Book Synopsis:

From the #1 bestselling author of All Your Perfects, a workaholic with a too-good-to-be-true romance can’t stop thinking about her first love.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, It Ends With Us is a heart-wrenching story and an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price. 

My Review:

Wow I’m not sure where to start with this review. I picked up this book as I’d heard lots of great things about it and was naturally very intrigued. I was expecting a light hearted romance story but It Ends With Us is actually a heartbreaking, emotional and powerful read which I really wasn’t expecting.

I was immediately drawn into the story and into the lives of the characters. I enjoyed getting to know Lily, Ryle, Alyssa and the lovely Atlas who was my favourite character. The book is told primarily from Lily’s points of view with flashbacks from her journal as a teenager which gives some background into her relationship with Atlas. I thought this was very effective especially as the flashbacks were spread out to complement what was happening in the present day.

About half way through the book the tone of the story changes abruptly and takes on a more serious note. Although I initially didn’t like this change and kept wishing it would go back to how it was before I soon realised the powerful message behind the story. It would have been very easy to have made this a light hearted story, something the author acknowledges in the epilogue, and I thought it was very brave of the author to take it in a different direction.

Overall I absolutely loved this book and immediately went and bought more books from this author after finishing. The book was just so addictive that I was soon finding any opportunity to read just a few more pages of it as I really wanted to find out what happens next. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to read the sequel when it comes out later this month. Highly recommended by me!

About The Author:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.For more information and for a schedule of events, please visit colleenhoover.com.To contact Colleen and her team (Her team’s name is Stephanie), please email hooverink@outlook.com

Book Synopsis:

Drew Price has a gift, or perhaps a curse.

When a demon possesses a person, Drew can see the horrific-looking demon that dwells within. This ability has made him a demon hunter, armed with the one weapon that can send these fiends back to Hell; the demon dagger.

A demon named Nicobar sets its sights on punishing this hunter. It starts by taking the soul of Drew’s son, condemning the boy to life as a psychopath.

This fast-paced, chilling novel follows Drew’s attempt to save his son’s soul and then use the blade to end Nicobar’s time on Earth.

My Review:

Demon Dagger is a fast paced, intriguing read from a new author for me. I’ve never seen the TV show supernatural but as a huge fan of charmed and a teenage crush on the lovely Drew Fuller (who I kept imagine as Drew Price) I was instantly intrigued by this book.

The author takes the reader back to the beginning to when a young Drew meets his mentor Lincoln and learns about his special ability. I really liked this as I felt it helped me understand Drew a little more and helped give me a valuable insight into the world he was to inhabit. This is particularly interesting when Drew becomes an adult and we see the impact his gift is having on his family.

The characters were all great creations who I enjoyed following throughout the book. My favourite character was Mavin who I absolutely loved and enjoyed watching his partnership with Drew. I wasn’t very fond of Drew’s wife though who came across as being quite unreasonable and uncaring at times.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be more books with Drew and Mavin. The book is a bit of a slow burn as the author sets the scene but soon picks up to become very thrilling indeed. The author’s fabulous descriptions of the world Drew lives in made me able to clearly see the terrifying demons, and a bit terrified of walking past people in real life after reading. The story kept me gripped until the end of the story and I felt sad to close the book and leave Drew and Mavin behind – more please!

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

About The Author:

Russell R. James was raised on Long Island, New York and spent too much time watching Chiller, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and Dark Shadows, despite his parents’ warnings. Bookshelves full of Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe didn’t make things better. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida.

After flying helicopters with the U.S. Army and a career as a technical writer, he now spins twisted tales best read in daylight, including horror thrillers Dark Inspiration, Q Island, and The Playing Card Killer. He authored the Grant Coleman Adventures series starting with Cavern of the Damned and the Ranger Kathy West series starting with Claws. He resides in sunny Florida. His wife reads his work, rolls her eyes, and says “There is something seriously wrong with you.”

Visit his website at http://www.russellrjames.com, follow on Twitter @RRJames14, or say hello at Russell R. James or Russell James- Author on Facebook.

