Book Synopsis:

You’ve got to be in the club to know the truth.

Everyone’s heard the rumours about elite gentlemen’s clubs, where the champagne flows freely, the parties are the height of decadence . . . and the secrets are darker than you could possibly imagine.

DS Maeve Kerrigan finds herself in an unfamiliar world of wealth, luxury and ruthless behaviour when she investigates the murder of a young journalist, Paige Hargreaves. Paige was working on a story about the Chiron Club, a private society for the richest and most privileged men in London. Then she disappeared. 

It’s clear to Maeve that the members have many secrets. But Maeve is hiding secrets of her own – even from her partner DI Josh Derwent. Will she uncover the truth about Paige’s death? Or will time run out for Maeve first?

The Cutting Place is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

Book Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author and couldn’t wait to read this as I knew it would be a great read. It was really nice to be back with Maeve and Derwent again as I followed them on their latest case. The banter between the two of them is always very funny which helps bring some humourous moments to an otherwise dark story. I keep hoping that the two of them will get together and always feel slightly disappointed that they don’t, despite obviously being great for each other. Liv actually hinted about a relationship between them in this book though so I’m very hopeful they’ll get together soon. It was nice to see a gentler more vulnerable side of Maeve too as it made me like her even more.

The setting of The Chiron Club is frightening realistic and one I could sadly see existing somewhere. Some of the dubious behaviour in the club definitely made me cringe as we know from Harvey Weinstein that some women do put themselves in vulnerable situations without thinking. I wished I could go into the club and sort the members out myself as their actions made my blood boil at times.

Overall I thought this was a fast paced, intense and engrossing read which I found difficult to put down. I often found myself trying to sneak away from the kids to read a few more pages as I wanted to see what would happen next. There are a few graphic descriptions in the book, particularly towards the end which might not be to everyone’s taste but in a book titled The Cutting Place you kind of expect some gore!

My only slight quibble with this book was that I guess who the murderer was early on. I had an inkling as to who it might be and I was right. That said it didn’t really stop me enjoying the book and I enjoyed following Maeve as she went on her investigation as it’s always great to spend time with her.

Huge thanks to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you’re a fan of dark crime fiction then you’ll definitely love this series.

About The Author:

Jane Casey has written ten crime novels for adults and three for teenagers. A former editor, she is married to a criminal barrister who ensures her writing is realistic and as accurate as possible.

This authenticity has made her novels international bestsellers and critical successes. The Maeve Kerrigan series has been nominated for many awards: in 2015 Jane won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for The Stranger You Know and Irish Crime Novel of the Year for After the Fire. In 2019, Cruel Acts was chosen as Irish Crime Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. It was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Born in Dublin, Jane now lives in southwest London with her husband and two children.

Book Synopsis:

Warning: This book contains details of embarrassingly awkward sexual encounters and is not for the cringe-hearted.

Thirty year old Jenny has her own house, a good job, friends, a psycho cat and a Mother who is willing to sell her off to the highest bidder. What more could she want from life? Oh yes, a man. In particular, the handsome hunk she works with. The dangerously good looking eye candy makes regular appearances to her office and she must do all in her power not to combust in her seat when he says her name…

Some people were destined to have all the luck, whereas others, like Jenny, were destined to embarrass themselves at every awkward opportunity. After giving up hopes of landing her dream man, Jenny gives in to her best friend’s requests and agrees to go on some blind dates and signs up to a dating app. She discovers some interesting characters whilst having some no-strings fun with her reliable man friend. What’s the worst that could happen?

Follow Jenny’s journey through the Yorkshire town of Halifax filled with disastrous dates and embarrassing sexual encounters in this romantic comedy of modern dating. Will she ever get what she’s looking for? Or is she destined to remain in singledom forever with her crazed cat?

Blond Date is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a funny, light escapist read which I really enjoyed. It was just what I needed to cheer myself up in these difficult times.

I really loved Jenny who came across as such a lovely normal woman who is happily plodding her way through life. She isn’t particularly looking for a relationship but her mum and best friends have other ideas and sets her up on some very interesting blind dates which were hilarious to follow. Her cat was a fantastic supporting character whose behaviour helped add to the humour in the book. I’d love to read a sequel with him in it as he was very unique and hugely enjoyable.

