Book Review - The Torn Up Marriage by Caroline Roberts

 

The Torn Up Marriage by Caroline Roberts

Published: 5th March 2015

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Pages: 299

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

Why do we hurt the ones we love, and can there ever be a way back?
“The Torn Up Marriage” is about betrayal, complacency, love and loss, and that key instinct to protect your family. But what happens when you tear that family apart? Kate and Michael are about to find out as they cope with the crushing fallout of his affair, whilst trying to protect their two young children. This powerful and poignant novel captures the explosiveness of everyday life and what it is to be human; to make mistakes.
Set in the historic town of Alnwick, Northumberland, with its stunning backdrop of castles, moorland hills and coastline, this relationship story of love and family takes you in a rollercoaster ride of emotions along with Kate and Michael.
Michael’s mother’s battle with breast cancer shatters them all, yet shows them how precious life, love and family is. Can they find a way back and fight for their battered yet enduring love?
So, what would you do if it happened to you? Could you betray? Could you forgive?

Review
The Torn Up Marriage is the tale of a marriage break up following an affair and how the two sides deal with the fallout from the betrayal. It details all the stages you would expect to go through after a break up including telling the parents, friends, getting back out in the world socially and the eventually meeting of the new partner.

The book starts with Kate making dinner and everything seeming normal but as the paragraphs unfolded you could actually feel her tension as she waits to confront her husband Michael about having an affair. I was totally gripped by this first chapter, it is exactly how I would imagine that scene playing out in real life and the build-up of tension as Kate wonders exactly how to start that awful conversation is just brilliant, I could actually feel my heart racing and was wondering what exactly Michael would do.

As Michael admits that yes he is having an affair and eventually packs his bags to move in with his mistress, you can feel Kate’s world crumble around her as her marriage is ripped apart. The story goes on to detail how both Kate and Michael deal with the break-up. Kate with her anger, loss and humiliation and the difficulty of trying to keep an everyday normal routine going for her two young girls when all she wants to do is drown her sorrows in a glass of wine. Michael with his guilt of ripping his family apart, watching the confusion in his daughter’s eyes’ as they think daddy’s left because he doesn’t love them anymore.

This is a book which deals with everyday emotions when life gets hard, it doesn’t sugar coat them either, some of these scenes are ugly, especially watching Kate turn to the alcohol more and more. They way this book was written sometimes had my stomach in knots with a feeling that something really bad would happen.

The thing I liked most about this book was the way the children were written about. Charlotte and Emily were such lovely innocent little girls that ended being so confused about what was going on and it wrenched at my heart to see them sad. This was very realistic to me and I’m glad it wasn’t glossed over.

The Torn Up Marriage is a book which had me emotionally involved right from the start and I really felt I was right there experiencing all the emotions myself. If you want a book that will really make you question what you would do in a similar situation this is it. Would you stay or go? Would you ever forgive? Would you be tempted in the first place?

I thought this book was brilliantly written and the emotions were spot on, cannot wait to read more from this author.  I would give this book 5/5, simply for the pure emotion it conveys.

Thank you to Harper Impulse for sending me an arc copy to read.

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!

 

Blog Tour Review - Winter Siege by Araina Franklin and Samantha Norman

 

Winter Siege by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman

Published: 12th February 2015 (paperback)

Publisher: Bantam Press (Transworld)

Pages: 448

Available in Paperback

Order a copy from Amazon now

Blurb
It’s 1141 and freezing cold.

Gwil, a battle-hardened mercenary, is horrified to stumble across a little girl close to death. She has been attacked, just one more victim in a winter of atrocities. Clutching a sliver of parchment, she is terrified – but Gwil knows what he must do. He will bring her back to life. He will train her to fight. And together, they will hunt down the man who did this to her.

But danger looms wherever they turn. As castle after castle falls victim to siege, the icy Fens ring with rumours of a madman, of murder – and of a small piece of parchment with a terrible secret to tell, the cost of which none of them could have imagined . . .

