Good morning everyone I’m pleased to finally be able to share my review of The Doll Collector by Joanna Stephen-Ward today as part of the blog tour.  Huge apologies to Emma and Bloodhound books for the delay in posting this, my ten month old has got his first cold and is very clingy which makes doing anything difficult.

Before I share my review with you here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

A couple and their young son burn to death in a house fire.

A girl dies from a nut allergy.

A woman falls under a train during the rush hour.

An accountant falls down the steps to his basement.

Their deaths appear to be accidents but Gloria knows they were murdered because she murdered them. And every time Gloria kills she buys a doll.

But how many dolls will she need to keep her satisfied?

When Gloria takes a room as a lodger her behaviour starts to spin out of control. Gloria wants love and happiness and friendship and she will do anything she can to get what she wants…

The Doll Collector is available now in ebook and paperback.  The ebook is currently only 99p but you can purchase a copy of both here.

My Review:

The Doll Collector is an unsettling, surprising book which was a very intense read.  The blurb sells it as a serial killer book but I actually think it’s a lot more complicated than that as there is quite a complex plot going on.

The author has created some very interesting characters that whilst obviously not very nice people, and quite disturbed in the case of Gloria,  have something about them that makes you feel sorry for them.  Gloria for example is obviously a very complex character whose desperate need for love makes her behave a little obsessively flinging herself on any available male.  However she has obviously had a traumatic past being abandoned by her parents in a filthy bedsit which has caused most of her problems and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her at times.  The same could be said for Ian, one of the estate agents who is definitely a nasty piece of work through most of the book but is influenced heavily by his dad who has some very strong views on how things should be.  I also felt a bit sorry for him as despite being under his dad’s thumb he does have a conscious and realises that he is behaving wrongly.

My favourite character was Maurice who seemed like a very gentle, kind man who has fallen on hard times since the death of his mother.  His constant battle with Ian and his father over the rent for his flat is heartbreaking to read about especially when you realise the back story involved in all of it.  I was very nervous for him when he gets Gloria as a lodger and hoped that he wouldn’t become part of her macabre doll collection as I had developed a bit of a soft spot for him.

The story is incredible fast paced which makes the book hard to put down.  There is always something happening with one of the characters that makes you want to continue reading to find out how it all plays out.  Gloria along with Ian and his dad are very unpredictable characters who the reader is never sure what they are going to do next.  This also made me want to continue reading as I wanted to make sure Maurice was ok.

I wasn’t too sure about the ending of this book as I felt it was a bit too perfect and it all got tied up nicely in a bow.  I also didn’t feel that Ian deserved the ending he had which upset me a bit.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I’d definitely be interested in reading more from her in the future.  If you like intense books with complex characters and plot than you’ll love this book.

Huge thanks to Emma from Bloodhound books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

 

 

 

 

Joanna Stephen-Ward was born in the Australian outback, and grew up in Melbourne. Her school days were spent dreaming about being an opera singer or a writer. To the exasperation of her parents and teachers she spent her final year sitting at the back of the classroom writing a novel set in WW2.

When she left school she went to an opera school where she was taught drama, movement and language pronunciation and had small roles in the workshop productions. She was not good enough to become a professional opera singer, but the seeds of her novel Vissi d’arte were sown.

She left Australia and spent a year travelling around Europe and the UK. While working in outpatients for the NHS she met Peter and they married in 1985. They lived in Richmond Surrey and she worked at The National Archives, an enthralling place for anyone interested in history or crime.

Having been brought up as a lonely only child, she was astonished to discover in 2010 that she was one of eight children. She and her sister had last been together on a verandah in the outback when they were babies. They had a joyous reunion in Cornwall in 2012.

Joanna has written seven novels and is working on her eighth.

Book Synopsis:

The centre for women’s reproductive health offers a last chance at hope – but nobody ends up there by choice.

Its very existence is controversial, and to the demonstrators who barricade the building every day, the service it offers is no different from legalised murder.

Now life and death decisions are being made horrifyingly real: a lone protester with a gun has taken the staff, patients and visitors hostage.

