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I love Emma’s books, and have done ever since I was introduced to the Tyler Family series a while back. Her books are always well structured, gripping and wonderfully fast paced!

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Blurb:

There’s a new girl in town and she has a score to settle.

Scarlet Drew isn’t to be messed with. As the daughter of a notorious London gangster, she’s got enough street smarts to take on the world. But when the most important person in Scarlet’s life is murdered in cold blood on the East End streets where she grew up, she can only think of one thing – revenge.

Scarlet’s aunt Lily is fierce, straight-talking and a force to be reckoned with. As head of the family firm and queen of the London underworld, she welcomes her niece into the business and swears to help her get revenge – after all, family comes first.

Scarlet soon discovers that the murder is just one part of a plot by a rival firm to take down the entire Drew empire. She stands shoulder to shoulder with her aunt, ready to fight back, but these new enemies are the most dangerous threat the Drew family has ever faced.

As everything they’ve built begins to crumble, Scarlet’s estranged cousin Ruby suddenly comes back into the firm, with a revelation that could tear the Drews apart once and for all. But can she be trusted? As Scarlet faces up to her enemy, one thing is for sure: family means everything to her and she will stop at nothing to protect it, even if it means putting her own life at risk.

Strong women, family dramas and nail-biting tension make Her Revenge a book not to be missed!

My thoughts:

Wow! She’s done it again. Firstly, I love the fact that this book is set in the same world as the Tyler family series but follows a slightly different trajectory.

One thing that definitely hasn’t changed  is the gripping and fast paced nature of the stories Emma writes. The opening is designed to shock, as we see a little girl bear witness to something that we would all want her to be protected from, and the action just keeps on increasing from there really! The short chapters and cliff hanger endings really help to sustain the explosive and action-packed pace of the opening of the novel.

I have loved the strong female characters created and developed in this book. Of course, I’m missing Freddie, who was the gang leader in the Tyler family series, but I have loved the strong female leads here. My favourite character was probably Scarlet. I felt like the way her journey was described made her easy to identify with. Though she is a valued member of the family, as far as the business is concerned, she is an outsider looking in and I enjoyed seeing things from her perspective. I just loved the way she handled every situation she was thrown into, and the way she carried herself. She is clearly a clever, loyal and stubborn girl who knows what she wants. I also wouldn’t like to cross Lily in a dark alley!

There were a number of unexpected and shocking twists which really add fuel to the fire of this book, which as I’ve said is explosive and gripping from the opening pages.

Another undoubtedly five star read from Emma Tallon, and one I would recommend to fans of gangland crime thrillers.

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I was drawn to this book by the simple yet eye-catching cover. I also enjoy discovering and reading new-to-me authors, and the scissors held a lot of significance and symbolism for me. Was this a book about danger, cutting someone off, or physical harm? I needed to read it and find out!

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Blurb:

Never trust anyone. Never trust yourself.

Rachel has made poor decisions in the past, but she has always tried her best for her daughter. When Vivian needed a fresh start, Rachel didn’t hesitate to move them far from London. She just wishes she could shake the nagging doubt that Vivian is hiding something.

Vivian isn’t like other teenagers. On the surface she seems the same as her friends, but she knows she is different. When enigmatic Alex takes an interest in her, Vivian’s cool demeanour hides an intensity of feeling she has never known before. His touch sets her skin on fire.

Mother and daughter are both keeping secrets. But just how dangerous are they? As lust and anger give way to violence Rachel will have to decide: is she prepared to give up everything for her child? Even her own life?A taut and gripping psychological thriller about toxic families, secrets and life-or-death decisions. Don’t miss this if you’re a fan of He Said/She Said, Good Me, Bad Me and The Girlfriend.

My thoughts:

The prologue provides a superb opening to the novel. We are not told whose perspective it is written from, which only adds to the mystery. It establishes some of the dark themes in the book, including death and betrayal.

As the book progresses, the character development is very good. This is due in part, I think, to the fact that we are exposed to the events of two timelines – past and present – in quite a lot of detail. We also see the book from the perspective of mother and daughter. They were complex characters with a lot of issues, but this is not to say these were likeable characters or easy to sympathise with. I struggled to connect with them in many ways. Vivian is selfish, depressed and rude, as teenagers sometimes are, but we soon discover this is not a “typical teenager attitude” issue – this is a girl who in many ways, mirrors the behaviour of her own mother, Rachel, and in turn the way Rachel treated her mother (Carol).

