Book Synopsis:

A tale of two very different sisters whose 1890s voyage from London into remote outback Australia becomes a journey of self-discovery, set against a landscape of wild beauty and savage dispossession. London in 1891: Harriet Cameron is a talented young artist whose mother died when she was barely five. She and her beloved sister Sarah were brought up by their father, radical thinker James Cameron. After adventurer Henry Vincent arrives on the scene, the sisters’ lives are changed forever. Sarah, the beauty of the family, marries Henry and embarks on a voyage to Australia. Harriet, intensely missing Sarah, must decide whether to help her father with his life’s work or to devote herself to painting. When James Cameron dies unexpectedly, Harriet is overwhelmed by grief. Seeking distraction, she follows Sarah to Australia, and afterwards into the outback, where she is alienated by the casual violence and great injustices of outback life. Her rejuvenation begins with her friendship with an Aboriginal stockman and her growing love for the landscape. But this fragile happiness is soon threatened by murders at a nearby cattle station and by a menacing station hand who is seeking revenge.

The Philosopher’s Daughter is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a beautifully written, immersive piece of historical fiction set in Australia. I’ve always loved books set in Australia, I think maybe because the landscape is so different to what we know in the UK that makes the a story seem so much more wild and unexpected.

The story follows two sisters Sarah and Harriet as they leave England to start a new life in Australia. It was so good to follow them on their journey and to live precariously through them as they start their new life, especially as moving to a new country has always been a bit of a fantasy of mine. There was obviously a stark difference between their old and new life which was interesting to see, especially when their old activities like sewing were done in their new environment as it just seemed wrong somehow.

The author does a great job of setting the scene with the vivid descriptions of the harshly beautiful Australian landscape helping transport the reader into the book. The treatment of the Aboriginal workers made for very hard reading at times as I couldn’t believe that they were treated like that. The sister’s positive attitude towards them was lovely to read about and helped me warm toward them.

This isn’t particularly a fast paced book but the story is still so interesting and the descriptions so vivid that I soon found myself getting lost in the story. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’d definitely like to read more from her in the future.

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

About The Author:

Alison Booth was born in Melbourne, brought up in Sydney and has worked in the UK and in Australia as a professor as well as a novelist. Her most recent novel, A Perfect Marriage, is in the genre of contemporary fiction, while her first three novels (Stillwater Creek, The Indigo Sky, and A Distant Land) are historical fiction spanning the decades 1950s through to the early 1970s. Alison’s work has been translated into French and has also been published by Reader’s Digest Select Editions in both Asia and Europe. Alison, who holds a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics, is an active public speaker and has participated in many writers’ festivals and literary events. http:// http://www.alisonbooth.net and https:// http://www.facebook.com/AlisonBoothAuthor/

Book Synopsis:

Suspended from duty, Detective Frølich is working as a private investigator, when his girlfriend’s colleague asks for his help with a female asylum seeker, who the authorities are about to deport. She claims to have a sister in Norway, and fears that returning to her home country will mean instant death.

Frølich quickly discovers the whereabouts of the young woman’s sister, but things become increasingly complex when she denies having a sibling, and Frølich is threatened off the case by the police. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that the answers lie in an old investigation, and the mysterious sister, who is now on the run…

A dark, chilling and up-to-the-minute Nordic Noir thriller, Sister is also a tense and well-plotted murder mystery with a moving tragedy at its heart, cementing Kjell Ola Dahl as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation.

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

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author’s books so I was incredibly excited to be invited onto the blog tour for this his latest book. Once again the author has written a fabulous, compelling and fast paced book which was hugely enjoyable to read.

One of the things that I most enjoyed about this book was how the reader gets to unravel the mystery alongside Frank as he tries to make sense of the muddle of the case he gets handed. It was great fun to try to unpick everything and to try to work out what was going on. There were lots of twists and false leads which kept me guessing and ensured that the actual solution was a complete surprise to me.

The actual case was a very intriguing one following asylum seekers and ship wrecks which are quite current topics unfortunately. Frank really impressed me with his dogged determination to try and solve the case by going through everything with a fine tooth comb. It’s a complex story and there is always lots going on to keep the reader interested so it’s very difficult to put down. The ending was very clever and I thought it was an interesting, unusual way to end things.

