You never forget the one that got away. But what if ‘what could have been’ is yet to come?
Daniel was the first boy to make Alison a mix tape.
But that was years ago and Ali hasn’t thought about him in a very long time. Even if she had, she might not have called him ‘the one that got away’; after all, she’d been the one to run.
Then Dan’s name pops up on her phone, with a link to a song from their shared past.
For two blissful minutes, Alison is no longer an adult in Adelaide with temperamental daughters; she is sixteen in Sheffield, dancing in her skin-tight jeans. She cannot help but respond in kind.
And so begins a new mix tape.
Ali and Dan exchange songs – some new, some old – across oceans and time zones, across a lifetime of different experiences, until one of them breaks the rules and sends a message that will change everything…
Because what if ‘what could have been’ is yet to come?
Mixed Tape is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I absolutely adored this book and would easily rate it as one of the best books I’ve ever read. Sometimes a book just clicks with you and this is certainly what happened with this book. I’ll try my best to tell you all the great things about it without coming across as too much of a fan girl but I can’t hold any promises!
At it’s heart this is a beautiful, tender love story which was wonderful to read about. How many if us have wondered about our old boyfriends and what could have been? This book gives the reader a chance to live precariously through its characters and I have to say I loved every moment of it. Even though both characters are in other relationships, it soon becomes obvious that they aren’t really happy and I found myself hoping that they would get together and have a happy ending.
As a huge music lover I always love books that combine music into the story, especially when it is music from my youth. I think it helps draw you further into the story and allows you to vividly picture the scene as you might even have been in a similar situation yourself. This was definitely the case in this book as some of the songs featured were ones I remembered from school disco’s (particularly Belle and Sebastian which I haven’t listened to in years). It was great to rediscover some old favourites and find some new music too.
Interestingly the story is told from the point of views of Ali and Dan with flashbacks from their relationship as teenagers which helped me to understand more about their lives both in the past and in the present. I really enjoyed following their story and laughed and cried alongside them. Towards the end I found myself rationing how much of the book I read per day as I really didn’t want the story to end which is always a sign of a great book.
This was the first book I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be reading more books by her in the future. I highly recommend this book to everyone as I think it would appeal to many different types of reader.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Hayley at Transworld for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Jane Sanderson was born in South Yorkshire in 1962. She studied English at Leicester University, then after graduating she became a journalist. After a series of jobs with local newspapers she joined the BBC where she worked as a producer for Radio 4, first on the World at One, and then on Woman’s Hour. She lives with her husband, the Independent journalist and author Brian Viner, and their three children in rural Herefordshire.
Jane’s first novel,‘Netherwood’, was published by Sphere,followed by sequel, ‘Ravenscliffe’, published in 2012.
Good morning everyone and happy Sunday! I’m on the blog tour for The Spirit Of Prophecy by J. J Hughes today and have a great extract to share with you.
Before I share this extract, here’s a little about the book.
Book Synopsis:
A gifted psychic but an emotional wreck, Rosetta Barrett is much more than a simple Detective seconded to a sleepy, rural English constabulary. She’s part of the International psychic CID, and a high-ranking member of EPIS (Elite Paranormal Intelligence Services) a super-secret, Inter-Governmental, global organization, based underground in Dulce, USA. EPIS is tasked with dealing with the new realities of the twenty-first century – the rise of AI and ensuring robotic, deep-learning doesn’t lead to humanity’s destruction; alien visitation and cracking their telepathic communication codes are also part of the remit. Plus expanding psychic powers including prophecy, in order to automate crime prediction and prevention.
When Juliet Jermaine’s Olympic Champion horse Gothic, and his teenage stable-hand rider are callously murdered, in what appears to be a terrorist-inspired road-rage incident, the police are baffled. Even EPIS are behind the curve, as this doesn’t fit any MO they’ve ever come across before. Plus, with the arrival of some rogue E.T.’s back at the Dulce HQ, the time portal is dangerously malfunctioning. So, Barrett will have to rely on old fashioned door-to-door detective work to try, and unravel the cause and effect buried way back in the past. Linear time is running down, meanwhile can they stop the incidents from speeding up, and the death count inexorably rising?
