The past few months have made us realise that change is inevitable – sometimes good but sometimes it can be cruel and makes your world go out of control.We might experience anxiety, low moods, night sweats, exhaustion or worse. We lose all hope and feel that there is nothing to look forward to.Little Book of Hope helps you find your way back again – through Reflections to guide you through the difficult times, together with: Family. Friends. Rest. Time – for yourself. Walk. Talk. Cry. Grieve. Meditate. Pray. Accept things. Patience.Dedicated to all those around the world who have lost hard but loved much – that you may re-discover Hope and welcome the beautiful pleasure of joy back into your lives.
The Little Book Of Hope is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.
My Review:
I thought this was a beautiful, uplifting book which I would recommend to everyone. It would make a great gift and I’m definitely planning on buying some for friends in the future.
The book is divided into different sections so that it is easy to flick through and find a section suitable for your current state of mind which I found really helpful. Each page if filled with a lovely message or reflection that I found really uplifting and helped calm me at stressful moments. It was a book that I found I needed as the world slowly returned to normal.
I loved the simple message that this book had flowing through it which helped remind me of what was important in life especially during difficult times. Its a great book to have on your bookshelves to look at when you need it most and I’ll be recommend it to all who need a boost!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Peach press for sending me a copy of this book.
About The Author:
Louise Hall is from Malahide, Co. Dublin. She has previously published two works of non-fiction, Medjugorje: What it Means to Me and Medjugorje and Me: A Collection of Stories from Across the World. Her fiction has been published in The Irish Times and been shortlisted for numerous competitions, such as the RTÉ Guide/Penguin Short Story Award, the Colm Tóibín International Short Story Competition and the Jonathan Swift Creative Writing Awards. Pilgrim is her debut novel.
Sylvia knows that she’s running out of time. Very soon, she will exist only in the memories of those who loved her most and the pieces of her life she’s left behind.
So she begins to write her husband a handbook for when she’s gone, somewhere to capture the small moments of ordinary, precious happiness in their married lives. From raising their wild, loving son, to what to give their gentle daughter on her eighteenth birthday – it’s everything she should have told him before it was too late.
But Sylvia also has a secret, one that she’s saved until the very last pages. And it’s a moment in her past that could change everything…
For She I’ve Gone is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
This has to be one of the most beautiful, heartfelt books I’ve read for a long time. It’s a book that somehow manages to be heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The subject of this book is obviously a very poignant one which hit me hard, especially as I’m a parent myself. I often found myself tearing up at the milestones Sylvia would be missing and how it would feel to be in her shoes. It definitely made me appreciate my family more and I often found myself having to give my kid extra hugs or kisses whilst reading.
Sylvia was a fantastic main character who I warmed to instantly and enjoyed following throughout the book. She seemed such a real character so everything that happens to her hit me that much harder. I actually liked that she had flaws and wasn’t perfect as I felt that added more to the story. It definitely made her a more sympathetic, relatable character.
I found this to be a completely absorbing book which I found hard to put down. I thought it was clever that despite such a sad story line the author doesn’t allow the story to just be a sad one and there actually are some funny moments in the book. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time and I will be recommending it to everyone.
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Rebecca Ley is a journalist who wrote a column for the Guardian, Doing it for Dad, about her father’s dementia. She has previously worked at the Times, the Sun and the Daily Mail. For When I’m Gone is her debut novel.
‘A brilliant and believable female lead’ Good Housekeeping
Some secrets can’t be hidden.
The Fullers are the picture-perfect family, a wealthy couple with a grand home in the middle of remote woodland. But even they have something to hide – and it will prove fatal.
Some crimes can’t be forgotten.
Psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn and DI Marilyn Simmons arrive at the Fuller’s home to find a suburban nightmare. A crime scene more disturbing than anything they have ever encountered.
Some killers can’t be stopped.