The blind dates where all fabulously described so that I felt like I was on the dates with Jenny, experiencing everything alongside her. All I can say is that I’m glad I’m not single any more as some of Jenny’s dates were very interesting and more than a little bit cringey. I definitely felt for Jenny and could have happily hit her interfering mother on more than one occasion.

Overall I thought this was a very funny and relatable read which often had me laughing out loud at all that was happening. I actually wished it was a bit longer so I could spend more time with Jenny and her cat. Some of the humour is a little crude which might not be to everyone’s taste but definitely adds to the story!

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:

Debbie is a Bradford born indie author and blogger.

Author of a comedy series; ‘Blind Date’ and ‘Holiday Date’. Two hilarious easy-read books guaranteed to have you laughing out loud.

Also author of ‘The Runaway Girl’ and paranormal horror ‘Abberton House’.

https://www.facebook.com/debbieioannaauthor/
Twitter – @Debbie_Cleo
Instagram: debbieioannaauthor
Site – debbie-ioanna-author.blog
email: debbieioannaauthor@gmail.com

Book Synopsis:

One woman’s secret will shape another’s destiny…

1560: Amy Robsart is trapped in a loveless marriage to Robert Dudley, a member of the court of Queen Elizabeth I. Surrounded by enemies and with nowhere left to turn, Amy hatches a desperate scheme to escape – one with devastating consequences that will echo through the centuries…

Present Day: When Lizzie Kingdom is forced to withdraw from the public eye in a blaze of scandal, it seems her life is over. But she’s about to encounter a young man, Johnny Robsart, whose fate will interlace with hers in the most unexpected of ways. For Johnny is certain that Lizzie is linked to a terrible secret dating back to Tudor times. If Lizzie is brave enough to go in search of the truth, then what she discovers will change the course of their lives forever.

***

Moving between the Tudor era and the present day,The Forgotten Sister is a stunning historical novel that draws on one of history’s most compelling and enduring mysteries. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Barbara Erskine, Victoria Hislop and Kate Morton.

The Forgotten Sister is available in paperback and ebook now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

There’s nothing I like better than a good dual timeline mystery and Nicola is one of my favourite authors for this genre.

In The Forgotten Sister the author has taken a real historical mystery and made an intriguing story out if it. I really enjoyed learning more about Amy Robsart and her horrible, callous husband Robert Dudley, particularly as I think there was more to Amy than history has given her credit for. The characters really seem to come to life with real character traits that they were known to have being included into the story. The fact that the modern characters seemed like the historical characters reincarnated was well done and made the story very interesting.

The amount of historical details in this book was brilliant and I enjoyed learning more about Elizabethan England. Amy and Robert were two characters that I hadn’t heard of before so it was especially interesting learning more about their lives and the legacy they left behind. As always it was the little everyday details which made the book for me as I always find it fascinating to see how different life was back then compared to now. I spent a few hours looking up Amy and Robert on the internet and learning more about her mysterious death.

I was engrossed in this story from the start and found the book very hard to put down. It isn’t immediately clear what the links between the two timelines are and I enjoyed trying to work out how they were connected. The supernatural element of the story was a nice touch and helped add an unusual element to the story as it was done in a very believable way.

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

About The Author:

Nicola Cornick is a historian and author who works as a volunteer researcher and guide for the National Trust in one of the most beautiful 17th century houses in England. She writes dual time novels that illustrate her love of history, mystery and the supernatural. Her books have appeared in over twenty five languages, sold over half a million copies worldwide and been described as “perfect for Outlander fans.” Nicola also works as a consultant for TV and radio.

Her new novel, ‘The Forgotten Sister’ is a re-telling of the Tudor love triangle between Queen Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley and Amy Robsart. It is out in April 2020 and is available for pre- order in paperback and e-book.

Nicola loves to chat to readers about history, reading and writing.
Join the conversation on Twitter @NicolaCornick,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicola.cornick/
and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolacornick/
You can find Nicola’s website at http://www.nicolacornick.com where you can sign up for her newsletter to be first in line for events, news and exclusive chapters.