The murder investigation takes first Rosetta, and then Juliet to Southern Ireland, where they both fall for the devilishly handsome, Irish-traveller, horse dealer, Tommy Rafferty. Does Tommy know more about the road rage deaths than he’s letting on, and ultimately will he betray his soul mate, Juliet, to save his clan?
With Barrett’s ex-husband, a power-obsessed Foreign Office Diplomat to Russia being a prime suspect, and Jermaine not taking the karmic connection seriously, Rosetta is under intense pressure. She knows only too well that Wrongs not Atoned = #HIT-REPEAT.
For all her experience and gifts, has Detective Barrett more than met her match? Is she simply in way too deep this time, with no chance of ESCAPE?
The Spirit Of Prophecy is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
Extract:
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE Juliet Inis Cara
The drive to the Dublin airport would take half an hour or so. Not far, but too far considering the effect the celebrations had on Tommy’s brain. He swayed slightly and slurred his words. Juliet sighed as she shoved him into the Jeep on the passenger side. She decided not to mention the strange threat. It was probably one of his jilted lovers who’d had too much to drink. Not the only one, she thought with a shrug. ‘I’m perfectly-perfect capable of driving,’ he insisted, to no avail. ‘An’ you’ll never manage this temperamental old girl.’ She laughed. Although she didn’t find inebriated men particularly attractive, she couldn’t be pissed off with him for long. He looked so like a little-lost-boy. Sure, he had well and truly pickled his liver, but then today his horse had won the local Grand National. ‘I’ll handle it. I’ve got my HGV license and I’m used to driving horse-boxes the size of houses. Now can you just quit bitching and concentrate on where we’re going.’ ‘Aye-aye, captain.’ He had the window open and his elbow poked out. The breeze ruffled his hair so that it flapped gently against the collar of his jacket. ‘Why don’t you put your sunglasses on and hide your bloodshot eyes?’ She double-declutched, but the gearshift still jumped, screeching in protest at her attempted change. ‘Charmed, I’m sure. I can’t look as bad as all that.’ ‘Worse.’ She laughed. Then she looked up and saw the sign saying two miles to the airport – only two miles until she left Ireland, Espiritus, and Tommy behind. Her laughter disintegrated into the hollow emptiness of her stomach. Half an hour later, they sat lingering over a cup of coffee in the airport restaurant, which had huge sixties-style windows that overlooked the runway. Her phone pinged as a message came in. She glanced at the screen and read the text from DS Barrett wanting to know Espiritus’ date of birth. ‘Can you tell me when Espiritus was born?’ It was a long shot, she decided, given the alcohol-addled state of his brain, but as usual he surprised her. ‘Of course, I can. It’s 17th February 2017. It was a long night, a long labour, and bloody well freezing. But it turned out grand in the end an’ all.’ Tommy grinned. ‘Cheers,’ she said, texting the detective back with the details. ‘Can you let me have a copy of her passport? I’ll need it for the import paperwork.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll email it as soon as I get home.’ ‘Thanks.’ Juliet sighed. Then, she stared out the window. The light had faded, and the runway was lit up, so she could just make out a plane about to take off. The announcement system called the gate number for the Aer Lingus flight to Heathrow, and her heart sank. She glanced at her watch, willing the second hand to stop. In less than half an hour, she would be boarding a plane back to England. ‘It’s almost time,’ she said, unable to meet his eye. ‘What gate was it again?’ ‘Seven?’ He seemed better after the injection of caffeine, but his voice still sounded dull and listless. ‘So, what are we going to do?’ He looked her straight in the eye, his meaning direct and personal. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, turning away. She had been dreading this moment. ‘Stay,’ he said as he reached over and held her hands. ‘I mean it. Oh, I’ve never been one for settling down, and I can’t make any promises about the future, but I think this time it could be different.’ She hesitated. Her doubts came not from the tremendous strength of her feelings for him but from a more practical and mundane level. Ireland was an inconvenient platform to underpin her eventing career, and she’d come too far, worked too hard not to maximize her chances of success. ‘The timing’s not right. I need to focus on securing a ride for Badminton. There might not even be enough time left for that, so it might be Burghley for the next big outing.’ She paused. ‘I need to get a string of four-star horses in order to qualify for the next Olympics.’ ‘But after that, surely you can move your horses and make your base here with me?’ His eyes blazed with passionate intensity. She gulped, not trusting herself to speak. Right now, her ambition to win another gold medal transcended everything. She had to go back home to Matt, at least until she had the horse, and yet she wanted Tommy so badly. ‘Maybe. It’s a way off. Let’s see.’ ‘Matt will never understand you like I do. Never in a thousand years.’ ‘Please.’ She pulled herself free. ‘It’s all happening so quickly. Don’t you think we ought to wait a while?’ ‘I know it’s what you really want. Damn it. Just say yes.’ ‘Oh,’ she whispered, and her answer rose from her heart. ‘Of course, I want us to be together. It’s just that… well. Maybe you could move to England?’ Tommy shrugged. ‘I’m an Irishman born and bred. No offence intended, but I don’t set much store by England and most of the English. Some o’ them look down their noses as if we’re only fit for tarmacking driveways and the like. But for you, since you’re an American and they love the Irish, I’ll think about it.’ At that moment, the sound of a phone ringing came shrill and insistent from the depths of her purse. Juliet jumped. She looked down and snatched up her cell phone. ‘Don’t answer it.’ Tommy leaned over the table and grabbed her arm with an unexpected roughness. As his face moved closer, she could smell the whiskey on his breath. ‘Tommy, please…’ He loosened his grip and watched every move as she picked up the phone and took the call. ‘Hello?’ ‘Juliet, good news,’ Matt said without any hint of animosity or anger. ‘We got full planning permission and Land Development Ltd. have just improved their offer by half a million. I think I can increase that to three-quarters of a million more. It’s the chance of a lifetime.’ ‘Oh, that’s great,’ came her flat reply. ‘And that’s not all. Chi-Chi Charlie’s in the bag.’ He paused. ‘They’ll get him moved to our yard next week, but with one proviso. Soon, we’ll need to find a base near the M1. When are you coming home?’ Juliet bit her lip. ‘I’m at the airport.’ She looked at Tommy and registered the pain and confusion in his face. She screwed her eyes tight shut. ‘Hello, did you hear me?’ Juliet took a deep breath. ‘Yes, I heard you.’ She turned the phone off and replaced it in her purse. ‘Matt found me a four-star horse that’s entered for Badminton. I have to go back. It’s my last chance to qualify.’ ‘Right you are, then,’ Tommy said, his tone even, but the look of desolation on his face told a different story. She felt his pain as sharp and keen as if she owned it. ‘Tommy, please. Right now, I have to do this, but we can work something out. We can –’ she started, but he raised a finger to her lips. ‘Shush. You know that we’re meant to be together now. Don’t you?’ They both stood up and took a few steps. He drew her in his arms and held her close. ‘Well then,’ he said at last. ‘It’s time to be making tracks. Now, you have my mobile number?’ ‘Yes.’ She forced herself to walk slowly towards the departure gate. ‘And you’ll be sure to phone me about the arrangements for Espiritus, and anything else? You won’t hesitate to call me, anytime, if there are any problems?’ Juliet turned. She wanted to speak but she couldn’t. She said no with a shake of her head and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She stopped. Neither of them moved. She didn’t want to let him out of her sight. A loudspeaker announcement called for the last passengers on her flight to board immediately. Reluctantly, she set off, wondering how it would feel without him. But right now, she had to be tough. She had to make sure that she brought home another Olympic gold. Aim straight and keep your focus. She gave herself an internal pep talk. ‘Juliet,’ he called, sprinting after her. ‘There’s something that I must tell you. I –’ Juliet waved. ‘I’ll call you when I land.’ And she continued briskly to the gate, wondering what he had to say that was so important.
