Book Synopsis:

The most chilling read of Christmas 2020.

As the snow begins to fall, the body count begins to climb…

DI James Walker is ready for a quiet family Christmas in the sleepy village of Kirkby Abbey.
 
But when he opens an early Christmas present left on his doorstep, he soon realises it is no gift. Inside is a gruesome surprise, and a promise – twelve days, twelve murders. Not long after, the first body is found, half frozen in the snow.
 
As the blizzards descend, panic spreads through the remote Cumbrian village – there’s a killer amongst them, and with eleven more victims to go, anyone could be next….
 
Can James stop the killer before they strike again?

The first in a new series, Alex Pine has written a dark, atmospheric crime novel, set in a snowed-in Cumbrian village, for fans of Val McDermid, Ross Greenwood and LJ Ross.

The Christmas killer is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore!

My Review:

Ooh I do like a thriller set at Christmas time. The expectation of it being a happy occasion always makes the book more atmospheric and the crimes extra chilling. This book was no exception and I liked the added twist that the snow falling created a locked room scenario where the killer was trapped in the village alongside everyone. The mention of 12 murders helps give an ominous countdown to Christmas and one that I’d prefer not to have. This did ensure I kept reading as I wanted to see when the next letter would show up and where.

The characters were all very interesting creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. The setting of a small, gossipy village was fantastically done and I did so enjoy finding out about all the residents little secrets. There were some characters who I warmed to instantly but others who I loved to hate which always makes a story more fun to read. I did like DI Walker and found his constant surprise about the snow quite amusing, however I found his wife very annoying. She seemed really needy and quite nosey as she always had to know everything that was happening in the investigation. I’m not sure if a DI would be able to discuss the case with his partner in real life but his recaps did help me keep up to date with everything that was going on.

The book does start off quite slowly and I did guess who the murderer was fairly early on However I did so enjoy trying to figure out their motives and who they were going to target next. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes their crime fiction with a bit of a slower pace so that it allows them to become more absorbed in the story. It will be great for curling up with this winter!

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

About The Author:

Alex Pine was born and raised on a council estate in South London and left school at sixteen. Before long, he embarked on a career in journalism, which took him all over the world – many of the stories he covered were crime-related. Among his favourite hobbies are hiking and water-based activities, so he and his family have spent lots of holidays in the Lake District. He now lives with his wife on a marina close to the New Forest on the South Coast – providing him with the best of both worlds!

Good morning everyone, I hope you are all doing ok on the first day of lockdown? I have an interesting extract to share with you today from Bloodstock by Rod Humphris which is the fourth book in the Simon Ellice series.

Bloodstock is available in ebook and paperback now. You can order you copy using the link below or why not visit your local indie bookstore.

Book Synopsis:

After what feels like a lifetime of mayhem, Simon Ellice returns to the Hampshire village where he grew up. He enjoys the solace and tranquility of rural life, working on a farm and getting to know the lively locals, but suddenly Si walks right into a deadly mystery. Old friends are going missing and then turning up dead. Someone from the City is spreading their evil tentacles and Si dives into London’s underworld to uncover a conspiracy of poisoning, murder and pagan ritual that threatens those closest to him. Written with Humphris’ razor-sharp style, this is Simon Ellice’s darkest and most challenging adventure yet, touching on themes of sacrifice and objectification, that threaten the very foundations of our civilised world.

Extract:

AN INEXPENSIVE WOMAN
I saw her and wanted her. What can I say; I’m a man, and it had been a while. She was leaning on the rail, looking across the waterat Polly, and I was certain she was alone. I went over to her and said, “She looks like a swan in the company of pigs, doesn’t she?” Iwas the best I could think of at the time.
“She?” she said, in a Russian accent. She didn’t move her head, but kept right on looking at Polly.“All boats are female,” I said.
“Boat go anywhere,” she said.
“You can. From shore to shining shore. She has swum the coral main and braced the foaming seas of faery lands forlorn.”“Boat yours?” She turned to me now. Her face was lovely in that pale, high cheek-boned way. Her widely spaced eyes were asblue, in their heavily shadowed orbits, as the winter skies over the caucasus. Or so it seemed to me.