I didn’t find this is as fast paced or intense as my usual read in this genre, but maybe that was just my feeling as I didn’t gel with the characters. I stuck with it though, and I’m glad I did, as the ending was fantastic. Explosive, unexpected and shocking, it provides a perfect climax to the story and it definitely ended in a different way to what I had predicted. It is also rounded off well with the section titled “Six months later…”

Overall, this has been a dark read about fraught familial relationships, past mistakes and devastating secrets. I would recommend this books to fans of this genre.

⭐⭐⭐.5

I think the cover image of this book is absolutely stunning. The colours are beautiful, and the focus is of course on those wonderful, searching, dark eyes which really pull you in and help you connect with the book.

I am also absolutely loving reading an even broader range of historical fiction, and was really excited to see that this book was partly based in Ghana, and focuses on a Ghanaian woman, as my daughter is half-Ghanaian.

Blurb:

A Book of Secrets is the story of a woman named Susan Charlewood living in Elizabethan England. Born in what is now Ghana, Susan is enslaved by the Portuguese but later rescued by British sailors, who bring her to England. Once in England, she is raised and educated in an English Catholic household.

When Susan comes of age, the family marry her off to an older Catholic man, John Charlewood. Charlewood runs a printing press and uses it to supply the Papist nobility with illegal Catholic texts and foment rebellion amongst the Catholic underclass. When Charlewood dies, Susan takes over the business and uses her new position to find out more about her origins.

A look at racial relationships on the eve of the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade, A Book of Secrets is a revealing and compelling glimpse into a fraught time.

My thoughts:

The beginning of the novel quickly establishes the fact that this book is about search for identity, and a journey of self discovery. I was pulled in straight away and completely sympathised with, and felt invested in the character of Susan. She is a brave, resilient character who faces a number of challenges throughout the book.

“Loyalty, love, silence and secrets were all sewn up in the secrets of my heart, and so it has been all my life.”

I love this quote as it highlighted to me the commentary that the book provides on religion during a time of great religious tension in England. Susan is a black Catholic at a time when both are a massive disadvantage and her position became quite a dangerous position to be in in England, which definitely added to the overall tension and gripping nature of this book.

“Women are always less likely to be suspected of plots, intelligencing and secret work, and that is a great advantage.”

This quote highlights the theme of treatment and perception of women, which is explored in quite a lot of detail in the book. I particularly found it interesting how Susan is reminded on a number of occasions of the idea that a woman should or must change themselves in order to avoid danger, gossip or harm, and this really resonated with me due to the current media attention of this issue following the Sarah Everard case.

“This was the London I wanted to live in, one where the walls and the streets and the roofs were all built out of books, and the roads paved with paper”

The book also warns against the dangers of a colonial ideology and rhetoric. The author gives Susan a voice in this story, and in many ways places her at the centre of it. Therefore, the author is giving her the loudest voice in the book, and from that we are able to see things from her perspective with such clarity, that we become quite angered and insulted by her treatment on account of her race and skin colour, as well as her gender.

I have to say that during reading this, I sometimes forgot this was a fiction book. It resonated so deeply within me, and Susan’s voice became so real to me, whilst the overall writing felt so honest and authentic, that I sometimes believed myself to be reading a memoir. This is definitely testament to the writer’s skill of providing a character driven story that still has so many overarching themes that hold a mirror up to the conditions of our past and present society.

Overall, this has been an all-consuming and thought provoking story, that I have found heartbreaking at times. I think this book has so many outstanding elements relating to contemporary fiction, historical fiction, and domestic drama, that it is difficult to put, as I usually would, a straight forward recommendation. Instead, I am putting forward the view that this is such an important and informative book, that it should be on everyone’s shelf.

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I was drawn to this book as it sounded like an interesting and uplifting read. I love stories about personal journeys and after reading the blurb, I was really looking forward to following Neville on his journey.

Blurb:

One man in need of an overhaul. Two women determined to drag him there.