About The Author:
J.J Hughes was born in Cottingley, a quaint little village in West Yorkshire, UK. Her grandfather Arthur Shackleton [was related to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the polar explorer – but the furthest grand-dad travelled perhaps was up the road to the men -only social club, but then he rose early and worked long and hard and filled the house with the amazing aromas of freshly baked cakes and bread..so could not be kneading dough and adventuring at the same time. Mouths always have to be fed, don’t they and baking is hard, hot, thirsty work] J.J. Hughes parents Margaret and Arnold Simpson lived with her grandfather above the shop, the house was large, old and rambling with a proliferation of attics and spider filled cellars, if you cared to look closely- generally the author did not, preferring to spend her time playing catch, hop-scotch and the like in the cobbled streets, catching minnows in the beck [a small stream] or swimming beneath the waterfall which is famous for fairies, after two local girls [Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths] photographed them in 1917 [Or did they?]. Subsequently the photo’s proved to be fake, and this inspired a movie called ‘Fairy Tale: A True Story’ which starred Peter O’Toole playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [the creator/author of Sherlock Holmes.] He was taken in by the hoax, but then again to this day J.J.Hughes believes in elves/fairies/mermaids/unicorns and all things Elemental and Other Worldly. Nearby to Cottingley is the author’s Favourite Place: think Hovis ad’s , steam trains, cobbled streets, try Tetleys real ale in Haworth, which is famous for the wild moors and the Bronte sisters – who wrote ‘Wuthering Heights’ and ‘Jane Eyre’ which are two of her Favourite Novels , along with ‘Pride and Prejudice’ [Jane Austen] and ‘Gone with the Wind’ [Margaret Mitchell]. Feisty heroines and fill-their-boots heroes, win hands down every time? J.J.Hughes was blessed and inspired by two incredible English teachers, Paddy and Vanda. Thanks to Paddy, a brilliant photographer [a passionate, Irish man with big beard, bowler hat and rather eccentric black flowing cape] she developed a life long love of film as a medium. Later, after leaving school, she studied English/American Literature with Film Studies at the University of East Anglia [U.E.A.] Norwich, and subsequently an MA in Creative Writing at Surrey University. Career wise, after a year or so teaching English abroad she accidentally landed a job in the City of London in an Investment Bank. After three amazing children came along, she quit the City and headed for the Surrey Hills, trained as a Life Coach and Passion Test Facilitator, and went on to co-author a No 1 Best Selling Spiritual self help book called ‘Inspired by the Passion Test’. J.J Hughes is passionate about horses, the paranormal, New Age spirituality, self-development, travel, karma and reincarnation, crime…justice….. in no particular order. She has had numerous prophetic premonitions – usually about death, which so far despite a few close shaves she has escaped. She came to believe in reincarnation in her mid-twenties when her old horse Red made a re-appearance, this time as a palomino called Hooray Henry. Now, she’s an experienced Coach/Mentor, Passion Test Facilitator and Soul Re-alignment specialist. Topics currently piquing her interest are Spirituality and Science, where she’s hoping to see more inter-disciplinary co-operation, to solve the great remaining mysteries of life including man’s origins. On that note she’s keen on Panspermia – the theory of life being seeded from outer space. She’s mighty curious about Aliens- when will they come out of the closets – and what are the ethical, moral and other massive implications of A.I. and Robots? Will the FANGS [Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google..sorts] colonise Mars- will we get all the plastic out of the seas? Will humanity swap hugs and harmony for mass destruction? Love and Light from J.J.Hughes x
The trouble with secrets is that you can’t guess what the consequences will be . . .
Lainey has lost everything. Luckily one little fib (OK, quite a big fib) helps nail her dream job. Soon she’s living in a stunning house by the sea, fending off obsessed fans for a retired – if far-from-retiring – actor and organising his charming but chaotic family. It’s definitely worth the challenge of keeping her secret.
At least Lainey isn’t looking for love. It’s time for a break from all that. And yet . . . Seth, the actor’s grandson, really is rather attractive. There’s growing chemistry and a definite connection between them. But how would he react if he knew she hadn’t been honest with him?
Lainey’s not the only one with a secret, though. Seth has one of his own. And everything’s about to start unravelling . . .
It Started With A Secret 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 and always look forward to new books from her. This is another wonderful, feel good read which is perfect for curling up with.
Firstly there are some fabulous characters in this book which were an absolute joy to read about. They just made the book for me with all their loud, mad antics which made me smile. They are a great mix of different personalities which made them very interesting to read about. I found myself wishing I knew this family in real life as they seemed a lot of fun.
