you’ve stuffed your turkey and prepped your sprouts!

I’d like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book, I really enjoyed it and would rate it 4 out of 5.

Lost Girls by Angela Marsons'

Lost Girls (D.I. Stone #3) by Angela Marsons

Published: 6th November 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 359

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

Two girls go missing. Only one will return.
The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.

When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.

And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.

Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour…

Untangling a dark web of secrets from the families’ past might hold the key to solving this case. But can Kim stay alive long enough to do so? Or will someone’s child pay the ultimate price?

Review

Lost Girls is Angela Marsons’ third instalment in the D.I. Stone series and I think it might just be my favourite so far. Just like her previous two novels Silent Scream and Evil Games Angela has written a fast-paced and gripping story which will have you on the edge of your seat, your nerves in tatters and physically unable to put that book down!

This time the case involves two young girls who have been kidnapped and a bidding war is instigated between the two families, the incentive being whichever family pays the most will see their little girl again, the other won’t. The case mirrors an earlier case where only one of the girls was returned safely. As Kim is put in charge of this high profile case she promises to deliver both girls home…alive.

As Kim and her team set up home in one of the families’ homes they are joined by two additional members, profiler Alison and negotiator Matt. In true Kim style she doesn’t let them settle in easily and there is a lot of verbal sparring between them as Kim struggles with the pressure to deliver a result as time slowly runs out. Being located in the home of one of the families also gave an insight into the way the two couples reacted to each other as time when on, the emotions and dialogue between them was just fascinating to read and very believable.

Aside from the main case we begin to learn more about D.S. Kevin Dawson as Kim sends him off on his own to tie up an old case. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Dawson and his background as it made Kim’s team feel even more real. I hope in the next novel we can learn more about Stacey and what makes her tick.

As the story unfolded I began to have a feeling for who I thought was the perpetrator and…boom...how wrong I was! The last few chapters of this novel built up into an utterly amazing and nail-biting conclusion, one which I totally didn’t see coming and completely threw me as I thought, aww Angela has done it again! Her plots just get better and better and the realism of it all has me in awe as everything always comes together in such a clever way.

I think 2015 has been a fantastic year for Angela Marsons’ she has delivered three outstanding crime novels and seems to have become a firm favourite with many crime readers. She has definitely become my favourite crime writer and one which I know will produce some must-read novels of 2016. Well done Angela, I am a huge fan of your utterly brilliant addictive writing and please, please don’t stop writing!!

Finally I’d like to say I give Lost Girls 5/5….it really deserves many more! I’d also like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy, it has been a pleasure to read and review

Evil Games by Angela Marsons

Evil Games ( D.I. Stone #2) by Angela Marsons

Published: 29th May 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 384

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

The greater the Evil, the more deadly the game…
When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work.

With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment.

Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal.

Review

After reading and been totally blown away by Angela Marsons’ first DI Stone novel Silent Scream I was eager to read her second novel Evil Games and it didn’t disappoint, it’s another highly addictive and fast paced read which I thoroughly enjoyed. 

In Evil Games DI Stone and her team are investigating an ongoing child abuse case alongside the recent brutal stabbing of a rapist. As other crimes are committed Kim feels there is a connection between them, her colleagues disagree but as the name Dr Alexandra Thorne keeps cropping up Kim can’t let that niggle in her gut go. As she investigates on her own Kim comes face to face with a dangerous sociopath and as Kim faces her deepest fears…can she outwit her strongest adversary yet?

Wow, just like Angela’s first crime thriller this was addictive from the very first page and had me hooked until the end. There were so many plot twists and turns that kept me totally absorbed, making for a fairly quick read. The short chapters and Angela’s excellent action packed writing style helped this book to flow brilliantly. One thing I really loved was that the last sentence of each chapter seemed to add more clues to the case and was like a mini cliff-hanger urging me to keep reading.

In Alexandra Thorne Angela has created a truly despicable and unsettling character, reading about her was so intriguing. Just like Kim I felt that niggle that she wasn’t quite as charming as she first appeared and as we learnt more about her and her mind games she just made me shudder. Well done to Angela for creating such a brilliant character.