Neville Watkin’s life is so rubbish surely things can’t get any worse.  Yes they can, because his wife leaves him, he loses his job, has a car crash and ends up in hospital.

Feisty Laura, the other party in the car crash, befriends him and sets out to turn his life upside down. For reasons he struggles to understand, Caroline, her equally feisty mother, seems to like him. Rather a lot.

All in all things are looking up, but is Neville courageous enough to seize these new opportunities?

My thoughts:

This has been such a tonic for me! It’s a light-hearted and heart-warming read, and I’m pleased to say that my hopes were fulfilled and it does focus, in quite a lot of depth, on Neville’s personal journey.

I loved to see the way Neville grew and developed, and how also taking up new hobbies and interests, or rediscovering old ones, really helped him to find his place in the world again.

There is a wonderful realism and humanity to the book, and it tackles issues that are quite pertinent considering the current crazy situation we are all living in, such as loneliness, mental health issues and the need for friendship and love. This is done in a sensitive and delicate way.

This is not quite my usual read, but it has so many elements of the types of books I enjoy. This book is dramatic, with a delicate balance of humour mixed in. There were times when I chuckled softly, and others when I laughed out loud. I really enjoyed the author’s style as it was portrayed in this book.

This has been a touching and lovely book, which provides hope for people starting over after a relationship breakdown. I would definitely recommend this book to fans who enjoyed books such as ‘The Rosie Project’ as I think this had a similar feel to it at times.

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I was drawn to this one by the cover and the title. Everything about it made me think of ‘The Girl on the Train’, which is the book that got me into the psychological thriller genre about six years ago. I was intrigued to know about the mysterious ‘passenger’ and her thoughtful look made me wonder what dark thoughts she might possess…

Blurb:

She takes the same train every day. But this is a journey she’ll never forget.

Amanda is a hardworking single mum, completely focused on her job and her daughter, Louise. She’s been saving for years and now, finally, she can afford to give up work and chase her dream.

But then, on her commute home from London to Brighton, she meets a charming stranger – who seems to know everything about her.

He delivers an ultimatum. She needs to give him the code for the safe where she keeps her savings before the train reaches Brighton – or she’ll never see Louise again.

Convinced that the threat is real, Amanda is stunned, horrified. She knows she should give him the code, but she can’t. Because she also knows there is a terrible secret in that safe which will destroy her life and Louise’s too…

My thoughts:

I was hooked from the beginning. The opening is shocking and unexpected, throwing up lots of questions already before we get into the main action of the story. It is clear from the beginning of this one that the ‘psychological’ element is quite strong.

I loved the use of multiple perspectives (as I usually do!) I didn’t really find either of the main characters – Amanda or Louise – very likeable. Amanda comes across as a mysterious character, but also quite self-absorbed. In some ways, Louise lives up to the ‘stereotypical’ teenager vibe, but she also kind of gives teenagers a bad name in the way she comes across as quite disrespectful.

There are obviously huge divergences in the book between this and the afore mentioned ‘The Girl on the Train’, however for me it did also have that claustrophobic mood and atmosphere I remember feeling when reading that book.

The book maintains the fast pace of the opening, as the plot develops quickly and the narrative perspective switches between Amanda, Louise and the mysterious ‘Stranger’.

Overall, this has been a gripping and rapid read, that I would definitely recommend to fans of Mark Edwards, Miranda Rijks and K L Slater who, incidentally are some of my favourite authors!

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Anyone who visits my blog on a regular basis or knows me as a reader, knows I love a memoir! I have also been close to a number of people who have raved to me about the benefits and excitement of martial arts. Therefore, I was keen to read a first hand account of a ‘karate fighter’!

Blurb:

Novelist and former karate champion Ralph Robb recounts his experiences at one of Europe’s toughest dojos and provides an insight into the philosophy and training methods of a club which produced national, European and world titleholders. In a hard-hitting story, Ralph tells of the fights on and off the mat; his experiences as one of a very few black residents in an area in which racist members of the National Front were very active; and the tragic descent into mental illness and premature death of the training partner who was also his best friend.

My thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think it is a well-written, emotional and important memoir. Unlike some memoirs I have read, the writer comes across as someone who wants to showcase aspects of society, rather than focus solely on their own experience. In doing so, Ralph Robb provides an important and detailed commentary about many aspects of life, including class, race and even touching on the overarching question of: Why are we here?

I am going to share with you a quote from the book which I loved:

“In retrospect I am now keenly aware of how much that decision changed my life, because it was not until I left school and entered the adult world did I fully appreciate just how dangerous the place in which I grew up could be.”

I really identified with Ralph as he was writing this quote. He is clearly someone who keenly feels like a single decision changed his life, and improved it for the better in many ways. He also brings across a naivety and insular sense of childhood. Karate, for Robb, has caused positive changes to the body and mind.

Related to this quote are also some of the key themes of the book. It is clear that Ralph chose karate and ‘the straight and narrow’ when the other option quite readily available to him, and in some ways almost expected of him due to his race, was a life of gangs and violence. Instead, he chose sport. He provides an interesting commentary about lots of different types of people, who live on either side of this ‘line’, as well as sitting in between the two choices. He shows the difficulties of choosing such a life at every turn, and I have loved the realism and humanity that comes across as a result. When talking about his experience about fatherhood, he says “Even though she was small and light, I knew she was the heaviest load I’d ever carry in my arms”. I love this quote as it shows the worry for our children, but also that sometimes we can feel overburdened by our responsibility as parents.

Although this is a serious book, this is not a book devoid of joy. There are clear ‘high points’, and even in the low points, or within the intense atmosphere of the dojo, Ralph provides exampels of blunt, dark humor to show, but also in some ways to make light of, the brutal and reckless attitudes to the sport. He also provides effective descriptions that make you feel like you are a spectator during a competition.

I also loved the use of quotes at the start of each chapter. My favourite was: “Many things cause a loss of balance. One is danger, another is adversity and another is surprise.” I liked this as it really made me think about all the things that can ‘tip us over the edge’ and this is also a book that deals quite sensitively with issues of mental health.

Overall, this has been a thought-provoking, emotional and inspirational memoir, with a central persona that I felt I could really connect with. This is not a book that pays homage to karate – it is far more, and far better than that. This is a book about how karate has changed a man’s life, and holds a mirror up to some of the issues of our society and how we deal with them. I would definitely recommend this original and important memoir to fans of the genre. It is one of the best I’ve read.

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I was drawn to this book as I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers, and for some reason this is not an author I’ve come across before! I also loved the faceless element of the cover image, and I think the title is brilliant!

Blurb:

A perfect sunny day, a family celebration, a heart-stopping hour that changes everything…

Dana has all she ever wanted – a husband she loves, her four-year-old daughter Kelsey who is the apple of her eye, and another baby on the way to complete her perfect family.

But then the worst fear that Dana has, comes true, and everything she thought she knew, she now starts to doubt. As her world comes crashing around her, who can Dana trust?  

Her husband Logan who seems to be getting worryingly close to Dana’s best friend Pippa?

Her new friend Melanie who has a sinister habit of turning up in the strangest places?

Her parents and her sister, who Dana knows are keeping a terrible secret from her?

Matt, who says he’s Dana’s friend, but sometimes she’s not so sure?

My thoughts:

I’ve found it really difficult to sum up my experience of this book, so let me try and explain it to you by way of a random link. You know if you go on a diet, and you eat that piece of low fat carrot cake? You know it’s not going to be the “usual” thing you’re used to, yet it is strangely familiar and parts of it are comforting, whilst you still feel unnerved about the fact you are on a diet and eating cake? That’s how this book felt for me! In other words, despite it being quite different to what I was expecting, I couldn’t get enough of it. It was engaging, gripping, addictive and yet a little disconcerting. I could have maybe just said that without the carrot cake reference, but it felt right at the time 🤣

I think the main thing that struck me as different is I didn’t like any of the characters. Not one. I’d say between them all, they cover all of the seven deadly sins. They are just generally jealous, nasty and self-invested individuals. However, the writer still works hard to pepper the narrative with elements of redemption and humanity, so that you still feel compelled to follow their story.

There are a number of twists and turns in the book that kept me on my toes! However, for me, the best thing about this book for me was the mind-blowing twist towards the end that I did not see coming. I love it when I am proved wrong!