I thought the story was very entertaining and I soon found myself absorbed into the story. I so enjoyed getting to know the family and found the book hard to put down as I didn’t want to leave their world. The story was well plotted with plenty of surprises to keep the readers interest. I loved how the story managed to be so heartwarming and funny as it made it an easy, fun read which I loved to escape into after a hard day.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book. I can’t wait for her next book!
About The Author:
Jill Mansell’s books are full of love, life and friendship and have been bringing joy to readers for twenty-five years. She started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after joining a local creative writing class. She has since written over twenty Sunday Times bestsellers, including MAYBE THIS TIME, THIS COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING and YOU AND ME, ALWAYS, and her books have sold over 11 million copies around the world.
Jill’s hobbies include buying stationery, particularly magical new colours of ink for the fountain pen she uses to write all her books – Jill is one of the few authors who still write their books by hand. Jill also loves people-watching and finding new characters to put in her novels. So when you’re out, make sure to always be on your best behaviour. And beware of beady-eyed authors carrying notebooks . . .
Jill keeps in touch with her readers on Twitter – @JillMansell – and Facebook – /OfficialJillMansell.
Alice Teale walked out of school at the end of a bright spring day.
She’s not been seen since.
Alice was popular and well-liked, and her boyfriend, friends and family are desperate to find her.
But soon it’s clear that everyone in her life has something to hide.
Then the police receive a disturbing package.
Pages from Alice’s precious diary.
Who could have sent them? And what have they done with Alice?
Alice Teale Is Missing 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 really enjoyed this dark gripping read, which was the first thriller I’ve read from this talented author. I’m a huge fan of his historical books so I was very curious to see what his thrillers would be like.
This book drew me in from the start with its intriguing storyline and the lovely writing which made it very easy to read. The story is told from the point of view of the two detectives investigating Alice’s disappearance and I enjoyed following them on their investigations. I particularly liked that the story starts at the beginning of their investigation as it was fun to be involved from the start. The story is interspersed with extracts from Alice’s diary where we start to learn a little more about the real Alice which I thought was cleverly done, particularly as it was written in a different tone to the rest of the book. Some of the passages were quite revealing and made me think more was going on then I originally thought.
Interestingly I liked both the main characters, despite not being keen on Lucas Black at the beginning, he grew on me as the story progressed. I liked how he could show different faces to the world and be a gruff guy sometimes but be almost caring at others. Beth, as a new police officer, gives a fascinating insight into what being on an investigation means and how tricky it can be earning respect as a newbie. I liked how the author includes her real feelings into the story so she’s not just a professional cop but also a human being capable of getting frustrated and annoyed with people, though she tries her best to hide it. I thought they made a very good team and hope that they might appear in future books.
The tension and mystery in the book is slowly increased as the story goes on and I had many scenarios running through my head as to what might have happened. The pace isn’t overly fast to begin with as the author sets the scene but I found myself enjoying watching Beth and Lucas work together as well as learning about Alice so I didn’t mind this. The last quarter of the book is very gripping however and I found it very enjoyable to see everything unfold, with the ending being very satisfying.
Huge thanks to Sriya for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. I’ll definitely be reading more books from this author in the future!
About The Author:
Howard Linskey is a best-selling author of crime and historical fiction published in seven countries. His debut novel ‘The Drop’ was voted one of the Top Five Thrillers of the Year by the Times newspaper and ‘The Damage’ was voted one of its top summer reads. His David Blake series was optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron.
Howard writes a series of north-east set, crime fiction novels for Penguin Random House featuring investigative journalists Tom Carney and Helen Norton, as well as Detective Sergeant Ian Bradshaw.
His historical novels are set in WW2. ‘Hunting the Hangman’ tells the story of the assassination of Nazi general and architect of the Holocaust, Reinhard Heydrich in Prague in 1942. ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’ follows SOE agent Harry Walsh into occupied France.
Originally from the north east of England, Howard now lives in Herts with his wife Alison and daughter Erin.
Howard was featured on CBS Reality true crime TV series ‘Written In Blood’ .