Starting at the tensest moment in the negotiations for their release, A Spark of Light unravels backwards, revealing hour by urgent hour what brought each of these people – the gunman, the negotiator, the doctors, nurses and women who have come to them for treatment – to this point.

And certainties unwind as truths and secrets are peeled away, revealing the complexity of balancing the right to life with the right to choose.

A Spark Of Light is available now in ebook and hardback, purchase your copy here.

My Review:

A Spark Of Light is a gripping, thought provoking and powerful book that was a fantastic read.

The story is set in a women’s reproductive centre which is considered controversial to some as its where woman can go for abortions.  It opens straight into the action where a hostage situation has just been resolved and the survivors are being treated in hospital.  It then, unusually, goes backwards in time describing what happened whilst the hostage situation was going on and how the gun man stormed into the clinic.

I must admit I did find this timeline a little confusing at first and it took me a while to get used to it.  I think my main concern at the beginning was where the story was going as I couldn’t understand how it would work having started at the end.  I needn’t have worried as the author is very clever and gradually let’s the reader know more about their characters and their reasons for being there which I found really fascinating.  It was very interesting to see how she does this and subtly fits in background information into the story.

I liked all the characters and thought they all behaved very bravely in a difficult situation.  It was very intriguing,  though heartbreaking at times, to learn more about each of them and why they were at the clinic that day.  I’m not sure I had a favourite character as they were all so varied and I felt sympathy for all of them as they all had quite poignant back stories.  I wasn’t so sure about Janine though as I found her very frustrating in her stubbornness to change her view.  I wished I could have told her to be quiet as I felt that the way she expressed her view was very inappropriate at times.

The subject of abortions and a woman’s right to choose is a very timely subject, especially as it continues to be a much debated one.  The author handles this subject really well, showing both sides of the story but never persuading the reader to either side.  I though this was superbly done and it was very interesting to read about the two sides to the subject.

The story develops at a great speed with lots of actions and revelations that keeps the reader on their toes.  There were a few twists that I didn’t see coming which ensured I was thoroughly gripped and unable to put the book down.  The ending ( or should that be the beginning?) was surprising and made me want to start the book all over again!

I’ve read lots of Jodi Picoult’s book and I always find them hugely enjoyable! I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Huge thanks to The Pigeonhole for allowing me to read A Spark Of Light through them.  I’ve already put this on my Christmas list for a hard copy of this book as I want to put it on my keep forever shelf.  If you like powerful, thought provoking and emotional books then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Good morning everyone I’m pleased to finally be sharing my guest post from the wonderful Wendy H Jones which was meant to be part of the Antiques And Alibis blog tour.  Huge apologies for the late post I’ve had one sick child after another unfortunately!

Antiques And Alibis is available in ebook and paperback now.  The ebook is currently only £2.99 but you can purchase a copy of both here.

Before I share my guest post with you here is a little bit about the book.

Book Synopsis:

Cass Claymore, a red headed, motorbike riding, ex-ballerina inherits a Detective Agency, and accidentally employs an ex-con dwarf and an octogenarian. Hired by a client who should know better, Cass has no leads, no clue and a complete inability to solve a case. Still a girl needs to eat and her highbred client’s offering good money. Join her as, with bungling incompetence, she follows a trail littered with missing antique teddies, hapless crooks, a misplaced Lord of the Realm and dead bodies. Will Cass, and Scotland, survive?

Guest Post: Favourite Charactor To Write
This is a tough one as I have four series out. How on earth do you choose? I’ve decided to choose one from each series and give you a flavour of my writing.

The main character in the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries has to be Shona herself. She is many faceted and it has been fun to get to know her. She is a woman who knows her own mind and has strong opinions on things. She started out as a drinker of fine wine. I used to be an Army Officer and I know about wine, so this worked out beautifully. Oh, no. Shona was having none of it She was whisky drinker and would not move from this stance. In fact, she drinks Talisker. Nothing else will do. She is also totally against swearing and has everyone in the nick speaking like angels. This is fun in a Scottish police station. It leads to some comedic moments and allows me to show the other characters in a different light.

