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I was drawn to this book by the unusual and striking cover and title. Of course, the red font and umbrella stand out, and the connotations of such suggest that this book will portray elements of danger, fear and possibly even violence…

This definitely hooked me in and I was excited to pick this one up!

Blurb:

An invitation you can’t refuse. You should . . .

When shy, lonely Ivy meets a woman who claims to be her long-lost sister, she knows it’s too good to be true. She decides to trust Kate anyway. She wants a family. She wants someone to love.

She’s making a mistake.

Ivy enters Kate’s fairytale cottage, deep in the heart of Scotland . . . and she doesn’t come out.

She’s the first to go missing.

She won’t be the last.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Tash’s journey is just beginning . . .

My thoughts:

This has definitely been an intriguing and atmospheric read. In some ways it was very different to what I was expecting, as the style and structure is quite original and this took me by surprise, though I have never read a book by this author before.

The author does a very good job of creating and describing settings that reflect the mood and atmosphere and transport you to the location of the story, in this case a variety of locations across the heart of Scotland.

The characters are well-drawn and well-developed, and in some ways are used effectively as a tool for social commentary around the role of women in our society.

Overall, this is a dark and tense story that is quite a slow burner but definitely has gripping and gruesome elements, and takes some far darker turns than I was expecting.

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I love Olivia Spring’s books and she has definitely earned her place as one of my favourite authors within the romantic comedy genre. Therefore I’m very excited to reveal the cover for her new book, My Ten Year Crush, below!

Like all of Olivia’s covers, it is bright and beautiful, showcasing elements of romance, friendship and fun which I am sure are present in the book by the bucket load. I personally cannot wait to read this one! It’s out on 30th September 2021, or you can pre-order it now!

Blurb:

The first kiss wrecked their friendship. Could a second chance lead to love?

English teacher Bella isn’t having much luck with her love life. No matter who she dates, no one seems to measure up to Mike: the ex-bestie she shared a drunken kiss with ten years ago, which led to the end of their friendship…

When Bella comes face-to-face with Mike at their university reunion, sparks fly. He’s smart, funny and even hotter than before, and despite trying to fight her feelings, Bella still can’t get him out of her head.

But after what happened the last time she stepped out of the friend zone, Bella isn’t in a hurry to be rejected all over again.

Should Bella risk more heartache by telling Mike how she really feels? Could the attraction be mutual? Or is it finally time to put her past behind her and say goodbye to a second chance at love, forever?

My Ten-Year Crush is a fun, sexy, friends-to-lovers romcom about second chances and stepping out of your comfort zone. Ideal for fans of Beth O’Leary, Mhairi McFarlane and Lindsey Kelk.

Order now and join Bella on her rollercoaster romantic adventures!

Oooh, how fab does this book look and sound?! It’s gone straight on the TBR! I love a cosy crime!

Check out the blurb below 👀👇

Blurb:

In the charming Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough, a murder is nothing to sing about . . .

After the death of her husband Tom, Helen Dexter is contemplating her future as the now-sole proprietor of the Seaview Hotel.

There’s an offer from a hotel chain developer to consider, but also a booking from a group of twelve Elvis impersonators, a singing troupe called Twelvis. Tom loved Elvis and for Helen this is a sign that she should stay.

But the series of mysterious events which follow, suggests that the developer is not going to give up easily. Then, shortly after Twelvis arrive, one of the group disappears. His body is found floating in a lake, with his blue suede shoes missing. Could the two be connected?

With the reputation of the Seaview on the line, Helen isn’t going to wait for the murderer to strike again. With her trusty greyhound Suki by her side, she decides to find out more about her guests and who wanted to make sure this Elvis never sang again.

Helen and Suki return in Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel – coming soon!

I am so happy to be involved in this blog tour as I am a secondary school English teacher, so I am always looking forward to expanding and updating my list of recommendations for any keen readers I meet! The cover and title of this book is definitely magical and exciting!

Blurb:

Set in the snowy northern forests of an imagined prehistoric world, Fireborn is the middle-grade debut of the decade. At turns exciting, funny and heart wrenchingly sad, it marks the introduction of an unstoppable new voice in children’s storytelling.

Twelve has spoken the Pledge and now she is a Huntling. She has given up her name to train in the art of fighting monsters and keeping the peace, and she won’t get to choose a new one until she has earned it.

But when the Lodge’s walls are breached for the first time, and a little girl is taken, Twelve is the only one interested in going after a child . . .

Teaming up with Dog, the Stone Guardian of the Lodge, Twelve ends up on an epic adventure that will change her life, her name – and her entire world.