Another thing I loved about Evil Games was that we learnt a lot more about Kim’s background which really made like her more as a character. Although we learn more about why she is so harsh and closed off to emotions it was nice that with the introduction of Barney the dog there is hope for Kim to form relationships in the future, something to look forward too maybe?

Evil Games was a brilliant read, written in the same addictive style as Silent Scream and as a follow it’s just as good as the first one. So looking forward to reading the next book Lost Girls and really hoping Angela will continue to write this wonderful series.

Thank you so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for the review copy, I give Evil Games a massive 5 out 5 and urge anyone who hasn’t read this to do so now, you won’t regret it.

The Misadventures of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow

 

The Misadventures of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow

Published: 11th September 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 300

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

New term. New dramas. New friendships. And that’s just the parents…

After a year of country living, Rachel Young is finally getting into the swing of things. Her four kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy (shark-infested) waters of the playground mafia.

Or… so she thought.

When playground mum Penelope Kensington moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering husband Rupert has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer.

As Rachel tries to deal with Penelope, she also meets new school mum Melanie. Melanie is a breath of fresh air, but her arrival sends ripples of gossip through the playground. Melanie has a few secrets in her closet, and it seems she’s not the only one…

 

Review

 

The Misadventures of a Playground Mother is Christie Barlow’s second novel featuring mum of four Rachel Young and her adventures in the playground in the village of Tattersfield. If you read the first novel then like me you will have been longing to find out what happened after Rupert was a little too honest on New Year’s Eve.  Luckily for me I already had a copy of the second novel already to go so I could dive straight in. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the first book (but you really should its brilliant!) Christie gives us enough background information in the first couple of chapters so you can work out who is who and what happened previously.

I think I loved this one even more than the first book. Penelope has become even worse for Rachel to deal with, subjecting her to tacky speed dating, airport hysterics and meltdowns at the school fair. I really liked the introduction of new character Melanie and liked that Rachel was able to make a normal friend to counteract Penelope’s craziness. It was also good to read about the little romance blooming between Melanie and the hunky farrier.

The Misadventures of a Playground Mother is a book which echoes the reality of the playground and vamps it up making for a thoroughly enjoyable read. All the way the book you’re just longing for Rachel to tell Penelope No!! As the book comes full circle back to New Year’s Eve Penelope finally gets her comeuppance and it’s just perfect for her!

As a sequel this is just as good as Christie’s first novel and one I enjoyed immensely. I love her to revisit Rachel’s life again, but if not I’m sure her next novel will be just as brilliant and one I can’t wait to read.

I’d like to thank Bookouture for sending me a review copy though Netgalley and give this book 5 out 5.  

 

A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow

 

A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother by Christie Barlow

Published: 9th June 2014

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 336

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A PLAYGROUND MOTHER Ever had the pleasure of collecting your children from the school playground? Even if you haven't this is a hilarious must read. A month by month comical tale of a young mother fighting for her place in the world against the backdrop of the Playground Mafia. As her life unfolds and she takes us through from one amusing anecdote to another the characters come to life. There is Penelope who has a lot more going on in her life than she bargained for and Mrs Noland who has a lot less than she claims, not to mention Rupert who is a VERY busy man. With Mrs High School Musical, The International Sex God and The Frisky Pensioner, the characters are undeniably fascinating and leave you compelled to read more. Who knew that one false move in the playground, one step in the wrong direction or smile at the wrong person could lead to such complications? The witty one liners and side splitting stories will keep you amused from beginning to end. Lively and entertaining, a hilarious comedy that every playground mother can relate to.

 

Review

A Year in the Life of a Playground Mother follows life of Rachel Young as she leaves behind the bitchiness and competition of the suburban mothers and sets off for a quiet life in the county…or so she thought. Instantly Rachel is catapulted into the extreme madness of the playground mothers in Tattersfield, a small village and unwittingly she befriends probably the maddest and most competitive person of them all Penelope Kensington. As the school year progresses will Rachel make it out sane or will she succumb to the playground mafia.

I loved this book so much, it’s probably one of the funniest books I’ve ever read with the most annoying characters I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about: Penelope Kensington. Imagine every annoying thing that a primary school mother can do and this woman will do it and no one will stand in her way as she just doesn’t understand the word NO. Penelope is a woman who you just love to hate and throughout reading this book you will just want to shout NO PENELOPE!! Many, many times. Poor, poor Rachel being stuck with her, the woman deserves a medal!