Ooh sounds intriguing doesn’t it, I’m definitely going to read more!

About The Author:

Rod Humphris is the author of a number of acclaimed thrillers. He is the
happiest and most productive when travelling about in his battered old
truck with a canoe in top and a dog in the back. He currently lives in Bath.
Rod Humphris is the winner of N. N. Light Best Fiction Award 2016

Book Synopsis:

They survived the Great War, but will life ever be the same?

Spring 1919: WW1 is over and a fragile peace has descended over the country. Now living in Cambridge with husband Edmond, Amy Derwent is settling into her new life as wife and mother to little Beth. But the shadow of the Great War looms large, particularly as the injuries Edmond sustained at Ypres still take their toll on him today.

Edmond’s cousin, Vicky, has now grown into a fine young woman, eager to help her
country. Throwing off her privileged background to train as a nurse, she spends her days tending to the many soldiers still suffering the after-effects of their time on the battlefield.

Meeting Maxim Duclos, a young Frenchman who has arrived in Larchbury, fills her heart with joy – but when it is discovered that Maxim may be hiding the truth about his past, Vicky is faced with an impossible choice. Follow her heart’s desire and risk her family’s disapproval or keep her family – but deny herself the chance of true love?

The war may be over, but Edmond, Amy and Vicky must all face a new battle, finding their own peace in a country wounded by loss.

Until We Can Forgive is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Ok firstly, disclaimer, this is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’m not sure why I’ve never picked up one of her books before but I was very impressed with the quality of writing in this one, so I’ll definitely be going back and reading all of her previous books now.

The thing that most stood out for me in this book was the fantastic, vivid descriptions which helped me feel very connected to the story. I really felt like I was inside the story experiencing everything alongside the characters which gave me a fascinating insight into what life must have been like in ww1.

I thought there were some fascinating characters in this book. Some I absolutely adored and some I wished would get their just deserts. It was great fun following them throughout the book and seeing how things ended for them. I must admit to loving how the book ended as I found it incredibly satisfying to see people get the happy endings I felt they deserved.

I think I went through all the emotions whilst reading this book. Some of the scenes were very emotional but others were really uplifting and I felt like I went through everything alongside the characters. I always think this shows great skill by the author to make a reader feel so strongly about a book.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hera books for my copy via Netgalley

About The Author:

Rosemary Goodacre was thrilled to have a three book deal with Hera Books. Her World War I romance, Until We Meet Again, the first of the books from this deal was released in October 2019.  Her heroine, Amy, faced many challenges as she works as a nurse and struggles to spend time with Edmond, her sweetheart.

Previously Rosemary has had a novella published, entitled A Fortnight is not Enough, and a science fiction story in the anthology Telescoping Time.

Rosemary always loved languages and travel, mainly in Europe. In her spare time she enjoyed country walking, bridge and classical music. She lived in Kent, England.

Sadly it was announced by Hera Books that Rosemary passed away in October 2020 and my thought are with her family.

Book Synopsis:

Wanted: Company Daughters. Virtuous young ladies to become the brides of industrious settlers in a foreign land. The Company will pay the cost of the lady’s dowry and travel. Returns not permitted, orphans preferred.

Amsterdam, 1620. Jana Beil has learned that life rarely provides moments of joy. Having run away from a violent father, her days are spent searching for work in an effort to stay out of the city brothels, where desperate women trade their bodies for a mouthful of bread. But when Jana is hired as a servant for the wealthy and kind Master Reynst and his beautiful daughter Sontje, Jana’s future begins to look brighter.

But then Master Reynst loses his fortune on a bad investment, and everything changes. The house is sold to creditors, leaving Jana back on the street and Sontje without a future.

With no other choice, Jana and Sontje are forced to sign with the East India Company as Company Daughters: sailing to a colonial Dutch outpost to become the brides of male settlers they know nothing about. With fear in their hearts, the girls begin their journey – but what awaits them on the other side of the world is nothing like what they’ve been promised…

Based on true history, this is a beautiful and sensual historical novel, perfect for fans of Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Miniaturist and The Indigo Girl.