Book Synopsis:

London, 1942

Flo Canning’s heart is beyond repair following the news that she has been dreading since the outbreak of war. As Flo throws herself into the role of fabric manager at Liberty’s, old and new friends alike help pull her from a whirl of despair.

Between work and home life there’s plenty to keep Flo occupied. Not least new deputy store manager, Henry Masters, whose arrival has consequences that Flo and her workmates could never have foreseen.

But there is more tragedy still to come, and Flo and her friends will need each other more than ever if they are to survive the uncertainty ahead.

Wartime At Liberty’s is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m such a huge fan of this fantastic series, so I was incredibly excited to learn there was to be a new installment especially as it meant I got to hang out with the wonderful Liberty Girls again. I absolutely love the tight knit group they have developed and always love the scenes showing their friendship. They are so supportive of each other through difficult times that I often found myself getting teary whilst reading. I would love to know them all personally and be part of their group.

Flo was always one of my favourite characters and I enjoyed getting to catch up with her again though I wish it was in happier circumstances. It was great to see her adjust to her new circumstances and develop throughout the book. The new characters including the store deputy Henry Masters helps send the story in a new direction and help make things very interesting at Liberty’s. I like how the author always manages to keep the story fresh by introducing new people to the group in such a realistic way.

This story had a lovely flow to it and I found myself drawn into the story from the first page and lost in Flo’s world. The author cleverly includes some historical details into the story in a gentle way so the story never feels bogged down with it. I enjoyed learning about all the changes happening in the war especially learning more about the utility fabrics and the changes to adoption which I hadn’t read much about before. The story is told in such a way that the reader starts to feel part of the group and very fond of the characters so all that happens feels very personal. I now can’t wait to read more from this amazing series!

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

About the Author:

Fiona Ford is the author of the Liberty Girls series, which is set in London during the Second World War.

Fiona spent many years as a journalist writing for women’s weekly and monthly magazines. She has written two novels under the pseudonym, Fiona Harrison, as well as two sagas in her own name in the Spark Girls series.

Fiona lives in Berkshire with her partner.

Book Synopsis:

1908, Manchester. Mary Maitland is an attractive and intelligent young woman determined to strike out on her own and earn a living. Finding work at a women’s employment agency, her creative talent is soon noticed and Mary begins writing articles for newspapers and magazines.

But being of independent and progressive mind are troublesome traits when those you hold dear must constantly live up to the expectations of the well-to-do family to which they are linked. With increasing pressures from the powers that be, can Mary find the fine line between honouring her family and honouring herself?

The Poor Relation is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

The Poor Relation is another wonderful, engaging read from this talented author which will keep you reading long after bedtime.

Once again the author has obviously done her research and I felt truly transported to the early 1900s and enjoyed living all the historical events that happened at that time. Suzanna knows how to write fantastic female characters who are brave and willing to fight for what they believe in. Mary Maitland was another fabulous lead character and I really enjoyed following her throughout the book. All of the characters seem very realistic, with the author giving them a great backstory which allows the reader to get to know them better.

Overall I thought this was an absorbing, fast paced book which I flew through in a couple of days. There was always lots going on to keep my interest and I found that I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next as the characters had started to feel like old friends. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Allison and Busby for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Susanna Bavin has variously been a librarian, an infant school teacher, a carer and a cook. She lives in Llandudno in North Wales with her husband and two rescue cats, but her writing is inspired by her Mancunian roots.

Book Synopsis:

For fans of Jane Harper’s The Dry comes a powerful novel about the lengths we will go to keep our family safe. This is a story about good and evil and how life is lived somewhere in between.

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

‘You can’t save someone that doesn’t want to be saved . . .’

We begin At The End is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’d heard lots of great things about this book from some of my favourite bloggers, so I was excited to read it and started the book with lots of expectations. I’m pleased to say that I thought the hype was justified and this has to be the best book I’ve read for a while.

I always love crime books that give you a little bit extra and aren’t just about solving the crime. This book is very much about the characters and their lives too which made for a beautiful, emotional story. I really enjoyed getting to know Duchess and finding out more about her difficult life. Sheriff Walk was another fabulous character and I loved how caring he was to everyone.