Jessie knows that this is no random act of violence. And if she can’t unlock the motivation behind the crime and shine a light into this killer’s mind, the Fullers won’t be the only family to die…
The Watcher is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I absolutely loved this tense, addictive and frightening read. It’s going to be a hard book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.
Firstly I absolutely loved the main character Jessie who I warmed to instantly and enjoyed following throughout the book. She was a fascinating, highly original character and I liked that the author included some of her personal life into the story so the reader gets more of an idea about what she is really like. I think it’s fair to say she’s been through quite a lot and it was quite poignant to see how she was dealing with all of that on top of her job.
I found this to be quite a creepy read which had me at the edge of my seat at times. This is definitely not a book to read on your own at night as the scenes describing people being watched in their homes really got into my head and made me very paranoid. I had to get up and shut the curtains whilst reading as I kept thinking someone was watching me too.
Overall I really enjoyed this fast paced, creepy read which I sailed through in a couple of days. The many twists kept me guessing and I often found myself changing my mind about what was happening. The tension in the book is slowly increased until it becomes almost unbearable and I found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happens but also wanting to stop as I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know. If you are a fan of creepy, absorbing crime thrillers then this is definitely the book for you!
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:
Kate Medina has always been fascinated by the ‘whys’ of human behaviour, an interest that drove her to study Psychology at university and later to start a crime series featuring clinical psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and her debut novel White Crocodile received widespread critical acclaim, as did Fire Damage, Scared to Death AND Two Little Girls, the first three books in the Jessie Flynn series.
Before turning to writing full time, Kate spent five years in the Territorial Army and has lectured at the London Business School and the London School of Economics. She lives in London with her husband and three children.
Erlan Aurvandil has turned his back on the past and his native Northern lands, taking a perilous journey to the greatest city in the world, Byzantium. But as his voyage ends, Erlan is brutally betrayed, captured and enslaved by a powerful Byzantine general.
Meanwhile, Lilla Sviggarsdottír, Queen of Svealand, has lost her husband and with him, her kingdom. Leaving her lands and people behind, Lilla journeys east on a new quest: to find Erlan and raise an army mighty enough to defeat her usurper.
But when she reaches the great city of Byzantium, she discovers a place in turmoil. A dark tide is rising against the Emperor from within his own court. As the shadows darken and whispers of war begin to strengthen, Erlan’s fate becomes intertwined with that of the city. Are they both doomed to fall, or can freedom be won in the blood of battle?
A Burning Sea is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy by using the link below.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of this author and this frankly amazing series so I was so excited to be invited onto the blog tour for this his latest book.
Firstly I absolutely loved the wonderful descriptions in this book which made me feel like I was right there watching everything unfold. It really helped transport me to a different world so I felt involved in the story and everything that happens. I thought it was a great way of learning more about a different time and culture that I previously didn’t know much about. I loved the little details the author included about the nuances of everyday life especially as these always help bring a world to life for me.
The characters were fabulous creations and I liked how there were all so different to each other. There were some characters I really liked so I enjoyed following their story throughout the book and others who I hoped met the grissily end I felt they deserved.
I thought this was a fast paced action packed book which I found hard to put down as there was always something happening. The author was very skilled in keeping me in suspense so I was often taken by surprise about what happens next. This is a quite a dark book with some quite gory scenes at times, though I didn’t feel personally that they were overdone and that the author included them more to show how brutal the time was then anything else.
This is the third book in the series and whilst it could probably be read as a standalone it is probably best to read them in order!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Corvus for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Theodore Brun studied Dark Age archaeology at Cambridge. In 2010, he quit his job as an arbitration lawyer in Hong Kong and cycled 10,000 miles across Asia and Europe to his home in Norfolk. A Burning Sea is his third novel.
A family of billionaire grifters. A girl seeking true love. A con she didn’t see coming.
Beautiful, sensitive Charlotte never fit in her family of American grifters. Determined to make her own way in the world, she sets out for New York City with a new identity, certain no one will discover that she’s a Carrows. Wealthy. Powerful. Elite.
