Book Synopsis:

Recently dumped by her boyfriend of ten years, Bell is struggling to move on with her life – and surrender the fleecy pyjamas she’s been living in since January. Haunted by #blessed on social media, she can’t help but compare her life to those she follows online, wondering where she is going wrong . . .

In the world of social media, Millie is the successful online influencer @mi_bestlife. But in real life she’s just a regular single mum trying to make ends meet, while fending off the younger competition and tenacious internet trolls. Her Instagram feed is far more #BestLie than #BestLife, and soon Millie begins to wish her life was more like her filters.

It isn’t until Bell and Millie’s paths cross that they begin to realise what they’re both missing. Can Millie prove to Bell that life online isn’t always what it appears to be? And in return, can Millie learn that she needs to start living for the moment and not for the likes? 

Living My Best Life is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I thought this was a wonderfully uplifting, funny book which was hugely enjoyable.

I really loved the two main characters Bel and Millie who I enjoyed getting to know throughout the book. Their blossoming friendship was great to read about and I found it very heartwarming to see how much the relationship meant to the two women.

The story is given a bit of modern twist with the inclusion of social media and how someone who appears perfect online, might not be in real life. I feel this is quite an important lesson to learn so found it interesting to see this storyline develop. I think this could make a great book club read as it could lead to some important discussions.

Overall I thought this was a fun, heartwarming book that would make a great holiday read. It has all the ingredients I enjoy, with a wonderful female friendship, romance and laugh aloud moments which I tore through in record time. This is the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to read more from her in the future.

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

About The Author:

Claire Frost grew up in Manchester, the middle of three sisters. She always wanted to do a job that involved writing, so after studying Classics at Bristol University she found a job in magazines. For the last 10 years she’s worked at The Sun on Sunday’s Fabulous magazine, where she is Assistant Editor and Books Editor. She can mostly be found at her desk buried beneath an ever-increasing pile of books or at home writing funny and heart-warming novels about love, life and social media.

Book Synopsis:

A locked room. A dead body. A secret that went to the grave.

When retired police officer Finlay Shaw is found dead in a locked room, everyone thinks it’s suicide. But disgraced detective William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes isn’t so sure.

Together with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter and private detective Edmunds, Wolf’s team begin to dig into Shaw’s early days on the beat. Was Shaw as innocent as he seemed? Or is there more to his past than he’d ever let on?

But not everyone wants Wolf back – and as his investigation draws him ever deeper into police corruption, it will not only be his career on the line – but the lives of those he holds closest as well…

The explosive new thriller from the Sunday Times and international bestseller, perfect for fans of Fiona Cummins and Helen Fields.

End Game is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

End Game was another fantastic book from this talented author and a fabulous end to a great series.

I thought this was a cleverly written book which somehow manages to be thrilling and funny at the same time! The characters were great to read about and I enjoyed following them throughout the book as they were very likeable. They provided the funny moments in the book with their sarcasm and banter which often had me laughing out loud.

This book gripped me from the start and the many twist kept me glued to the page. The author does a great job with tying up any loss ends so that the ending was very satisfying. I found I both wanted the book to end as I wanted to discover what happens but didn’t want it to as it meant saying goodbye to a hugely entertaining series.

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:

Biography

At 33 years old, Daniel Cole has worked as a paramedic, an RSPCA officer and most recently for the RNLI, driven by an intrinsic need to save people or perhaps just a guilty conscience about the number of characters he kills off in his writing.

He currently lives in sunny Bournemouth and can usually be found down the beach when he ought to be writing book two instead.

Book Synopsis:

The action swings from London to Sweden, and then back into the past, to Franco’s Spain, as Roy & Castells hunt a monstrous killer … in the lastest instalment of Johana Gustawsson’s award-winning series

Spain, 1938: The country is wracked by civil war, and as Valencia falls to Franco’s brutal dictatorship, Republican Therese witnesses the murders of her family. Captured and sent to the notorious Las Ventas women’s prison, Therese gives birth to a daughter who is forcibly taken from her.

Falkenberg, Sweden, 2016: A wealthy family is found savagely murdered in their luxurious home. Discovering that her parents have been slaughtered, Aliénor Lindbergh, a new recruit to the UK’s Scotland Yard, rushes back to Sweden and finds her hometown rocked by the massacre.