The author does a great job of setting the scene in this book with the descriptions of the small American town helping the reader understand what it’s like somewhere everyone knows your business. The residents are very set in their opinion and it’s difficult to change them once they’ve decided. Most people thought Vincent King was guilty and it was very hard for them consider another theory. A lot of the tension in this book comes from their attitudes and behaviour towards King which becomes almost unbearable at times.

This isn’t a particularly fast paced book but it is a very compelling one which I found hard to out down. I found I grew very fond of the characters and felt personally involved in their lives, which made some of the emotional scenes even more hard hitting. I found it hard to leave them all behind at the end of the book and have been thinking about them constantly since. I’m definitely going to go back and read some of this author’s previous books.

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Zaffre for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

About The Author:

Chris Whitaker is the award-winning author of Tall Oaks and All The Wicked Girls. Both books were published to widespread critical acclaim, with Tall Oaks going on to win the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger Award. Chris lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and two young sons.

Follow Chris on Twitter @WhittyAuthor

Book Synopsis:

His life was destroyed by a lie.

Her life will be ruined by the truth.
 
Joely tells other people’s secrets for a living. As a ghost writer, she’s used to scandal – but this just might be her strangest assignment yet.
 
Freda has never told her story to anyone before. But now she’s ready to set the record straight and to right a wrong that’s haunted her for forty years.
 
Freda’s memoir begins with a 15-year-old girl falling madly in love with her teacher. It ends in a way Joely could never possibly have imagined.
 
As the story unravels, Joely is spun deeper into a world of secrets and lies. Delving further into Freda’s past, Joely’s sure she can uncover the truth… But does she want to?

My Lies, Your Lies is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author so you can imagine how excited I was to learn she had a new book out. This was another fantastic, captivating read which pulled me in from the first page and found it very difficult to put down as I wanted the mystery to be resolved.

One of the things this author does really well is create complex situations which are incredibly realistic and very easy to feel involved in. This book was no exception and I soon found myself drawn into all the drama and feeling a lot of sympathy with Joely. As a mum myself I can imagine how hard it must hit you to have your daughter want to move out.

The mystery part of the story was very intriguing and I enjoyed watching it all unfold. It read a bit like an autobiography at times but I liked getting to know the character and their background more. There was lots of suspense and twists to keep me thoroughly intrigued. I found myself completely unsure about what was going to happen next and the author managed to keep me in suspense until the end which I thought was very clever. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you are looking for a gripping read to distract you from everything then I thoroughly recommend this one!

About The Author:

Susan Lewis is the internationally bestselling author of more than forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense, and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, James; stepsons, Michael and Luke; and mischievous dogs, Coco and Lulu.

Book Synopsis:

BERLIN 2019.

A young writer is brutally attacked in her home and left for dead. For her sister Nina Bergmann, it’s the beginning of a nightmare that will threaten to destroy her marriage, her job and – ultimately – her life. As she sets out to unravel the truth about what really happened to her sister, Nina comes face-to-face with inner demons she believed long since banished and discovers that her sister’s past and that of the once-divided city are intertwined in unimaginable ways. The Wall may be gone, but its legacy still haunts Berlin . . .

Sisters Of Berlin is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I have to admit that this book wasn’t at all what I was expecting when I started- in a good way obviously. This book was much more heart wrenching, powerful and hard hitting then I thought it would it be.

Firstly this book deals with the difficult subject of grief which I thought was very cleverly described by the author. I’m guessing that she has experienced it in real life as the scenes were so accurately described that they were incredibly powerful and emotional to read about. I felt like I was living everything through Nina which made for quite difficult reading at times. I really felt for Nina and everything that she was going through.

The plot unfolds slowly and there was always something happening to keep my interest. The murder mystery side of the story was very absorbing, especially as I felt so involved in the events. The characters and story were beautifully written and they have stayed with me long after I’ve finished reading.

Huge thanks to Kelly from Love Book Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About the Author:

Juliet Conlin was born in London and grew up in England and Germany. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Durham. She works as a writer and translator and lives with her family in Berlin. Her novels include The Fractured Man (Cargo, 2013), The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days (Black & White, 2017), The Lives Before Us (Black & White, 2019).