Book Synopsis:

A page-turning new thriller for the social media age, perfect for fans of NOW YOU SEE HER, YOU and Liane Moriarty.

Ten years ago, Jess’s mother was murdered by the Magpie Man.

She was the first of his victims but not the last.

Now Jess is the star of a YouTube reality series and she’s using it to catch the killer once and for all.

The whole world is watching her every move.

And so is the Magpie Man.

Are You Watching is available in ebook now for only 99p and in paperback on the 6th February 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Ooh I really enjoyed this intriguing thriller which had a very modern feel to it as it’s centered around reality shows and a you tube channel which seems to be everywhere at the moment. It reminded me of a cross between Big Brother and The Circle which made it seem very realistic.

I really liked Jess who I warmed to quickly and felt a lot of sympathy for. She’s a typical teenager with lots of flaws which made her feel like someone I might have known at school. I thought she was actually incredibly brave to try and tempt her mother’s killer out of hiding. My fondness of her ensured I kept reading as I wanted to make sure she was safe.

This was a fast paced book with lots of things going on which made the book impossible to put down. The tone of the book and the short chapters make the book easy to read, enabling the reader to just relax and enjoy the story. I liked the little tests that the producers do on society especially when they test if people would continue to watch even if nothing was happening just incase there was a last minute twist. I felt this was quite true of modern society and made me smile as I think it would be very true.

The ending and the identity of The Magpie Man was very cleverly done. I didn’t manage to work out his identity which I always like!

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

About The Author:

Vincent Ralph has been writing in one form or another since his teens and always dreamed of being a novelist. He owes his love of books to his mother, who encouraged his imagination from an early age and made sure there were new stories to read.

Vincent has lived in London, Cornwall and Chester but he now lives in his home county of Kent with his wife, son and two cats.

Book Synopsis:

Imagine a world where…

Everything you ate was monitored by the government.
Every step you took was counted.
Your children were weighed every day at school.
Neighbours reported on neighbours and no one was safe from judgement.
Sugar was illegal, and baking was a crime.

Imagine if that world was here… What would you do?

Toe the line or fight for your freedom…

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

My Review:

The Choice is a gripping, thought provoking read that is hard to believe is a debut novel.

The thing that most stuck out about this book is how frighteningly realistic it is, with parts of the book sending chills down my spine! With a government that is very focused on healthier eating and the introduction of a sugar tax it’s easy to see how the world in this book could become our reality, which was quite scary to realise.

The main character, Olivia, was an intriguing one that took me a while to warm to. Yes I thought she was very brave trying to fight against the government and change things for others, however I thought she took almost too many risks and made some silly mistakes which was quite frustrating. She did make me think about what I’d do in a similar situation though and what I’d do differently.

Overall I really enjoyed this book as it was very gripping and impossible to put down as I wanted to find out what would happen next. It’s quite a disturbing read and the story is definitely one that will stay with me. I think it would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Alainna from Orion books for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Orion for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I’m very excited to read more from this author!

About The Author:

Claire Wade is the winner of the Good Housekeeping Novel Competition 2018. She was bed bound for six years with severe ME, trapped in a body that wouldn’t do what she wanted; her only escape was through her imagination. She now writes about women who want to break free from the constraints of their lives, a subject she’s deeply familiar with.

Her favourite things are books, baking and the WI. She’s the founding president of a modern WI (Women’s Institute) and runs a baking club for other cake lovers. You’ll find her in her writing room, nicknamed Narnia because it’s also home to a wardrobe and is the place where she escapes to other worlds. She’s happiest if she’s got a slice of chocolate cake, a cup of tea and a good book.

Book Synopsis:

Elizabeth of York, her life already tainted by dishonour and tragedy, now queen to the first Tudor king, Henry the VII.

Joan Vaux, servant of the court, straining against marriage and motherhood and privy to the deepest and darkest secrets of her queen. Like the ravens, Joan must use her eyes and her senses, as conspiracy whispers through the dark corridors of the Tower.

Through Joan’s eyes, The Lady of the Ravens inhabits the squalid streets of Tudor London, the imposing walls of its most fearsome fortress and the glamorous court of a kingdom in crisis.

The Lady Of The Ravens is published on the 9th of January 2020 in ebook and hardback. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly books set in the Tudor era, so this book really appealed to me.

I hadn’t read much about Joan Vaux before so I found it very interesting to learn more about her story. I really liked Joan who came across as a very clever, honest lady who doesn’t take herself too seriously which made me warm to her. I also liked her husband Richard who underneath everything was a lovely, kind man whose love and loyalty to his family shined through. I enjoyed reading about the two of them throughout the book.

There is some amazing historical details in this book which helps make the era come to life. I especially enjoyed all the vivid descriptions of the big events like the coronation and Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth which made me feel like I was actually there watching everything unfold. The author has clearly done her research and I liked the way she managed to blend the historical facts into the story making it really come to life.

