Book Synopsis:

Lisa needs to disappear. And her friend’s rambling old home in the wilds of Yorkshire seems like the perfect place. It’s miles away from the closest town, and no one there knows her or her little boy, Joe.

But when a woman from the local village comes to visit them, Lisa realizes that she and Joe aren’t as safe as she thought.

What secrets have Rowan Isle House – and her friend – kept hidden all these years?

And what will Lisa have to do to survive, when her past finally catches up with her?

The House On The Lake is available in all formats now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The House On The Lake is a thrilling, creepy read which I thoroughly recommend. It’s hard to pin down exactly what type of book this is, as at times it seems to be both thriller and ghost story which made it a very interesting read.

The two main characters Lisa and Grace are well developed and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. The only thing they seemed to have in common was that they were both being controlled by someone. Lisa by her bullying husband Mark and Grace by her father who is suffered from PTSD. Grace was my favourite character out of the two as there seemed to be more hope and determination from her about possibly getting out of her situation, whereas Lisa seemed a lot more beaten down. I did feel sorry for both woman however and the hard, frightening situation they find themselves in. I hoped that both of them would have a happy ending and come out of it all unharmed.

The setting of the house was wonderful to read about, with the vivid descriptions allowing me to imagine it perfectly. It helped create a creepy, dark presence in the story which made me wonder if it was haunted and what secrets it was hiding. Some of the scenes set in the house sent a shiver down my spine as I wondered what might be revealed next.

The tension in this book slowly builds as the two storylines come closer together and we get to see how they are connected. Some of the storyline was quite thought provoking and has kept me thinking about the story long after I finished reading it. I had no idea what was going to happen next and had to keep reading to find out how everything would end for both characters. The ending was utterly brilliant and very surprising which is always a good sign of a well written and plotted book.

Huge thanks to Ellie from Viking books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

About The Author:

Nuala Ellwood is the author of two bestselling novels: My Sister’s Bones for which she was selected as one of the Observer‘s ‘New Faces of Fiction 2017’ and Day of the Accident. Nuala teaches Creative Writing at York St John University, and lives in the city with her young son.

Book Synopsis:

My Constant Lady – the first in the Reynolds seafaring saga. A captivating tale of love, loss and loyalty.
North East Coast 1765
When Gabriel Reynolds meets flame haired serving wench Eleanor Barker in a Whitby tavern little does he know it is a meeting that will change the course of his life. First she runs out on him leaving him frustrated in more ways than one. The next time they meet, in more conventional circumstances, he finds she is engaged to be married. Undeterred and back in his home town of Alnmouth Gabriel knows he has to win the love of this beguiling woman and so sets about putting his house in order. But before he can declare himself fate deals Gabriel a cruel blow.
Back in Whitby, Eleanor who is in fact the daughter of a prominent local ship builder, has troubles of her own. Learning her fiancé has been untrue she ends her engagement. In revenge her spurned lover tells her about Gabriel’s past – a past she finds difficult to accept. Forced to choose between love and loss Eleanor flees to Amsterdam searching for answers. Will Eleanor’s principles jeopardise her chance of happiness or can Gabriel convince her that he is not the man he used to be? Will the course of their love ever be plain sailing?
My Constant Lady – a sweeping historical story of one man’s passion for an unconventional woman.

My Constant Lady is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

There’s nothing quite like finding a new fantastic saga series to snuggle up with and get lost in, so I’m excited to have found this book.

I took me a little while to get into this book but I soon found myself absorbed in the story, which had a lovely flow to it. The author has clearly done her research into the time period with all the little details helping to bring the era to life for me which made the book very enjoyable.

