Book Synopsis:

Eli Hagin can’t finish anything. 
 
He hates his job, but can’t seem to quit. He doesn’t want to be with his girlfriend, but doesn’t know how end things with her, either. Eli wants to write a novel, but he’s never taken a story beyond the first chapter. 
 
Eli also has trouble separating reality from fiction. 
 
When his best friend kills himself, Eli is motivated, for the first time in his life, to finally end something himself, just as Mike did…
 
Except sessions with his therapist suggest that Eli’s most recent ‘first chapters’ are not as fictitious as he had intended … and a series of text messages that Mike received before his death point to something much, much darker…

My Review:

Suicide Thursday is as an original, thought provoking read that I’ve continued to think about long after reading.

Firstly the subject of suicide in a book might sound a bit wrong but the author has written it in a sensitive way focussing instead on societies view of suicide and mental health. It seems to be a subject treated with indifference by some which is sad to see and something which needs to be addressed. There are some dark moments in the book which might not be to everyone’s taste but are important to highlight these problems.

Eli was a very interesting character who I was never completely sure I could trust. There was something just a bit off with him which made me a bit suspicious of his motives when he starts investigating Will’s suicide. It was nice to see him make positive changes to his life after his friends death though and to try and fix a few things in his life. I thought it was clever how the author writes the character so the reader feels like they are in their head sometimes, experiencing everything alongside the character.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which I’ll definitely be recommending to fans of the genre. It was a bit mad at times but that’s what made it so interesting to read and kept me on my toes so I never knew where the story was going next. The book was a very faced paced read, told from multiple points of view and it was very interesting seeing them all come together at the end.

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

About The Author:

Will Carver is the bestselling author of the January Series – Girl 4 (2011), The Two (2012), The Killer Inside (2013), Dead Set (2013) – and the critically acclaimed Detective Pace series, which includes Good Samaritans (2018), Nothing Important Happened Today (2019) and Hinton Hollow Death Trip (2020), all of which were selected as books of the year in mainstream international press. The books in this series have also been longlisted/shortlisted for the Amazon Readers Independent Voice Award, Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award, Not The Booker Prize and the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award. Will spent his early years living in Germany, but returned at age eleven. He studied theatre and television at King Alfred’s Winchester, where he set up a successful theatre company. He currently runs his own fitness and nutrition business and lives in Reading with his children.

Book Synopsis:

THEN

Amelie has always been a survivor, from losing her parents as a child in Paris to making it on her own in London. As she builds a career for herself in the magazine industry, she meets, and agrees to marry, Ned Hawthorne.

NOW

Amelie wakes up in a pitch-black room, not knowing where she is. Why has she been taken? Who are her mysterious captors? And why does she soon feel safer here, imprisoned, than she had begun to feel with her husband Ned?

In true B.A. Paris style, The Prisoner is a gripping survival story, a twisted tale of love and at its dark heart a thriller to keep you up all night.

My Review:

The Prisoner is an addictive, clever and twisty read that will keep you reading far too late.

Firstly what a dramatic opening! I was quickly drawn into the book and into the terrifying situation Amelia and Ned find themselves in. The story is told in two timelines which describes the present situation the couple find themselves in and showing events that led up to the kidnapping. The chapters are short and action packed making this a very fast paced, easy read with each chapter clearly marked as to what timeline we were on.

I wasn’t to sure what to make of Amelia and found her difficult to warm to. It’s established early on that Ned is a nasty piece of work but Amelia remained a bit of an enigma. On one hand she seemed a really strong women who takes the kidnapping in her stride but on the other she seemed really whiney and a bit highly strung, especially at the end with her need to validate everything. I did feel sympathy for her though and wanted to keep reading to see how she got out of the situation.

The first half of the book is very faced paced as the author sets the scene and describes the situation the couple find themselves in. I enjoyed the slow increase in tension and how the two timelines complimented each other by slowly giving the reader more information about what was going on. There were lots of fabulous twists that kept me guessing and even though I did guess one of the twists I still enjoyed reading on to discover if I was right.