LAURIE STERNE feels like he’s been cut adrift in space. His father has been shot dead, caught in the crossfire of a gangland war that has also claimed his boss’s life. Laurie is a refugee who lost his adoptive mum years before and doesn’t know where he was born, let alone who his birth parents were. But he’s not alone in the world: someone is trying to kill him. This is London, 2050, a dumping ground for climate refugees and dissidents. Gangs rule, murder goes unpunished and the police make sure you can’t escape. In his struggle to stay alive, he finds an ally: his former boss’s secret daughter. But with the killer predicting his every move, is the man without a past being betrayed by the woman who seems to offer him a future?
Black Ditch is available now in ebook and paperback. The ebook is currently at the bargain price of 99p. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
Black Ditch is a very impressive debut novel that offers a chilling and compelling look into a potential London of the future.
I always love Dystopian novels as it’s so interesting to see what the author’s imagination can come up with. This author’s vision is very hard hitting as it’s a future that could actually happen as it is that way due to climate change, which we all know is a problem. Slowly the new world is revealed to the reader and it is one that seems both familiar but also altered and bleak. There is a definite human hierarchy that often leaves people stuck in tower blocks fearful to go out due to the gangs that rule the city. I found this world frightening but also very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about it.
I thought this was quite a fast paced story with a very clever plot which I enjoyed watching unfold. Laurie is a brave and intelligent main character who I enjoyed following throughout the book as he tried to work out who he was and where he fit in.
This unbelievably is the author’s debut novel and I can’t wait to read more in this promising series.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Simon J Lancaster is the author of The Black Ditch, the first in the Laurie Sterne trilogy of dystopian future thrillers. Prior to writing novels he was a national newspaper journalist in London, as well as a music critic and private pilot. He has written short stories and plays and, after reading extensively about climate change, concluded that the fantasy gun-play of contemporary-set action novels would be the lived experience of our coming world.
Flora always dreamed of the day she’d become a mother. But some dreams turn into nightmares.
Flora and Neil are happily married, but they can’t have children so decide to adopt. And when Flora meets little Beckie it’s love at first sight. Deep in her heart, she knows they’re meant for each other, destined to be mother and daughter.
When Flora officially becomes Beckie’s mum, it’s like a part of her that’s always been missing is finally in place. She is complete, every day filled with purpose and joy.
There’s only one problem. Beckie was taken from her birth family, the Johnsons, because they have a history of violence and criminal behaviour and so are judged to be unfit to care for a child.
But the Johnsons don’t agree. As far as they’re concerned, Flora has stolen their little girl and they are determined to get her back. They’re very smart, utterly ruthless – and they have a plan. One that will turn Flora’s life into a living hell and push her to the very edge of insanity.
This stunning psychological thriller is perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Mark Edwards, and Teresa Driscoll.
Watch Over Me is available in ebook on the 26th January 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.
My Review:
Watch Over Me is an enthralling read with a very intriguing storyline.
Firstly I thought the subject matter of this book was very interesting as it definitely gives the reader a different glance into adoption. Considering the awful conditions Becky lives in I wasn’t surprised that she was taken away from her family. Although I can imagine that this happening could be very emotional that didn’t seem to be the grandparents main reason to want to get Becky back. Their relentless and intelligent campaign was quite uncomfortable to witness at times as you wonder who they are actually looking out for. I found myself wondering how low they were prepared to stoop and what they were willing to do in order to get her back.
This is a bit of a slow burner though there is lots happening to keep the reader interested. The tension is slowly increased as the story continues and we learn more about the grandparents past. There are lots of twists and secrets revealed with the ending being incredibly gripping and surprising. I had many ideas about what was going on but was proven wrong which I always enjoy.
Some of the characters speech is written in Scottish dialect which was a little confusing and difficult to read at first though I soon got used to. There is also a lot of swearing in the book which might not be to everyone’s taste.
Overall I thought this was an usual thriller with a very interesting story line and I’d be interested to read more from this author in the future.
Huge thanks to Emma from Damppebble Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
‘A meticulously plotted exploration of friendship, foe-ship and the lies that bind, which builds to a gripping and powerful conclusion’ – CARA HUNTER
Five Women.
They meet at their NCT Group. The only thing they have in common is they’re all pregnant.
Five Secrets.
Three years later, they are all good friends. Aren’t they?
One Missing Husband.
Now the police have come knocking. Someone knows something.
And the trouble with secrets is that someone always tells.