Book Synopsis:

WREN WAS NEVER AFRAID OF THE DARK. UNTIL SHE LEARNED THAT SOME MONSTERS ARE REAL . . .
_________

In deep Louisiana, a serial killer with a taste for medical experimentation is completing his most ambitious project yet. The media call him ‘The Butcher’ – and, so far, he’s proved impossible to catch.

With her encyclopaedic knowledge of humanity’s darkest minds, and years of experience examining their victims, forensic pathologist Dr Wren Muller is the best there is. The longer the Butcher’s killing spree continues, the more determined she is to bring him to justice.

And yet, he continues to elude her.

As body after body piles up on Wren’s examination table, her obsession grows. Pressure to put an end to the slaughter mounts. And her enemy becomes more brazen.

How far is Wren willing to go to draw the Butcher into the light . . .?

An addictive read with straight-from-the-morgue details only an autopsy technician could provide, The Butcher and the Wren promises to ensnare all who enter.

My Review:

The Butcher And The Wren is an addictive, dark and chilling book which is perfect for reading this spooky season.

Firstly The Butcher is one of the worst serial killers I’ve ever read about. There was something so cold and calculating about him that sent a shiver down my spine as I read. The way he plays with his victims before killing them, making their murders into a game for his enjoyment was truly disturbing and shocking to read about at times.

Wren was a fantastic character who I enjoyed getting to know throughout the book. She’s definitely a clever lady and I found it fascinating to learn more about pathology from her. Her relationship with the other detectives was lovely to see. It was great to follow their investigation, hear their banter but also see how caring they could be with each other. This made them seem more real and I felt more invested in what was have to them as a result.

The story goes along at a great pace and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my attention. Wren and The Butchers point of view is told in alternate chapters which was very interesting as it gave me an insight into the killers mind. The twists kept me guessing which I always love and made me read faster as I was desperate to find out how the book ends.

Huge thanks to Sriya for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Michael St Joseph for my copy of this book. If you love crime fiction or thrillers then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Alaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the chart-topping show Morbid: A True Crime Podcast. As an autopsy technician by trade, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue. Alaina hails from Boston, where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters, and a ghost Puggle named Bailey. She is about 75 percent coffee, and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends.

Before writing her first psychological horror novel, she received degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and biology. When she isn’t hosting Morbid, she hosts the Parcast original show Crime Countdown, and a horror movie podcast called Scream!. Her days are usually spent either recording or eviscerating. The way she sees it, when she hangs up her microphone for the day, it’s time to let the dead speak.

Book Synopsis:

An island of secrets. A runaway. And a promise…

A rebellious daughter
1925. Among the ancient honey-coloured walls of the tiny island of Malta, strangers slip into the shadows and anyone can buy a new name. Rosalie Delacroix flees Paris for a dancer’s job in the bohemian clubs deep in its winding streets.

A sister with a secret
1944. Running from the brutality of war in France, Florence Baudin faces a new life. But her estranged mother makes a desperate request: to find her vanished sister, who went missing years before.

A rift over generations
Betrayals and secrets, lies and silence hang between the sisters. A faded last letter from Rosalie is Florence’s only clue, the war an immovable barrier – and time is running out…

My Review:

The Hidden Palace is a thoroughly absorbing, captivating book that I really enjoyed.

Firstly I really loved being back with Florence and Jack as it was great to continue their story with them. I also found it very intriguing to meet Florence’s absent mum and to learn more about Jack who was always a bit of a mystery in the previous books.

The author’s vivid descriptions of Wartime England and Malta were very vivid. I felt completely transported to both places almost like I was actually there watching everything unfold. I didn’t know much about Malta and it’s history so I really enjoyed learning more about it. It was quite poignant to realise what ordinary citizens went through and how much they suffered, particularly as I don’t think I’d have been able to do it.

Overall, as you can probably tell, I loved this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series. The two timelines complement each other nicely and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. I didn’t actually have a favourite timeline which is unusual for me but I liked that as it meant I could relax and just be swept away by the story.

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:

Dinah was born in Malaysia and moved to England at the age of nine.

As a teenager she missed the heat of Malaysia, which left her with a kind of restlessness that led to quite an unusual life. She studied Fashion Design and went to live in Tuscany where she worked as an au-pair for an Italian countess. There was even a time when Dinah lived with a rock band in a ‘hippie’ commune in Suffolk.