This was a hilarious and quick read for me as the writing style is very easy flowing. It felt like Rachel was telling me the story herself over a coffee and it was very addictive. I also loved the way so much happened, there was constantly some drama taking place, usually with Penelope at the centre of it and dragging Rachel along for the ride.

I was lucky that I was able to read the follow on book for this straight after as there was a cliff-hanger ending that just made me desperate to find out what was going to happen. So I would definitely suggest you pick up this book and its sequel Misadventures of a Playground Mother and read them back to back.

I loved this book and rate it 5/5, one to share around the playground with your fellow mums.

 

 

Book Review - Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele

 

Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele

Published: 3rd September 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages:300

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

Sometimes the best friends can be found where you least expect them …

Still grieving after the loss of her beloved husband, Lily Mortimer is determined to do something with the time she has left.

After the end of her fairytale marriage, thirty-something Kate is trying hard to mend her broken heart.

Chloe, a young woman with the world at her feet, is struggling to know what to do with her life.

When Lily embarks on a new venture in the picturesque town of Somerley, the three women come together to open The Coffee Stop, the most charming café for miles around.

But opening a coffee shop is never as simple as it seems, especially when you add neighbouring competition, local heart throbs and heartbreak to the mix.

When tragedy strikes, can the three women pull together to make the new business fly, or will Lily’s last chance disappear down the drain along with yesterday’s coffee grinds?

 

Review

 

Stirred With Love by Marcie Steele (aka Mel Sherratt of crime fiction fame) is the story of three very different women coming together at crucial points in their lives, and reopening a coffee shop.

 Lily the shop owner has just lost her husband and is looking to revamp her coffee shop for a newer market so advertises for staff to help her run the place, with the promise of good prospects for the right candidate. First comes Kate, a thirty-two year old who’s just split up with her husband and looking for a fresh start in a new town. Then there is Chloe an eighteen year old diva looking for some fun before her A-level results come out and she finally has to decide what to do about her future. This unlikely trio soon find they have formed a strong bond both with each other but also with The Coffee Stop itself, which soon becomes home for them all.

I really enjoyed reading about each of the women’s journeys as they each experienced some highs and lows. I did feel that some of the relationships with Jake and Will particularly were a little rushed and I would have liked a little bit more time to digest what was happening. My favourite character was Lily as she seemed the consistent with her views. Kate was initially wanting to leave her husband and then became upset when he left her which I didn’t understand. Chloe wanted to be treated like a grown up but I felt she showed her immaturity on many occasions.

I did feel that although Stirred With Love has some moments which made me laugh and cry, which I enjoyed, it was just another coffee shop story which I have read many times before and nothing stood out to make this different.

Stirred With Love is an easy read and one which I read over a couple of evenings, it’s a story of friendships, new beginnings and having the confidence to believe you can do what you want.

I would like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy and I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

 

Book Review - The Betrayal by Laura Elliot

 

The Betrayal by Laura Elliot

Published:  14th August 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 376

Available on Kindle and in Paperback

Order from Amazon

 

Blurb

A perfect divorce. A new flame. And a deadly obsession.

Nadine and Jake Saunders were married as teens. Tied to one another by a night of passion that resulted in a pregnancy neither could turn away from.

Now, years later, their children have all flown the nest and the pact they made as teenagers – to give one another the freedom to pursue their own dreams – has resurfaced.

But freedom comes at a price …

While Nadine and Jake begin to untangle their lives from one another, Jake embarks on a passionate affair with a beautiful woman, Karin Moylan. What he doesn’t know is the dark history Karin shares with Nadine.

As lust spirals into dangerous obsession, Jake must break free from Karin. But he must also ask himself how well he ever really knew Nadine. What secret is she hiding? The truth, when it is revealed, could destroy them all.

 

Review

The Betrayal is the second book by Laura Elliot that I have read, Fragile Lies was brilliant so I was really looking forward to reading her next book. The Betrayal is a book which fills you with intrigue from the very first paragraph when Nadine catches a glimpse of Karin Moylan and this sets off a chain of events which are just scary.