Profiler Emily Roy joins forces with Aliénor and soon finds herself on the trail of a monstrous and prolific killer. Little does she realise that this killer is about to change the life of her colleague, true-crime writer Alexis Castells. Joining forces once again, Roy and Castells’ investigation takes them from the Swedish fertility clinics of the present day back to the terror of Franco’s rule, and the horrifying events that took place in Spanish orphanages under its rule.

Terrifying, vivid and recounted at breakneck speed, Blood Song is not only a riveting thriller and an examination of corruption in the fertility industry, but a shocking reminder of the atrocities of Spain’s dictatorship, in the latest, stunning installment in the award-winning Roy & Castells series.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author and her unique style of gripping, emotional historical fiction. I have to admit that I was a little nervous starting this book as I rarely read books involving children as I find them too emotional. While this was a highly emotional read I’m glad I read it as it’s about a period of history that I knew nothing about.

This book covers a very dark period in Spanish history which obviously makes some parts of the book very hard to read. The author cleverly manages to convey the horrors of what happened both by not shying away from what happened or making it too horrible. This makes it seem very realistic and more hard hitting as I could picture the scenes vividly in my mind.

This story was very gripping and I felt unfolded at a great pace which kept me glued to the page. The emotional side of the story made me want to continue reading as I desperately wanted to find out how everything ends up. This is definitely a story that will stay with me for a long time.

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

About The Author:

Born in 1978 in Marseille and with a degree in political science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French press and television. She married a Swede and now lives in London. She was the co-author of a bestseller, On se retrouvera, published by Fayard Noir in France, whose television adaptation drew over 7 million viewers in June 2015. Her debut, Block 46, became an international bestseller, with Keeper following suit. She is working on the next book in the Roy & Castells series.
Follow Johana on Twitter @JoGustawsson

Book Synopsis:

A young mother’s sacrifice. A child’s desperate search for the truth . . .
London, 1917

When nineteen-year-old Alice Copeman becomes pregnant, she is forced by her father and stepmother to give up the baby.  She simply cannot be allowed to bring shame upon her family. But all Alice can think about is the small, kitten-like child she gave away, and she mourns the father, a young soldier, so beloved, who will never have the chance to know his daughter.

Edith and Philip Burns, a childless couple, yearn for a child of their own. When they secretly adopt a baby girl, Irene, their life together must surely be complete. Irene grows up knowing that she is different from other children, but no one will tell her the full truth.

Putting hopes of marriage and children behind her, Alice embarks upon a pioneering medical career, striving to make her way in a male-dominated world. Meanwhile, Irene struggles to define her own life, eventually leaving her Suffolk home to find work in London.

As two extraordinary stories intertwine across two decades, will secrets long-buried at last come to light?

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

My Review:

This was a compelling, emotional but ultimately feel good book which I thoroughly enjoyed. The author has once again written a wonderful story which was beautifully written and has some quite serious themes running through it.

Firstly I always find it amazing to realise how different the attitudes toward women were less than a hundred years ago. The author has managed to portray all the emotion, heart break and confusion that I imagine giving a child away for adoption would entail. Being a mum myself I found the bits describing this quite hard to read at times and I found myself giving my kids lots of extra cuddles!

I thought this story had a lovely flow to it with the story unraveling at a good pace that seemed very realistic. The reader is given the chance to really get to know Alice and Irene as they discover what they want in life. The two stories came together brilliantly with perfect timing and I thought the ending was very uplifting.

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

About The Author:

Rachel Hore worked in London publishing for many years before moving with her family to Norwich, where she teaches publishing and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She is married to the writer D. J. Taylor and they have three sons. Her previous novels are The Dream House, The Memory Garden, The Glass Painter’s Daughter, which was shortlisted for the 2010 Romantic Novel of the Year award, A Place of Secrets, which was picked by Richard and Judy for their book club, A Gathering Storm, which was shortlisted for the RONA Historical Novel of the Year 2012 and the latest bestseller, The Silent Tide.

Book Synopsis:

Constructed of stone and packed earth, the Great Wall of 10,000 li protects China’s northern borders from the threat of Mongol incursion. The wall is also home to a supernatural beast: the Old Dragon. The Old Dragon’s Head is the most easterly point of the wall, where it finally meets the sea.

In every era, a Dragon Master is born. Endowed with the powers of Heaven, only he can summon the Old Dragon so long as he possess the dragon pearl.

