Book Synopsis:

Danny Garvey was a sixteen-year old footballing prodigy. Professional clubs clamoured to sign him, and a glittering future beckoned.

And yet, his early promise remained unfulfilled, and Danny is back home in the tiny village of Barshaw to manage the struggling junior team he once played for. What’s more, he’s hiding a secret about a tragic night, thirteen years earlier, that changed the course of several lives. There’s only one Danny Garvey, they once chanted … and that’s the problem.

A story of irrational hopes and fevered dreams of unstoppable passion and unflinching commitment in the face of defeat There’s Only One Danny Garvey is, above all, an unforgettable tale about finding hope and redemption in the most unexpected of places.

There’s Only One Danny Garvey is out in ebook now and in paperbackback on the 21st January 2021. You can pre-order your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

There’s Only One Danny Garvey is an incredibly absorbing book that manages to be heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Firstly don’t be put off from reading this book if you are not a fan of football as though it is featured in the story this book is about so much more. I thought the author did a great job of describing the passion and community that can come with football, though this isn’t always in a positive way. It also helps highlight how easy it can be to be thrown into that world and spat out again if things go wrong.

Danny was a very sympathetic character who was easy to get behind. I felt very sorry for the way things turned out and wished that things would improve for him. He has a good support network around him which was nice to see and who all bring different things to his life. The interaction between him and his young son was wonderful to read about. It helped bring some truly heartwarming moments to the story.

Overall I really enjoyed this gritty, absorbing read which will stay with me for a long time. It was quite an emotional read at times, especially when things weren’t going Danny’s way but I liked how the author keeps the story realistic and doesn’t make it a sweeter story which I feel would have been easy to do. It’s book that I’m hoping to read again soon and one I’ll definitely be recommending to everyone.

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

About The Author:

David F. Ross was born in Glasgow in 1964 and has lived in Kilmarnock for over 30 years. He is a graduate of the Mackintosh School of Architecture at Glasgow School of Art, an architect by day, and a hilarious social media commentator, author and enabler by night. His debut novel The Last Days of Disco was shortlisted for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award, and received exceptional critical acclaim, as did the other two books in the Disco Days Trilogy: The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous Vespas and The Man Who Loved Islands. David lives in Ayrshire.

Book Synopsis:

A gripping thriller featuring an ordinary woman who will stop at nothing to find the missing people that the rest of the world has forgotten.

Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman with more regrets than belongings who spends her life doing what no one else will: searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie starts looking.

A new case brings Frankie to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier.

Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim’s wary family tells Frankie she’s on her own. And she soon learns she’s asking questions someone doesn’t want answered.

But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing will be her …

Before She Disappeared is published in ebook and hardback on the 21st January 2011. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author so you can imagine my excitement when I got invited onto the blog tour for this her latest book. I was definitely not disappointed as this was another fantastic thriller that helped me get over a bit of a reading slump.

Firstly i absolutely loved the heroic though flawed main character Frankie who I enjoyed following on her investigation. I really admired her determination and bravery as she tries to discover what happened to Angelique, despite some quite fierce resistance at times. Her missions appear so selfless as she doesn’t get paid for her work but does it just to help others which I think was lovely. A special mention has to be mad to the grumpy cat Frankie shares a room with who helps provide some comic relief to the story and some comfort to her too.

This story gripped me from the start with its rather intense opening. The author’s really vivid descriptions often .are me feel like I was in the story following Frankie as she investigates. This was particularly true at the beginning when I actually found myself feeling breathless whilst reading about her investigating under water. The story had a great pace to it and there was always something happening to keep my interest. I really enjoyed how there were so many different layers to the story which were gradually peeled back to reveal the truth. The ending was very clever and took me completely by surprise. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Arrow publishing for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk children and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read! Readers are invited to enter the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate” Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa’s latest novel. Readers have nominated themselves, spouses, bosses. It’s cheaper than therapy and twice as much fun! For more details, visit Lisa’s website, http://www.LisaGardner.com. Her latest, BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, is available January 19, 2021. Meet Frankie Elkin, an everyday average person who specializes in finding missing minority children. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. Her latest mission has brought her to Mattapan, Boston to find a missing Haitian teen. Eleven months later, Angelique Badeau’s disappearance remains a mystery. What happened to the quiet, studious teen? Frankie learns quickly the dangers of asking too many questions, but that won’t stop her from discovering the truth behind what happened BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.