Jake and Nadine have been married since they were seventeen, a marriage based more on the circumstance of an unplanned pregnancy rather than love, four children and twenty years later they are still together but both feel slightly tied down and long for the missed freedom of their youth. At Nadine’s request they agree to a “perfect divorce” where they will remain friends and united for their children. However a chance meeting brings Karin Moylan back into their lives, Nadine’s childhood best friend who she would rather never set eyes on again. As Jake begins a passionate affair with the tempting seductress he doesn’t realise just how much he is putting his family at risk as this woman will do anything to keep her man.

I loved that this was written from the dual aspects of Jake and Nadine in alternating chapters as I felt it really added to build up the tension and suspense in this book as each begins to realise just how dangerous Karin can be and how scared they are for each other.

The whole basis of this novel was why did Nadine and Karin fall out all those years ago? Eventually we learn the truth through Nadine’s memories but it was totally not what I expected at all! I think I changed my mind a few times as to what the reason was but was wrong…so wrong which is exactly what I want to be when reading a psychological thriller.

The character of Karin was really quite scary in the way she was able to manipulate events and family members to get exactly what she wanted, I would not like to be in her firing line! I think it will take me quite a while to look at kingfisher blue, Karin’s signature colour and not feel a little uneasy.

Jake and Nadine were both very likable characters and all the way through I was so hoping that they would forget this silly “perfect divorce” thing and stay married as they seemed so right for each other. I was so angry with Jake that he could hurt Nadine the way he did, although I don’t really think he stood a chance against Karin. I loved that they both had a really strong sense of family and would go rushing to various members whenever they needed help.

The Betrayal is a novel based full on intrigue, suspense, lust and tragedy and most of all obsession. It was a little bit of a roller-coaster for me as at some points I was a little bored, mostly with the Alaska trip and Eleanor’s party politics but then at other points like the historical memories and the crash I was hooked. I did enjoy this book  and will definitely reading this author’s other works, but please think of some better names next time, Sam and Samantha for twins and Daryl and Carol Farrell, sorry but I didn’t like them!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy, overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to her next one, I’d give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

Book Review - The Girls Guide to Getting Hitched by Sophie Hart

 

The Girls Guide to Getting Hitched by Sophie Hart

Published: 17th July 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 312

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from amazon

 

Blurb

Rule number one: Keep calm and marry on…

When new mum and events planner Julia Crawford is given the opportunity to plan three weddings, she jumps at the chance. What could possibly go wrong? …

Forget bridezilla, Aimee’s future mother-in-law is the stuff of nightmares – hell bent on taking over the wedding entirely. Worse still, her fiancé, Jon, seems oblivious. Aimee’s starting to wonder if she and her groom-to-be are right for each other after all…

Body shy Debbie is on a mission. She’s determined to shed a lot of pounds before the big day. As the wedding inches closer, will the new Debbie lose sight of what’s really important?

Gill loves Mike and their blended family of five kids to bits, but with a house full of teenage hormones and her eldest, Kelly, struggling with so much change, Gill is feeling the pressure...

As the women bond over cake and a cuppa, can they each resolve their wedding woes before the big day?

Review

 

Having read and loved Sophie’s previous novel The Girls Guide to Falling in Love I was really excited to hear about her new novel The Girls Guide to Getting Hitched, what made this even better for me was the release date was a week before my own wedding so I was in wedding heaven reading this.

The Girls Guide to Getting Hitched follows the story of Julia Crawford an event’s organiser as she helps three very different brides to plan their big day, Aimee, Debbie and Gill. For those of you who have read Sophie’s previous book you will instantly recognise Julia Crawford and her husband Nick. I personally love it when authors bring back characters from previous novels as I love to see how they’ve changed, quite a bit for Julia and Nick. Don’t worry if you haven’t read her previous book (although you really should!) this book will make perfect sense on its own, which I liked from a new readers perspective.

Julia is a new mum who has just begun to think about going back to work when she lands a huge wedding planning contract with the prestigious Valerie for her son Jon’s wedding to the very sweet Aimee. With such a huge budget Julia just can’t say no and reluctantly enrols her son Jack into nursery for a few hours. Here she meets two more brides-to-be, Debbie and Gill and finds herself with a full on work schedule.