My thoughts:

Let me start by saying this will definitely be going on the list of books I could recommend to students. It is completely different to the majority of what I usually read, but I have loved stepping outside of my comfort zone with this book.

As well as stepping out of my comfort zone, this book has also allowed me to enter a completely different world: a magical world full of drama and adventure. The detailed and wonderful descriptions definitely make you feel transported to this new world and give the book an escapist feel. At the current time, I feel we all need a little escapism, especially young people!

The characters were another great aspect of the book. I loved the character of Twelve and her fierce, steely determination. There were quite a number of background characters but this got easier to follow as you got further into the book, and of course sets up the ability to move between characters if desired in future books of the series.

The story-line itself was a fast paced and jam-packed plot containing lots of action, adventure, and at some points darkness and disaster.

I would say this is a book well-suited for teenagers and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the series has to offer.

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I am so excited and honoured to be involved in the blog tour for the 3rd book in this incredible cosy mystery series. I love everything about these books and I am so invested in this series now.

Blurb:

Hurlingham House school is a high-achiever’s heaven, full of happy, hard-working pupils. There’s just the small matter of the dead body on the field… Sounds like a case for Epiphany Bloom!

When Epiphany Bloom’s best friend’s sister Claire is accused of trading exam papers for money, Epiphany agrees to see Ms Peters, the headteacher of Claire’s fiercely competitive school, to provide moral support. Claire has always been a model student and is loudly protesting her innocence: surely it’s all just a misunderstanding.

But when Ms Peters hears about Epiphany’s previous sleuthing exploits, she enlists her help to track down the true culprit!

Taking a job as a PE teacher, Epiphany soon realises she has plenty of suspects for the exam scam mastermind. The broke young teacher with a shady past? The father willing to buy his daughter anything – including grades? The school governor desperate to keep Hurlingham House at the top of the ranks?

Then Epiphany finds one of them dead at the school fair, and it becomes clear someone is taking the cut-throat culture of the school too literally – and when mysterious accidents start happening around her too, it seems the killer knows she’s onto them.

Can Epiphany solve the murder as well as clearing Claire’s name, before she becomes the next victim? This is one test she can’t afford to fail…

A charming and totally addictive cozy mystery with a hilarious and warm-hearted heroine. A must-read for fans of M.C. Beaton, Lee Strauss and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series.

My thoughts:

I have found each installment of this series more enjoyable than the last. Despite being a series, each of the books has all the elements of an excellent standalone cosy mystery and can be read on its own. So if you’re only now discovering Katie Gayle and Epiphany Bloom, that’s okay! Though I do challenge you to read this one and not want to go back and read the others.

Epiphany, or Pip as she is known mostly in the stories, is what makes these books for me. She is a lively, bubbly, funny character and her energy, enthusiasm and determination for what she does just jumps off the page. She is certainly not your run of the mill investigator! I could see her character being the focus of a TV series, and I think that would be brilliant.

Once again, Pip finds herself in the midst of a mystery. Partly because she forces herself there, but partly also accidentally. I have loved reading how Pip resolves this one – the clues, the interviews and the mishaps that get her to the conclusion. It was definitely a conclusion that I wasn’t expecting!

The structure of these stories make them easy and fun reads but also really gripping and page turning. You somehow become invested in the mystery or mysteries because Pip cares so much, and as she is such a likeable character, you end up caring too.

Overall, this is another wonderful cosy mystery from a series that just gets better and better by my current favourite writer in this genre. Fans of Verity Bright and Fiona Lietch will love this book and series!

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I was drawn to this book by the bright and unusual cover. I am also keen to discover new authors in this genre, so I was excited to read this book.

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Blurb:

Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

My thoughts:

I’m always nervous when I try a new author, especially as I can be a little fussy and it can sometimes take me a couple of books to get on board with their style of writing. However, Catherine’s easy style and ability to write a twisty, page turning, fun narrative had me hooked from the beginning.

A real bugbear of mine when it comes to this genre is when books call themselves ‘hilarious’, ‘laugh out loud’ or ‘romantic comedy’ and you’re reading the book thinking: light in mood and tone? Yes. Funny? Absolutely not. However, this book definitely delivers on the humour aspect which I loved. You’ve got the dry humour of the interactions between Declan and Sarah, and then some of the more slapstick humour around certain unfortunate mishaps and run-ins that happen.

I’ve actually been a little floored by how much I loved this book as I definitely didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. The premise is interesting, and I loved how Sarah and Declan kept bumping into each other. This could have felt forced, but since the author set up the context around their lives – it doesn’t. The tension is there throughout – romantic, sexual but also personal and family tensions within these complex, relatable characters and their interesting lives.