Overall, this has been an unpredictable, easy read that I have enjoyed. Despite feeling far-fetched to begin with, the author has managed to deliver a clever and developed narrative that will undoubtedly shock you!

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I am really pleased to share my thoughts on another wonderful historical fiction book, this time set in Spain, during a time of war, turbulence and unrest.

Blurb:

A country torn apart by war.
Two love stories divided by decades.
One chance to discover the truth…

Feisty journalist Isabella has never known the truth about her family. Escaping from a dangerous assignment in the turbulent Basque country, she finds her world turned upside down, firstly by her irresistible attraction to the mysterious Rafael, and then by a new clue to her own past.

As she begins to unravel the tangled story of her identity, Isabella uncovers a story of passion, betrayal and loss that reaches back to the dark days of Spain’s civil war – when a passionate Spanish girl risked everything for her country, and for the young British rebel who captured her heart.

But can Isabella trust the man she’s fallen in love with? Or are some wartime secrets better left undisturbed…?

Heartbreaking, gripping historical fiction about the tragedy of war, and the redemption of love. Perfect for fans of Angela Petch’s The Tuscan Secret and Kathryn Hughes’ The Letter.

My thoughts:

This historical fiction story has, once again, taken me outside my reading comfort zone and provided some much needed escapism, as its taken me to a place and time in history that I’m afraid to say I didn’t know an awful lot about.

Despite being set against the backdrop of war torn and turbulent Spain, at two different and important points in its (quite recent) history, this is definitely a character driven story that has many emotional and domestic elements to it.

Through the character of Isabella, the author makes pertinent points about the treatment and role of women during this period of Spanish history, as well as Isabella’s search for identity being quite a focal point to the story.

The author strikes a delicate balance in the book, between the country-wide, damaging effects of war and politics, and the more personal exploration of culture and identity.

Overall, this has been an engaging, immersive and intimate book, which I would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction.

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I am very excited to be involved in the book tour for this wonderfully captivating historical fiction novel, which explores elements of romance, war, self discovery and the complexities of familial relationships. I am becoming a huge fan of historical fiction and I am slowly branching out of my historical comfort zone (WW2) and this has been an absolute delight to read.

Blurb:

One woman must choose between loyalty to her queen and the man she loves…

Giselle always dreamed of making beautiful dresses, but never thought she would be chosen to attend to the elegant, but troubled, queen of France, Marie Antoinette. Within the glittering, mirrored walls of the palace, Giselle ensures the queen shines brighter than anyone, with not a single feather or ruffle out of place, no matter how she might feel inside.

Being so close to the queen, Giselle is there for her most private and unguarded moments. As whispers spread through the court about the violent protests sweeping across the country and the growing threat to the royal family, Giselle sees the cracks in Marie Antoinette’s perfect image.

On a visit home to her family in Paris, Giselle experiences the troubles first-hand, getting caught up in a dangerous riot. When handsome Léon comes to her aid, she falls in love with this kind, clever young man. But Léon does not share her admiration for the royals, siding with those who believe they should no longer be in power.

Returning to the palace, Giselle is shocked to find the very lives of the royal family now at stake. Marie Antoinette appeals to her to help them escape France and Giselle faces a heart-wrenching choice. Will Giselle risk the guillotine herself to save the life of her beloved queen? And can she do so without betraying the man she loves?

Based on true events, this is an absolutely gripping historical novel of loyalty, betrayal, power and passion. Fans of Les Misérables, Girl with a Pearl Earring and My Dear Hamilton will be totally swept away by this heart-breaking page-turner.

My thoughts:

Wow. This book has been fascinating, captivating and tbought-provoking. When I started this book, I had no real expectations as I knew very little about the time period and had never read anything by this author.

However, I have finished this book feeling completely satisfied and having had quite the experience! I was shocked to learn that Meghan herself had never been to Paris, as through her writing I felt like I had been transported and was traversing the streets of Paris myself. I think this is testament to the undeniable amount of research and preparation that has gone into creating this fascinating book.

Despite the fact that there is so much action, revolution and politics going on in the book, I’d still argue that this is a character driven story, and what wonderful characters Meghan creates! I really liked the character of Giselle, and respected her for her opinions. She comes across as someone who is loving, dedicated, skilled and simply facing that eternal desire to love and be loved in return, but wanting to do so without compromising her own identity. I felt she was well-placed to paint a detailed picture of Marie Antoinette.