Although Dinah and her husband spent five wonderful years living in a small 16th Century village in Northern Andalusia, she’s happy to say they now live close to her family in Gloucestershire along with two crazy Maine Coon cats.

Good afternoon everyone I’m on the blog tour for the fantastic One Last Gift by Emily Stone today.

My review is below as well as details on how to take part in a treasure hunt to win a voucher for Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at Gravetye Manor – https://www.gravetyemanor.co.uk/. Which is a 4 star luxury country hotel in Sussex, and the restaurant is Michelin starred! It is the hotel which is featured in One Last Gift – I won’t say anything in case you haven’t read it, but if you have read it, hopefully you’ll know which hotel I mean – it’s a key moment for Cassie and Sam’s journey!

Book Synopsis:

For as long as Cassie can remember, it had been the three of them: Cassie, her big brother Tom, and Tom’s annoying best friend Sam.

Now, Tom is sorted, Sam is flying high, and Cassie thinks she’s figured it all out. Then tragedy happens and three become two.

For Cassie picking herself up seems unimaginable. Until she finds an envelope addressed to her, asking her to follow the trail to one last gift…

And suddenly what seems like an ending leads Cassie to something unexpected, beautiful and new…

Take an unforgettable journey from London to the Hamptons to the south of France…

My Review:

I absolutely loved Alway, In December so I’ve been impatiently waiting for her to release a new book. I was definitely not disappointed as One Last Gift was a beautiful, heartwarming and emotional read. One of the quotes in the book recommends water proof mascara and they are not joking!

Firstly I loved the amazing characters and really enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book. Tom the kind, protective big brother who always looks after his little sister and his sweet best friend Sam were such wonderful creations that I warmed to instantly. I found myself wishing I knew them or that I was their friend too. I enjoyed reading about their interactions with each other with all their banter and in jokes which often had me laughing out loud.

The treasure hunt was truly beautiful and I loved following Cassie as she tried to solve it. It was great to see where it took her and I had to keep reading to find out where she went next. I found myself tearing up as I read and as I realised how much thought had been put into the hunt. The story didn’t go the way I was expecting and their were lots of surprising twists that took the story in an unexpected direction.

The Romance part of the book was very sweet to watch unravel, particularly as it seemed so realistic and didn’t come as easily as expected. Sam and Cassie are both grieving and it was very emotional to watch them go through this. The ending was brilliant, more so because it seemed hard won. I can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

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

Treasure Hunt:

As mentioned above the author is running a treasure hunt as part of the blog tour to win a voucher for Dinner Bed and Breakfast at Gravetye Manor – https://www.gravetyemanor.co.uk/. It’s a 4 star luxury country hotel in Sussex, and the restaurant is Michelin starred! It is the hotel which is featured in One Last Gift – I won’t say anything in case you haven’t read it, but if you have read it, hopefully you’ll know which hotel I mean – it’s a key moment for Cassie and Sam’s journey!

Each day, there will be a clue to solve – that clue will lead to a word. So if you solve the clue on day one, you’ll end up with one word, day two, two words, etc. There are 11 words in total, for the 11 days of the blog tour  – so at the end, everyone who’s figured it out will have an 11-word sentence. 

To enter, after you’ve got the sentence from all the clues at the end of the blog tour, people should email publicity@headline.co.uk with the subject header ONE LAST GIFT TREASURE HUNT and the answer to the clue (the sentence) in the body of the email. The deadline to enter is the end of October. The winner will be chosen at random, and have the voucher emailed to them. If you have space to include details on how to enter on the post, that would be great. 

DAY ONE, CLUE ONE: Let’s start the hunt with a three-letter word, something you’ve no doubt often heard… 

About The Author:

Emily Stone lives and works in Chepstow and wrote her debut novel ALWAYS, IN DECEMBER (Headline 2021), in an old Victorian manor house with an impressive literary heritage. Her debut novel was partly inspired by the death of her mother, when Emily was seven, and wanting to write something that reflected the fact that you carry this grief into adulthood, long after you supposedly move on from the event itself. 

Book Synopsis:

Audrey is marrying Josh; steady, dependable Josh, the love of her life. They share a flat and a bank account, and it’s the only relationship that Audrey’s ever had that feels like something she can put her trust in. But romance should be full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey’s found herself wondering if Josh really is ‘the one’.