All three brides are struggling with the own pre-wedding issues. Sweet natured Aimee is being controlled completely by fiancé Jon and his overbearing mother Valerie. As Aimee struggles with letting go of her dream wedding she begins to feel out of control and eventually it dawns on her exactly what she needs to do.

Debbie is dreaming of walking down the aisle in the perfect size 10 dress (don’t we all!), with a huge amount of willpower and determination she begins to lose the pounds and becomes more confident, but will this new confidence land her in trouble?

Gill is about to walk down the aisle for the second time with her new partner Mike and their five children from previous marriages, but Gill is struggling to keep everyone happy and plan her perfect day. It’s made even harder when her daughter Kelly begins to feel pushed out by her mother, will this family find their happy ever after?

I really loved all the characters in this book, except Jon and Valerie whom I hope grow old and miserable together. I think Debbie was my favourite as I can identify with an obsession with losing weight, sadly I don’t possess that woman’s determination so walked down the aisle in a slightly bigger dress! I also loved the references to characters in the previous book as it was good to check in and see how they were,

I adored this book just as much as I have Sophie’s previous work, it’s the perfect mix of heartfelt emotion, humour and the trials of everyday life. The words just flowed so well making this an absolute joy to read, the only downside to it was I finished it far too quickly!

I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants a light-hearted summer reads, it’s just brilliant and Sophie please, please write another book soon!

I’d like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy of this to review and give this book 5/5.

 

 

Book Review - Summer by the Sea by Jenny Hale

 

Summer by the Sea by Jenny Hale

Published: 12th June 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Available in Paperback and Kindle

Order a copy from Amazon now

 

 

Blurb

They say there’s always one summer that changes you.

For Faith the one summer she can’t forget is when she fell in love as a teenager – only for her sister, Casey, to steal her man. Now, at the request of her beloved ninety-year-old Grandmother, Faith has agreed to a family holiday – at their childhood beach house, where it all began.

Faith hasn’t seen her sister in years but is finally ready to forgive and forget, enjoy the sunshine and relive happy memories. What she’s not ready for is meeting Jake Buchanan – the owner of the beach house – or the long-forgotten feelings he ignites in her.

Can Faith overcome the hurt of the past, rekindle the close bond she had with Casey and make this summer THE ONE to remember?  

 

Review

My first encounter with a Jenny Hale novel was last year when I read A Christmas to Remember, which I adored and is probably one of my favourite Christmas books ever. So I was super excited when given the chance to review her new book Summer by the Sea.

Summer by the Sea is told from the point of view of the main character Faith. She’s agreed to spend two weeks in the Outer Banks in North Carolina with her family, including estranged sister Casey, to celebrate her Nan’s 90^th birthday. Faith is somewhat reluctant about the trip as she has not spent much time with her sister since Casey stole her man away and married him. As the trip wears on and nostalgic memories of previous summers spent having fun with her sister enter Faiths mind she realises it’s time to let go of the past and begin to move on with her life. Something which handsome stranger Jack Buchanan might just be able to help her with.

Like Jenny’s previous novel this is full of emotions, romance and families coming together and mending their rifts. I found this book very heart-felt as Faith has to do a lot of soul-searching in order to forgive her sister. After seeing her sister’s troubles with her husband Scott, Faith begins to realise he was never really hers to lose. The bond between sisters and their mother and Nan was very deep and was obviously far too strong to let any man come between them, which I found just lovely.

The way Jenny has described the Outer Banks makes me long to go there, its sounds like the perfect American hideaway and I can understand why it made Faith so emotional and sentimental.  The descriptive language really made me feel that at times I was with Faith leaning over the balcony looking out at the ocean too, you just can’t beat a sea view can you.

Can we just mention Jake, what a hottie, the perfect guy to help you forget all your problems with, handsome, caring, good with his hands and also just a little bit loaded, it’s no wonder Faith developed a pretty huge crush on him!

This is a lovely summer read and I really enjoyed the escapism and romance which it brought me, it would make the perfect holiday read. I’d like to thank Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to review this book and can’t wait to read Jenny’s next book. I’d rate this book 4/5.

