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I am becoming quite a big fan of the “gangland thriller” genre and often find myself choosing them over other thriller books these days! This is a new to me author, but I’ve heard lots about her (all go of course!) So I was very excited to read this one.

Blurb:

Diamond by name…

Handsome, wealthy and successful, lawyer Nick Diamond is a man who commands and expects respect from everyone he meets. People think he is a man to be trusted. They are wrong.

Deadly by nature.

Because away from his glittering life in upper-class Chelsea, Nick is keeping a dark and dangerous secret. One that takes him to the slum estates of Glasgow and a very different world.

Nick will do anything to keep his secret under wraps, because if it’s ever revealed it would be his downfall.

My thoughts:

My favourite authors in this genre (to date) are Heather Atkinson and Emma Tallon, so it was a big ask for me to feel anywhere close to that, about this book.

However, Gillian Godden and this story has completely blown me away. The opening is shocking, gripping and sensational and I was completely addicted to this book from this point onwards.

There is a great cast of vibrant and lively characters from a mix of generations and walks of life, all upholding those traditional gangland values of protection and loyalty. Nick Diamond was the stand out character for me, and his backstory and family circumstances added to the intrigue.

This was also quite an epic story in terms of the geographical range it covers, and through this you really manage to get a distinct sense of place, especially in the descriptions of the “slum” estates of Glasgow.

There is a big mystery at the centre of the story and the plot was carefully crafted in order to unravel it in good time, meanwhile enthralling us with a huge range of dramatic scenes and touching upon some really important subjects, such as the lack of safe community spaces, the use of medicinal marijuna and the issues of rape and prostitution.

Overall, there is quite a lot packed into this brilliant book and Gillian is an absolute star for managing it all without making the book feel packed or overwhelming. On the contrary, this book is quite an easy read, and definitely one that is hard to put down. A definite go-to author for fans of this genre!

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I am so excited to be on the tour for 3rd book in this series. In a rare occurrence for me, I have read all of this series in order and I have loved every single one of them! It’s too difficult to pick a favourite…

Blurb:

He needs a wife…
Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan…
But the only woman who’s caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she’s hardly respectable, but she’s determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose’s mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William’s a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she’s very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won’t follow them wherever they go.

In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble’s exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for…

My thoughts:

Once again, I loved being back with the three female characters who are at the centre of this series. Nancy, Octavia and Louisa are a fantastic, formidable trio. Their story highlights so much about the importance of loyalty and friendship. However, there are times when the challenges they face in this installment mean that their friendship is tested in terms of trust and being able to let go.

Rachel writes historical fiction in the I way feel it should be written. The characters are at the forefront of the story, yet the historical commentary and the “vibe” of 19th century Britain is very well crafted too. Once again, I felt like I was there in Bath, but I also liked the contrast between Bath & Manchester that we see in this story, highlighting to some extent the expectations and struggles of the North/South divide in England.

Once again, this story is full of romance and drama but the author does not lose sight of what we have come to know and love about these female characters: namely their individual and collective strength, and their loyalty to each other.

The book provides an interesting insight into the issue of marriage and the way it can benefit both men and women, in a way I’ve never really thought of before. Described as a “very modern marriage”, I feel the marriage at the centre of this story is in fact highly unusual and the circumstances which lead up to it very unique, but it all adds to the dramatic and original plot.

Overall, a dramatic, accessible, escapist and interesting book that has transported me to a time in history and made me grateful for strong women everywhere!

I find Rachel’s books difficult to compare without just copying names off a review site (which I don’t like to do if I’ve not read them) as it’s so different to anything I’ve read and completely enchanting and original, but I’d definitely recommend this entire series to lovers of historical fiction!

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I previously dipped into and enjoyed The Wedding Shop series by this author. Therefore, I was excited to find out she was releasing another series and am pleased to be on the blog tour for this one, book 2! As usual, the cover is gorgeous and this sounded like a very heart-warming read.

Blurb:

When internet sensation ‘Cressida Cupcake’ has a soggy bottomed TV fiasco and faces bake-off backlash she jumps at the chance to spend some time hiding out in St Aidan, dog sitting for her brother.

Picturesque Seaspray Cottage is meant to be Cressy Hobson’s port in the storm but with her blog sponsors having fled and her book deal gone sideways her funds are running low and she’s forced to turn to the locals for help. Soon her quiet weeks in Cornwall are filled with chasing sheep, saving the local retirement village, taking The Little Cornish Kitchen into people’s homes for baking nights…and keeping vigilant guard against romance.

The one and only time Cressy lost her head to love was over a decade ago while in St Aidan, and she won’t be making the same mistake again – a feat easier said than done when Ross Bradbury looks even better a decade on…and every step she takes seems to put him in her path!