With anonymity comes the freedom to love. And to be loved for herself, not her money. She finds that in David Torres, her college boyfriend at NYU. But what will David do once he discovers he’s been dating a Carrows? Nothing good.
The heartbreaking devastation that David brings leaves Charlotte estranged from her family and alone. Or so she thinks. With her mother’s help, they set out to right a grievous wrong. Can they repair their broken family? Can they bring David to justice?
Charlotte McGee is the first book in the Carrows Family Chronicles series of billionaire romance suspense novels. If you like exciting capers filled with glamour and romance, Book One will leave you delighted and eager for more!
Charlotte McGee is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
This was a brilliant, intriguing read which was a fantastic way to start a new series.
I was soon sucked into the story and the lives of the larger than life Carrow family. I think it’s fair to say that they are a very strong, fabulous set of characters who are easy to fall in love with despite their flaws. Charlotte was a wonderful main character who was easy to get behind as I loved how smart and shrewd she was. She knows what she wants and doesn’t let anyone stop her which was very admirable.
I thought the story was a very fun action packed one which I really enjoyed. It seemed to have a bit of everything in it love, friendship and of course revenge which was brilliant to see develop. The characters definitely go on a journey throughout the book and I enjoyed seeing how much they changed. I found the book hard to out down at times as I had to keep reading to find out what would happen. This is the first book in the series and I’m very excited to read more!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Annabelle Lewis lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Regrettably? Perhaps. She still believes she’s a Texan even though the math no longer supports that. Nor her birthplace. Nor her residence. No offense, Minnesota. You’ve got your good points too, but only about six months of the year.
In her youth, Annabelle was a complete failure. Ask anyone who knew her. Any of her teachers and family would tell you this. High school graduation was a sad day for all when Annabelle walked proudly off the high school stage, her thoughts consumed with boys, beer, and after-parties, and later into the arms of her parents. Her father’s laughter and singular remark? “I didn’t think you’d make it. Get a job at the post office, they have a good retirement plan.”
A high bar and words to live by, but Annabelle wanted more. She needed to flunk out of college too. But damn, she sure did have a good time. Arrest records not-withstanding, it was a growth period for our girl. And if you look closely, you’ll see a bit of what was to come when she majored in criminal justice. Her lifelong aspiration was to become a judge. Hmm.
For better or worse, Annabelle didn’t graduate from college, but did find gainful employment and a fulfilling career. This path ended when she became a mom. Married to her wonderful George, who to this day can hardly remember an actual proposal, Annabelle finally became a mother. She didn’t have a clue how hard she would need to work to keep those self-imposed requirements of Downey-fresh, iron-pressed sheets, home baked meals, and mom-of-the year awards arriving. She composed a small self-affirmation song and made her children sing it to her for money. She was a very good mom.
After clearing the largest hurdles of motherhood and regrettably, begrudgingly, and not-without-tears, launching her children onto the world, she looked around and realized she had a lot to say. Picking up a laptop, she got to work.
Annabelle spends her days continuing to tackle the challenges of motherhood, for both her humans and canines. She also writes. And reads. And cleans. And cooks. And bakes. And cleans again. She also supports her husband, George, in an administrative capacity. Not necessarily in the home, but for their small business. She’s in charge of payroll and cuts George’s checks. This leads to no marital acrimony.
At the beginning, with the blank page staring at her and possibly in a hostile mood after being literally mauled by a dog and by the world in general, she had an idea. What if she could wield a force of good upon unsuspecting evil-doers? What if she had the resources to get the job done without dealing with committee and anyone else’s whiney-ass opinions?
It was gold. It took off. Annabelle sat down and began to write and couldn’t stop. To date, having written almost a million words in the Carrows Family Chronicles, several items have become quite clear. Annabelle had a lot to say. Annabelle really enjoys writing. And although she hates all things technology, she begrudgingly pounds her head on her desk daily as obstacles are put in her path. Almost a hero.