Huge thanks to Stevie from Hodder for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

B.A. Paris is the internationally bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, Bring Me Back, The Dilemma and The Therapist. Having sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide, she is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller as well as a number one bestseller on Amazon and iBooks. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages, and Film and TV rights to Behind Closed Doors have been optioned. She is currently based in the UK.

Book Synopsis:

A dead body, a disappearance, and an epic lost in time. Unrelated incidents on the surface. Judith Fraser’s Oxford sabbatical quickly takes a sharp turn when she gets tangled in the mysterious murder of a colleague. With threads leading nowhere, conflicting impressions about people around her, and concern for increasing risk to her loved ones, whom can she trust? Her eccentric housemates? The CIA? Or, herself? Too many questions and insufficient answers.

A uniquely amusing and page-turning mystery novel set in 2003 on the eve of the Iraqi War, The Carnelian Tree follows the journey of Judith Fraser as she unravels mysteries of locked doors, missing computers, cat’s collars, and Reuter’s reports, with the help of DCI Keith Steadman, her potential love interest. Judith probes into people, power, politics, and sex, only to discover that some things remain unchanged. With a shady glimpse of the Oxford underbelly, this cross-genre novel will appeal to the full range of crime and mystery readers including Cosy Crime fans.

My Review:

The Carnelian Tree is an unique, addictive and intriguing book from a new author for me.

Firstly I absolutely loved the author’s wonderful descriptions of Oxford which have made me want to visit there as soon as possible. It sounds like a wonderful city to live in and I loved the subtle way the author blends some of the city’s history into the story too.

I absolutely loved the main character Judith who seemed very brave and clever, despite her knack for putting herself in dangerous situations sometimes. She seemed very lovable and had a great group of friends around her who seemed to adore her. It was great fun following them as they tried to solve the mystery and to live precariously through them as they experience student life in Oxford.

Overall I really enjoyed this book which made a nice change to the gritty crime thrillers I normally read. I would class it as a cosy/ gentle mystery but one with lots of tension in it which kept me reading. The author gradually reveals clues as to who the murderer was and I liked that I was unable to guess ‘who dunit’ until the end.

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

About The Author:

Glasgow-born Anne, an ex-GP and Herald/medical press columnist, graduated Glasgow (Medicine, 1974) and Oxford (Anthropology, 2004). University of Glasgow Creative Writing classes led to novels about women doctors- rare in literature except as pathologists or in Mills & Boon. Some prizewinning short stories are in the 50th Anniversary Anthology of Greenock Writers, of which she is President. She blogs regularly on her website. Her debut novel, Not The Life Imagined, highlighting discrimination/changing sexual mores in the 60s NHS, was runner-up in the Scottish Association of Writers’ Constable Silver Stag Award 2018 and made her a Crime Spotlight Author (‘one to watch’) at Bloody Scotland 2019. Her second novel, Not The Death Imagined, involves the female doctor tackling a serial killer. Her third, The Carnelian Tree, set in Oxford, is out Oct 20th 2022, She lives in North Ayrshire & loves travelling, good food and wine.

Book Synopsis:

The Journey Back is the blistering sequel to The Journey. Kalu is a doctor, who escaped an extremist revolution in Nigeria. He tried to get his family across the Sahara to look for passage to the safety of Europe but they were duped by ruthless people traffickers and his wife and two daughters were lost at sea. Fast forward twenty-years and his daughter, Kissie is in Ukraine when Russian tanks cross the border and his family are in terrible danger again. 

My Review:

I absolutely loved The Journey so was excited to read it’s sequel The Journey Back. Once again the author has written an interesting, thought provoking book that I couldn’t put down.

It was great to be back with the family and to see how they were getting on. This book gives the reader more of an insight into each of the characters which I really liked as it meant I got to know them better. I loved the way the author writes the story so that the reader gets to experience everything that is happening alongside the characters.