My thoughts:

In many ways, this is a light and comforting read. There are some wonderful descriptions of cake, kindness and community spirit.

I particularly loved the character of Cressy. Her nicknames made me chuckle! She comes across as an extremely likeable yet vulnerable and sort of lost, character. Her back story made for a very compelling and emotional read, and definitely added to my understanding of her and my anticipation of how the story was going to play out.

The romance in this story is very up and down, sort of a slow burn and you do wonder whether Cressida can face down her demons and forge a new path for herself in St Aidan.

There is a wonderful exploration of friendship, and particularly how difficult it is to create and keep friendships alive during adulthood. I definitely wanted to be a “mermaid” whilst reading this!

Overall, an enjoyable and satisfying read which I would recommend to fans of Victoria Walters, Cressida McCaughlin and Holly Martin.

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I was drawn to this book as it sounded highly original, as well as unusual. I do tend to get into a repetitive cycle of only reading romantic fiction and domestic/psychological thrillers, so it is sometimes refreshing to pick up something completely different.

Blurb:

Near-future Britain. Climate change has led to food shortages and civil unrest. Pollinating insects are in steep decline. Commercial bee farmer Victor Martin travels around the farms of Kent with his hives to pollinate fruit trees and crops. Local research entomologist Dr Annie Abrams is devastated when she’s ordered to give up her captive bee colonies – her life’s work – to join forces with Victor and ensure a harvest. But the bees are dying. Their only hope seems to be an experimental alternative to insect pollination: robot pollinators called nanodrones. But why does the drone designer seem so familiar? And who is behind the shadowy organisation intent on sabotaging their vital work? Can Annie and Victor win their battle to save the bees… or is it too late?

My thoughts:

I loved the style of this book. A mostly fictional tale, the non-fiction essays and excerpts peppered throughout serve as a stark reminder that in many ways, this could soon be our reality.

A story of restrictions, limitations and suffering far worse than anything we have faced with Covid19, this fictional tale reminds us of how our selfish actions could impact generations in the future.

I really enjoyed getting to know their challenges and found the way they tackled the situation to be courageous and to some extent, a comfort to know that there are people out there who feel passionately enough about saving the planet to actually do something about it, and make it their life’s work.

The bees serve as a significant symbol within the book. Firstly, of how we must work together in order to achieve our goals, as many bees do during the pollination process. They serve as a symbol and constant reminder of how world is constantly changing as environmental conditions decline. This book has definitely, in an accessible and entertaining way, made me think deeply about the issue of bees and environmental damage.

Overall, this is an emotive, thought-provoking and yet somehow hopeful book. I can understand those who class it as ‘Sci-Fi’ but I really think it’s reach and importance is far greater than that genre alone. A truly sparkling and outstanding debut.

My daughters and I have previously read and loved The King Who Didn’t Like Snow by this author. This book looked like it was going to take us on an exciting, escapist adventure, so I was very excited to read it with my girls.

Blurb:

Finn and Fred Octopus are off on a magical adventure to the Arctic. They meet a kindly seal, a hungry polar bear and an angry walrus. The whales sing to Finn, and Finn arrives home with an important message to share…
In association with the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Jocelyn Porter’s latest picture book is beautifully illustrated by the super-gifted artist Leo Brown, who has worked with everyone from Roald Dahl to Disney.
Aimed at children aged 3-8, this action-packed rhyming adventure will gently educate your child about protecting the oceans while entertaining them with terrifiic sea creatures – from seals and polar bears to narwhals and whales!

My thoughts:

There were so many things I loved about this book. From a reader’s point of view, I loved the fact it rhymes as this brings a rhythm, fun and ease to the reading of the story. It also makes it more memorable for my children.

I also love that it teaches children about the big wide world, the environment and our responsibility of stewardship and care in an accessible and light-hearted way.

The range of animals are wonderful, and not always ones we encounter often in books or on TV shows so provided another talking point.

I loved the fact that the animals were brought quite literally to life by giving them voices and spoken part. This allowed me to add another level of imagination to the story by doing lots of different voices, again making this a memorable story for my children and also providing a model for fluent reading, which will stand them in good stead for their future as readers.

The gorgeous illustrations told a story of their own, and made it much easier to visualize the Arctic, an important part of the world that we are not told enough about!

Overall, a gorgeous story about friendship and adventure, with a poignant message. We loved it!

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I really enjoy Nina’s books and I am so excited to be involved in another blog tour of hers. The cover is striking and beautiful, with the title suggestive of danger but also hinting at possibly a fall from grace.