Book Synopsis:

Our parents were taken. And if we go home, the Nazis will take us too…’

Hamburg 1938. Fifteen-year-old Asta is hurrying home from school with her twin brother Jurgen. The mood in the city is tense – synagogues have been smashed with sledgehammers, and Asta is too frightened to laugh as she used to.

But when she and Jurgen are stopped in the street by a friend, her world implodes further. Her Jewish parents have been dragged into the streets by German soldiers and if she and Jurgen return to their house, they will be taken too.

Heartbroken at the loss of her parents, Asta knows they must flee. With her beloved brother, she must make the perilous journey across Germany and into Denmark to reach their only surviving relative, her aunt Trine, a woman they barely know.

Jammed into a truck with other refugees, Asta prays for a miracle to save herself and Jurgen. Crossing the border is a crime punishable by death, and what she and Jurgen must embark on a dangerous crossing on foot, through the snowy forest dividing Germany and Denmark. And when barking dogs and armed soldiers find Jurgen and Asta escapes, she must hold on to hope no matter what. One day she will find her twin, the other half of herself. Whatever the price she has to pay…

A gripping and poignant read that will break your heart and give you hope. Fans of Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah and Catherine Hokin will be gripped by the story of a brave brother and sister seeking safety during one of the darkest times in our history.

The German Girl is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

The German Girl is a heartbreaking and gripping piece of historical fiction that will stay with me for a long time. I have read all of Lily’s books and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better.

The thing that most stood out for me was how real the book felt. The author has clearly done her research and the book had a very authentic feel to it. Obviously we know from history that these events actually happened but the author manages to put such emotion and anguish into the story that you feel as if you are reading about real people rather than fictional characters. I hadn’t read much about wartime Denmark so it was interesting to learn more about events there and the gradual increase of hatred towards the Jewish people.

The twins were amazing main characters who I loved following throughout the book. Their close bond was lovely to read while their strength and determination made them easy to get behind. I found I had to keep reading as I really wanted to find out what happens to them, while also dreading finding out as I expected it wouldn’t be the happy ending I was hoping for

The tension in the book gradually increases as the story goes on and we follow the twins on their dangerous journey to their aunts house. The author has cleverly written the book so that the reader feels they are running alongside the twins experiencing everything alongside them. My heart was in my mouth as I read and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough as things unfolded. Throughout the book I had grown close to the twins and I found myself really caring about what happens to them. I kept wishing I could somehow have helped and wondering what I would have done in a similar situation. I now can’t wait to read more from this talented author.

Huge thanks to Sarah Hardy for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Lily Graham is the author of the bestselling, The Child of Auschwitz, The Paris Secret and The Island Villa, among others. Her books have been translated into numerous languages, including French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish. She grew up in South Africa, and was a journalist for a decade before giving it up to write fiction full time. Her first three novels were lighter, women’s fiction, but when she wrote The Island Villa, a story about a secret Jewish community living on the tiny island of Formentera during the Spanish Inquisition, she switched to historical fiction and hasn’t quite looked back since. She lives now in the Suffolk coast with her husband and English bulldog, Fudge. Her latest book, The Flight of Swallows, set in Denmark and Sweden, will be out in January 2021.

Book Synopsis:

Dan has worked hard for the perfect life. He has a loving wife, beautiful kids, a fabulous home and is a successful businessman.

One afternoon Dan steps onto his usual train and sees the waitress who served him an hour earlier. It all seemed so normal, but it was the most dreadful mistake. Four stops later, Dan is a criminal who has lost everything. He’d only just met her, so why did she destroy him—and why did she say ‘Sorry’?

Dan battles through a web of lies and deceit to clear his name and win his life back, but first, he needs to find out who plotted his downfall.

‘The inspiration behind the story came from reading articles on how unexpected events can make someone’s world unravel. It struck me just how fragile all of our lives really are. It could happen to any of us. All it would take is one mistake.’ —Jem Tugwell

Dishonoured is a compelling psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages, with a cast of characters that will keep the reader guessing right to the very end.

Dishonoured is published in ebook and paperback on the 14th January 2021. You can pre-order your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

Dishonoured was a well written, fast paced and totally gripping thriller which I found difficult to put down.