To summarise, this is a brilliantly written romantic comedy, which has cemented Catherine Walsh’s place as a “must read” author for me. I would recommend this book to fans of Sophie Ranald, Camilla Isley and Bella Osborne, who just so happen to be three of my favourite authors in this genre.

You won’t regret choosing this as your next uplifting, fun and entertaining summer read!

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This is a “must read” author for me as her previous book, Under Your Skin, was one of my favourite books of 2020. It actually made it to number #8 of the top 20, out of over 140 books read. Therefore, I had high hopes for this book.

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Blurb:

Fatal accidents do happen. Or was there a plan?

A six-year-old dies in a car driven by her father. He barely survives. A simple hit and run? Yet the police think its murder. And who might be next?

The mother is out of her mind. If losing her daughter is not enough, why is she being stalked?

My thoughts:

“My search engine is full of imaginative ways to kill.”

Oh wow, she’s done it again! Once again, I have absolutely loved this book and been unable to put it down, devouring it under 24 hours.

The opening of the book brings to the fore themes of relationships, crime and death, and really hooks you into the story.

“I remember pressing the doorbell that day. One simple act that set off a chain of events, leading to people dying and criminal charges.”

Rose’s writing style remains simple yet sophisticated. It has all the ingredients of an excellent psychological thriller: the suspense, the mind-games and the multiple perspectives. We do really get to see this story from the points of view almost everyone involved, and I loved that.

The characters are complex, well-drawn and well-developed. Rose has a talent for creating characters that have dark thoughts and make bad choices, yet on some level you are able to connect with them or build some sympathy for them. It is easy to paint Zoe as the victim, the bereft mother, but is it that straightforward? Mia comes across badly – possessive, controlling, manipulative, but she too has her reasons. Liam comes across as a selfish, worthless addict, but it is clear that things in his past have impacted him in such a way that he needs an escape and the stability that Zoe provides. Liam describes how “without my fix, every day life was unbearable” but when taking drugs “bad thoughts… disappeared like pebbles in a pond.“

The writer deals with some very sensitive topics including, childhood death, child abuse and drug addiction, but I think the way she portrays these themes is done sensitively and with the correct intentions: to encourage us to think about the consequences of our actions, but to also seek help when we need it.

The ending is explosive and one you will not see coming. This book provides a masterclass in how to write psychological fiction that is suspenseful, gripping, but also provides an excellent balance between moving the plot line forward and developing the understanding of the psychology of the characters.

I could go on for ages about how much this book impressed me and how much I loved it but I think you’ll need to just source it now and see for yourself! Undoubtedly a stand out book in this genre so far this year.

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I love everything about the cover of this book. The haunting eyes, the colours, the title and tag line all work together brilliantly and effortlessly to pull me in. The mention of house, life and child suggested that this would be a book that contains strong elements of psychological and domestic suspense.

Blurb:

They’re in your house.

They want your life.

And now, they have your baby.

To the world, I’m @HappyWife. Online, people only see my picture-perfect home, my handsome husband, Nick, and my beautiful baby, Thomas.

They don’t see the real Gemma Adams. They don’t see my past, the dark secrets I’m hiding in my marriage. They don’t see the fear I live in every single day.

But I know someone is watching me. And now, they’ve taken Thomas.

I just don’t know why.

But I’m going to stop at nothing to get my baby back.

Even if it destroys everything I’ve got to find him.

A compelling thriller, packed with suspense – fans of K.L. Slater and Lisa Jewell won’t be able to put it down.

My thoughts:

I am always keen to find new authors in this genre as although it’s one of my favourite genres, it takes something special to impress me and this author has definitely done that.

It’s a slow burn to begin but the suspicion and tension is there from early on. It was always going to be an emotionally charged read as it revolves around a taken child and this is something that gets to me every time.

The characters in this book are all questionable and dislikeable, but I was still invested in the story thanks to its emotional and psychological strength.

The story explores in some detail issues of trust, manipulation and secrecy. For me, these are key themes in a successful psychological thriller.

Overall, a pacey and gripping read with an original and intriguing premise. I would recommend this book to fans of authors such as Rona Halsall and Sheryl Browne.

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I was drawn to this book because this is an author that has been on my radar for a long time as she comes highly recommended. I also love the dark cover and the suspenseful and instructional title. These things definitely pulled me in.

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Blurb:

FBI Agent Tom Hunter has been chasing down leads to find the brutal cult that damaged some of his closest friends. They managed to escape to tell their stories, but Eden’s location has always remained a mystery.

Liza Barkley is struggling with her feelings for Tom and wonders if their friendship can survive the secrets they’ve kept from one another. But they may be forced to confront the truth when a chance to help the investigation puts Liza directly in the line of fire.