The picture the writer paints of Marie Antoinette is an interesting one. She comes across as someone who is independent, powerful, but also, deeply unhappy. The unique perspective provided by Giselle allows us to have some sympathy for the Queen and the ongoing animosity and challenges she faces. I thought this was particularly interesting to consider in light of the current situation within our British monarchy in 2021, where we are starting to see the importance of digging a little deeper below the facade of wealth and prosperity in order to see the human lives this tradition impacts, sometimes negatively.

This was a fast paced and addictive read, spanning a number of years as the French Revolution takes hold in France. I knew very little about this part of history so found it fascinating to read and think about. There are some shocking events and twists within the book, but the focus remains on how the characters’ handle them. This makes for an emotionally charged read.

Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed this charming, heart-wrenching and page-turning book. I devoured this one extremely quickly as I was deeply invested in the characters, and interested in the challenges they faced. I would highly recommend this book to fans of factual yet character driven historical fiction, including authors such as Phillipa Gregory, Ellie Midwood and Ella Carey.

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I am very excited to be involved in the blog tour for this fantastically thrilling book by Alex Kane. Having heard a lot about this author, I am ashamed to say that this is the first time I’ve read one of her novels. However, I’ve definitely not been disappointed and look forward to exploring her back catalogue!

Blurb:

Even perfect mothers have secrets…

Leah. She’s the perfect mum to ten-year-old Samuel, wife to loving husband Thomas, head of the PTA. But her closet is full of skeletons – and if the truth gets out, her world could be destroyed.

Annie. She’s the gangster’s moll with a brain. She might be a woman, but she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty to play the men at their own game. But what no one knows is the devastating secret haunting her.

Terry. He’s the king of Glasgow gangland, working his way up from estate to mansion. From drugs to guns, there’s nothing he won’t stop at to grow his dirty money. He might be a hard man, but his weakness is women.

As their three stories collide, the lives of each will never be the same. Because even perfect women hide dark secrets… Don’t they?

My thoughts:

I am completely fascinated by gangs and gang culture. I am always left amazed and wondering about what level of research goes into creating these types of novels, as if they are well done, like this one is, the narrative appears authentic and realistic. The scenarios and events of the book, which relate to dark themes including: murder, lies, secrets and crime, seem very far removed from most people’s every day experience. Yet, due to the skill of Alex’s writing, I was able to visualise Glasgow, the Mainhill estate and all the goings on there, quite easily.

This is definitely, in many ways, a character driven story. The characters jump off the page and spring to life so clearly. I could imagine many of them being people I crossed the street to avoid. However, that’s not to say they weren’t fantastic characters to read about and get to know. My favourite character was definitely Annie, who brings a whole new perspective and flavour to the book when she is introduced. She appears to be someone who is very together and knows her own mind. She is clearly comfortable within the criminal underworld, and she shows promise by appearing courageous and clever. I loved the way she handled the animosity she faced as a result of being the ‘only girl in the gang’. But what exactly is she hiding, when she tells us she is not willing to “lay all her cards on the table?”

Alex uses lots of tools to ensure the pace established at the beginning of the novel is maintained. One way this is done to switch between the four different main characters/households: Annie, Terry, Leah who are all mentioned in the blurb but siblings Lee, Freddie and Maisie also play quite an important role in the book. She also uses short chapters with cliff-hanger endings, plus experimenting with the use of messages and letters to build tension and maintain pace. The pace is also developed by the fact that many of the characters are trying to run away from their past.

There are obviously some very dark and shocking scenes in the book, but Alex Kane is careful to pepper the book with examples of humanity, humour and loyalty too. Some of the scenes shared between Maisie and her siblings, as well as Leah and her husband Tom, and elements towards the end, I found quite touching. Although, of course, there is always an undercurrent of tension.

This has definitely been a book which I have struggled to put down. Filled with wonderfully complex characters, all tackling demons in their own ways, plus shocking twists and explosive confrontations, this has definitely been a gripping and spectacular read. I am so excited to read more by this author!

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