So, when Josh’s sister Miranda arrives at their rehearsal dinner with Fred – Audrey’s ‘What If?’ guy, the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with but never saw again – Audrey can’t help but see it as a sign.

Surely Fred’s appearance the night before Audrey is due to get married can’t be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to wonder: could fate be trying to stop her from making a huge mistake?

My Review:

I’m a big fan of this author so I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for this her latest book. I absolutely loved this absorbing, sweet and feel good read.

Firstly I really felt for Audrey as I remember the stress of my wedding day plans and how hard it was to manage everyone’s expectations. That’s not to say I didn’t have a giggle at some of the mishaps that happen or the snide comments from her in-laws, as it’s always funnier when it’s not happening to you. I think these little details helped make the story seem more realistic and I felt more invested in the story wanting to keep reading to find out what happens.

The story is told in three timelines, the day before the wedding, four years before the wedding when she met Josh her husband to be and six years before the wedding when she met Fred the one who got away. The timelines are told in alternate chapters with each one clearly headed so the reader can’t get confused. I found it very interesting to see how each couple started and to note how different the two meetings were. I definitely has my favourite pairing though and enjoyed watching everything develop as the book went on.

Overall I loved this book and think it’s actually my new favourite from her. The story goes along at a great pace and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. There were some great plot twists that kept me guessing and the ending was very surprising and not at all how I expected it to end which I always love.

Huge thanks to Jenny Platt for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hodder for my copy of this book. If you’re looking for a feel good, absorbing and romantic read I thoroughly recommend this one.

About The Author:

Sophie Cousens started her career in television, where she produced, among other things, The Graham Norton Show, Big Brother, Ant and Dec and Russell Howard’s Good News. Working in TV taught her three things;

1 – Wearing a lanyard makes you look as though you know what you are doing.

2 -The best phrase you can contribute in meetings is “let’s action that!”If you say it often enough, hopefully someone else will do your work for you.

3 – If in doubt, find someone wearing a lanyard – they’ll know what to do.

Sophie currently lives in Jersey where she now writes full time. She lives with her husband Tim and has two small children who keep her occupied with important questions such as ‘but did Cinderella have a toothbrush?’ and ‘do giraffe’s know they have really long necks?’ She yearns for a time when she will be able to add a miniature dachshund to the party.

Book Synopsis:

THE RULES

    1. Listen carefully
    2. Do your research
    3. Trust no one
    4. Run for your life
 
Harriet Reed is newly engaged to Edward Holbeck, the heir to an extremely powerful American family.
When Edward’s father hands her a tape of a book he’s been working on, she is desperate to listen.
But as she presses play, it’s clear that this isn’t a novel. It’s a confession to murder.
Feeling isolated and confused, Harriet must work out if this is all part of a plan to test her loyalty. Or something far darker.
Because this might be a game to the Holbeck family – but games can still be deadly.
 
READY OR NOT, HERE THEY COME . . .

My Review:

The Family Game is an exciting, original and absorbing read that was unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.

Firstly what a family the Holbecks are! I was simultaneously glad I didn’t know them but also quite sad that I didn’t. They are all larger than life, mad and thoroughly entertaining characters that I enjoyed getting to know throughout the book. They were quite unpredictable too which made it hard for the reader to guess what was going to happen next.

The story starts off a little slow as the author sets the scene and introduces us to the family but soon gathers pace becoming impossible to put down. The atmosphere and sense of dread seemed to increase with each chapter until it was almost unbearable. The author throws in lots of twists and red herrings so I had to keep changing my mind about what was going on which I always enjoy.

The ending was absolutely fantastic! It was very dramatic, exciting and completely over the top which was just how I wanted a book like this to end. If you are looking for a different, original read I highly recommend this one!

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

About The Author:

Catherine Steadman is an actress and author based in London. She has appeared in leading roles on British and American television but is perhaps best known for playing Mabel Lane Fox in the series Downton Abbey. As well as on screen she has also appeared in the West End where she has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. Catherine lives in Hackney, North London.