In the Cass Claymore Investigates series, I cannot choose between Cass or her assistant, Quill. Cass is a red headed, motorbike riding, ex-ballerina who inherits a private detective agency. She has no earthly clue what she is doing so half the time has no clues to the case either. She has two aspects to her character. The first is her can do, nothing will stop me getting on with life attitude. The other is the one who misses being a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet. After her first book, I am looking forward to getting to know her more.

The other character in Antiques and Alibis is Cass’s assistant, Quill. He’s an ex-con dwarf, who has been foisted on her by her friend Lexie. She doesn’t want an assistant but this one turns out to be an asset. He is dapper, eloquent and charms all the ladies. E very lady in th book, apart from Cass, falls in love with him. I’m fast finding out that real-life readers are falling in love with him as well.

In the Fergus and Flora Mysteries, I love both Fergus and Flora. However, Flora takes a slight edge. She is a direct descendent of the original Flora MacDonald of Over the Sea to Skye fame. She has her ancestor’s feisty nature and this gives me a lot of scope to develop her character. Despite this, she relies on Fergus for support and stability. They work brilliantly together as he is steadier and less flighty than his detective partner.

This brings me on to wee Bertie the Buffalo, Scotland’s very own wee escape artist. He’s based on the real-life story of a young buffalo who went missing in Fife in December 2017. He’s a wee cracker and I loved writing his story.

Writing characters is both one of the most exciting and one of the most difficult parts of being an author. Yet, it brings so much pleasure and seeing readers fall in love with them is pure joy.
About The Author:

 

Book Synopsis:

Cleo knows she should be happy for her brother Mark. He’s managed to find someone new after the sudden death of his first wife – but something about Evie just doesn’t feel right…

When Evie starts having accidents at home, her friends grow concerned. Could Mark be causing her injuries? Called out to their cliff-top house one night, Sergeant Stephanie King finds two bodies entangled on blood-drenched sheets.

Where does murder begin? When the knife is raised to strike, or before, at the first thought of violence? As the accused stands trial, the jury is forced to consider – is there ever a proper defence for murder?

And So It Begins is available now in all formats, you can purchase your copy here.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of Rachel’s so I was very  excited to be offered an advanced copy of And So it begins.

The thing I most liked most about this book was that it wasn’t just a crime thriller but it also covered the important issue of domestic abuse and confirmed the age old saying that you never know what goes on behind closed doors.  The story is told from three different perspectives and goes back and forth in time covering how Mark & Evie met through to the court case.  I felt this was brilliantly done as it enabled the reader to understand more about the characters and their relationship.  It was fascinating to read events from the different points of view but also to watch the court case unfold and the different sides putting their cases forward.

The characters are all very different from each other and developed well throughout the book.  Although I didn’t warm to any character particularly, I did enjoy learning more about Mark, Evie and Cleo’s relationship with each other which was full of secrets.  It was great to see all the pieces of their relationship slowly fit together.  Stephanie was an interesting character and she is obvious a very competent detective but her side of the story wasn’t as interesting for me as the court case that was unfolding.  I do wonder whether her part was needed in the book as it was the mystery surrounding Evie, Mark and Cleo that I found most interesting.

The book is very fast paced with lots of action happening which made it hard to put the book down.  The author was very good at keeping me guessing and my opinion about what happened changed frequently throughout the book.  There were lots of surprising twists that took me by surprise and ensured I kept reading as I was desperate to find out how things would end.  The ending was fantastic and not at all how I thought the book would end.  It’s definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while.

I’ve read lots of Rachel’s books and I’m pleased to say I think she’s just getting better and better.  I really look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Becky from Headline for my copy of this book.  If you like fast paced, twisty crime thrillers you’ll love this book!

 

About The Author:

Rachel Abbott’s debut thriller, Only the Innocent, was an international bestseller, reaching the number one position in the Amazon charts both in the UK and US. This was followed by the number one bestselling novels The Back Road, Sleep Tight, Stranger Child, Nowhere Child (a short novel based on the characters from Stranger Child), Kill Me Again and The Sixth Window. Her most recent novel, Come a Little Closer, is available from February 2018.