The Company Daughters is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Company Daughters is a captivating, gripping read which was beautifully written.

Firstly I knew nothing about Dutch history so I loved all the little details describing how life was in 17th Century Holland. The author has clearly done her research and I was soon immersed into the characters lives. The practice of sending poor, ophaned girls who otherwise wouldn’t have had a future to Dutch colonies was something I hadn’t heard of before. I was quite shocked to see how they were treated and what they went through, from the dangerous journey to the bleak future that awaited them. My heart went out to them and I found myself reading faster and faster as I wanted to find out how things would end for them.

The two main characters were fantastic creations who I warned to quickly and enjoyed following throughout the book. Jana was a very endearing character who is trying to escape a life of poverty and prostitution by working as a house servant. There she meets Sontje, the daughter of the house who soon becomes a friend to her rather than an employer. I really like Jana who was incredibly strong and determined which was great to read about. She shows a lot of courage throughout the book and it was lovely to see how much she obviously cared for Sontje. The two girls soon became like friends to me and I really cared about what would happen to them. I felt quite sad to finish the book and I had to leave them behind.

Overall I really enjoyed this fascinating, gripping read which I couldn’t believe was the author’s debut novel. The author takes the reader on a wonderful journey of discovery which I didn’t know which way it was going next. My only slight niggle with this book is that I wish there had been English translations for the Dutch words that are included in the story but that’s only a small thing and didn’t stop me thoroughly enjoying the book.

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

About The Author:

Samantha Rajaram spent most of her childhood in Gillette, Wyoming, where she and her family were the first Indian-Americans to live in the community. As a law student, she focused on social justice and international human rights law with a focus on female sex trafficking.

She is now an educator, and currently teaches composition at Chabot College in Hayward, California. She lives in the California Bay Area with her three children.

Book Synopsis:

A truly original, bittersweet tale of life, loss and enduring love that had me completely hooked. A treasure of a book!’ Sunday Times bestseller, Ruth Hogan

This is the story of Ella.
And Robert.
And of all the things they should have said, but never did.

‘What have you been up to?’
I shrug, ‘Just existing, I guess.’
‘Looks like more than just existing.’
Robert gestures at the baby, the lifeboat, the ocean.
‘All right, not existing. Surviving.’
He laughs, not unkindly. ‘Sounds grim.’
‘It wasn’t so bad, really. But I wish you’d been there.’

Ella has known Robert all her life. Through seven key moments and seven key people their journey intertwines.
 
From the streets of Glasgow during WW2 to the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll of London in the 60s and beyond, this is a story of love and near misses. Of those who come in to our lives and leave it too soon. And of those who stay with you forever…

When The Music Stops is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

When The Music Stops has to be one of the most unique books I have read! It’s beautifully written and highly emotional which makes it a very compelling read.

There’s something very interesting about following one person throughout their life, especially if they have lived through some significant historical events. I found it fascinating to follow Ella and to see how certain things have shaped her life. That being said I never really warmed to Ella as a character as I found her to be very prickly and some of her decisions incredibly questionable. I did feel sympathetic towards her however and although I didn’t agree with her choices I had to admire her bravery.

The story is told in two timelines one following Ella through the important events her life, while the other focuses on elderly Ella who is trapped in a sinking boat with a baby. While she is trying to work out what’s happening and care for the baby she is visited by old friends who help her make amends for past mistakes. I have to admit I enjoyed the flash backs to Ella’s life much more then the present day as I found it quite stressful reading about Ella trying to care for the baby. It was a weird situation as I wanted to keep reading to see what happens to them but at the same time wanting to skip that part as I found the tension too great.

Overall I really enjoyed this absorbing and intriguing read which will definitely stay with me. I think I went through every emotion as I read, laughing and crying alongside the characters. I will be recommending this book to everyone and will definitely be buying a few copies as Christmas presents.