Review

Winter Siege is a historical novel set in 1141 at the time of the Anarchy between King Stephen and his cousin Empress Matilda, daughter of Henry I. The tale is based on Gwil, a mercenary with a kind heart, Penda the young girl who Gwil takes under his wing after she is brutally attacked and Lady Maud of Kenniford, whose castle comes under siege from the feuding royals.

I have to confess that before being asked to be part of this blog tour I had never read any of Ariana Franklin’s novels, or even heard her name before. Having read one I can understand why she has such a following, Winter Siege is a tale which draws you into the lives of the three main characters and makes you emotionally attached to them. I would love to have been able to spot the point where Samantha Norman took over writing, however I found it flowed seamlessly from beginning to end.

I felt this book did have a slow start and it wasn’t until Gwil, Penda and Maud were altogether that I really began to enjoy the story as that was when we got to know more about the feelings of both Penda and Maud which was far more enjoyable to me the battle for who was going to be England’s ruler. My favourite character was Penda, I thought she made a brilliant male and female character and would love there to be a follow up book to find out what happened next to her. I loved the way she changed from being shy and frightened to being quite cheeky, especially with Gwil and also that she stood and shot her bow with the men which must have been pretty daunting for anyone.  

One thing that did bother me about this book was the over use of expletive words which were used in the dialogue throughout the book, so if this bothers you be warned.

Overall I found Winter Siege to be an enjoyable and will in the future seek out Ariana Franklin’s previous novels and look out for anything else which Samantha Norman writes. I would rate this book 4/5.

Thank you to Transworld for my review copy and asking me to join with this tour, please visit other blogs on the tour for more insight into this book.

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.

 

Release Day Round Up #14

It's been quite a while since I did a release day post and there have been some brilliant books released which I've missed so I thought it was time to get back into sharing my weekly favourites. This week I have chosen a real mix of books including new and old authors and a mixture of genres.

 

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

Released: 29th January 2015

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 400

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas - a small college town that lives and dies by American football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker's legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.

But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea's comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she's chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most - and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.

 

I'm a huge Emily Giffin fan so super excited to read her latest book, just hope there isn't too much football talk in it as I'm not a sports fan at all.

 

 

 

Scarred for Life (Jessica Daniels #9) by Kerry Wilkinson

Released: 29th January 2015

Published: Pan Macmillian

Pages: 300

Available in paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

 

DI Jessica Daniel is not having a good week. Her wallet's been nicked, the refurbished incident room is already falling apart, and a new football-mad constable is driving her crazy.

She also has bigger things on her mind. A student's body has been dumped in a wheelie bin at the back of a university building, with a vague link to an Olympic medallist and a theory that it could have been an induction which went wrong.

There's the tattooed shop raider who has her team stumped; someone attacking lone women; a chief inspector who seems to have a problem with her; and someone putting letters through her front door insisting that she's caught 'the wrong man'.

Worlds are colliding for Jessica - and, if she's not careful, someone close to her might not make it out in one piece.

 

 I can't believe its time for another Jessica Daniel book already! I read the eighth (and my first) book back in September and I was hoping to go back and start the series from the beginning before the next one. Sadly this hasn't happened but I'm actually really looking forward to getting stuck into the next one and finding out more about Jessica.

 

 

As Good As It Gets by Fiona Gibson

Released: 29th January 2015

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 400

Available on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

A warm, funny read for fans of Outnumbered and the novels of Fern Britton, Fiona writes about life as it really is.


“Midlife crisis? WHAT midlife crisis?!”


Charlotte Bristow is worried about her husband Will. With her 16-year-old daughter Rosie newly signed to a top modelling agency, and Will recently out of a job, things are changing in their household.


As Will dusts down his old leather trousers and starts partying with their new, fun neighbours, Charlotte begins to wonder what on earth is going on.


So when Fraser, Charlotte’s ex – and father of Rosie – suddenly arrives back on the scene, she starts to imagine what might have been…

 

Surprisingly I have yet to read anything by Fiona Gibson, although I just know from reading the blurbs I will love them. I have finally found my kindle charger so am going to start reading this tonight, look out for a review in the next couple of weeks

 

 

The Ties That Bind by Erin Kelly

Released: 29th January 2015

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 368

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Could a soul, once sold, truly be redeemed?