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

About The Author:

One of the fathers of the Nordic Noir genre, Kjell Ola Dahl was born in 1958 in Gjøvik. He made his debut in 1993, and has since published eleven novels, the most prominent of which is a series of police procedurals cum psychological thrillers featuring investigators Gunnarstranda and Frølich. In 2000 he won the Riverton Prize for The Last Fix and he won both the prestigious Brage and Riverton Prizes for The Courier in 2015. His work has been published in fourteen countries, and he lives in Oslo.Follow Kjell Ola on Twitter @ko_dahl

Book Synopsis:

Discover the heartbreaking story of The Lost Child…

Rebecca Waterhouse is just thirteen when she witnesses her mother’s death at the hand of her father in Seaview Cottage.

But what else did Rebecca see?

Years later, Rebecca’s daughters Iris and Jessie know their mother will never speak of that terrible night. But when Jessie goes missing, with her gravely ill newborn, Iris realises the past may hold the key to her sister’s disappearance.

With Jessie in trouble, Iris must unravel a twisting story of love and betrayal in her mother’s family history.

Only then will Seaview Cottage give up its dark and tragic secret…

Emily Gunnis’s mesmerising new novel is the perfect read for fans of Kate Morton, Lucy Clarke, Louise Douglas and Kathryn Hughes.

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

My Review:

Wow what a beautiful, emotional and important read this was. I absolutely loved this author’s first book so I was a little apprehensive about starting this one as it couldn’t possibly be as good, could it? Oh yes, yes it could!

This book is a multi generational story which focuses on how women were treated in the 1940’s and 50’s. It was truly eye-opening and emotional to see what women went through, particularly in the treatment of post natal depression. The lack of understanding and contempt made for hard reading at times especially as I suffered with post natal depression after my first child. I’m very grateful that attitudes have moved on.

The characters were all fabulous creations and I enjoyed following their stories throughout the book. The author manages to give each character an individual voice which I thought was clever and I found myself growing closer and closer to them as the book progressed. I started to feel like they were old friends of mine and found myself getting quite worked up over everything that goes on. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to them.

I thought this was a very absorbing book that features some important topics. The story follows three ladies who I guessed must be connected in some way but I wasn’t sure initially how. It was therefore very enjoyable to see the stories come together and all the secrets be revealed.

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

About The Author:

Emily Gunnis previously worked in TV drama and lives in Brighton with her young family. She is one of the four daughters of Sunday Times bestselling author Penny Vincenzi.

Book Synopsis:

Who am I? Why am I here? Why did my mother give me away?’

On the surface, Luke and his girlfriend Hannah seem to have a perfect life. He’s an A&R man, she’s an arts correspondent and they are devoted to their new-born son Samuel.

But beneath the gloss Luke has always felt like an outsider. So when he finds his birth mother Alice, the instant connection with her is a little like falling in love.

When Hannah goes back to work, Luke asks Alice to look after their son. But Alice – fuelled with grief from when her baby was taken from her 27 years ago – starts to fall in love with Samuel. And Luke won’t settle for his mother pushing him aside once again…

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

My Review:

I was a huge fan of this author’s first book so I was very excited to read more from her. Mine is another intense, powerful read which I have continued to think about long after I have finished reading.

I’ve often wondered how traumatic and life changing giving up a child must be for everyone involved. It’s a decision that must haunt you for years and something you often think about. I therefore had a lot of sympathy for both Luke and Alice for the situation they find themselves in with all the raw emotion that they were both feeling.

As emotional as Luke and Alice’s meeting is, things soon becomes quite frightening as Alice forms a strong attachment to Luke little girl. Alarm bells started ringing and I found myself feeling quite uneasy as to how things were going. There’s a strong sense of foreboding hanging over the whole book as the reader gets the sense early on that something bad is going to happen but has no idea what and when. I found myself trying to read faster to find out what it was going to be.

The thing that most stood out for me in this book was how connected I felt to the characters. Despite everything that happens I felt very close to them and felt I understood why they were acting the way they were. It’s definitely a heartbreaking read at times due to the subject matter but I think it would make a great read for anyone who likes psychological thrillers as it is very gripping.

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:

Clare is a journalist with a background in national newspapers – small business editor, finance correspondent and fashion at the Mail on Sunday and the Daily Express, freelance for The Sunday Telegraph, The Sunday Times, the Evening Standard and Tatler amongst others. She currently works as editor/founder of experiential lifestyle website http://www.countrycalling.co.uk.

Book Synopsis:

England, 1899. A new century is dawning, and two young friends are about to enter into a world of money, privilege and family secrets…
Josie has never questioned her life in a South Yorkshire mining village. But everything changes when she meets Tommy from the neighbouring village. Tommy has been destined for a life underground since the moment he was born. But he has far bigger dreams for his future.
United by their desire for something better and by their fascination with the local gentry, Josie and Tommy become fast friends. Wealthy and glamorous, the Sedgewicks of Silvermoor inhabit a world that is utterly forbidden to Tommy and Josie. Yet as the new century arrives, the pair become entangled with the grand family, and discover a long hidden secret. Will everything change as they all step forward into the new dawn…?