Since adopting the Carrows Family and becoming one with them in her mind, she has rebelled against all intrusion of real-world responsibilities. Her house is a mess, but she tries. Her family is fed, but more often than not, on takeout. She vows to shower every day, but no, it’s a vow she’ll never keep. Her friends are neglected, but not in her heart.
Leave her alone or you’ll end up in her blog. Annabelle Blogs is another communication vehicle she uses to not only rant at the world, but at her family. She regularly sets them up for failure when they forget to read her diatribes and report back their response in a timely manner. Shame on you, Annabelle. They’re good people and they have to live with you.
The Carrows are her second family. They are on the streets as we speak, deceptively and cleverly taking out the bad guy. And he doesn’t see them coming. Unless intended. Read about the Carrows. Jump into bed with them. Literally. Annabelle Lewis is having a swell time. You should join her.
An emotionally charged and captivating novel about the complexities of female friendship and motherhood
Lizzie Thomson has landed her first job as a music teacher, and after a whirlwind romance with Markus, the newlywed couple move into a beautiful new home in the outskirts of Edinburgh. Lizzie quickly befriends their neighbour Morag, an elderly, resourceful yet lonely widow, whose own children rarely visit her. Everything seems perfect in Lizzie’s life until she finds out she is pregnant and her relationship with both Morag and Markus change beyond her control.
Can Lizzie really trust Morag and why is Markus keeping secrets from her?
In The Memories We Bury the author explores the dangerous bonds we can create with strangers and how past memories can cast long shadows over the present.
The Memories We Bury is available in ebook and paperback now. The ebook is currently only £2.99. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The memories we bury is a fascinating, gripping psychological thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of the themes of this book is the impact that our childhood can have on us and how it can continue to affect us into adulthood. This wasn’t something I’d thought much about before so I found these parts of the book especially interesting.
I really liked Lizzie and felt a lot of sympathy towards her as I know how lonely it can get being a mum and how overwhelmed you can feel as your life changes irrevocably. I found I warmed to her instantly and enjoyed following her throughout the book.
The story was a bit of a slow starter but if soon picked up and absorbed into the interesting story. My opinion kept changing about how the book would end which I thought was very clever and ensured I kept reading as I was very intrigued.
Huge thanks to Emma from Damp Pebbles Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Helene Andrea Leuschel gained a Master in Journalism & Communication, which led to a career in radio and television in Brussels, London and Edinburgh. She later acquired a Master in Philosophy, specializing in the study of the mind. Helene has a particular interest in emotional, psychological and social well-being and this led her to write her first novel, Manipulated Lives, a fictional collection of five novellas, each highlighting the dangers of interacting with narcissists. She lives with her husband and two children in Portugal. Please find out more about Helene at heleneleuschel.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
It’s love . . . what’s the worst thing that could happen?
When Josh proposes in a pod on the London Eye at New Years’ Eve, he thinks it’s perfect.
Until she says no.
And they have to spend the next 29 excruciating minutes alone together.
His life is falling apart.
Realising he can’t trust his own judgment, Josh decides from now on he will make every decision through the flip of a coin.
Maybe the coin will change his life forever.
Maybe it will help him find the girl of his dreams . . .
The Flip Side is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Flip Side is a wonderfully romantic, funny book which I found really uplifting. It definitely gave me a much needed mood boost after a difficult few weeks.
Firstly i loved that this book was told from a male narrator as it helped provide a different angle then most other similar stories. There were different problems and ideas then those you normally find which I found really interesting. I thought Josh was a fantastic main character who I quickly warmed to and I soon found I wanted to keep going to find out how things end for him.
The story unfolds at a great pace with lots of little twists which kept me guessing as to how the story would go until the end. The author also has a clever way of ending his chapters in a surprising way which further ensured I’d keep reading. I often found myself promising I’d only read one more chapter bit then end up reading until the early hours as I couldn’t put it down.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to everyone. There was lots of humour throughout the story which often had me laughing out loud much to the amusement of my kids.