The novel is set in and around the tower of London which I found fascinating as I don’t remember reading many books set there. The presence of the ravens made the book stand out to me and I liked learning more about the myths surrounding them. They also added a bit of a dark, almost gothic feel to the book as it felt like they were always watching and waiting!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and found it to be very absorbing and intriguing. The author paints a bleak picture of life at that time and all the dangers that were around then. I found myself feeling very glad that I didn’t live then especially, as a woman I think I’d have had a hard time.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book. If you’re a fan of author’s like Philippa Gregory then you’ll enjoy this book as the styles are similar.

About The Author:

Joanna Hickson spent twenty five years presenting and producing News and Arts programmes for the BBC. Her first published book was a children’s historical novel Rebellion at Orford Castle but more recently she has turned to adult fiction, concentrating on bringing fifteenth century English history and some of its fascinating principal characters to life.

She is married with a large family and gets inspiration from her Wiltshire farmhouse home, which dates back to her chosen period.

Book Synopsis:

Six-foot-two Irish man who answers to the name Samuel McLaughlin.
Has weak shins and enjoys show tunes.
If found, please return to Sophie Williams.

Before Sophie met Samuel she saw the world in grey.
Before Samuel met Sophie, he never believed in love at first sight.

When they first meet, something tells them they are meant to be.
But fate has other ideas.

Now they have lost each other and can’t see a way back.
But they’ve already changed each other’s lives in more ways
than they ever expected…

The First Time I Saw You is available in ebook now and in paperback on the 9th February 2020. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author so was incredibly excited to read this book. I thought it was a beautifully written, funny book that manages to be both heartwarming and heart breaking at the same time

This is a love story, but not necessarily the one you’d expect as it’s not just about the love between a couple but rather about all the different love that is in our lives. The main characters Sophie and Samuel have some amazing people around them and I loved the truly heartwarming, lovely scenes involving their interactions with their siblings and their parents.

As you can probably imagine the course of love doesn’t run smoothly and there is lots of mishaps or misunderstandings on the way which made up some of the funny scenes in the book. It also lead to some lovely supportive moments between the characters which was very enjoyable to read about.

There is a lovely message in this book which added to the beauty of the story and left me feeling sad that the book had ended. The idea that being kind and helping each other out would make life easier for everyone, is an important one which I wish everyone would follow. This is definitely one that will stay with me for a long time and I will be recommending to everyone.

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

About The Author:

Emma Cooper is a former teaching assistant, who lives in Shropshire with her partner and four children. She spends her spare time writing novels, drinking wine and watching box-sets with her partner of twenty-four years, who still makes her smile every day.

Emma has always wanted to be a writer – ever since childhood, she’s been inventing characters (her favourite being her imaginary friend ‘Boot’) and is thrilled that she now gets to use this imagination to bring to life all of her creations.

Book Synopsis:

THREE HOURS TO SAVE THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Sister comes an electrifying, pulse-racing new novel that takes us deep into the heart of what it means to be human

‘Superb’ Kate Mosse
‘ASTONISHING. Powerful, terrifying, heartbreaking’ Emma Flint
‘One of the most exhilarating reading experiences I’ve ever had’ Emma Healey
‘A stunner of a book. Staggeringly good’ Jane Fallon
‘SO gripping, intelligent, timely, affecting and moving’ Marian Keyes

Three hours is 180 minutes or 10,800 seconds.

It is a morning’s lessons, a dress rehearsal of Macbeth, a snowy trek through the woods.

It is an eternity waiting for news. Or a countdown to something terrible.

It is 180 minutes to discover who you will die for and what men will kill for.

In rural Somerset in the middle of a blizzard, the unthinkable happens: a school is under siege. From the wounded headmaster in the library, unable to help his trapped pupils and staff, to teenage Hannah in love for the first time, to the parents gathering desperate for news, to the 16 year old Syrian refugee trying to rescue his little brother, to the police psychologist who must identify the gunmen, to the students taking refuge in the school theatre, all experience the most intense hours of their lives, where evil and terror are met by courage, love and redemption.

Three Hours is published on the 9th January 2020 in hardback and ebook. You can pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Three Hours is a tense, unique read which I will stay with me for a long time.

I was immediately drawn into the story and the situation the children find themselves in. The author’s writing made me feel like I was actually there watching everything unfold and hearing the chilling footsteps of the gunman pacing the floor. I found myself wondering how I would react and what I would have done differently. It is obvious very early on that the gunman are completely in control of the situation and have timed certain things to happen at certain times which made the characters seem like pawns in their game and adds to the chilling aspect of the story.

The story is told from multiple points of view which makes for very interesting reading as we discover how the different groups are dealing with the situation. This also gives us a chance to get to know the characters more and find out what is happening in their lives. There are some amazing characters in this book whose bravery and selflessness brought a year to my eye. It was very emotional watching everyone trying to put each others first.

Events in this book do unfold slowly but I found this actually added to the tension in the story as I felt on high alert waiting for something to happen and wondering what it might be. The reader is able to see the whole picture of what is happening in each part of the school, sometimes finding things out before the others which made the book hard to out down as I wanted to know what would happen. I often found myself shouting at the characters in my head when I felt they should have done something differently which shows just how involved I was in the story.