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

Joe Heap was born in 1986 and grew up in Bradford, the son of two teachers. In 2004, he won the Foyle Young Poets award, and he is a published poet. He studied for a BA in English Literature at Stirling University and a Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. Joe lives in London with his long-suffering girlfriend, short-suffering baby, and much-aggrieved cat. The Rules of Seeing is his first novel.

Book Synopsis:

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the beloved radio show, Ambridge at War takes readers back to before it all began . . .

‘Intriguing, comforting and endearingly familiar’ Katie Fforde

It’s 1940 and war has broken out. It is midnight at the turn of the year, and Walter Gabriel speaks the same line that opened the very first radio episode –  ‘And a Happy New Year to you all!’ For Ambridge, a village in the heart of the English countryside, this year will bring change in ways no one was expecting.

From the Pargetters at Lower Loxley to the loving, hard-working Archer family at Brookfield Farm, the war will be hard for all of them. And the New Year brings the arrival of evacuees to Ambridge, shaking things up in the close-knit rural community.

As the villagers embrace wartime spirit, the families that listeners have known and loved for generations face an uphill battle to keep their secrets hidden. Especially as someone is intent on revealing those secrets to the whole village . . .

The Archers is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by visiting your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

I’d heard of The Archers but had never actually had a chance to listen to any of the episodes so I really enjoyed my first visit to the famous village.

I loved finding out more about the workings of the village and getting a glimpse inside the villagers lives. There is more than enough scandal and secrets to keep the reader entertained, which was great fun to watch unfold. The story starts in 1940 and follows the villagers as they deal with life during the war, rationing and evacuees arriving in the village. It was interesting to see how things changed for them and how they all handled everything.

The main story line of the poison pen letters was an interesting one which kept me guessing throughout the book. I think I suspected everyone at one point as they all seemed to have reasons to want to send them. I liked trying to solve the mystery alongside the villagers while trying to figure out why the person was doing it too.

This isn’t a fast paced story but it is a really absorbing one and I loved spending time in the village. The slow pace of the story gives the reader a chance to get to know thee characters intimately so that they start to feel like old friends. I felt quite sad to finish the story and leave them all behind.

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 Miller is the author of 18 novels under her own name and other pseudonyms. Born to an Irish family in London, her career took her from producing radio commercials to being a voiceover agent for various stellar actors.

Nowadays she writes all day at home in Surrey, occasionally lifting her head to raise her daughter and feed the dogs.

Book Synopsis:

Two women. One heartbreaking secret.

Paris, 1943.

Sylvie Martone is the star of French cinema, and adored by fans. But as Nazi officers swarm the streets of Paris, she is spotted arm in arm with an SS Officer and her fellow Parisians begin to turn against her.

However Sylvie has a secret – one she must protect with her life.

Paris, 2020.

Juliana Chastain doesn’t know anything about her family history. While her mother was alive she remained very secretive about her past.

So when Juliana discovers a photograph of a glamorous French actress from World War Two amongst her mother’s possessions, she is in shock to find herself looking at her grandmother – especailly as she is arm in arm with a Nazi Officer…

Desperate for answers, Juliana is determined to trace the journey of her grandmother. Surely there is more to the photograph than meets the eye?

But as she delves into Sylvie’s past, nothing can prepare Juliane for the tales of secrets, betrayal and sacrifice which she will uncover.

A heart-wrenching story of love and war, perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff and Suzanne Goldring.

The Resistance Girl is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Regular visitors to my blog will know I’m rather a fan of historical fiction especially if it’s set in the second world war so this book instantly appealed to me!

Firstly I love books set in Paris! There’s something just so wonderfully atmospheric about the vibrant, historical city that always makes it great to read about. The author’s vivid descriptions helped make the city come to life for me and I loved following the characters around the city. It was interesting, though sad to see how the city changed throughout the years from a glamorous city to a shell under the occupation. Though it was good to see it keep it keep its reputation as the city of love!

The story starts off quite slowly but soon picks up pace becoming almost impossible to out down! I felt myself reading faster and faster, my heart in my mouth as I watched everything unfold. It was very interesting to follow Juliane on her journey to try and find out more about her grandmother’s past and I found I really enjoyed going on the journey with her. There were a few quite dark moments and a few interesting coincidences but overall I liked this absorbing story.