Rachel’s novels have now been translated into over 20 languages and her books have sold over 3 million copies in the English language.

In 2015 Amazon celebrated the first five years of the Kindle in the UK, and announced that Rachel was the #1 bestselling independent author over the five-year period. She was also placed #14 in the chart of all authors. Stranger Child was the most borrowed novel for the Kindle in the first half of 2015.

Rachel splits her time between Alderney – a beautiful island off the coast of France – and the Le Marche region of Italy, where she is able to devote all her time to writing fiction. For more information, see Rachel’s website, or follow her on Twitter.

Rachel’s website can be found at

Website : http://www.rachel-abbott.com
Blog : http://rachelabbottwriter.com/
Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/RachelAbbott1Writer
Twitter: @RachelAbbott

Book Synopsis:

After a whirlwind romance, a young woman returns to the opulent, secluded mansion of her new fiancé Max Winter – a wealthy senator and recent widower – and a life of luxury she’s never known. But all is not as it appears at the Asherley estate. The house is steeped in the memory of Max’s beautiful first wife Rebekah, who haunts the young woman’s imagination and feeds her uncertainties, while his very alive teenage daughter Dani makes her life a living hell.

As the soon-to-be second Mrs. Winter grows more in love with Max, and more afraid of Dani, she is drawn deeper into the family’s dark secrets – the kind of secrets that could kill her, too.

Inspired by the classic novel Rebecca, The Winters is a riveting story about what happens when a family’s ghosts resurface and threaten to upend everything.

The Winters is available in ebook and hardback now, purchase your copy here.

My Review:

Rebecca is one of my favourite books so I was a little nervous about reading The Winters which is based on the classic story.  I needn’t have worried though for whilst there are elements of Rebecca in the story the author has added a modern slant which makes it very original.  These are done by firstly moving the setting of the book to The Hamptons giving the book quite an American feel. The inclusion of a daughter rather also adds a new edge to the book and helps provide an enemy to the main character instead of the housekeeper in the original story.

The main character is a very fascinating one as, like in Rebecca, we never find out her name but follow the story entirely from her point of view.  She comes across as being very innocent and unworldly which immediately made me suspicion, wondering whether she had an ulterior motive.  I was very interested to find out more about her.  The daughter is another very interesting and colourful character whose hatred for her new stepmother is almost palpable.  I wasn’t sure whose side I was on throughout the book so I sometimes enjoyed the arguments between the two of them.

The plot is quite fast paced with a creeping sense of unease which gradually increases as the book develops.  The tension is also racked up as we learn more about the characters and their stormy relationship with each other.  There is a definite feeling that something has to happen to break the tension and atmosphere so the reader is on edge trying to figure out what it will be.  I often found that what I thought would happen didn’t and the actual twists took me by surprise which I thought was very cleverly done!

This is the author’s debut novel and I’m very interested in reading more from her in the future.  If you like atmospheric, tension filled books with a gothic feel to them or a different take on a classic book then you’ll enjoy The Winters.

Huge thanks to Mia from Vintage books for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

Lisa Gabriele is the author of several bestselling novels. Her writing has appeared in Glamour Vice, Elle, the New York Times Magazine and Salon as well as various anthologies, including The Best American Nonrequired Reading series. An award-winning T.V. producer, she has lived in Washington D.C. and New York City, and now lives in Toronto.

Book Synopsis:

September, 1941: Mary arrives in war-torn London nursing a broken heart and a painful secret.

When she is offered her dream post as an assistant in the fabric department at Liberty store, she knows this is the fresh start she needs. Amid the store’s vibrant prints and sumptuous interiors, Mary finds a new family who can help her to heal.

But not everyone will give Mary such a warm welcome, and the trauma of her past will soon catch up with her.

As Mary and the Liberty Girls endure the heartache and uncertainty of war, it will take a steady heart to keep the magic of Christmas alive.

Christmas At Liberty’s is published today in ebook and hardback, purchase your copy here.