I’ve read every book this author has written and in my opinion she keeps getting better and better. I think this book would make a great book club read as there is lots to discuss.

Huge thanks to Ellie from Penguin Random House for inviting me into the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

ROSAMUND LUPTON’s new novel “Three Hours’ is published 9th January 2020.

Her debut novel ‘Sister’, was a BBC Radio 4 “Book at Bedtime”, a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, winner of the Strand Magazine critics award and the Richard and Judy Bookclub Readers’ Choice Award. Her next two books ‘Afterwards’ and ‘The Quality of Silence’ were Sunday Times bestsellers. Her books have been published in over thirty languages.

Book Synopsis:

AN INNOCENT GAME. A SHOCKING CRIME. A COMMUNITY FULL OF SECRETS.

Mapledon, 1989
Two little girls were out playing a game of dares. Only one returned home.
The ten-year-old told police what she saw: village loner Bill ‘Creepy’ Cawley dragged her friend into his truck and disappeared.
No body was found, but her testimony sent Cawley to prison for murder. An open and shut case, the right man behind bars.
The village could sleep safe once again.

Now…
Anna thought she had left Mapledon and her nightmares behind but a distraught phone call brings her back to face her past.
30 years ago, someone lied. 30 years ago, the man convicted wasn’t the only guilty party.
Now he’s out of prison and looking for revenge. The question is, who will he start with?

I Dare You 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 as I always find her books to be very enjoyable, gripping thrillers and I Dare You was no exception.

Firstly the author does a really good job of setting the scene for this story with the small village mentality vividly described so I felt like I was actually there watching everything unfold. From the first time we visit the village the reader gets the feeling that there’s something strange about it and this leads to a general feeling of unease throughout the book. The villagers love to gossip and their almost desperate need to keep up appearances made it difficult for some people to fit in. I felt this added to some of the intrigue as you weren’t sure what people were actually like.

I actually felt very sorry for Billy Crawley who is picked on by the village children just because he is difficult. He reminded me a bit of Boo Radley from To Kill A Mockingbird, maybe because the children play a similar game with him. I found it interesting to learn more about him and found myself wondering what he was going to do to get his revenge which made me want to keep reading.

Overall I thought this was a gripping, entertaining read which I really enjoyed. I was drawn into the book from the first chapter and found it very hard to put down as I needed to know what had happened. The story is told from two different timelines and this is done very well, with the reader never getting confused between them. There are lots of twists that kept me guessing and the end was brilliant and completely blew me away as it wasn’t at all what I had guessed.

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

About The Author:

Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat. She has three adult children and a new grandson! She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist. SAVING SOPHIE, her debut psychological thriller, published in September 2016. It became a Kindle eBook bestseller, with the paperback hitting The Bookseller Heatseeker chart at #8. Sam was named an Amazon Rising Star of 2016. Her second psychological thriller, BAD SISTER, published in 2017 followed by ONE LITTLE LIE in July 2018. THE MISSING WIFE publishes in June 2019 with her fifth due on 12th December.

Book Synopsis:

Psycho meets The Silence of the Lambs

One killer on the loose. Another setting the rules. A profiler caught in the middle.

A serial killer is terrorising London, removing a body part from each victim and leaving in its place a single pink rose.

Dr Vernon Sange, a multiple murderer awaiting extradition, seems to know the culprit’s identity—but he’ll only talk to profiler Ziba MacKenzie, the woman responsible for putting him away. Though there’s something he wants in return from her. And time is running out.

With one killer whispering in her ear and another running rings around the police, Ziba must play a game in which only her opponent knows the rules, and the forfeit is death.

Snakes and Ladders is available in all formats now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a dark, chilling and very twisty read which will be hard to review as I don’t want to give anything away.

I loved the two main characters of Ziba and Sange with the fantastic contrast they provide between good and evil. Ziba was a very interesting character who manages to be both tough and quite vulnerable at the same time, which made me warm to him as I just wanted to help him. Sange is a stereotypical Hollywood serial killer as he’s charming, attractive and very intelligent which makes him an interesting bad guy. The author’s has done a lot of research into famous serial killers and there are characteristics of them included in all her books which I found fascinating.

Overall I thought this was a gripping, fast paced thriller which had lots of twists in it which kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had figured everything out, something would happen and I’d have to start all over again. It’s a very intense race against time which I found hard to put down as I just had to know what was going to happen next.

This is the third book in the series but I think it can easily be read as a standalone, like I did, though I’ll definitely be going back and reading the other books in the series.

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

About The Author:

Victoria Selman studied History at Oxford University and Creative Writing at the City Lit in London. She also holds certificates in Criminal Psychology and Criminal Profiling. She has written for the Independent, Daily Express and Ham & High newspapers and co-hosts a true crime podcast called, Crime Girl Gang with two other authors. Her first novel, Blood For Blood, was shortlisted for the Debut Dagger award and is a Kindle number 1 bestseller.

If you’d like to follow what Victoria’s up to:

-Follow on her Twitter @VictoriaSelman
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