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

About The Author:

Book Synopsis:

Beloved author Victoria Hislop returns to Crete in this long-anticipated sequel to her multi-million-copy Number One bestseller, The Island.

25th August 1957. The island of Spinalonga closes its leper colony. And a moment of violence has devastating consequences.

When time stops dead for Maria Petrakis and her sister, Anna, two families splinter apart and, for the people of Plaka, the closure of Spinalonga is forever coloured with tragedy.

In the aftermath, the question of how to resume life looms large. Stigma and scandal need to be confronted and somehow, for those impacted, a future built from the ruins of the past.

Number one bestselling author Victoria Hislop returns to the world and characters she created in The Island – the award-winning novel that remains one of the biggest selling reading group novels of the century. It is finally time to be reunited with Anna, Maria, Manolis and Andreas in the weeks leading up to the evacuation of the island… and beyond.

The Island is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below or by ordering from your local indie bookstore.

My Review:

I was a huge fan of The Island and often credit it as the book that got me back into reading after a long reading slump. I was therefore very excited to learn there was a sequel to it and immediately started reading as soon as I got my copy!

It was wonderful to be back with all the old characters and to see how they had changed, or not in the case of Anna, over the years. The author has created realistic stories for all of the characters which felt like a natural progression from their lives in The Island. I liked that the author doesn’t spend a lot of time recapping the story at the beginning of the book, which can be really annoying, but instead includes facts when necessary. I was actually amazed by how much I remembered from reading The Island all those years ago, it was obviously a story that stayed with me.

Once again the author’s love for Greece is evident from her fantastic descriptions that helped me to imagine the beautiful Greek setting. I loved learning more about the Greek festivals, traditions and dances that the author included in the story. I thought it was very clever how she managed to convey the emotional aspect of the dance through her descriptions so that the reader understands how the dance is meant to look without having seen it.

Overall I enjoyed this absorbing and entertaining read which I loved getting lost in for hours at a time. The story does dip a little in the middle and I was a little confused as to which way the story was going but do keep reading as the story soon picks up. My only small niggle with this book is it would have been nice to see how some of the other former Spinalonga residents get on after leaving the island but maybe that is for another book.

Huge thanks to Headline for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you were a fan of The Island then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, Victoria Hislop wrote The Island in 2005. It became an international bestseller and a 26-part Greek TV series. She was named Newcomer of the Year at the British Book Awards and is now an ambassador for Lepra. Her affection for the Mediterranean then took her to Spain, and in the number one bestseller The Return she wrote about the painful secrets of its civil war. In The Thread, Victoria returned to Greece to tell the turbulent tale of Thessaloniki and its people across the twentieth century. Shortlisted for a British Book Award, it confirmed her reputation as an inspirational storyteller.

Her fourth novel, The Sunrise, about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the enduring ghost town of Famagusta, was a Sunday Times number one bestseller. Cartes Postales from Greece, fiction illustrated with photographs, was a Sunday Times bestseller in hardback and one of the biggest selling books of 2016. Victoria’s most recent novel, the poignant and powerful Those Who Are Loved, was a Sunday Times number one hardback bestseller in 2019 and explores a tempestuous period of modern Greek history through the eyes of a complex and compelling heroine.

Her books have been translated into more than thirty-five languages.

Victoria divides her time between England and Greece.

In 2020, Victoria was granted Honorary Greek Citizenship by the President of Greece.

Book Synopsis:

Virginia, 1933: Her heart broke as she took in the scene before her. There were too many orphans and not enough beds. The rags they wore barely covered them and they hadn’t eaten in days. How could anyone let innocent children live like this? She picked up a tiny girl who’d cried as she moved past her cot. “I’ll be back soon, little one.”

Never in a million years did Lauren Greenwood think she would be destitute and without a penny to her name. But when her father mercilessly disowns her in the depths of winter, that is her fate. Now homeless, Lauren finds America in the devastating grip of the Great Depression––children run wild in the icy streets, endless queues for soup kitchens line frosty sidewalks, and desperation hangs in the air.