My Review:

Christmas At Liberty’s is a wonderful, magical book that I absolutely loved! I’ve always enjoyed a book that is set in a department store especially when it’s set in one as famous as Liberty’s!

The descriptions of the colourful displays and the lovely sense of togetherness that the staff had was fabulous to read about.  The staff are a wonderful team and I enjoyed reading about all their interactions with each other.  It was interesting to learn about the activities on offer for the staff outside of the shop and that they often competed in sports activities against the other big department stores around! I would have loved to have worked there too.

The author has created some truly fantastic characters in this book which I grew very fond of and was sorry to leave when the book ended.  My favourite character was Mary as I admired her bravery and determination to start afresh.  I felt very sorry for her regarding her mysterious past as I felt she was very embarrassed about it.  Her lovely relationship with her landlady Dot and fellow lodger Alice were heartwarming to read about.  I loved the descriptions of their home life together and watching Mary develop confidence in herself through them.

The story develops at a great pace that allows the reader to understand more about the characters and their lives so that they start to feel like old friends.  I was soon totally absorbed in the story and felt like I was there with them watching it all unfold.  The mystery surrounding Mary’s past was very intriguing and ensured that I kept reading to find out what had happened.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I can’t wait to read more from her.  I’m very pleased that this is the start of a new series as it means I’ll be able to visit the characters and Liberty’s again.

Huge thanks to Arrow Publishers for my copy of this book via Netgalley.  If you like absorbing, heartwarming books then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Fiona Ford is the author of the Liberty Girls series, which is set in London during the Second World War.

Fiona spent many years as a journalist writing for women’s weekly and monthly magazines. She has written two novels under the pseudonym, Fiona Harrison, as well as two sagas in her own name in the Spark Girls series.

Fiona lives in Berkshire with her partner.

Follow The Blog Tour:

There is currently a blog tour in progress for this book, so if you liked the sound of this book from my review do go check out these other blogger’s reviews!

Book Synopsis:

THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY. 

Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. Even when times get tough, she’s devoted to bringing up her kids in a loving home.

But there’s another side to Liz, one that’s dark and malicious. She will do anything to get her way – no matter how extreme.

And when her alter-ego takes control, the consequences are devastating.

Someone Like Me is available now in hardback and ebook, purchase your copy here.

My Review:

I was a huge fan of The Girl With All The Gifts so I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for his latest book, Someone Like Me.

The thing that I love about this author’s books is his ability to create realistic and terrifying world’s that you can’t help but feel fully emersed and involved in. This book was no exception as from the very first page I was totally gripped by this intriguing story and unable to put the book down.  Its definitely going to be a book that I think about for a long time.

The two main characters are both very well drawn and I enjoyed learning more about them both as the story develops.  They were both very likeable characters that I couldn’t help but warm to and I soon felt very invested in the story as I wanted to find out how things would end up for them both.

This book is very atmospheric, chilling and utterly gripping from the first page which makes for a very intense but hugely enjoyable reading experience. As other bloggers have mentioned it’s difficult to review this book without giving too much away so I’m going to leave my review there before I can give away spoilers. Trust me though, if you like chilling, dark and atmospheric books then you need to read Someone Like Me.

Huge thanks to Orbit for my copy of this book and to Tracy from Compulsive Readers for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

 

 

 

M. R. Carey has been making up stories for most of his life. His novel The Girl With All the Gifts was a word-of-mouth bestseller and is now a major motion picture based on his own screenplay. Under the name Mike Carey he has written for both DC and Marvel, including critically acclaimed runs on Lucifer, Hellblazer and X-Men. His creator-owned series The Unwritten appeared regularly in the New York Times graphic fiction bestseller list. He also has several previous novels, games, radio plays, and TV and movie screenplays to his credit.

Book Synopsis:

Kim Lord’s face looked back at me, disguised in paint and the features of a murdered woman.

Revered artist Kim Lord is about to unveil her most shocking show yet: Still Lives, a series of self-portraits in which she impersonates the female victims of America’s most famous homicides, from Nicole Brown Simpson to the Black Dahlia.