It’s the year 1400, and neither the Old Dragon, the dragon pearl, nor the Dragon Master, has been seen for twenty years. Bolin, a young man working on the Old Dragon’s Head, suffers visions of ghosts. Folk believe he has yin-yang eyes and other paranormal gifts.When Bolin’s fief lord, the Prince of Yan, rebels against his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, a bitter war of succession ensues in which the Mongols hold the balance of power. While the victor might win the battle on earth, China’s Dragon Throne can only be earned with a Mandate from Heaven – and the support of the Old Dragon.

Bolin embarks on a journey of self-discovery, mirroring Old China’s endeavour to come of age. When Bolin accepts his destiny as the Dragon Master, Heaven sends a third coming of age – for humanity itself. But are any of them ready for what is rising in the east?

The Old Dragon’s Head is available in paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

I’m not entirely sure what I expected when I started this book but I really wasn’t expecting it to be such a diverse read that crosses lots of genres! This managed to be part murder mystery, part fantasy with some fabulous villians and heroes which were easy to get behind.

It took me a little while to get into this book and to get my head around all the characters but once in I was soon hooked. There is a lot of action and adventure which kept my interest which meant I soon found myself flying through the pages. The author clearly knows his history and I found it fascinating to learn more about the period. The author has included some information about Chinese culture, beliefs and superstitions which I didn’t know much about before reading this. I found it very interesting to learn more about this throughout the book.

I really enjoyed going on the journey with the characters and found the ending to be very intriguing as it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m hoping that there will be a sequel soon.

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

About The Author:

Justin Newland writes historical and speculative fiction, often with supernatural and existential themes. His debut novel, The Genes of Isis, was published by Matador in 2018. Justin lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset.

Book Synopsis:

In this heartwarming narrative based on a true story, a British airman embarks on a plan that risks it all to feed a starving, war-stricken family. 

Thirty years after serving in World War II, middle-aged Rob’s holiday plans see an unforeseen change that leads him on a coach tour of Italy. Struggling with post-war PTSD and depression, he reluctantly agrees to the journey – and sparks a dream that plunges him into long-stifled memories.

Set in Europe, Sue Parritt’s Feed Thy Enemy is an account of courage and compassion in the face of trauma. When Rob’s flashback delves into his attempts to save a famished family with a series of increasingly daring raids on his army’s supply stores, will he trigger suppressed remembrances of past war, love, and sacrifice – and find the strength to confront them in the present?

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

My Review:

This was a captivating, emotional historical novel which I thought was brilliantly researched. PTSD is a subject that’s often mentioned in books but I’ve never read such a detailed, fascinating account of it before. The author has clearly done a lot of research and this clearly shows throughout the book as we learn more about what the illness involves and how it works.

Rob is a very sympathetic character that I warmed to instantly. I felt so sorry for all that he had experienced during the war and the night terrors that he’s experiencing now. The book is based on a true story and these bits feel very realistic which was quite heartbreaking at times. His wife was another wonderful character and I loved the way she subtly tries to help him face his worse fears.

I thought this was a captivating read which I found hard to put down at times as I desperately wanted to see if Rob would beat his night terrors. The journey he goes on throughout the book was very interesting and I found it quite heartwarming to see how far he had come at the end.

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:

Sue Parritt has written a well-crafted historical novel about post war PTSD. The story is based on the true life and experiences of her dad. He suffered from PTSD and depression after the war and has the courage to overwin his enemies inside.

For people who suffer from this diagnosis this is a heart- warming and recognizable journey and for people like me, it is a good start to get to know more about this mental problems.Who knows how many more people have this feelings after being in a war or another trauma?

Originally from England, Sue worked in university libraries until taking early retirement in 2008 to concentrate on creative writing. Since then she has written short stories, articles, poetry, a short TV drama script and six novels:

Sannah and the Pilgrim, first in a trilogy of a future dystopian Australia focusing on climate change and the harsh treatment of refugees from drowned Pacific islands. Odyssey Books, 2014. Commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award, 2014.

Pia and the Skyman, Odyssey Books, 2016. Commended in the FAW Christina Stead Award, 2016.

The Sky Lines Alliance, Odyssey Books, 2016.

Chrysalis, the story of a perceptive girl growing up in a Quaker family in swinging sixties’ Britain. Morning Star Press, 2017

Re-Navigation recounts a life turned upside down when forty-year old Julia journeys from the sanctuary of middle-class Australian suburbia to undertake a retreat at a college located on an isolated Welsh island. Creativia Publishing, 2019.