For fans of Big Little Lies, The Rumour and I Invited Her In, this is first class psychological suspense from the critically acclaimed Sarah J Naughton.
The Mothers is available in ebook now and in paperback on the 30th April 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Mothers is a very compelling addictive read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The easy writing style soon drew me into the story and allowed me to just relax and enjoy it.
The story is told from two different storylines, one in the present day following the police as they try to solve Ewan’s disappearance and the other in the past following the five women’s friendship. I found I enjoyed both threads equally as it was great to follow the fabulous Iona in her investigation but also fun to learn more about the women and their past histories.
I have to admit I didn’t particularly warm to any of the woman though I did feel a lot of sympathy for Bella who I felt was treated badly by everyone. I often wished that I knew her personally so I could be the friend I felt she needed. Her husband Ewan was an awful person who only seemed to care about himself. I found myself hoping that he wouldn’t come back as I felt Bella would be much happier without him.
The two storylines come together nicely with lots of twists and false leads that kept me guessing what was going on until the end. I loved watching everything unfold and trying to guess what would happen. The ending was more dramatic then I expected which was a nice surprise and I thought it was a great way to end the book.
I’ve read every book this author has written and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better. I’m very excited to see what she comes up with next.
Huge thanks to Alainna from Orion books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you like Lianne Moriarty’s then I think you’ll like this book too as the styles are similar.
About The Author:
Sarah J. Naughton was shortlisted for The Costa Children’s Book Award for her novel, The Hanged Man Rises. Her debut thriller The Girlfriend was published in 2018. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.
‘A meticulously plotted exploration of friendship, foe-ship and the lies that bind, which builds to a gripping and powerful conclusion’ – CARA HUNTER
Five Women.
They meet at their NCT Group. The only thing they have in common is they’re all pregnant.
Five Secrets.
Three years later, they are all good friends. Aren’t they?
One Missing Husband.
Now the police have come knocking. Someone knows something.
And the trouble with secrets is that someone always tells.
For fans of Big Little Lies, The Rumour and I Invited Her In, this is first class psychological suspense from the critically acclaimed Sarah J Naughton.
The Mothers is available in ebook now and in paperback on the 30th April 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Mothers is a very compelling addictive read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The easy writing style soon drew me into the story and allowed me to just relax and enjoy it.
The story is told from two different storylines, one in the present day following the police as they try to solve Ewan’s disappearance and the other in the past following the five women’s friendship. I found I enjoyed both threads equally as it was great to follow the fabulous Iona in her investigation but also fun to learn more about the women and their past histories.
I have to admit I didn’t particularly warm to any of the woman though I did feel a lot of sympathy for Bella who I felt was treated badly by everyone. I often wished that I knew her personally so I could be the friend I felt she needed. Her husband Ewan was an awful person who only seemed to care about himself. I found myself hoping that he wouldn’t come back as I felt Bella would be much happier without him.
The two storylines come together nicely with lots of twists and false leads that kept me guessing what was going on until the end. I loved watching everything unfold and trying to guess what would happen. The ending was more dramatic then I expected which was a nice surprise and I thought it was a great way to end the book.
I’ve read every book this author has written and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better. I’m very excited to see what she comes up with next.
Huge thanks to Alainna from Orion books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you like Lianne Moriarty’s then I think you’ll like this book too as the styles are similar.
About The Author:
Sarah J. Naughton was shortlisted for The Costa Children’s Book Award for her novel, The Hanged Man Rises. Her debut thriller The Girlfriend was published in 2018. She lives in London with her husband and two sons.
THE EIGHTEENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEAN
Peace has finally been declared in the Far East, but for those living at Beach View Boarding House, the news brings mixed emotions.
Peggy Reilly is devastated that her husband Jim will not be coming home for Christmas. And Sarah and Jane, who have lived at Beach View throughout much of the conflict, dread what they will find when they go back to Singapore.
Life in Cliffehaven is in a whirlwind of change as the men return from the war and Peggy’s evacuee chicks begin to spread their wings and start new lives in different corners of the world.
Peggy and Jim have longed to be together after so many years apart, but war has left them profoundly changed. Can they rekindle the loving, close relationship they’d shared before?
Homecoming is published in ebook and paperback on the 23rd January 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.