Luke is a true crime writer in search of a story. When he flees to Brighton after an explosive break-up, the perfect subject lands in his lap: reformed gangster Joss Grand. Now in his eighties, Grand once ruled the Brighton underworld with his sadistic sidekick Jacky Nye - until Jacky washed up by the West Pier in 1968, strangled and thrown into the sea. Though Grand's alibi seems cast-iron, Luke is sure there's more to the story than meets the eye, and he convinces the criminal-turned-philanthropist to be interviewed for a book about his life.

Luke is drawn deeper into the mystery of Jacky Nye's murder. Was Grand there that night? Is he really as reformed a character as he claims? And who was the girl in the red coat seen fleeing the murder scene? Soon Luke realises that in stirring up secrets from the past, he may have placed himself in terrible danger.

 

+

I think this sounds like a really great gripping read, hopefully I will get to give it a read soon. Erin Kelly is also the author of Broadchurch which is now the tv hit (haven't seen any of it yet).

 

 

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

Released: 29th January 2015

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 304

Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Autumn has finally arrived in the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, heralded by a strange old man appearing with a beaten-up suitcase. He has stories to tell, stories that could change the lives of the Waverley women forever. But the Waverleys have enough trouble on their hands. Quiet Claire Waverley has started a successful new venture, Waverley's Candies, but it's nothing like she thought it would be, and it's slowly taking over her life. Claire's wild sister Sydney, still trying to leave her past behind, is about to combust with her desire for another new beginning. And Sydney's fifteen-year-old daughter Bay has given her heart away to the wrong boy and can't get it back.

 

I have never read anything by Sarah Addison Allen but her covers always strike me as beautiful and make you want to pick the book up. I believe this is a follow on from Garden Spells where her Waverley women books started. I'm really hoping this is a new author I get to try out this year.

 

So that I my pick from this week's releases, a real mixed bag. I have review copies for a couple of them so keep a look out for the review coming up. 

Book Review - Mr Miracle by Debbie Macomber

 

Mr Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Published:  20th November 2014

Publisher: Cornerstone

Pages: 272

Available in paperback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

Blurb

Harry Mills is a guardian angel on a mission: help Addie Folsom to get her life back on track - and help her find love.

Creating a happy ending for Addie and her neighbour Erich doesn’t seem like much of a challenge. But soon after arriving in the town of Tacoma, Harry realises he might need some guidance. Addie and Erich can't stand each other; growing up he was popular and outgoing, while she was rebellious and headstrong. Addie would now rather avoid Erich entirely, especially at Christmas.

Harry is going to need all the help he can get, and a bit of divine inspiration, to help Addie and Erich find their Christmas miracle.

 

Review

 

I was sent a copy of this to review via NetGalley and after reading Mrs Miracle by Debbie Macomber I was expecting this book to have that same warm and cosy Christmas magic. Sadly this book didn’t live up to my expectations and left me wanting more from the story.

Mr Miracle is Harry Mills, an angel-in-training sent to earth to help Addie Folsom and her classmates to overcome difficulties in their lives. Having not experienced human emotions before Harry initially believes this will be a breeze. He is told he must help Addie form a relationship with her childhood next door neighbour Erich Simmons, piece of cake thinks Harry until he realises Addie and Erich have hated each other for years. Addie had a secret crush on Erich back when he was best friends with her brother Jeremy but sadly Erich just teased Addie, causing her to hate him. After Erich has a car accident Addie is left to care for him as their windowed mothers have left to go on a cruise over Christmas. With Harry’s help can Addie and Erich ever find a way to get along?

I loved this sound of this book and was expecting a magical sort of romance occurring between Addie and Erich with a little help from “Mr Miracle” however I felt the changes in their relationship happened just too quickly, one minute the hate each other and the next day they are declaring love for each other, hardly realistic! The whole book felt like it was really rushed even though the plotline is very thin. This book is only 272 pages and I feel if it were slightly longer and included more on the minor characters it might have been better.