This book wasn’t quite as graphic as the first book, which isn’t a bad thing as some parts of the first book were hard to read at times. It was just as absorbing though and I soon found myself drawn into the story and unable to put the book down. I kept promising myself I’d read just one more chapter and then end up reading way to late. There are some great unexpected twists in the story which I thought was cleverly done and meant I couldn’t guess the ending to the story which I always enjoy. I’m hoping from the ending that there is another book in the works soon!

Huge thanks to Zoë from Zooloo blog tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publishers for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Conrad Jones spent 12 years working for the biggest quick service restaurant brand in the world.
On March 20th 1993 the IRA terrorist organization bombed the shopping center outside the restaurant he was managing that day. The experience fueled an interest in the root causes of extremist terrorists and the reasoning why its perpetrators feel justified in taking innocent lives. That incident sparked the story of ‘Soft Target’.

Book Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of The Lost Vintage, a rare and dazzling portrait of Jacqueline Bouvier’s college year abroad in postwar Paris, an intimate and electrifying story of love and betrayal, and the coming-of-age of an American icon – before the world knew her as Jackie.

In September 1949 Jacqueline Bouvier arrives in postwar Paris to begin her junior year abroad. She’s twenty years old, socially poised but financially precarious, and all too aware of her mother’s expectations that she make a brilliant match. Before relenting to family pressure, she has one year to herself far away from sleepy Vassar College and the rigid social circles of New York, a year to explore and absorb the luminous beauty of the City of Light. Jacqueline is immediately catapulted into an intoxicating new world of champagne and châteaux, art and avant-garde theater, cafés and jazz clubs. She strikes up a romance with a talented young writer who shares her love of literature and passion for culture – even though her mother would think him most unsuitable.

But beneath the glitter and rush, France is a fragile place still haunted by the Occupation. Jacqueline lives in a rambling apartment with a widowed countess and her daughters, all of whom suffered as part of the French Resistance just a few years before. In the aftermath of World War II, Paris has become a nest of spies, and suspicion, deception, and betrayal lurk around every corner. Jacqueline is stunned to watch the rise of communism – anathema in America, but an active movement in France – never guessing she is witnessing the beginning of the political environment that will shape the rest of her life—and that of her future husband.

Evocative, sensitive, and rich in historic detail, Jacqueline in Paris portrays the origin story of an American icon. Ann Mah brilliantly imagines the intellectual and aesthetic awakening of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and illuminates how France would prove to be her one true love, and one of the greatest influences on her life. 

My Review:

Jacqueline In Paris is an absorbing, intriguing read about a fascinating period of history and a very famous women.

Firstly when I was originally asked to review this book I must admit I didn’t realise it was a story about Jackie Kennedy. The blurb on its own absolutely fascinated me but when I discovered it was based on the real life of an historical figure I was very excited indeed .

The author has a great way of drawing the reader into the story and into Paris so I felt like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside Jacqueline. I loved the intimate feeling of exploring the streets with the characters and all the fabulous descriptions of Paris which has made me want to visit again soon. It was very interesting to see what Paris was like after the war, to see the after effects and to realise how different Paris was to America at that time.

The story unfolds slowly but there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. Even in the slower moments I didn’t mind as I was too busy drinking in the exquisite details of life in Paris. It was definitely a time of great change both socially and politically and I found it very interesting to learn more about this. This was especially so as you realised how they could have influenced Jacqueline in the future and politics in general when she was first lady.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper 360 for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Ann Mah is an American food and travel writer based in Washington DC and Paris. She is of several books, including Jacqueline in Paris (coming soon in September 2022), and the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, The Lost Vintage. She contributes regularly to the New York Times Travel section and her articles have also appeared in the Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, The Best American Travel Writing, The New York Times Footsteps, Washingtonian magazine, Vogue.com, BonAppetit.com, Food52.com, TheKitchn.com, and other publications.