My Review:
I’ve been a huge fan of this wonderful series since the beginning and it has been so lovely to follow the residents through the years. I started this book with mixed feelings as on one hand I was very excited to read another Clifthaven book but on the other I was sad that this series was coming to an end.
One of the things I like about this author is her ability to always find new storylines to keep the series interesting and fresh. This book was no exception and I found the inclusion of life after the war to be very interesting, especially as it is something that isn’t touched upon much in other books. It must have been very difficult for couples coming back from the war to learn to live with each other again. The author does a great job in describing the situation so it feels real as she doesn’t make it overly dramatic.
This was a beautiful story that was excellently told and one that quickly absorbed me into the story. It’s a story of joy, sadness and above all love in all forms. It’s one that definitely needs to be read with some tissues handy as their are some poignant moments and some truly heartwarming ones that brought tears to my eyes in equal measures. It’s a fantastic way to end the series and I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
Huge thanks to Rachel Kennedy from Arrow publishing for inviting me onto the tour and for my copy of the book.
About The Author:
Ellie Dean lives in a tiny hamlet set deep in the heart of the South Downs in Sussex, which has been her home for many years and where she raised her three children. She is the author of the The Cliffehaven Series.
ONE WRONG MOVE A body is found bricked into the walls of a house. From the state of the hands, it’s clear the dead man was buried alive. Soon, the victim is linked to an old missing person’s case and DS Adam Tyler is called. WILL IGNITE As the sole representative of South Yorkshire’s Cold Case Review Unit, Tyler recognises his role for what it is – a means of keeping him out of the way following an ‘incident’. When this case falls in his lap, he grabs the opportunity to fix his stagnating career. THE CITY And then Tyler discovers he has a connection to the case that hopelessly compromises him. He makes the snap decision not to tell his superiors, certain that he and only he can solve the crime. But now Tyler must move carefully to find out the truth, without destroying the case or himself.
Meanwhile, someone in the city knows exactly what happened to the body. Someone who is watching Adam closely. Someone with an unhealthy affinity with fire. . .
A taut investigative thriller bursting with character and tension, introducing an enigmatic, fresh lead detective unlike any you have met before – Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler – for fans of Adrian McKinty, Tana French, Steve Cavanagh and Sharon Bolton.
Firewatching is published in ebook and hardback on the 20th February 2020. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.
My Review:
Wow what a fantastic read this was. Dark, engrossing and tense it kept me reading far too late at night!
The mention of fire always intrigues me as it’s so dangerous and unpredictable so the blurb instantly appealed to me. I was not disappointed as the Firewatcher was a truly despicable villan who I loved to hate. He’s obviously a highly intelligent individual and I found it hugely enjoyable trying to work out who he was. His main communication to the detectives was through blog posts which gave the story a modern feel which made it seem more realistic.
DS Tyler was a fantastic main character and one that I warmed to instantly. He’s the first gay police officer that I remember reading about and it was sad to see the homophobic behaviour of his colleagues that was casually wrapped up as so called ‘banter’. I thought he handled everything very well though and I found myself admiring him for his intelligent determination towards the case.
Overall I thought this was a fantastic read with a fascinating plot that held my attention throughout the book. I enjoyed reading all the different threads and watching them slowly come together. There were lots of twists and surprises which kept me guessing which I always enjoy. The final revel was brilliantly done and took me completely by surprise- very cleverly done by the author.
This is unbelievably the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from him in the future. I’m hopeful that this is the start of a new crime series staring DS Tyler as I’d love to read more of him!
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Jess from Simon and Schuster for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Russ Thomas was born in Essex, raised in Berkshire and now lives in Sheffield. He grew up in the 80s reading anything he could get from the library, writing stories, watching large amounts of television, playing videogames, and largely avoiding the great outdoors. He spent five years trying to master playing the electronic organ and another five trying to learn Spanish. It didn’t take him too long to realise that he’d be better off sticking to the writing. After a few ‘proper’ jobs (among them: pot-washer, optician’s receptionist, supermarket warehouse operative, call-centre telephonist and storage salesman) he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. His debut novel Firewatching is the first book in the D/S Adam Tyler series.
Over The Rainbow Blog 