As celebrities and rich patrons pour into L.A.’s Rocque Museum for the opening night, the attendees wait eagerly for Kim’s arrival. All except Maggie Richter, museum editor and ex-girlfriend of Greg Shaw Ferguson, Kim’s new boyfriend. But Kim never shows up to her party and the crowd’s impatience slowly turns to unease.

When Greg is arrested on suspicion of murder, it seems that life is imitating art. Has Kim suffered the same fate as the women in her paintings? As Maggie is drawn into an investigation of her own, she uncovers dark and deadly truths that will change her life forever…

Perfect for fans of Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Big Little Lies. 

Still Lives is available in all formats now, purchase your copy here.

My Review:

Still lives is a brilliant book that is guaranteed to keep you up at night with its creepy, thrilling storyline!

Firstly I loved the setting of the book and the fabulous descriptions of the glamorous art world that Maggie works in.  The ideas that some of the designers come up with for the expeditions was fascinating to read about and I enjoyed trying to imagine them in my mind.  The setting for the Kim Lord expedition was an interesting one with the gritty street setting complimenting the macabre paintings nicely.

My favourite character was Maggie as I felt she seemed very normal and wasn’t full of herself like some of the other people she worked with.  The descriptions of her normal everyday life and her wish to just go home to read her book made me warm to her immediately as that is my perfect evening too.  I also felt a lot of sympathy for her regarding her ex Greg as she obviously still has feelings for him.

The murders mentioned in the book are real ones and some of the pictures used as inspiration for the paintings can be found on line which added a chilling, macabre feeling to the story.  It also helped me envision the paintings better and get a feeling for the impact they would have had on people viewing them.

The story is a bit of a slow burn but the creepy, unsettling feeling slowly increases until the book is very hard to put down.  I found I enjoyed the build up as it gave me more of an insight into the characters and I liked watching the investigation unfolding.

My only slight problem with the book was that there were a lot of characters introduced quite quickly which was hard to keep track of, especially regarding what their roles were in the art gallery . I found myself flipping back the pages a few times to check who they were. This didn’t stop my enjoyment of the book but i did feel it could have done with a character list at the front that readers could refer to.

This is the author’s first thriller and the first book that I have read by her. I definitely will look forward to reading more from her in the future.  This book was recently included as a pick in Reese Witherspoon’s book club and I do think it would make a fantastic book club book as there is lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Ella from Quercus publishers for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.  If you like chilling, unsettling and addictive thrillers then you’ll love this book.

About The Author:

Maria Hummel is the author of Still Lives, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, a Book of the Month Club pick, and top new summer read byTime. She has also published the novelMotherland, a SF Chronicle Book of the Year; and the poetry collection  House and Fire, winner of the APR/Honickman prize.

She worked as a writer/editor at MOCA in Los Angeles, then received a Stegner Fellowship at Stanford University and taught there for many years. She is currently an assistant professor at the University of Vermont, and lives in Vermont with her husband and sons.

(Author picture and bio taken from the Author’s website)

Book Synopsis:

The long-awaited follow-up to The Second Footman.
A modern take on the nineteenth-century novel, set in 1880s’ France and full of period detail and atmosphere.

Who is Max Fabien? Is he the loyal secretary and faithful lover of the marquis de Miremont? Or a handsome but unscrupulous trickster, who regards lying as an accomplishment and any sexual quarry as fair game?

Miremont’s heart says one thing, his jealousy another. But his obsessive passion for the boy must remain a dark secret—no easy task when his estranged wife and their younger daughter arrive in Paris for a prolonged visit.

Soon the strain begins to tell. The Hôtel de Miremont becomes a hive of gossip, mistrust, intrigue and deceit, and Miremont is faced with an impossible choice.

Meanwhile the grim secrets of Max’s past continue to haunt him. Has the time come for him to claim his not-so-rightful destiny?

That Deplorable Boy is the second book of the Miremont trilogy, charting the course of a gay love affair between an aristocrat and a former servant in late 19th-century France. Rich in period detail and set in the grand châteaux of Paris and Burgundy, the novels explore the suffocating social codes of the time and the conflicts and dangers they bring for those who must live outside them.