Feed Thy Enemy, based on her father’s experiences, is an account of courage and compassion in the face of trauma as a British airman embarks on a plan that risks all to feed a starving, war-stricken family. Creativia Publishing, 2019.

Sue’s current project, A Question of Country, is a novel exploring the migrant experience through the protagonist’s lifelong search for meaningful identity.

Passionate about peace and social justice issues, Sue’s goal as a fiction writer is to continue writing novels that address topics such as climate change, the effects of war, the treatment of refugees, feminism and racism. Sue intends to keep on writing for as long as possible, believing the extensive life experiences of older writers can be employed to engage readers of all ages.

Social Media:
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Book Synopsis:

A gripping and compassionate drama of two families linked by chance, love and tragedy

Gillam, upstate New York: a town of ordinary, big-lawned suburban houses. The Gleesons have recently moved there and soon welcome the Stanhopes as their new neighbours.

Lonely Lena Gleeson wants a friend but Anne Stanhope – cold, elegant, unstable – wants to be left alone.

It’s left to their children – Lena’s youngest, Kate, and Anne’s only child, Peter – to find their way to one another. To form a friendship whose resilience and love will be almost broken by the fault line dividing both families, and by the terrible tragedy that will engulf them all.

A tragedy whose true origins only become clear many years later . . .

A story of love and redemption, faith and forgiveness, Ask Again, Yes reveals the way childhood memories change when viewed from the distance of adulthood – villains lose their menace, and those who appeared innocent seem less so. 

A story of how, if we’re lucky, the violence lurking beneath everyday life can be vanquished by the power of love.

If you enjoy Celeste Ng, Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett you will love this stunning novel.

 Ask Again, Yes is available in ebook and hardback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Ask Again, Yes is a powerful, emotional and thought provoking read which is beautifully written. I have been a fan of this author’s previous books and while I felt this was different from her previous book it was still a very interesting read.

The story follows two families who have been friends for a long time, through the years both before and after a tragic accident that has a huge effect on their lives. The reader is drawn straight into the story and the characters lives, following every drama as it unfolds. The fly on the wall view allows the reader to become fully emerged into the family which is very interesting. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and the cracks in their relationships.

The characters are very well drawn and I enjoyed reading about how they changed throughout the years. There were definitely some characters that I loved to hate, especially Lena whose attitude towards her daughter’s relationship was almost spiteful at times. I did wonder why someone didn’t call her up on some of the things she says as I think I would have done .

There are some thought provoking themes running through this book which I’d love to discuss with someone. The idea of forgive and forget was especially interesting to me and had me wondering about how possible it would actually be. I found it quite intriguing to see how the characters deal with it.

I didn’t find this book as gripping as other reviewers but I’m putting that down to tiredness due to kids illnesses, rather than anything to do with the story. It was a compelling read for me though as I found I did want to read more of the story and discover what would happen.

Huge thanks to Sriya from Michael St Joseph’s for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

SMary Beth Keane attended Barnard College and the University of Virginia, where she received an MFA. In 2011, she was named one of the National Book Foundation’s ‘5 Under 35,’ and in 2015 she was awarded a John S. Guggenheim fellowship for fiction writing. She currently lives in Pearl River, New York, with her husband and their two sons. She is the author of The Walking People, Fever, and Ask Again, Yes.

Book Synopsis:

Life’s a Banquet is the unofficial guide book to negotiating your way through life through education, family life and business, to relationships, marriage, failure and rejection. 

Aged 21, Robin Bennett was set to become a cavalry officer and aged 21 and a half, he found himself working as an assistant grave digger in South London wondering where it had all gone wrong. 

Determined to succeed, he went on and founded The Bennett Group, aged 23, and since then has gone on to start and run over a dozen successful businesses in a variety of areas from dog-sitting to cigars, translation to home tuition. In 2003, Robin was recognised in Who’s Who as one of the UK’s most successful business initiators. 

Catapulting readers through his colourful life and career, Robin Bennett’s memoir is an inspiring tale.

Life’s A Banquet is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

This was a very funny, entertaining read that was also quite thought provoking. I must confess that I hadn’t heard of Robin before I read this book, so I found this a very interesting read.

Robin takes us all the way through his life, starting with his child hood, with some very amusing stories which had me chuckling to myself. His descriptions of his large, warm and slightly eccentric family were wonderful to read about and made me smile. I thought this was a great way to start the book as it helps readers to understand the person behind the success and meant that I warmed to him so didn’t feel jealous of his amazing success.