The House At Silvermoor is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was another enjoyable page turner from this hugely talented author, who writes some of my favourite historical timeline books.

Firstly I loved Tommy and Josie the two main characters and so enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book. They are such warm, relatable characters and I felt very sad when I finished the book and had to leave them behind. I had a lot of respect for Tommy who wants to break out of the life that is expected of him and try and finish his education. I felt quite sad that the rigid class structure meant that people were only able to do certain things.

The author does a fantastic job of setting the scene and I just drank in all the fabulous details of what life was life back then. The harsh conditions of working down the mines was sharply contrasted with the aristocracy of Silvermoor and made you realise how different things could be back then.

This was the type of book that I knew instantly I was going to like so I could just relax and enjoy the story. There was always something going on to keep my attention and even when there wasn’t I found myself just loving being in Tommy and Josie’s company. The way the book ended makes me hope that there might be a sequel with the same characters which would be amazing. Either way I can’t wait to read more from this author.

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

About The Author:

Tracy Rees was born in South Wales. A Cambridge graduate, she had a successful eight-year career in nonfiction publishing and a second career practising and teaching humanistic counselling. She was the winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller Competition and the 2015 LoveStories ‘Best Historical Read’ award.

Book Synopsis:

TWO EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. A LOVE THAT DRAWS THEM TOGETHER. A LOSS THAT THREATENS TO TEAR THEM APART.

On a summer’s day in 1596, a young girl in Stratford-upon-Avon takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin brother, Hamnet, searches everywhere for help. Why is nobody at home?

Their mother, Agnes, is over a mile away, in the garden where she grows medicinal herbs. Their father is working in London. Neither parent knows that one of the children will not survive the week.

Hamnet is a novel inspired by the son of a famous playwright. It is a story of the bond between twins, and of a marriage pushed to the brink by grief. It is also the story of a kestrel and its mistress; flea that boards a ship in Alexandria; and a glovemaker’s son who flouts convention in pursuit of the woman he loves. Above all, it is a tender and unforgettable reimagining of a boy whose life has been all but forgotten, but whose name was given to one of the most celebrated plays ever written.

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

My Review:

This was an absolutely exceptional, emotional book that was simply a stunning read.

I’ve always loved books which involve taking an actual historical character and making an alternative story with them so this book instantly appealed to me. Everyone knows who Shakespeare is but not much is known about his wife, known to the world as Anne Hathaway but whose actually name was Agnes! Here the author gives the reader a glimpse into the life of the woman she might have been, subtly giving explanations for some of the rumours that exist about her. I found I really liked Agnes who came across as warm, capable woman who had a lot of love for her kids.

The author does a fantastic job of making everyday life in Tudor times come to life. I really enjoyed learning more about the period, especially the roles a woman were meant to take on within the home and the skills they were meant to have. It was interesting to see the difference in the daily routines between a town person and someone living in the country. The weird and ineffective ways that doctors of the time tried to treat the plague was very eye opening and made me realise how far medicine has come.

This isn’t a particularly fast paced book but it is an incredibly compelling read which will quickly draw you into the story. Having read some of the other reviews my understanding is that there are some very clever hidden meanings behind the writing and the way the book is written which I think must have gone over my head. Please don’t be put off by this as I thought it was still an amazing story in its own right without realising this. It’s a fabulous piece of historical fiction and one I’ll be recommending to everyone.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Georgina from Midas publicity for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Born in Northern Ireland in 1972, MAGGIE O’FARRELL grew up in Wales and Scotland and now lives in London. She has worked as a waitress, chambermaid, bike messenger, teacher, arts administrator, journalist (in Hong Kong and London), and as the deputy literary editor of The Independent on Sunday. She is the author of After You’d Gone (winner of the Betty Trask Award); My Lover’s Lover; The Distance Between Us (recipient of a Somerset Maugham Award); The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox; The Hand That First Held Mine; Instructions for a Heatwave (winner of a Costa Book Award); This Must Be the Place; and most recently, I Am, I Am, I Am.

Book Synopsis:

The accident.
The lie.
The fallout will be huge . . .

When Liza’s little boy has an accident at the local health club, it’s all anyone can talk about.

Was nobody watching him?
Where was his mother?
Who’s to blame?

The rumours, the finger-pointing, the whispers – they’re everywhere. And Liza’s best friend, Sarah, desperately needs it to stop.