The Second Footman is available now in ebook and paperback, purchase your copy here.

My Review:

That Deplorable Boy is the second book in the Miremont trilogy. It’s fun, exciting historical fiction which was a fantastic read.

Firstly the author does a great job, again, of setting the scene so that the reader really feels like they are in nineteenth century France.  The descriptions of the class hierarchy and beliefs at that time down to the little details about the way of life then are brilliantly, though subtly, included into the narrative.

I really liked the main character Max as I thought he was a loveable rouge who you can’t help but like.  I felt a lot of sympathy with him regarding the situation he finds himself in and him having to deal with his wife and daughter when they arrive.  I did wish he would stand up to everyone a bit more, especially his wife, but I don’t think he could because of the ridgid social class hierarchy.  His wife and daughter were highly annoying characters who did grate on me.  I didn’t fully understand why they wanted to make this is so difficult for Max when it could have serious consequences.  I was a little confused why his daughter wanted to marry her dad too as that seemed a bit weird to me and I wondered if she had an ulterior motive.

The book is full of jealousy which causes a lot of suspense in the novel and made sure it was hard to put down as I wanted to know what would happen.  The book picks up more about half way through when his wife and daughter arrive as the stakes and risk become much higher.

As mentioned above this is the second book in the series and it is probably best to read the books in order as this one carries on where the other book finished with not much of a recap.  The investigation Max goes on towards the end would also make more sense if you’ve read the first book as some of the clues were mentioned in there.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.  If you like exciting, sexy historical fiction you’ll love this book.

About The Author:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Synopsis:

A compelling and emotive story about a mother’s unbreakable love for her autistic son.

Kate has a six-year-old autistic son, Sam. Having started a new life to escape her controlling and abusive boyfriend Jake, Kate believes the past is behind her and that she and Sam are safe.

But after spotting Jake through a misted-up cafe window, she knows that her previous life has found her.

Kate confides in her new neighbour Matt, a man running from his own secrets. He seems to offer a genuine chance at happiness for Kate and her son, but Jake is determined to get them back at all costs….

Picking Up The Pieces is an original, moving and gripping page-turner about a woman’s search for happiness as she fights to protect her autistic son’s future.

Picking Up The Pieces is available in ebook and paperback now.  The ebook is currently only 99p, but you can purchase a copy of both here.

My Review:

Picking up the pieces is an emotional and compelling story about a mother’s love for her son.

I absolutely adored Sam he was a wonderful character that I grew very fond of.  The descriptions of him dealing with everyday life were very poignant to read about and made me wish I could give him a huge hug!  The relationship that develops between Matt and him was lovely to read about.  I really enjoyed watching it develop and it was very sweet to see how sweet Matt is to him.

Jake was a character I loved to hate and I was really hoping he would be unsuccessful in his quest to win Kate and Sam back.  He provides some of the thrilling moments in the book as he tries to track down Kate & Sam as I was never sure what his plan would be when he found them.

This is a well written book that draws you in from the first page with the intriguing opening and the wonderful descriptions of Kate & Sam’s relationship.  I definitely had a lump in my throat whilst reading some of these passages and was immediately on their side.  The story unfolds slowly at first but gets faster as Jake gets nearer.  I flew through the pages as I desperately wanted to make sure they got the happy ending I felt they deserved.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I’d definitely like to read more from her in the future.  If you like emotional, heartwarming stories then you’ll love this book.

Huge thanks to Kelly from Love Books Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Jo Worgan is a freelance copywriter, columnist and book blogger. She has published 4 non-fiction works aimed at parenting children on the Autistic spectrum, based upon her experiences as a mother of an autistic son. Writing is what she truly loves, and Picking up the Pieces is her second novel following her first, An Unextraordinary Life. Today Jo lives in Lancashire with her husband of 19 years and their two young sons. When she is not busy writing, she likes to take her boys to the local museums, cafes, cinema, the Lake District and lots of playgrounds