Firstly i really liked the main character, Dan, who I warmed to quickly. The situation he finds himself in is quite a realistic one and I found myself getting quite indignant about the injustice of it all. As a mum my heart went out to him for the loss of his family and I wished I could reach into the book to give him a hug. I was very glad that he had the wonderful Anomaly on his side helping to fight for justice.

This is a fast paced story, with lots happening and many twists to keep the reader on their toes. The writing is very precise and focuses on what is happening without a lot of description which helped with the pace and the short chapters helped make it an easy book to read. The final twist was completely unexpected and I thought very clever.

This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I’d definitely be interested in reading more from her 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 which I will be recommending to all thriller fans!

About The Author:

Jem Tugwell was born in Berkshire and has a BSc in Computer Science, an MBA and a Crime Writing MA from City University. 

In a past life, Jem had a successful career in IT and investment management. Jem’s loves are snowboarding, old cars and bikes. He lives in Surrey with his wife and dog. He has two great children. 

Jem has published two novels with Serpentine Books. Proximity and No Signal are the first two books in his ’iMe’ series. These are crime novels set in the near future, featuring DI Clive Lussac and his partner Zoe Jordan. Dishonoured is his first psychological thriller.

For more information on Jem and his books, please visit his website – http://www.jemtugwell.com or join the discussion on Twitter @JemTugwell and Facebook @JemTugwellAuthor

Book Synopsis:

Hare’s Landing, West Cork. A house full of mystery…

Rachel Lambert leaves London afraid for her personal safety and determined to uncover the truth behind the sudden death of a homeless man with links to a country house hotel called Hare’s Landing.

New York-based crime reporter Caroline Kelly’s career is threatened by a lawsuit and she needs some thinking space away from her job. But almost as soon as she arrives, Hare’s Landing begins to reveal its own stories – a 30-year-old missing person’s case and the mysterious death of the hotel’s former owner.

As Rachel and Caroline join forces, it becomes clear that their investigations are intertwined – and that there is nothing more dangerous than the truth…

The Dark Room is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by ordering through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

The Dark Room was an intriguing, entertaining and atmospheric read which I really enjoyed.

Firstly the author does a great job setting the scene in this book and I loved the vivid descriptions of the hotel and it’s surroundings. I really want to visit Cork so I enjoyed learning more about it The hotel sounded amazing with all the beautiful rooms and antique furniture. It’s a place I feel I’d loved to walk around and explore in real life.

The characters were fabulous creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. I liked how the author gives the reader the chance to get to know the characters a bit before the story properly kicks off. I felt this helped me understand them a bit more and that I cared about what happened to them. Rachel and Caroline were a fantastic duo, whose conversations often made me laugh out loud. They soon felt like old friends and I had to keep reading to find out what happens to them.

Overall I thought this was a gripping read which pulled me into the story from the beginning with the intriguing quote that starts the story. It is a dark read in places but this is broken up with some funny and touching moments so it doesn’t get too scary. The spooky moments did make me jump at times though as they always seemed to happen when I was least expecting them. The plot goes along at a good pace with the many twists keeping me on my toes. I’m now very interested in reading more from this author in the future.

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

About The Author:

Sam Blake is a pseudonym for Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, the founder of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy and the hugely popular national writing resources website writing.ie. She is Ireland’s leading literary scout and has assisted many award-winning and bestselling authors to publication. Vanessa has been writing fiction since her husband set sail across the Atlantic for eight weeks and she had an idea for a book.

Book Synopsis:

A girl looking for love…
When Jane, a broke dog-walker newly arrived in town, meets Eddie Rochester, she can’t believe her luck. Eddie is handsome, rich and lives alone in a beautiful mansion since the tragic death of his beloved wife a year ago.

A man who seems perfect…
Eddie can give Jane everything she’s always wanted: stability, acceptance, and a picture-perfect life.

A wife who just won’t stay buried…
But what Jane doesn’t know is that Eddie is keeping a secret – a big secret. And when the truth comes out, the consequences are far more deadly than anyone could ever have imagined…

A delicious twist on a Gothic classic, The Wife Upstairs is perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware and Shari Lapena.

The Wife Upstairs is available in ebook now for the amazing price of 99p and in paperbackback on the 29th April 2021. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Wife Upstairs is a smart, twisty and addictive thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.

I love books that are based on Jane Austen’s classics so I was very excited to start this one. I loved that the author manages to keep similarities to Jane Eyre in the story but also keeps it slightly different by adding a modern twist to it.