The love story between Eleanor and Gabriel was wonderful to read about and I enjoyed watching it develop. Despite a rocky, slightly awkward meeting I found myself firmly routing for the couple and hoping that they would end up together. Eleanor was my favourite character and I admired her strength to get away from bad situations and start again, even though I think it was a hard decision. I found myself hoping that she would give Gabriel the chance I felt he deserved.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this historical love story and liked spending time with Eleanor. I really hope she features in future books and I look forward to reading more of the series.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Jane Fenwick lives in the market town of Settle in Yorkshire, England. She studied education at Sheffield University gaining a B.Ed (Hons) in 1989 and going on to teach primary age range children. Jane decided to try her hand at penning a novel rather than writing school reports as she has always been an avid reader, especially enjoying historical and crime fiction. She decided to combine her love of both genres to write her first historical crime novel Never the Twain. Jane has always been a lover of antiques, particularly art nouveau and art deco ceramics and turned this hobby into a business opening an antiques and collectables shop in Settle. However her time as a dealer was short lived; she spent far too much time in the sale rooms buying items that ended up in her home rather than the shop! Animal welfare is a cause close to Jane’s heart and she has been vegetarian since the age of fourteen. For the last twenty years she has been trustee of an animal charity which rescues and rehomes cats, dogs and all manner of creatures looking for a forever home. Of course several of these have been “adopted” by Jane! Although she lives in the Yorkshire Dales Jane is particularly drawn to the North East Coast which she knows well; often visiting Whitby, Sandsend and Alnmouth for research purposes. When she isn’t walking on Sandsend beach with her dog Scout, a Patterdale “Terrorist” she is to be found in her favourite coffee shop gazing out to sea and dreaming up her next plot. Jane is currently writing a historical saga series again set on the North East coast beginning in 1765. The first two books are being edited at the moment; My Constant Lady and The Turning Tides. Look out for My Constant Lady in 2020.

Book Synopsis:

I signed the letter with a flourish. I wouldn’t send it. There was no need. But I wanted to keep it somewhere safe, somewhere I could find it if I ever needed to remember why I’d done what I’d done. The fight goes on, I told myself. The fight goes on…

London, 1910. Twenty-one-year-old Esther Watkins would do anything for the Suffragette cause. Imprisoned, force-fed and beaten, she is determined to fight for what she believes is right – no matter what it costs her. With new love Joseph by her side, will she get the better future she dreams of?
 
Kent, 2019. With her marriage in tatters, school teacher Lizzie Armstrong moves to sleepy Elm Heath for a fresh start, and her pupils and the community soon steal her heart. So when the school is threatened with closure Lizzie knows she has to fight, and she looks to the school’s founder for inspiration.  
 
What makes Esther, born and bred in London, a proud Suffragette, suddenly leave the city and escape to Elm Heath? And when Lizzie uncovers Esther’s heartbreaking secret, could it give her the strength she needs to save not just the school, but her new beginning too? 
 
A heart-wrenching and uplifting novel for fans of Emily Gunnis, Kathleen McGurl and Kathryn Hughes. 

The Secret Letter is published in ebook and paperback on the 6th February 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I so enjoyed this enthralling, emotional dual timeline mystery from one of my favourite authors.

The two main characters Lizzie and Esther were fantastic creations who I loved getting to know better. They are surprisingly alike as they are both very strong women who know exactly what they want. I really admired their determination to succeed and their ability to try again when things go wrong.

The author has clearly done her research for this book and I liked the way she subtly included actual historical events into the story. The Suffragette’s fight for the vote is one of my favourite periods in history and I really enjoyed finding out more about it, especially as I could look up events on line to learn more too.

I thought this book was perfectly paced and plotted to just draw the reader into the story. I soon found myself lost in the characters world and reluctant to put the book down. There are lot of very emotional moments which were hard to read at times as I had grown very fond of the characters. I had to put the books down at times and come back to it which is always a sign of a well written book. The ending was brilliant with the epilogue helping to finish the book off on a lovely, if poignant, note.

Huge thanks to Jessica from HQ Digital for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Kerry Barrett was a bookworm from a very early age and did a degree in English Literature, then trained as a journalist, writing about everything from pub grub to EastEnders. Her first novel, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, took six years to finish and was mostly written in longhand on her commute to work, giving her a very good reason to buy beautiful notebooks. Kerry lives in London with her husband and two sons, and Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes is still her favourite novel.

Book Synopsis:

Police officer Alexander Blix and celebrity blogger Emma Ramm join forces to track down a serial killer with a thirst for attention and high-profile murders, in the first episode of a gripping new Nordic Noir series…

Oslo, 2018. Former long-distance runner Sonja Nordstrøm never shows at the launch of her controversial autobiography, Always Number One. When celebrity blogger Emma Ramm visits Nordstrøm’s home later that day, she finds the door unlocked and signs of a struggle inside. A bib with the number ‘one’ has been pinned to the TV.