When the perpetrator of an attempted sniper attack on Liza and her friends is discovered to be one of the cult’s leaders, DJ Belmont, it becomes clear that he is out to get revenge on the victims who escaped Eden’s clutches.

But there is one person who has always had control over DJ, and who no one outside of Eden has ever glimpsed: cult leader Pastor. When a serious injury forces Pastor to seek help outside the confines of the Eden, Tom and his team finally have a chance to bring the cult down.

But DJ Belmont has his own plan, and is not going to stop until he gets what he wants…

My thoughts:

This book is definitely unique and in some ways very different to the books I usually read. It is a jam-packed affair, packed with a host of important and complex characters, action and suspense. The characters who stood out for me were definitely Tom and Liza as I felt I connected more with them and could identify with their sense of longing.

This is the 3rd book in the series but I don’t this really hampered my enjoyment of the book once I got into the swing of it. Karen does well to provide context and information to make the story accessible to new readers. Though, I definitely will consider going back to read the other books having read this one.

Karen definitely strikes a good balance between suspenseful situations that often involve violence or threat to life, with the softer details of the romance and the romantic feelings.

I think the territory of Eden is well constructed and becomes easy to picture. These descriptions provided a truly dystopian flavour to the book for me, and it is clear that this author is a woman of many talents.

I’m struggling to think of books or authors to compare this to as it was so wholly original and at times, quite manic. Karen Rose certainly knows how to deliver a pacey read, even in a lengthy book!

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This is a ‘must buy’ book and author for me. I have read the three previous books in the series, and as my favourite so far was Why Mummy Drinks, I had high hopes for this one. I met this author at a book signing around two years ago, and I think her books are just brilliantly lively, honest and entertaining, and this came across in her stage presence, too!

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Blurb:

No.1 bestselling author Gill Sims is back with her eagerly awaited fourth and final Why Mummy novel.

I just wanted them to stop wittering at me, eat vegetables without complaining, let me go to the loo in peace and learn to make a decent gin and tonic.  

It genuinely never occurred to me when they were little that this would ever end – an eternity of Teletubbies and Duplo and In The Night Bastarding Garden and screaming, never an end in sight.  But now there is.  And despite the busybody old women who used to pop up whenever I was having a bad day and tell me I would miss these days when they were over, I don’t miss those days at all.

I have literally never stood wistfully in the supermarket and thought ‘Oh, how I wish someone was trailing behind me constantly whining ‘Mummy, can I have, Mummy can I have?’ while another precious moppet tries to climb out the trolley so they land on their head and we end up in A&E.  
AGAIN.

Mummy has been a wife and mother for so long that she’s a little bit lost. And despite her best efforts, her precious moppets still don’t know the location of the laundry basket, the difference between being bored and being hungry, or that saying ‘I can’t find it Mummy’ is not the same as actually looking for it!

Amidst the chaos of A-Levels and driving tests, she’s doing her best to keep her family afloat, even if everybody is set on drifting off in different directions, and that one of those directions is to make yet another bloody snack. She’s feeling overwhelmed and under appreciated, and the only thing that Mummy knows for sure is that the bigger the kids, the bigger the drink.

My thoughts:

This book definitely did not disappoint and Gill Sims was of course, still on top form. As usual, I began reading the book with gentle chuckles but as the book went on and the narrative voice became more established and lively, I once again found myself laughing uncontrollably and occasionally laughing so much I cried.

Gill Sims definitely has a way with words and I really appreciate the way she plays with language to deliver maximum impact, whether the intention be humorous or serious.

Gill’s books, as well as being full of humour, are filled with realism and honesty that make them very relatable and easy to read.

I work as a teacher in a secondary school so it always interesting to see the teenage years from a different perspective, and it’s clear that it comes with its own challenges, one of the big ones explored in this book being how to let go of your control and allow them to be independent adults. Also, the void this leaves when they inevitably do so.

“It’s rare that your children thank you, or appreciate you, or see you as anything other than the provider of food and profferor of unwanted and unsolicited and, in their opinion, pointless and incorrect advice. But on those exceptional occasions when the blinkers of teenagerdom fall briefly from their eyes and they see you as a person, not just a parent, and they show an appreciation for the role you play in their life, it makes the sleepless nights, the Annabel Fucking Karmel purees, the eye rolls and door slams and the incessant furious “Oh, Mother” spat at you, almost, very nearly, worth it.”

Overall, another brilliantly entertaining and faultless book from this author. I hope that this will not be the last we hear from this author! I’m thinking maybe… “Why Granny is knackered”?? 🤣♥️

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