Blurb:

In the quiet village of Helesbury, Miranda Wallace prides herself on being the most popular member of her small social circle; the perfect friend, the best mum – the queen bee.

Until one day, Verity arrives. Cool and indifferent, Verity is everything Miranda isn’t, but she threatens to shatter Miranda’s picture-perfect life.

Suddenly plagued with insecurities, Miranda is certain Verity is hiding something. And Miranda knows all about secrets and the damage they can cause, because she’s hiding some of her own.

So when Verity threatens to reveal the truth about Miranda and destroy the perfect life she’s built, Miranda knows she has to act to protect the people she loves – even if the results are deadly.

My thoughts:

Nina Manning writes psychological thrillers in a way that is perfectly suited to me. She is slowly but surely becoming one of my favourite authors in this genre.

The opening of the book is really engaging, where we read about a police investigation that takes place in 2019. Then Nina uses a sophisticated and effective dual timeline to develop the story. Both elements of the timeline are intriguing and you are left wondering how it all fits together.

I didn’t particularly like the character of Miranda. She comes across as suspicious and self-centred straight from the off, but the psychological element to the story is so strong that I undoubtedly felt I was witnessing some elements of her deeper self, able to understand and process her thoughts.

The consistent references to the hidden past bring a number of key themes into the story including secrecy, trust, lies, deception, threat and the inability to run away from your past.

Overall, an entertaining and gripping read which I have devoured quickly and really enjoyed. I would once again commend this author for the strong psychological elements and the ability to bring characters to life. I would recommend this book and author to fans of Miranda Smith, Arianne Richmonde and Mel Sherratt.

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I was drawn to this book by the cover and in particular that it appeared to be a gangland thriller with a strong female lead. I’ve never read any books by this author before, but I’m keen to experiment with new authors in this genre as my range is currently quite limited!

Blurb:

She’s the boss now…

Daddy’s girl Samantha Reynold hadn’t bargained on unexpectedly needing to step into her father’s shoes and take over the family casino business.

Pampered and spoiled, Sam knows nothing about the rules of this glamorous but deadly new world. She has a lot to learn and even more to prove. But she won’t let her family down, especially when it looks like they could lose everything to their biggest rivals – the Stoker family.

Eldest son Sebastian hasn’t got time to pander to pretty girl Samantha as she plays at being boss. Rumours are swirling around the streets of Birmingham that have the power to rip the Stoker family apart and destroy everything they’ve built.

And Seb will stop at nothing to ensure that in this takeover, only one will succeed.

My thoughts:

This is definitely a dark and gritty read. It is not for the faint hearted!

I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into this book. There is a huge cast of characters, and I found that a little difficult to keep track of at first.

However, once I was into it, I began to love following these lively, dangerous and determined individuals. I particularly enjoyed the tension between Samantha and Seb.

There are some shocking and violent scenes, which definitely took me by surprise at times. Obviously this is a gangland thriller, so you’d expect such scenes, but Edie does a good job of, at times, dropping these unexpected metaphorical bombs on you when you don’t expect it!

Overall, a gritty and at times explosive and tense read perfect for fans of Kerry Kaya and Sam Michaels.

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The cover of this book is just so gorgeous and original! I’ve read four books by Isabella May, and she is a firm favourite of mine. I love the fact her books always have a nostalgic and foody/culinary feel to them!

Blurb:

Rock star, River Jackson, is back in his hometown of Glastonbury to open a cocktail bar… and the locals aren’t impressed.

Seductive Georgina is proving too hot to handle; band mate, Angelic Alice, is messing with his heart and his head; his mum is a hippie-dippy liability; his school friends have resorted to violence – oh, and his band manager, Lennie, AND the media are on his trail.

But River is armed with a magical Mexican elixir which will change the lives of the Three Chosen Ones. Once the Mexican wave of joy takes a hold of the town, he’s glad he didn’t lose his proverbial bottle.

Pity he hasn’t taken better care of the real one…

My thoughts:

There is a lot of fun and drama packed into this book. I love the premise of it – the idea of completely overhauling your life and renovating an old pub into a cocktail bar.

There is a large and vibrant cast of characters, who I really enjoyed getting to know. I liked the fact that despite the locals mourning the “community hub” of the pub, River does seem to create a community atmosphere in his cocktail bar, akin to something like The Old Vic in Eastenders.

I did like and respect River as a character, mostly. His heart is 100% in the right place but he doesn’t always execute his feelings, or place his energies in the right area.

I enjoyed the romance element to the story. I felt like Isabella was teasing me with the love triangle and all the back and for between River and Alice. The villain character is brilliantly created, too.

This is an easy and fun read, that brings the unique town of Glastonbury to life, provides a great insight into life after fame and why people choose to take on certain projects.