Huge thanks to Sriya from Michael St Joseph for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
James Bailey was born in Bristol, and currently lives and works in his home city. A graduate of King’s College London, James has previously carried the Olympic Torch, made a speech at the House of Commons, and worked as a red carpet reporter. The Flip Side is his debut novel.
Iot is just the beginning of a convulsed week, where danger lurks behind army headquarters, down sordid streets, and in the frightening Presidium of the Criminal Police. Bora is unexpectedly ordered by SS General Arthur Nebe, head of Kripo, to investigate the murder of a dazzling showman and clairvoyant, a major star since the days of the Weimar Republic. Bora’s inquiry, supported by police inspector and former S.A member Florian Grimm, resurrects memories of the excessive and brilliant world of Jazz Age cabarets and locales. Around them, in the oppressive summer heat, constant allied bombing, war-weary Berlin teems with refugees and nearly a million foreign labourers.
Soon enough the perceptive Bora realizes to his dismay that there is much more at stake than murder in a paranoid city where everyone suspects everyone, and where insistent rumours whisper about a conspiracy aimed at the very heart of the Nazi hierarchy. And then there is charming Emmy Pletsch, who works for Stauffenberg: could she be a key to understanding? Trying to solve the murder of the Weimar Prophet takes Martin Bora into the deadly whirlwind of an anguishing moral dilemma, as a German soldier and as a man. The 20 July plot and its dramatic implications as never told before.
The Night Of Shooting Stars is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below:
My Review:
The Night Of Shooting Stars is a gripping, atmospheric read about what could have been an important turning point in the war if it had succeeded!
The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book and I liked learning more about Berlin at this stage in the war. The little details like the descriptions of bombed out buildings, the war weary citizens and how glow in the dark paint was put on the pavements, helped me imagine the scenes vividly, like I was there watching everything unfold in front of me.
Martin was an interesting main character, who I took a little while to warm to. He’s a bit of an anti hero because of what he’s done in the war so far, however as we get to know him I started to feel a lot of sympathy with him and found myself hoping he would be successful; even though I knew he couldn’t be. The reader is given access to his innermost thoughts and feelings through diary extracts which make for intriguing reading. They definitely helped me to understand more about him and the type of person he is.
Project Valkerie is an event that I have heard mentioned but didn’t really know a lot about. I therefore found it very interesting to learn more about it, particularly the origins of the idea. The tension is slowly increased throughout the book and the suspicious atmosphere between the characters often meant I was never sure who was definitely on which side or if they were there to report on what Martin was up to.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the series soon. I think this book can easily be read as a standalone, like I have as everything that you need to know is explained. I’ll definitely be recommending this book to anyone who likes historical fiction.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bitterlemon Press for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
BEN PASTOR, born in Italy, worked as a university professor in Vermont. She is one of the most talented writers in the field of historical fiction. In 2008 she won the prestigious Premio Zaragoza for best historical fiction. She writes in English.
‘At once funny and moving: the brisk kindness of the wardens will bring a lump to your throat. I could not have loved it more’ Susie Steiner
It’s late 1944. Hitler’s rockets are slamming down on London with vicious regularity and it’s the coldest winter in living memory. Allied victory is on its way, but it’s bloody well dragging its feet.
In a large house next to Hampstead Heath, Vee Sedge is just about scraping by, with a herd of lodgers to feed, and her young charge Noel ( almost fifteen ) to clothe and educate. When she witnesses a road accident and finds herself in court, the repercussions are both unexpectedly marvellous and potentially disastrous – disastrous because Vee is not actually the person she’s pretending to be, and neither is Noel.
The end of the war won’t just mean peace, but discovery…
With caustic wit and artful storytelling, Lissa Evans elegantly summons a time when the world could finally hope to emerge from the chaos of war. As sharply comic as Old Baggage and emotionally poignant as Crooked Heart, V For Victory once again shows Lissa Evans to be one of our most brilliant and subtle writers.