His story of his business success was fascinating to read about and I enjoyed learning about how he achieved it. This part of the story is told in a matter of fact, modest way without seeming boastful but in a similar tone to the first story with some amusing antidotes. I found myself to be very impressed with all that he had achieved and will definitely be looking out for him in the future.

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:

Robin Bennett lives in Henley on Thames, Oxon. He is an author and entrepreneur who has written several books for children and books on the swashbuckling world of business. His documentary, Fantastic Britain, about the British obsession with magic and folklore, won best foreign feature at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards. Robin says, When the world seems to be precarious and cruel, remember that the game is to never give up there’s everything to play for, and it will all be OK.

Book Synopsis:

Which is more dangerous, a secret or a lie?

Poppy has a secret.

It was a whirlwind romance. And when Drew, caught up in the moment, suggests that he and Poppy don’t tell each other anything about their past lives, that they live only for the here and now, for the future they are building together, Poppy jumps at the chance for a fresh start.

But it doesn’t take long for Poppy to see that this is a two-way deal. Drew is hiding something from her. And Poppy suddenly has no idea who the man she has married really is, what he is hiding from her or what he might be capable of.

Drew says he has nothing to hide. Drew is lying.

Truth Hurts is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

I was a huge fan of this author’s debut novel so I was very excited to read more from her. I thought Truth Hurts was a fantastic page turner that was hugely addictive.

The author cleverly weaves an intriguing picture of Poppy and Drew’s relationship, giving them an intimate look into its ins and outs which was great to read about. Slowly the reader pieces together their story which on the outside seems perfect but actually has a lot of cracks in it. I found it fascinating to dig below the surface and learn more about the characters and their relationship.

This was a fast paced book which I couldn’t put down. I often found myself trying to hide away from the children so I could fit in a few more pages and constantly thinking about it when I wasn’t able to read it. I loved the unraveling of all the secrets and lies, whilst all the twists kept me guessing how everything would turn out.

This would make a holiday read as it’s very readable with a great flow to it which would be perfect to enjoy in the sun by a pool

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Transworld for my copy of this book which I will be recommending to everyone!

About The Author:

Rebecca is a freelance journalist. She is a columnist for the Telegraph Women’s section, works for Metro Online and has written for Marie Claire, the Guardian, the Saturday Telegraph, the Independent, Stylist, Glamour, the iPaper, the Guardian, Indy100, LOOK and the New Statesmen amongst others.

Rebecca is a regular contributor to Sky News and ITV’s This Morning as well as appearing on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, LBC, BBC News 24 and the BBC World Service to discuss her work.

She graduated from Royal Holloway’s Creative Writing MA in 2015 and Perfect Liars is her debut novel. 

Rebecca lives in North London with her husband.

Book Synopsis:

Sabina Park Rangers is the first team of black players to reach the final of the Watney’s Challenge Cup. But coach Horace McIntosh has more selection problems than most. The First Division champions want to sign one of his best players – and right up until the day of the match he is uncertain that he will have a team for the biggest game in the club’s history because of arrests, a scam and an atmosphere of impending violence.

My Review:

More Than A Game is an entertaining, engaging read that is definitely about more than football! This is actually a fascinating account of life in the early 80’s which, I’m too young to remember, but was obviously quite a turbulent time.

Firstly I didn’t realise that racism was still so common in the UK at this time and I often found myself getting very angry about how they were treated. The author peppers the story with true events from the period which I found fascinating, having not read much set in this period before. I enjoyed looking them up on the internet and learning more about them.

I loved the descriptions of the Jamaican community which was vividly described so I could well imagine their experience. The Jamaican dialogue helped add to my feeling of inclusion into their community and helped me to feel I was actually there watching everything unfold. I warmed to Horace and his family instantly so felt very upset on their behalf over their treatment by some, especially as they obviously have a lot of love for Britain.

I thought this was a fast paced, hugely enjoyable read that was very interesting. It was also very thought provoking and I have found myself thinking about it long after reading it.

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:

Ralph Robb was born and raised in the industrial town of Wolverhampton, England, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with his wife, two cats and a dog. A proud father of four, Robb works as an engineering technician and loves rugby, martial arts and of course a good book. His world is balanced by his obsession with comic books, quality TV, global events and the great outdoors.