As the recipient of a James Beard Foundation culinary scholarship, Ann studied in Bologna, Italy. She also holds the Level 2 Award in Wine and Spirits with distinction from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET).

Book Synopsis:

CAT LADY [n.]
Single, independent, crazy, aloof, on-the-shelf, lives alone . . .

It’s safer for Mia to play the part that people expect. She’s a good wife to her husband Tristan, a doting stepmother, she slips on her suit for work each morning like a new skin.

But beneath the surface, there’s another woman just clawing to get out . . .

When a shocking event shatters the conventional life she’s been so careful to build, Mia is faced with a choice. Does she live for a society that’s all too quick to judge, or does she live for herself?

And if that’s as an independent woman with a cat, then the world better get ready . . .

Fresh, funny and for anyone who’s ever felt astray, CAT LADY will help you belong – because a woman always lands on her feet.

My Review:

Cat Lady is a funny, emotional story that was much more than I was expecting.

The book starts off a little slowly as the author sets the scene and we learn more about Mia. On the surface she seems to have a wonderful life but when we look deeper there’s a few things that she’s struggling with which resonated with me as I think this is the case for a lot of people. It did take me a while to warm to Mia though but I soon found myself firmly on her side wanting things to get better for her.

I’m not a big cat fan, due to a rather vicious cat I met in my childhood, but even I couldn’t fail to be moved by some of the scenarios in this book. Mia’s obvious love for her cat Pigeon (great name) was beautiful to read about and I found myself feeling glad that they had each other when everything was going wrong.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author in the future. The author’s writing style makes the book easy to read and there always seemed to be something happening to help keep my interest. There are some extremely funny moments in this book which had me laughing out loud – especially at some of the banter and ridiculous scenarios Mia finds herself in. It was lovely to go on this emotional journey with Mia and see how different she is from the start.

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

About The Author:

DAWN O’PORTER lives in Los Angeles with her husband Chris, her two boys Art and Valentine, two cats Myrtle and Boo and two dogs; Puffin and Meatloaf.

Dawn is the bestselling author of The Cows and the Richard and Judy Book Club pick So Lucky, and her latest non-fiction title Life in Pieces was also a Sunday Times bestseller.

Dawn started out in TV production but quickly landed in front of the camera, making numerous documentaries that included immersive investigations of Polygamy, Size Zero, Childbirth, Free Love, Breast Cancer and the movie Dirty Dancing.

Dawn’s journalism has appeared in multiple publications and she was the monthly columnist for Glamour magazine. She is now a full-time writer of eight books, Co-Founder and Director of Choose Love Inc., designs dresses for Joanie Clothing, LOVES Instagram, and has a large following on her Patreon blog.

https://linktr.ee/DawnOPorter

@hotpatooties

/DawnOPorter

I’m a huge fan of Jill Mansell so I was very excited to get a copy of her new book Promise Me which is out on the 19th January 2023 just in time to cheer me up after Christmas is over! I can’t wait to snuggle up and read this soon.

What’s your favourite Jill Mansell book?

Book Synopsis:

One minute Lou is happily employed, with a perfect flat. The next, her home and job have gone. Suddenly she has to start over.

The last thing Lou wants is to move to a tiny Cotswolds village. She certainly doesn’t intend to work for curmudgeonly eighty-year-old Edgar Allsopp. But Edgar is about to make her the kind of promise nobody could ignore. In return, she secretly vows to help him fall in love with life again.

Foxwell is also home to Remy, whose charm and charisma are proving hard to ignore. But Lou hasn’t recovered from the last time she fell for a charmer. She needs a distraction – and luckily one’s about to turn up.