 

Book Review - Secrets of the Tower by Debbie Rix

 

Secrets of the Tower by Debbie Rix

Published: 20th March 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 400

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

Two women, centuries apart, bound together by the secrets of one of the most iconic buildings ever created.

Pisa, 1999
Sam Campbell sits by her husband’s hospital bed. Far from home and her children, she must care for Michael who is recovering from a stroke. A man she loves deeply. A man who has been unfaithful to her.

Alone and in need of distraction, Sam decides to pick up Michael’s research into the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Immersing herself in the ancient city, she begins to piece together the mystery behind the creation of the tower, and discovers the woman who history forgot…

Pisa, 1171
Berta di Bernardo, the wife of a rich merchant, sits in her chamber, dressing for a dinner party. A gathering that will change the course of her life and a young master mason, Gerardo, forever.

A strong, intelligent woman, Berta’s passion for architecture also draws her closer to Gerardo. As she embarks on a love affair, her maid Aurelia also becomes spellbound by the same man. Yet for Berta, her heart’s desire is to see the Tower built, and her determination knows no bounds…

Review

Secrets of the Tower by Debbie Rix is the story of how the Tower of Pisa came to be designed and the mystery surrounding who designed it. It is told from two viewpoints, one in 1999 and one when the tower was being designed around 1172. It is the perfect mix of old and new perspectives which although separate stories, together uncover some of the mystery of the tower and the passionate people behind it.

The story begins in 1999 with Sam, who has just learnt her husband has been unfaithful. She then gets a call to say he has had a stroke while in Italy researching the history of the tower. In turmoil she heads off to Italy to nurse her nurse her husband but soon finds herself caught in the mystery of the tower. When she meets Dario Visalberghi a man with local connections they begin to find some clues to the mysteries surrounding the tower.

The second viewpoint is mostly told from the perspective of Berta di Bernardo, the wife of wealthy merchant Lorenzo Calvo, who being the daughter of an architect has an interest in the buildings being designed in Pisa. She meets and falls in love with Gerado di Gerado a young carpenter and with her wealth and influence helps to further his career within Pisa. We also hear some of the story from Gerado and also Aurelia, Berta’s young maid.

I really enjoyed reading this book, the writing style made it easy to follow and it flowed well between the two viewpoints. I did prefer the historical aspect of the book more than the modern day setting. I think this was because there was more background story to the characters and their love triangle kept the story from purely being about the buildings.

The thing I loved most about this book was the love of Pisa that came through from all the characters, it seems to capture all their hearts, Berta’s most particularly. The passion for the city was in all the Pisans, wanting to it be seen as the most beautiful city in Italy was very inspiring and has made me want to visit this city even more.

Even though the backdrop to this book is the mystery of the tower this is essentially a tale of love in its many forms. Gerado is intoxicated by Berta and her beauty and wealth but also has a simpler, deeper long lasting love for Aurelia, but which woman will he choose to be with? Sam has to deal with infidelity in love and decide if she can forgive her husband or whether she should be swayed by the handsome Dario.

I’m surprised to learn that this is Debbie Rix’s first novel as I found it well written, very absorbing with realistic characters and the research which she must has done to have such detail in the book is outstanding. I cannot wait to see what she writes next as I’m sure it will be as brilliant as Secrets of the Tower. I give this book 5/5.

I would like to thank Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book.

Book Review - Silent Scream by Angela Marsons

 

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons

Released: 20th February 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 400

Available in paperback and on Kindle

 

Blurb

Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult-sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?

 

Review

 

Bookouture is a publisher which has brought some brilliant reads to me over the last eight months of reviewing, so when I heard they had signed a new crime thriller writer I was really excited and Angela Marson’s debut Silent Scream surpasses every expectation I had, I found it to be simply brilliant.

The scene is set back in 2004 when five figures are surrounding a freshly dug and filled grave, vowing to keep the secret of what happened to this body among themselves. Fast forward ten years and head teacher Teresa Wyatt is found dead in her own bath tub, the description of her murder was very realistic and had my heart pounding, a brilliant opening chapter which had me totally hooked.

In steps DI Kim Stone to solve the crime which turns out to be more complicated the Kim and her team expect and as more murders are committed and when children’s bones are found in the grounds of an old children’s home, Kim’s interest in the case becomes more than just professional.