Catherine’s first novel, Something in the Water, was a number one New York Times bestseller with rights sold in over 30 territories. Film rights were picked up Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, with Something in the Water becoming a Reeses’s book club pick in the US and a Richard and Judy Book club pick in the UK.

Mr Nobody, her second novel, was listed as one of Newsweek’s 20 Most Anticipated Books of 2020, and her third novel, The Disappearing Act, released in 2021, was number #1 in on the iTunes Audiobook chart.

Her fourth novel The Family Game will be out Sept 2022.

Book Synopsis:

While the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has descended, young Roland Baines’s life is turned upside down. Stranded at boarding school, his vulnerability attracts his piano teacher, Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade.

Twenty-five years later, as the radiation from the Chernobyl disaster spreads across Europe, Roland’s wife mysteriously vanishes and he is forced to confront the reality of his rootless existence and look for answers in his family history.

From the fall of the Berlin Wall to the Covid pandemic and climate change, Roland sometimes rides with the tide of history but more often struggles against it. Haunted by lost opportunities, he seeks solace through every possible means ­- literature, travel, friendship, drugs, politics, sex and love.

His journey raises important questions. Can we take full charge of the course of our lives without damage to others? How do global events beyond our control shape us and our memories? What role do chance and contingency play in our existence? And what can we learn from the traumas of the past?

My Review:

The Lessons is a clever, emotional story that is part coming of age story and part memoir. Throughout the book we follow Roland from childhood school experiences to adulthood where he finds himself a single father. It was very interesting to follow him through these experiences and see how they shaped him.

This book covers a lot of history which I found fascinating, especially as it covered some areas I didn’t know much about. Some of these events occurred in the author’s life time and it was interesting to see his slant on things.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to others. It’s not a quick read as there’s lots to think about and take in but it is a beautiful read with some wonderful descriptions that have stayed with me. I think this would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss.

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

About The Author:

Ian McEwan is a critically acclaimed author of short stories and novels for adults, as well as The Daydreamer, a children’s novel illustrated by Anthony Browne. His first published work, a collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award. His other award-winning novels are The Child in Time, which won the 1987 Whitbread Novel of the Year Award, and Amsterdam, which won the 1998 Booker Prize.

Book Synopsis:

Three women
Three eras
One extraordinary mystery…

1899, Belle Époque Paris. Lucienne’s two daughters are believed dead when her mansion burns to the ground, but she is certain that her girls are still alive and embarks on a journey into the depths of the spiritualist community to find them.

1949, Post-War Québec. Teenager Lina’s father has died in the French Resistance, and as she struggles to fit in at school, her mother introduces her to an elderly woman at the asylum where she works, changing Lina’s life in the darkest way imaginable.

2002, Quebec. A former schoolteacher is accused of brutally stabbing her husband – a famous university professor – to death. Detective Maxine Grant, who has recently lost her own husband and is parenting a teenager and a new baby single-handedly, takes on the investigation.

Under enormous personal pressure, Maxine makes a series of macabre discoveries that link directly to historical cases involving black magic and murder, secret societies and spiritism … and women at breaking point, who will stop at nothing to protect the ones they love…

My Review:

The Bleeding is an intriguing, dark book that manages to be both historical fiction and gothic thriller.

Firstly i must admit I was a little nervous about there being three different time lines to follow but the author does such a great job of describing the setting that I never felt muddled between them. All three were vividly described so that I felt I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters.

The multi layered plot was very intriguing with moments of great excitement but also some quieter, reflective moments which I thought was clever. There were some very chilling, disturbing scenes in the book which made my hair stand on end and the supernatural elements made it unpredictable as you never knew which way the story was going to go. What first appears to be a simple murder case soon turns into something much more darker and chilling which made the book very hard to put down. I would think that I’d finally worked things out and then something would happen to move the story in a completely different direction.

The last third of the book the atmosphere and tension really increases with lots of twists that made me read faster and faster until the final brilliant reveal. If you like dark historical thrillers I really recommend this one!

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

About The Author:

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and television. Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series (Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song) has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in twenty-three countries. The third in the series, Blood Song, was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger. A TV adaptation is currently underway in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. Johana lives in London with her Swedish husband, and three young sons, and is currently working on the book four in the Roy & Castells series. Follow Johana on Twitter @JoGustawsson.