Secrets never stay hidden for long in Foxwell, nor are promises always kept. And no one could guess what lies ahead…

About The Author:

‘The queen of witty, heart-warming, feel-good love stories’ Red

Jill Mansell’s books are full of love, life and friendship and have been bringing joy to readers for twenty-five years. She started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after joining a local creative writing class. She has since written over twenty Sunday Times bestsellers, including MAYBE THIS TIME, THIS COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING and YOU AND ME, ALWAYS, and her books have sold over 11 million copies around the world.

Jill’s hobbies include buying stationery, particularly magical new colours of ink for the fountain pen she uses to write all her books – Jill is one of the few authors who still write their books by hand. Jill also loves people-watching and finding new characters to put in her novels. So when you’re out, make sure to always be on your best behaviour. And beware of beady-eyed authors carrying notebooks . . .

Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter – @JillMansell – and Facebook – /OfficialJillMansell.

Book Synopsis:

Remember, remember, the fifth of November…

1605: Anne Catesby fears for her family. Her son, the darkly charismatic Robert, is secretly plotting to kill the King, placing his wife and child in grave danger. Anne must make a terrible choice: betray her only child, or risk her family’s future.

Present day: When her dreams of becoming a musician are shattered, Lucy takes refuge in her family’s ancestral home in Oxfordshire. Everyone knows it was originally home to Robert Catesby, the gunpowder plotter. As Lucy spends more time in the beautiful winter garden that Robert had made, she starts to have strange visions of a woman in Tudor dress, terrified and facing a heartbreaking dilemma.

As Lucy and Anne’s stories converge, a shared secret that has echoed through the centuries separating them, will change Lucy’s life forever…

Sweeping generations from the 1600s to the present day, with the enthralling Gunpowder Plot at its heart, Nicola Cornick’s utterly enchanting new timeslip novel will sweep you off your feet. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Barbara Erskine and Kate Morton.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author and always immediately preorder her books when I find out she has a new one out. I absolutely loved this absorbing, intriguing read which I will be recommending to everyone.

The story is told in two timelines one following events that lead up to The Gunpowder Plot and the other in the present day following an archaeological dig to try and uncover a lost Tudor garden. I remember doing The Gunpowder Plot at school but don’t remember much of it so I absolutely loved learning more about the period and the events that lead up to it. The author perfectly blends fact with fiction to make for a really intriguing read which lead to lots of googling sessions to find out more. I also really loved the present day storyline as I always love following archeological digs (huge Time Team fan here). The supernatural elements helped add a special touch to this book and helped create some of the intrigue in this book as you wonder why it’s happening. Unusually for me I actually loved both timelines equally and enjoyed watching them both unfold.

I quickly found myself absorbed into the story and into the lives of the characters. There always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest and even when there wasn’t I was so involved in the story and interested in the historical details that I couldn’t put it down. It’s a book that helped keep me sane this half term and had me hiding away from the kids as I had to read just one more page, chapter anything I could! The two storylines gradually merge together and I loved the natural, unforced way this happens. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Huge thanks to HQ stories for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. Highly recommended by me!

About The Author:

USA Today bestselling author Nicola Cornick has written over thirty historical romances for Harlequin and HQN Books. She has been nominated twice for a RWA RITA Award and twice for the UK RNA Award. She works as a historian and guide in a seventeenth century house. In 2006 she was awarded a Masters degree with distinction from Ruskin College, Oxford, where she wrote her dissertation on heroes.

Book Synopsis:

The heart breaking story of a family, driven from their home by war. Like millions of others, they attempt the treacherous journey across a war-torn continent, trying to reach the safety of Europe. The sad truth is, Europe doesn’t want them and thousands of them are dying every month. This story is fast-paced and Conrad Jones will drag you from the first page to the last, at one-hundred miles an hour. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most of all, it will make you think. What would you do if it was you?

My Review:

The Journey is a fast paced, twisty and utterly absorbing thriller from a talented writer.

I was immediate drawn into the story and into the nightmare Beb’s family find themselves in. I didn’t know much about the war in Africa that forces them to leave their home so I found it very interesting to learn more about it. The author’s writing is so vivid I felt that I was actually there alongside the family, experiencing everything alongside them. I think I went through every emotion whilst reading and have a much greater sympathy for any refugees.