V For Victory is published in ebook and hardback on the 27th August 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.
My Review:
This was another fabulous read from one of my favourite historical fiction author’s. I’ve been a huge fan of this series so I was very excited to read this book and find out what was going to happen next.
The thing that most made this book for me was the absolutely fabulous characters that the author has created. I quickly warmed to them and they started to feel like old friends by the end of the book. Vee and Noel were a fantastic duo and I really enjoyed getting to know them. Vee is such a strong, kind women and Noel such a strong, intelligent young man that they were easy to like and support.
The book focuses on what life was like towards the end of the war when there was still a lot of danger but maybe a glimpse of hope that everything would end soon. It was incredibly interesting to see what day to day life was like and to learn, through Winnie, what the role of a warden entailed. I thought this was really vividly described and helped me picture the scene and the characters in my mind. I often felt like I was inside the book, living everything alongside the characters.
Overall I thought this was a beautifully written, absorbing book which held my attention the whole way through. It isn’t a fast paced book but this gives the reader plenty of opportunities to savour the interesting plot and to get to know the characters. It’s a lovely story which accurately portrays what life was like during the war, with some quite dark humour at times as people try to deal with an impossible situation. I can’t wait to read more from this series.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book via Netgalley. This is surely a must read if you are a fan of historical fiction!
About The Author:
Lissa Evans has written books for both adults and children, including Their Finest Hour and a Half, longlisted for the Orange Prize, Small Change for Stuart, shortlisted for many awards including the Carnegie Medal and the Costa Book Awards and Crooked Heart, longlisted for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.
The latest instalment in Sheila Riley’s brilliant Reckoner’s Row series Liverpool 1950
When Evie Kilgaren takes over the running of the back office at Skinner and Son’s haulage yard, she has no idea she is walking into a hive of blackmail, secrets and lies. Her fellow co-worker and childhood nemesis, Susie Blackthorn, is outraged at being demoted and is hell-bent on securing the affections of local heartthrob Danny Harris. Grace Harris, a singer on the prestigious D’Angelo transatlantic ocean liners, is returning home engaged to be married. But Grace is harbouring her own shocking secrets and something valuable her fiancé very desperately wants back.
As we return to the lives and loves of those who live and work in the Mersey Docklands, not everything is as it seems and love and luck are rarely on the same side.
The Mersey Girls is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Mersey Girls was a gripping, absorbing read from a new author for me. I found myself quickly absorbed into the story and into the lives of the characters.
Firstly I loved the characters in this book and the close knit friendship group they enjoyed. They soon started to feel like they were old friends and I enjoyed following their stories throughout the book. I found myself wishing that I knew them all personally as I would have loved to have been a part of their group too.
I loved the setting in this book of Liverpool in the 1950’s which is an era that I hadn’t read much about. It was definitely a happier period then the war and it was nice to see the changes from the wartime sagas I have read. The author has a lovely writing style that manages to draw you into the book and makes the book easy to read so you can just relax into the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this absorbing read which kept me turning the pages as I desperately had to know how everything was going to end. There was lots of action, shock and surprises, which made me fly through the pages quickly. This is the second book in the series, but I felt it could easily be read as a standalone as everything you need to know is explained.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
About The Author:
Sheila Riley was born in Southport, Merseyside when the local dockside maternity hospital was closed to new arrivals by the onset of scarlet fever. As a child she liked nothing more than sitting quietly, so as not to be noticed and sent out, listening to adults converse. Much was learned while earwigging! She also had a vivid imagination, and what she didn’t understand of the outside world she invented for her own amusement. And so began a lifetime’s love of storytelling… The Mersey Orphan is set in the frozen docklands of 1947 Liverpool and became a bestseller in the UK and Canada. The Mersey Girls is set in 1950s Liverpool and is up for pre-order here on Amazon!
Over The Rainbow Blog 