I really loved the main character DI Kim Stone, initially she seems very ruthless with her team and seems to have a hard reputation but as the story unfolds and we learn more about her we realise what she has had to deal with as child.  This made her very real to me as she had a vulnerability about her and the perfect character to lead a new detective series as I feel she has a lot more to share with us. The other character I like was Bryant, I loved his almost cheeky relationship with his boss, which brought a couple of lighter moments to a very involved novel.

This novel is action packed, and totally gripping, my heart was racing all the way through it and I could just not put it down until I knew how it would end. There were a couple of moments where I thought I had it all worked out and then bam nope I was wrong!  The ending which I got was completely not what I expected and that’s one of the reasons I loved this book, you’re left guessing until the very end.

Silent Scream deals with the subject of child abuse and highlights that those with power don’t always treat those children in these institutions with the care that they deserve. When the murders of the children were exposed I was deeply saddened and was rooting so much for Kim to find the murderer before they did any more damage. This topic made the crimes seem more real and tragic somehow rather than killer going on a bloodbath causing rampage.

For me Silent Scream is the perfect crime novel, it had a gritty plot with many twists, some deeply hidden secrets, psychologically damaged characters and a Detective Inspector to solve the crime who had her own flaws so was easier to relate to. It’s just simply brilliant and I think everyone should read it. It’s by far the best crime thriller I’ve read in a long time and I cannot wait to read the next one. I give it 5/5, go buy this book people!

 

Book Review - Fragile Lies by Laura Elliot

 

Fragile Lies by Laura Elliot

Published: 13th February 2015

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 424

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Pre-Order your copy from Amazon now

 

 

Blurb

His name is Michael Carmody.
He is a writer and a father.
His son is lying in a coma, fighting for his life.

Her name is Lorraine Cheevers.
She is an artist and mother.
An illicit affair has destroyed her marriage.

Michael is desperate to find the couple who left his son for dead, a victim of a hit and run.

Lorraine is desperate to start a new life for her and her daughter.

Michael and Lorraine are about to cross paths – damaged souls, drawn to one another.

They don’t know that their lives are already connected.

They don’t know the web of lies surrounding them.

They are each searching for the truth. But when they find it, it could destroy them both.

 

 

Review

Firstly I would to thank the publishers Bookouture for sending me a review copy through Netgalley. Fragile Lies is the story of adultery, tragedy, deception and secrets.

I thought the prologue to this book was just brilliant, I was totally sucked into the story of this adulterous couple and who they were.  How long had it been going? Were they married? How did it start? How could they leave the accident so quickly? How could they live with the guilt? I was full of questions and just had to keep reading to find out the answers.

Fragile Lies is the story of two people Lorraine and Michael and how they become drawn to each other, unaware just how connected their lives are before they even meet. Once all the secrets are out can these two ever recover from the damage?

Lorraine Cheevers, an artist has fled Dublin to the seaside town of Trabawn to recover from her the breakdown of her marriage. Out of the public eye Lorraine in the sanctuary of a house she knew from many happy summers spent in Trabawn as a child. Struggling to get through each day Lorraine is at a lost as to how to move her life on, until meeting Michael sparks something in her again.

Michael Carmody is after some answers. His son Killian was knocked down in a hit and run accident and Michael wants justice. He thinks he knows who is to blame, but is he right?

When these two meet there is an instant attraction between them, but can they form a relationship when they are both hiding so many secrets and are surrounded by lies. As Lorraine begins to learn what happened to Michaels son she begins to realise who is to blame for his accident and just how connected their two lives really are.

It took me a while to really get into this book, which surprised me after such a good prologue. After the first two parts I became really hooked and couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. This book is definitely a slow burner so stick with it.

I really liked the way the characters in this book were portrayed and particularly liked how we get to see them as they were as children through the flashbacks in part two of the book. I really didn’t like Adrian at all, he came across as weak and greedy and unable to really make a good go of things without being led by other people. Virginia was also not a nice character, I really wanted her to have some remorse or a little bit of sadness, but there just didn’t seem to be any feeling in her at all.

Fragile Lies was well written and after a slow start had a good ending which I didn’t expect. I found that with the characters I either loved them or hated them. I would give this book 4/5 and would love to read more by this author.