Jane is a very interesting main character and, in a lot of ways, is a far cry from the original slightly passive Jane in Austen’s book. She is not a particular likeable character and while on the surface she seems very sweet, inside she is incredibly envious of everything her clients have. She’s quite a sarcastic person and her witty narration often had me laughing out loud as I read.

The story is told from the point of view of Jane, Eddie and Bea which I thought was cleverly done as it allows the reader to understand the whole story better. There are lots of twists which kept me guessing, including some very unexpected ones which helped ensure I kept reading. The ending was brilliant! Very unexpected, thrilling and thoroughly entertaining.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. If you are a fan of easy, twisty and addictive reads then I thoroughly recommend this one.

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

About The Author:

Rachel Hawkins is the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books for young readers, and her work has been translated in over a dozen countries. She studied gender and sexuality in Victorian literature at Auburn University and currently lives in Alabama with her husband and son. The Wife Upstairs is her first adult novel.

Book Synopsis:

The funniest WTF AM I DOING?! novel of the year

‘Hilarious, moving and filled with clear-eyed wisdom’ – Lucy Dillon

Nell Stevens’ life is a mess.

When her business goes bust and her fiancé with it, Nell’s happy ever after in California falls apart and she moves back to London to start over. But a lot has changed since she’s been gone. All her single friends are now married with children, sky-high rents force her to rent a room in a stranger’s house and in a world of perfect Instagram lives, she feels like a f**k up. Even worse, a forty-something f**k up.

But when she lands a job writing obituaries, Nell meets the fabulous Cricket, an eighty-something widow with challenges of her own, and they strike up an unlikely friendship. Together they begin to help each other heal their aching hearts, cope with the loss of the lives they had planned, and push each other into new adventures and unexpected joys.

Because Nell is determined. Next year things are going to be very different. It’s time to turn her life around.

An international bestseller, this is a book for anyone who’s ever worried life isn’t going to plan, Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter will make you laugh and it might even make you cry. But most importantly, it will remind you that you’re not alone, because we’re all in this together.

Confessions of a Forty-Something F##k Up is available in ebook and hardback now. You can pre-order your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

I absolutely loved this uplifting, funny and absorbing read which was perfect for cheering me up after Christmas. I’ve been recommending it to everyone as I think we all need this book in our lives at the moment!

Firstly I absolutely loved Nell and I wish that I knew her in real life. She is such a realistic character, with many flaws and quirky ways of doing things that I warmed to her quickly. I think everyone will be able to relate to her in some way and it was great fun to follow her throughout the book. She definitely goes on a fascinating journey of discovery to find herself and it was an absolute joy to follow her on it. Cricket was another brilliant character who I grew fond of. Her zest and attitude to life was very inspiring and I hope that I am like her when I’m older.

The story builds slowly as we learn more about Nell, her past and the different groups of people in her life. There was always something happening which kept me glued to the page and lots of funny moments which had me laughing out loud, much to the amusement of my kids. It was very interesting to have a fly on the wall glimpse into the different parts of her life and to see how she dealt with all the problems she encounters. The modern twist of the podcast was a nice touch too, I’d definitely listen to a podcast like that.

I thought there was a lovely message running through the book that despite outward appearances no one’s life is fairy tale perfect and maybe if everyone was honest about what was happening in their lives it would stop a lot of problems. The ending was brilliant and very satisfying. I did guess how it would end but I actually enjoyed that as it meant I could relax more into the story. I was very sad to finish the book and I hope that there will be a sequel as I would love to visit Nell again.

Huge thanks to Pan Macmillan for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Alexandra Potter is the bestselling author of eleven romantic comedy fiction novels in the UK. These titles have sold in twenty-two territories and achieved worldwide sales of more than one million copies (making the bestseller charts in the UK, US, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Serbia).

Yorkshire born and raised, Alex currently lives in South-West London with Mr California and their Bosnian rescue dog and when she’s not spending time writing or travelling, she’s spending far too much time on Instagram being reminded that she should be exercising regularly, drinking enough water, practising mindfulness and feeling blessed.

Book Synopsis:

He is her husband. She is his captive.

Her husband calls her Jane. That is not her name.

She lives in a small farm cottage, surrounded by vast, open fields. Everywhere she looks, there is space. But she is trapped. No one knows how she got to the UK: no one knows she is there. Visitors rarely come to the farm; if they do, she is never seen.