All alone in the world, Lauren finds an orphanage in the sprawling fields of the Virginia countryside, surrounded by snow-topped mountains and magnificent fir trees––a safe haven for those who have nowhere to go. But she is appalled to find children living in shocking conditions, huddled together for warmth, their hunger keeping them awake at night as the temperature plunges. The home for unloved orphans is on the brink of closure and the helpless innocents may lose the roof over their heads…

Lauren, heartbroken by the rejection of her own father, vows to provide these poor orphans with the love she never received. With Christmas just around the corner, she refuses to see them cast out onto the street, where they will not survive. When she sees an advertisement in the local newspaper, with an anonymous benefactor donating money to families crippled by the Depression, it could be the answer to her prayers.

Can Lauren save these children who have been rejected by the world? Or in a time of so much suffering, is there simply no hope?

A heartbreaking yet hopeful tale about a brave young woman who gives up everything to help unloved children who have nothing. Fans of Before We Were Yours, The Orphan Train and Diney Costeloe will adore this poignant historical novel, which shows that a little bit of kindness can go a long way.

The Home For Unloved Orphans is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only £1.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

A Home For Unwanted Orphans is one of the most emotional, beautiful books I’ve read for a while. It’s one of those books that stays with you and that you continue to think about long after reading.

I was quickly drawn into the story and into Lauren’s world. The author has clearly done her research and her wonderfully vivid descriptions made the 1930s come to life. It was definitely an interesting period with the effects of the Great Depression still being felt and a lot of quite vulnerable people being left to fend for themselves. It was utterly heartbreaking to see some of the awful conditions people lived in and the things they had to deal with, especially the children. I often wished I could reach into the book and give them all a hug or somehow heroically save the day!

Lauren was a brilliant main character who was very easy to get behind. She was very believable and I loved how hard she worked to try and change things. She’s feisty, headstrong and very determined which made her an amazing character to read about. I felt sorry for her when things didn’t go her way and when her efforts weren’t appreciated or treated with suspicion.

Overall I really enjoyed this absorbing but highly emotional book which made me laugh and cry throughout. I felt completely involved in everything that was going on meaning I got lost in the book for hours at a time. The story unfolds at a great pace and I felt completely gripped reading about Lauren’s struggle to try and improve things for the orphans. I had to keep reading to see how the story ended as I really wanted everyone to have the happy ending they deserved, while knowing deep down that that might not be possible.

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

About The Author:

Rachel Wesson is the author of several best selling series including her latest based on the Orphan Trains. Having always been a fan of history, Rachel tries to combine her love of history with a good story. Rachel Wesson was born in Kilkenny, Ireland but considers herself to be from the capital, Dublin as that’s where she spent most of her life. Her dad brought Rachel and her two sisters out every Saturday to give their mother a break. He took them to the library and for ice-cream after. It took a long time for her sisters to forgive her for the hours she spent choosing her books! She grew up driving everyone nuts asking them questions about what they did during the War or what side they were on in the 1916 rising etc. Finally her Granny told her to write her stories down so people would get the pleasure of reading them. In fact what Granny meant was everyone would get some peace while Rachel was busy writing! When not writing, or annoying relatives, Rachel was reading. Her report cards from school commented on her love of reading especially when she should have been learning. Seems you can’t read Great Expectations in Maths. After a doomed love affair and an unpleasant bank raid during which she defended herself with a tea tray, she headed to London for a couple of years. (There is a reason she doesn’t write romance!). She never intended staying but a chance meeting with the man of her dreams put paid to any return to Ireland. Having spent most of her career in the City, she decided something was missing. Working in the City is great but it’s a young person’s dream. Having three children you never see isn’t good for anyone. So she packed in the job and started writing. Thanks to her amazing readers, that writing turned into a career far more exciting and rewarding than any other. Rachel lives in Surrey with her husband and three children, two boys and a girl. When not reading, writing or watching films for “research” purposes, Rachel likes to hang out with her family. She also travels regularly back home – in fact she should have shares in BA and Aerlingus.