Police officer Alexander Blix is appointed to head up the missing-persons investigation, but he still bears the emotional scars of a hostage situation nineteen years earlier, when he killed the father of a five-year-old girl. Traces of Nordstrøm soon show up at different locations, but the appearance of the clues appear to be carefully calculated … evidence of a bigger picture that he’s just not seeing…

Blix and Ramm soon join forces, determined to find and stop a merciless killer with a flare for the dramatic, and thirst for attention.
Trouble is, he’s just got his first taste of it…

Death Deserved is out in ebook now and paperback on the 20th February 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of both these authors so I was very excited to see what they came up with together.

Firstly I really liked the two main characters, especially Blix who came across as a very capable, genuine guy. I was impressed way with he approached the investigation and how he deals with his team which was in stark contrast to the way his ex partner, Fosse dealt with thing. I warmed to him instantly and found myself routing for him throughout the book. Emma was another interesting character though it took me a bit longer to like her as I initially found her a bit annoying and needy. She soon proved that there was much more to her then meets the eye though and I liked the partnership she forms with Blix.

This book had quite a modern feel to it with the inclusion of reality shows and bloggers which I thought made it feel quite realistic. It also gives the impression that everything is unfolding in real time as I was reading it which I thought was clever. The reality show was a brilliant concept that I’d love to see brought to the screen soon as I’d definitely watch it!

Overall I thought this was a fantastic read which I found very difficult to put down as I was so absorbed in the story. The dramatic opening drew me into the story with the fast pace and intriguing storyline ensuring that I kept reading. I really enjoyed following the investigation and trying to work out what would happen next.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Anne Cater for my copy of this book. If you like dark, gripping reads then I think you’ll enjoy this book.

About The Authors:

Thomas Enger is a former journalist. He made his debut with the crime novel Burned (Skinndød) in 2010, which became an international sensation before publication. Burned is the first in a series of five books about the journalist Henning Juul, which delves into the depths of Oslo’s underbelly, skewering the corridors of dirty politics and nailing the fast-moving world of 24-hour news. Rights to the series have been sold to 28 countries to date. In 2013 Enger published his first book for young adults, a dark fantasy thriller called The Evil Legacy, for which he won the U-prize (best book Young Adult). Killer Instinct, another Young Adult suspense novel, was published in Norway in 2017. Rights have been sold to Germany and Iceland. Enger also composes music, and he lives in Oslo.
Follow him on Twitter @EngerThomas, on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/thomas.enger.77 or visit his website thomasenger.net

Jorn Lier Horst was born 27th February 1970, in Bamble, Telemark, Norway and has worked as a policeman in Larvik since 1995. His debut novel in 2004, Key Witness , the first William Wisting mystery, was based on true murder story. Dregs is the fifth novel in the series.

Book Synopsis:

THE FIRST IN A PHENOMENAL NEW SERIES FEATURING DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN.

Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson.

When a development in South London catches fire mid-construction, a close-knit team of fire fighters runs in to save a man spotted at the window.

They come out without a body. They quit the service. They plan never to speak to each other again.

Five years later one of them is set alight at his own wedding. Soon after, a second is found, nothing but a smoking corpse. It appears that someone knows what they did that night. What they chose over their duty. And there are still three men left to burn . . .

DI Alex Finn and his new partner DC Mattie Paulsen are an unlikely pairing, but they need to discover who is behind these killings before the next man faces the fire.

This is first in Will Shindler’s Finn and Paulsen series – a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge, Staurt MacBride.

The Burning Men is published in ebook and hardback on the 06th February 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Ooh I really enjoyed this gripping, intelligent thriller from a talented new author.

Ever since watching the film Back Draft, being trapped in a burning house is my worst fear. We have an escape ladder at home as I went on so much about someone setting our house on fire that my husband actually asked me who I might have upset! This author does a great job of making this fear leap from the page in quite a chilling way which ensured I was continuously thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it.

I loved the two main characters Alex and Maddie and so enjoyed following them throughout their investigation. It was very interesting to follow this team from the start and watch them trying to work out all the kinks in their new partnership. They are both very realistic characters as they aren’t perfect and this made me warm to they quickly. I will definitely look forward to reading more about them in future books.

Overall I thought this was a gripping, fast paced book which I found very hard to put down. Unusually there weren’t an awful lot of suspects to choose from so instead the story focuses on why they might have done it which I thought was very clever. As the story unfolds and we get to learn more about the murderer, I found myself actually feeling sorry for them. There is a reason for why they did what they did and although I didn’t agree with it, I was able to see why they did it. (Sorry if that sounds a bit vague but I’m trying not to give anything away)!