I would recommend this book to fans of authors such as Julie Caplin and Rosie Green.

“He wasn’t simply enriching the lives of three random customers in his cocktail bar, but a whole world beyond it.”

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I was drawn into this one by the cover and I have to say the title and cover combo totally intrigued me! The title has connotations of romance, energy and focus and the image to me represents loneliness, distress and lethargy. I was definitely keen to pick this one up and find out more.

Blurb:

A one-bedroom apartment with creeping damp.Depressed cat, complete with litter tray.Neither was part of Claire’s five-year plan.Nor, for that matter, was divorce.Left with a comfort eating habit that’s costing her a small fortune in ice-cream, and panic attacks flooring her in front of the supermarket meals-for-one, Claire turns to her mum and Mindfulness in the hope that one of them can help her find real happiness.She thinks she’s cracked it… but then her past comes creeping back.Now she has to work out what really makes her happy or risk a life where Ben & Jerry are the only men who matter.

My thoughts:

This is definitely a very original take on the so called “romantic fiction” or “women’s fiction” genre and I think this is a book that absolutely needed to be written.

Claire is a wonderful main character. She is passionate, honest and vulnerable in a way that I’ve not really seen in a character in quite some time. This makes her totally believable and likeable. I was invested in her journey and her story from early on.

The story itself follows a dramatic and emotional path, where the author explores issues related to relationships, friendships, abuse, trust, family and self-belief. There is rather a lot packed into this book considering its average size!

This is definitely a book that gave me all the feels. It filled me warmth at times, and flooded with fear at others. It definitely made me consider the benefits of a more mindful approach. Since finishing the book I already feel like I have made steps towards this and taking better care of myself, too.

A wonderful read, perfect for fans of authors such as Millie Johnson or Carole Matthews who are looking for something a little different. For me, I was able to draw similarities with Rachel Marks and Graeme Simsion, who have written some of my favourite books of the last few years.

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I absolutely loved Daughter of the Shipwreck by this author, and it was one of my favourite historical novels of 2021. Therefore, I knew that reading her next book was a must. Once again, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and the colours especially jump off the page. The red suggests this book will be emotional, and may carry themes of romance as well as risk or danger. I couldn’t wait to start reading!

Blurb:

Victorian England, 1846: A gripping and powerful story about one woman’s incredible courage in the face of heartbreak, and a secret that – if revealed – could destroy everything.

Six years ago, Bella Farrow lost everything. Desperate and starving, she made a terrible mistake that forced her to abandon her home, her livelihood and her family. And when the only person she trusted – her beloved, steadfast husband – was killed in a tragic accident, Bella was left alone. She had to make her own way, while keeping her past hidden upon risk of imprisonment, or worse…

Now Bella is living a quiet life under a secret identity and making a good, honest living. But then a young, handsome man named James Earlham comes to town, and everything changes. Their instant connection disturbs her heart, her peace and her safety. Because Bella knows that for their love to flourish, she will have to reveal the secret that has remained hidden all these years – and put her trust in James.

Bella’s heart tells her to confess everything. But can she be sure James is really who he says he is? Can Bella truly be herself with him? Or is she putting her life in the hands of the one person who could betray her?

My thoughts:

After reading Lora’s previous book, I wrote that: Lora Davies writes historical fiction exactly how I think it should be written and this is a stunning debut novel. Did this book live up to that? I can confirm that it absolutely did.

This book is as good, if not better, than Lora’s first release. I’m at risk of repeating myself a little because Lora’s style and approach is very unique and is extremely appealing to me. Therefore, this book also provides well-developed and empathetic characters. You are taken on Bella’s journey in her search for identity, love and a home. Her journey is sometimes joyful and at others, it is heart-breaking. You feel all of it with her, every step of the way.

Once again, there is strong and relevant cultural, historical and social commentary about the time and society in which this book is set. Quotes such as “If people were allowed to go around marrying anyone who took their fancy, then God only knows where we would be” provide a stark reminder of how much the world has changed in the last 175 years. In this society, women are undermined, marginalised and even when they speak, are not listened to.

Bella is a unique and sympathetic character, who demonstrates that at times, men can be intimidated by women, but also the timelessness of love and devotion. In her quest, she explores many important themes and takes the reader on quite an unexpected geographical and emotional journey.

The ending may well take you by complete surprise, but will definitely leave you satisfied. This is another gorgeous read by this author, that has made me think, made me cry and reminded me of the importance of human connection and empathy. I love that a strong female character is once again at the forefront of this book, and I would recommend this author to fans of Heather Morris, Meghan Masterson and Ellie Midwood.