Harry for me came across as a little smug, thinking his mission was easy and wasn’t nearly as lovely as his counterpart Mrs Miracle. He was very easily led by French teacher Michelle and he was often getting into trouble with the campus principal for not complying with college regulations.

I was intrigued by the minor characters in this book and wish that there had been more about them. Especially Elaina the canteen worker, Brady the Janitor, Danny and Andrew and his guardian angel dog. Maybe other stories will focus on these characters?

This is a book which does have a little Christmas spirit in it, like the Christmas tree lights scene and I also liked the details about the “pot luck” party which Harry hosted for his class. Because of this I’m glad I read this book even though the characters were a little flat and the plotline rushed. Hopefully the next Debbie Macomber book I read will have more of her usual magic.

Rating 3/5

 

 

Book Review - The King's Sister by Anne O'Brien

 

The King's Sister by Anne O'Brien

Published: 1st November 2014

Publisher: Mira

Pages: 560

Available in Hardback and on Kindle

Order now from Amazon

 

Blurb

1382. Daughter of John of Gaunt, sister to the future King Henry IV, Elizabeth of Lancaster has learned the shrewd tricks of the court from England’s most powerful men. In a time of political turmoil, allegiance to family is everything. A Plantagenet princess should never defy her father’s wishes. Yet headstrong Elizabeth refuses to bow to the fate of a strategic marriage. Rejecting her duty, Elizabeth weds the charming and ruthlessly ambitious Sir John Holland: Duke of Exeter, half-brother to King Richard II and the one man she has always wanted. But defiance can come at a price. 1399. Elizabeth’s brother Henry has seized the throne. Her husband, confident to the usurped Richard, masterminds a secret plot against the new King. Trapped in a dangerous web, Elizabeth must make a choice. Defy the King and betray her family. Or condemn her husband and send him to his death. Sister. Wife. Traitor. She holds the fate of England in her hands.  

 

Review

The King’s Sister tells the story of Elizabeth of Lancaster, sister to Henry IV. The story begins in 1380 in Elizabeth’s childhood home Kenilworth Castle on the day her marriage to the eight year old Duke of Pembroke is announced. Elizabeth is distraught with this news as he’s so much younger than her even though the match is politically a very strong one for her family. Elizabeth surrenders to her arranged marriage, until the day she meets John Holland, half-brother to King Richard and a man Elizabeth is instantly attracted to. They begin a love-hate relationship for a number of years until Elizabeth begs her father for an annulment to her marriage so she can marry her lover. Although she loves him deeply life with John Holland is not always an easy and happy one for Elizabeth, her husband has ambitions for himself alongside King Richard, which don’t always put his family first. As Elizabeth’s brother Henry gains favour for the crown Elizabeth has a difficult choice to make, betray her husband or her brother.

I have been a fan of historical fiction for a while but have tended to stick reading about the Tudors, mainly through the work of Philippa Gregory. The King’s Sister seemed the perfect book to discover a new historical fiction author and in Anne O’Brien I have found a wonderful writer. Her ability to create a realistic historically accurate and gripping read shows she has a real skill for storytelling in a period which has been well researched.

I really enjoyed reading The King’s Sister, I loved the romance that brewed between Elizabeth and John Holland over the years, starting so innocently and gradually became more passionate which I felt made the characters very real. Elizabeth was a really great character, she is determined and appears to have more guts than some men at the time. So has no problem barging in on political meetings if it means she’ll get her own way, which a lot of the time she does. She does come across as a little selfish, she decides she wants to end her marriage to the Duke of Pembroke, but she gives no consideration to how this will affect him, or indeed her father’s situation at court. When she decided to step in and make her betrayal, the choice she made must have been heart-breaking, knowing she was probably going to lose one of the men she loved, her husband or her brother.

The King’s Sister is a big book and not the easiest story to follow that I’ve ever read. I do think it is worth the time and effort though as it was an enjoyable read and one which gave me a real taste of life in England at that time. It’s a book I can see myself enjoying again in the future as I found Anne’s writing absorbing and I cannot wait to pick up her next book.

 

Thank to Mira for sending me a copy to review.

Rating 5/5