Huge thanks to Jenny from Hodder books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you’re a fan of crime fiction you need to read this book!

About The Author:

Will Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Billand Doctors. His time on these leading prime time dramas has given him a rich grounding in authentic police procedure, powerful character development and gripping narratives. He currently combines reading the news on BBC Radio London with writing crime novels and has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics. The Burning Men is his first novel.

Book Synopsis:

A desperate agent. A petty criminal. An audacious plot.

When Harry Mackintosh is called upon to exfiltrate a valuable asset from East to West Berlin, what could have been an intelligence coup becomes an international embarrassment. Mackintosh’s men and his lover are killed by the East German secret police in a brutal crossfire and he barely escapes with his life. He flees to the West and promises himself that he will have vengeance.

Mackintosh is the head of Berlin Station but he doesn’t have the staff to compete with the Stasi. He returns to London to plead for the resources to fight back. But instead of the seasoned operatives that he needs, Mackintosh is given a single man: Jimmy Walker, a petty criminal with a record for robbing banks.

Mackintosh takes Walker to Berlin and sets in train an audacious plan that will see them both on the other side of the Wall. Mackintosh and Walker face off against Karl-Heinz Sommer, the Stasi general known as die Spinne – the Spider – a man known for his brutality and ruthlessness.

The plan is already a longshot, and then Walker learns of the riches that Sommer stole from displaced Berliners in the days after the Wall was constructed. Will Walker follow orders or will he find the prospect of the Stasi gold in Sommer’s secret vault too tempting to ignore? Will Mackintosh have his revenge or will he become another fly caught in the Spider’s web?

With ambiguous loyalties, clashing agendas and danger beyond measure, these two men will struggle to form a team. But in a battle as unequal as this, the unexpected might be the best strategy that they have.

The Vault is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author so I was very excited to read The Vault, his latest book, which I thought was another hugely enjoyable, intelligent thriller.

Books set during the cold war, one of my favourite periods, are always exciting as there are so many different areas to learn about. This book is set towards the end of the cold war when the wall was about to come down and the start of group 15, which I hadn’t heard about before. I found it very interesting to learn more about group 15 and to discover the work they did.

I really liked the main character Jimmy who seemed very clever, resourceful and brave. All of the characters were great creations and I thought they were well developed throughout the book. The author has clearly done a lot of research into both the characters and the places mentioned in the book as they were vividly described meaning I could imagine them clearly.

This was a very fast paced book and there was always something happening to keep me firmly glued to the page. The plot is deliciously complex with lots of twist and double crosses which made it hard to keep up! This was a standalone book though there were some subtle references to characters in the author’s other book which I loved. If you’re a fan of historical thrillers then I think you’ll find this one hugely enjoyable!

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publisher for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Mark Dawson has worked as a lawyer and in the London film industry. His first books, The Art of Falling Apart and Subpoena Colada, have been published in multiple languages. He is currently writing three series. The John Milton series features a disgruntled assassin who aims to help people make amends for the things that he has done. The Beatrix Rose series features the headlong fight for justice of a wronged mother–who happens to be an assassin–against the six names on her Kill List. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, The Black Mile, deals with the (real-life but little-known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. The Imposter traces the journey of a criminal family through the period; it has been compared to The Sopranos in austerity London. Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.

Book Synopsis:

THE FIRST IN A PHENOMENAL NEW SERIES FEATURING DI ALEX FINN AND DC MATTIE PAULSEN.

Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson.

When a development in South London catches fire mid-construction, a close-knit team of fire fighters runs in to save a man spotted at the window.

They come out without a body. They quit the service. They plan never to speak to each other again.

Five years later one of them is set alight at his own wedding. Soon after, a second is found, nothing but a smoking corpse. It appears that someone knows what they did that night. What they chose over their duty. And there are still three men left to burn . . .

DI Alex Finn and his new partner DC Mattie Paulsen are an unlikely pairing, but they need to discover who is behind these killings before the next man faces the fire.

This is first in Will Shindler’s Finn and Paulsen series – a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge, Staurt MacBride.

The Burning Men is published in ebook and hardback on the 06th February 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Ooh I really enjoyed this gripping, intelligent thriller from a talented new author.