Her husband records her every movement during the day. If he doesn’t like what he sees, she is punished.

For a long time, escape seemed impossible. But now, something has changed. She has a reason to live and a reason to fight. Now, she is watching him, and waiting . . .

The Last To Burn is available in ebook and hardback on the 7th January 2021. You can pre-order your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

The Last Thing To Burn is a powerful, tense and gripping read that will be staying with me for a long time.

Firstly this isn’t an easy read due to its subject matter and I often found myself having to stop for little breaks as I was finding it very intense As in his previous books the author has a great way of describing the setting so the reader is able to see it in their mind. I really felt that I could picture the bleak, rugged countryside and I was therefore able to understand more how isolated Jane’s situation was.

Jane was a fantastic main character who I warmed to quickly and felt a lot of sympathy for, especially as the reader becomes aware of the terrifying situation she is in. She’s an incredibly strong determined lady and I was continuously amazed by her strength. The story is told from her point of view and I found it very interesting to learn more about her coping strategies. Lenn, on the other hand, was one of the most awful characters I’ve read about. He was an absolutely terrifying man who seemed to use every method available to control and bully Jane. He made my skin crawl with his behaviour and I wished I could go into the book to help in some way.

This book gripped me from the start and I found myself thoroughly absorbed by all that was going on. It was truly a nerve shredding read and I was constantly on edge wondering what would happen next. I think the reason the book is so hard hitting is that it seems so realistic, like this situation could actually happen maybe is happening somewhere at the moment (I really hope not). I felt very nervous for Jane and had to keep reading to find out if she escapes. I’ll be recommending this book to everyone and I look forward to reading more from this author!

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

About The Author:

Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands and had lived in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying Law at the LSE and working in London, he settled in rural Sweden where he built a house in a boggy clearing at the centre of a vast elk forest, and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes. His debut novel, Dark Pines, was selected for Zoe Ball’s Book Club, shortlisted for the Guardian Not the Booker prize and named a Daily Telegraph Book of the Year. Red Snow was published in January 2019 and won Best Independent Voice at the Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards, 2019.

Book Synopsis:

Hannah Swan is looking forward to Christmas for the first time in years. Her new job as an eco-consultant is taking her – and her geeky colleague, Noah – to the beautiful Cornish village of Porthgolow for the first time.
They’re are helping the Crystal Waters Hotel to ramp up its green credentials, though after a bumpy journey, Hannah can’t shake off the feeling that Porthgolow is strangely familiar. Never able to resist a mystery, her interest is piqued when the hotel’s staff and customers report odd noises and sightings, believing the hotel to be haunted.
When bad weather cuts off Porthgolow, Hannah and Noah are looking at a Cornish Christmas. It gives them plenty of time to work out what is really going on, but will their yuletide escape send shivers up their spines? Or will it be as warm and toasty as a glass of mulled wine?

The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or through your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

The Cornish Cream Tea Christmas is a lovely, warm read which is perfect to read on the run up to Christmas.

I absolutely adored being back in Porthgolow and the wonderful tea bus. Throughout this wonderful series I feel like I have really gotten to know the characters so I loved being able to catch up with them and find out what they’ve been getting up to. In this book all of the old gang are back but there are also some wonderful new characters to get to know too. I enjoyed learning more about Hannah and it was very interesting to find out more about her past.

There was a lovely festive feel throughout the book which was lovely to read about. I liked that it wasn’t overdone to make the story too sweet. It seemed natural and made me feel all warm inside whilst I read. The community of Porthgolow seemed so lovely and it made me wish that I was a part of it as it’s such a loving place

Overall I really enjoyed this book and managed to read it in a couple of days, despite me promising myself I was going to ration it. The ending was beautiful and I now can’t wait to see how things pan out in the next book.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book. If you are looking for a heart warming, festive read to curl up with then I definitely recommend this one!

About The Author:

Cressy was born in South East London surrounded by books and with a cat named after Lawrence of Arabia. She studied English at the University of East Anglia and now lives in Norwich with her husband David.

Cressy’s favourite things include terrifying ghost stories, lava lamps and romantic heroes, though not necessarily at the same time. She doesn’t (yet) have a dog of her own, but feeds her love vicariously through friends’ pets, and was once chased around a field by a soaking wet, very mischievous Border Collie called Wags.

When she isn’t writing, Cressy spends her spare time reading, returning to London or exploring the beautiful Norfolk coastline.