Because Sarah was there when it happened. It was all her fault. And if she’s caught out on the lie, everything will fall apart . . .

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

My Review:

I so enjoyed this gripping and thoroughly addictive read which had me reading long into the night.

Firstly I’ve always been a huge fan of books that involves groups of friends as it’s always fascinating to dig under the surface and see what secrets are hidden. This book does a great job of picking apart the dynamics of a friendship group and seeing what pressures or influences are there. Some of the groups problems could have easily been solved by just being honest with each other and I did find myself wishing I could go into the story and explain this to them at times.

I didn’t particularly warm to any of the mum’s as they seemed quite superficial and not people I would be friends with. I did have a lot of sympathy for Sarah as I know what it’s like to have someone else’s kid get hurt on your watch and how easy it is to try and tell a small white lie to make the situation better. Her story was especially interesting to follow as I wanted to see how she would sort everything out.

Overall I thought this was a very enjoyable, gripping read which I flew through in a few days. It was quite a moving book at times too which I wasn’t expecting. The different threads in the book compliment each other well and come together for a very satisfying ending.

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

About The Author:

Rebecca Thornton is an alumna of the Faber Academy Writing A Novel course, where she was tutored by Esther Freud and Tim Lott. Her writing has been published in The Guardian, You Magazine, Daily Mail, Prospect Magazine and The Sunday People amongst others. She has reported from the Middle East, Kosovo and the UK. She now lives in West London with her husband and two children.

The Fallout is her third novel.

Book Synopsis:

Detective Sergeant Khenan Malice is a rubbish ex-husband, a crap father but a damned good detective. It’s a shame he spoils his only redeeming quality by being a bent copper.

Detective Kelly Pietersen joins the team to help find a missing woman. But Kelly has a secret…

Damien Kaplan is a leading criminal barrister and a keen amateur potter. He also happens to be a serial killer with a chilling approach to creating his art. He’s married to Elsa, though she considers him more of a possession than a husband. She controls those around her using sex and procures men and women for her husband to play with but only after she’s finished with them first.

Killing Pretties is his passion, having sex with them is hers. It is difficult to say which one is worse.

The missing woman brings all four crashing together – an incendiary mix that doesn’t end well.

Killing Pretties 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 author so was very excited to learn he had a new book out.

As with most of the world I am in need of distraction at the moment and this book was exactly what I needed. The author has a fantastic way of just drawing the reader into the story and getting them quickly hooked. This was no exception and I enjoyed following the deliciously twisted Damien and Elsa who have to be one of the most despicable couple I’ve ever read about. I loved to hate them and it was great fun ( seems wrong to say that somehow) to learn more about them and follow them throughout the story.

DS Malice was a fabulous main character who quickly became one of my favourite fictional police officers. He was quite a complex character with a bit of a murky personal life, especially one little side business which doesn’t really go with his professional job. I found it interesting to get to know him and to see how he manages to juggle everything.

This was a fast paced, dark thriller which was absolutely impossible to put down. I had to keep reading in order to find out how it all ended up. Some of the scenes are a little disturbing so might not be to everyone’s taste but if you’re looking for a dark, addictive read then I don’t think you can go wrong with Rob’s books.

Huge thanks to Sarah from BOTB publicity for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Rob is married to Karen with two grown up daughters. He is originally from South Wales and after moving around with work settled in North Lincolnshire. Like all good welsh valley boys Rob worked for the National Coal Board after leaving school at sixteen and went to University at the tender age of twenty-three when the pit closures began to bite. Since then he’s worked in a variety of manufacturing and consulting roles both in the UK and abroad. It took Rob twenty-four years to write his first book. He only became serious about writing it when his dad got cancer. It was an aggressive illness and Rob gave up work for three months to look after him and his mum. Writing Those That Remain became his coping mechanism. After he wrote the book his family encouraged him to continue, so not being one for half measures, Rob got himself made redundant, went self-employed so he could devote more time to writing and four years later the Mechanic Trilogy was the result. Rob published Those That Remain, In Your Name and Pay the Penance with Bloodhound Books and has since written the DI Rosalind Kray series. These are Faceless, This Little Piggy, Suspended Retribution and Jaded which are also published by Bloodhound. His latest work sees the introduction of a new set of characters – DS Khenan Malice and DC Kelly Pietersen. The first book in the series is titled Killing Pretties and the second is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Lies. Both books will be published this year. When he is not writing, Rob is a frustrated chef with a liking for beer and prosecco, and is known for occasional outbreaks of dancing.