The author writes honestly about the war which can lead to some extremely harrowing moments. This book is definitely not for the faint hearted and I often found myself getting very emotional about everything that happens. My tension in the book never eases off and I soon found myself unable to put the book down as I had to find out if the family make it to safety.

Huge thanks to Zooloo Blog Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the author for my copy of this book. This is a very important book that I feel everyone should read.

About The Author:

Conrad Jones spent 12 years working for the biggest quick service restaurant brand in the world.On March 20th 1993 the IRA terrorist organization bombed the shopping center outside the restaurant he was managing that day. The experience fueled an interest in the root causes of extremist terrorists and the reasoning why its perpetrators feel justified in taking innocent lives. That incident sparked the story of ‘Soft Target’.

Book Synopsis:

Could a sprinkling of magic save Christmas this year?Amid the salt marshes and rolling fields of Periwinkle Bay, Magda Conway is enjoying her retirement in ivy-clad Mistletoe Cottage.Yet with three weeks to go until Christmas, as the fairy lights twinkle and the trees go up around the village, her peace is disrupted when she’s left in sole charge of her two mischievous grandchildren.Before long, she’s at her wit’s end – but high on a kitchen shelf lies her mother’s handwritten recipe book. And as she turns to it for advice, she finds more than just recipes between its tattered covers: there’s a pinch of magic too, and maybe even a sprinkling of love . . .

Mistletoe Cottage is out in ebook and paperback on the 27th October 2022. You can pre-order you copy using the links below.

My Review:

Coming Home To Mistletoe Cottage is a heartwarming, festive and magical read that will be perfect for cuddling up with this Christmas.

Firstly I had mixed feelings about the main character Magda at first as she came across as being very self absorbed though I did sympathise with her a bit as it can be hard to deal with other people’s grief when you’re grieving yourself. She slowly grew on me however as the book went on and as the reader learns more about her life as a single mum. It was quite poignant to see how much she had given up but quite lovely to see how many people had rallied to help her. My favourite characters were actually the twins who’s exploits I loved to read about (it’s always funnier when it’s not your own children). Their behaviour lead to some of the funnier moments in the books and I often found myself laughing out loud at their antics, though it was sad to see how affected they were by their parent’s absence.

The discovery of the cookery book was a wonderful touch and lead to some of my favourite moments in the book. It was truly heartwarming to see Magda slowly learning to cook and to heal throughout the book, almost like her dear mum was trying to help her like she wanted. I had tears in my eyes during some of these moments as I thought they were so beautiful.

Overall I loved this book and will be re-reading it nearer to Christmas. The book is very absorbing and I soon found myself drawn into Magda’s life. There was always something happening to keep my interest and I loved soaking up the community feel in the village, where I’d love to live myself. I closed the book with a happy sigh at having read a great story but also with a hint of sadness at having to leave Magda and her family behind

Huge thanks to Susanna from Harper Collins for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Previously a teacher and assistant head, Celia Anderson now writes full time and is an enthusiastic member of the Romantic Novelists Association, having graduated from their wonderful New Writers’ Scheme. She writes stories with a strong flavour of magical realism and her fourth such novel with Harper Collins, Coming Home to Mistletoe Cottage, will be published in October 2022.Celia loves flower arranging but tries to avoid gardening, plays the piano very badly and is a jigsaw addict. She is a doting grandma to Ida and Levi and has tried several times to learn to knit them jumpers without much success (or joy). Some hobbies are probably best left alone.Currently living as far away from any beaches as you can possibly get in mainland UK, Celia has always dreamt of living by the sea, and that dream will hopefully soon become a reality. She loves walking, reading, having large bubbly baths, eating, and drinking wine. Over the years, she has found that all of these activities bar the first may be done simultaneously, although this can be messy…