Ever since watching the film Back Draft, being trapped in a burning house is my worst fear. We have an escape ladder at home as I went on so much about someone setting our house on fire that my husband actually asked me who I might have upset! This author does a great job of making this fear leap from the page in quite a chilling way which ensured I was continuously thinking about the book when I wasn’t reading it.

I loved the two main characters Alex and Maddie and so enjoyed following them throughout their investigation. It was very interesting to follow this team from the start and watch them trying to work out all the kinks in their new partnership. They are both very realistic characters as they aren’t perfect and this made me warm to they quickly. I will definitely look forward to reading more about them in future books.

Overall I thought this was a gripping, fast paced book which I found very hard to put down. Unusually there weren’t an awful lot of suspects to choose from so instead the story focuses on why they might have done it which I thought was very clever. As the story unfolds and we get to learn more about the murderer, I found myself actually feeling sorry for them. There is a reason for why they did what they did and although I didn’t agree with it, I was able to see why they did it. (Sorry if that sounds a bit vague but I’m trying not to give anything away)!

Huge thanks to Jenny from Hodder books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you’re a fan of crime fiction you need to read this book!

About The Author:

Will Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Billand Doctors. His time on these leading prime time dramas has given him a rich grounding in authentic police procedure, powerful character development and gripping narratives. He currently combines reading the news on BBC Radio London with writing crime novels and has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics. The Burning Men is his first novel.

Book Synopsis:

Welcome to the café that never sleeps.

Day and night, Stella’s Café opens its doors to the lonely and the lost, the morning people and the night owls. It’s a place where everyone is always welcome, where life can wait at the door.

Meet Hannah and Mona: best friends, waitresses, dreamers. They love working at Stella’s – the different people they meet, the small kindnesses exchanged. But is it time to step outside and make their own way in life?

Come inside and spend twenty-four hours at Stella’s Café, where one day might just be enough to change your life . . .

The 24 Hour Café is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

Book Synopsis:

The 24 Hour Café is an emotional, absorbing read which was very addictive and I often found myself trying to fit in a few more pages whenever I could.

Firstly I loved the fly on the wall view that I had of life in the café which made me feel that I was there watching everything unfold. It felt almost like people watching at times, which I always enjoy and I liked seeing all the different people who visit the café.

The story is told mainly from Hannah’s point of view but sometimes other important characters come into the spotlight which makes for very interesting reading as I learnt more about them. Some of the customers back story was very emotional and I often found myself wishing I knew them personally so I could offer help or at least a hug. I wished I could follow them for longer so I could see how things worked out for them. I always think it is a sign of some brilliant writing when you end up caring so much for the characters.

Overall I thought this was an easy read, with the style of the book just drawing the reader into the story. The back stories of the characters let me find out more about them and what made them tick. They soon began to feel like old friends and I felt very sad to finish the book and leave them, and the café, behind.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Libby Page wrote The Lido while working in marketing and moonlighting as a writer. The Lido has sold in over twenty territories around the world and film rights have been sold to Catalyst Global Media.
Libby lives in London where she enjoys finding pockets of community within the city. Follow Libby on twitter @libbypagewrites

Book Synopsis:

Is living on the edge of society a choice? Or is choice a luxury of the fortunate? Joe, fighting drug addiction, runs until the sea halts his progress. His is a faltering search for meaningful relationships. ‘Let Luck be a friend,’ Nuala is told but it had never felt that way. Abandoned at five years old, survival means learning not to care. Her only hope is to take control of her own destiny.The intertwining of their lives makes a compelling story of darkness and light, trauma, loss and second chances.

Beyond The Margin is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a beautifully written book which manages to be both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Firstly the author obviously has a deep understanding of her subject with the characters all seeming very realistic. I liked how the author took me through each of their backstories as it made me feel more connected to them and ensured I cared more about what they were going through.

The way the story is told just draws the reader into the story, while the challenges the characters face make the story surprisingly gripping. I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. The courage some of the characters showed was beautiful to read about and I found myself firmly on their side. I will be be reading more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Jo Jackson is the author of two novels. She was born in Birmingham UK. She was a nurse and midwife before becoming a family psychotherapist. In the 1980’s Jo lived with her husband and children in Cairo and it is from here that the inspiration for her first novel ‘Too Loud a Silence’ came. Her second novel, Beyond the Margin is set in Ireland. She began writing 30 years ago when she had several short stories published. Her novels have been received with high acclaim.