Book Synopsis:

You know what’s best for your child. 
Don’t you?

Riley Pieterson is an adventurous girl with lots of questions. There’s plenty she doesn’t know yet; what a human brain looks like. All the constellations in the night sky. Why others can’t see her the way she sees herself.

When Riley confides in her parents – Sally and Theo – that she feels uncomfortable in her own skin, a chain of events begins that changes their lives forever. Sally wants to support her daughter by helping her be who she dreams of being. Theo resists; he thinks Riley is a seven-year-old child pushing boundaries. Both believe theirs is the only way to protect Riley and keep her safe.

With the wellbeing of their child at stake, Sally and Theo’s relationship is pushed to breaking point. To save their family, each of them must look deeply at who they really are.

A story of a marriage in crisis and a child caught in the middle, this is a beautiful novel of parents and their children, and how far we’re prepared to go in the name of love. 

This Child Of Ours is available now in ebook and paperback. The ebook is currently only £1.99. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

This Child Of Ours is a interesting and informative book about a very current topic.

I have to admit I wasn’t sure what my view was on gender dysphoria so I found this a fascinating book. The author is careful to show both sides of the argument never persuading the reader to one particular side but letting them decide for themselves. Some of the characters reactions, especially the grandparents, are quite shocking and it brought a tear to my eye whilst reading. There is a definite divide over who believed what which made it very interesting to read about.

Riley is a very sweet character that you can’t help but fall in love with. It made my heart break to read about all the discomfort she was feeling and people’s reactions to her beliefs. The split between the patent’s beliefs helped form the main divide in opinion as they both believed separate things. It was very sad to see how much of an impact the whole thing had on her.

The pace of the novel is quite slow which gives the reader lots of time to get to fully understand the family and the issues they are facing. It is a very emotional book and there were some parts of the book that were quite hard to read about. I think this would make a great book club book as there would be lots to discuss.

This is the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to see what she comes up with next. As the blurb mentions I felt the style was similar to Jodi Picoult so cans of hers would definitely like this too.

Huge thanks to Millie from Little Brown for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. If you like fascinating, emotions books that explore an interesting topic then you’ll love this!

About The Author:

Sadie Pearse lives in north London with her husband and two young children. She worked as a book editor and creative mentor before starting to write full-time. She loves travelling, reading bedtime stories, ice cream, dancing salsa, and feeding ducks. 

This Child of Ours is her first book writing as Sadie Pearse. She has also written four novels as Vanessa Greene, and five as Abby Clements, with rights sold in thirteen countries.

Book Synopsis:

How far would you go to save the one you love?

“Anyone who wishes David Nicholls would write faster needs to grab this with both hands.” Jill Mansell

An emotional page-turner with a heart-pounding dilemma. Fans of Jodi Picoult, David Nicholls and Jojo Moyes will love We Own The Sky.

Anna and Rob were the perfect couple with their whole lives in front of them. When beautiful baby boy Jack came along, their world seemed complete.

But when tragedy strikes they are faced with an impossible choice. They have one chance to save their child, but at what cost?

We Own The Sky is available now in all formats. Purchase your copy using the link below.

My Review:

What an absolutely wonderful book this was! I so enjoyed this emotional read which manages to be both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time

The thing that most strikes you about this book is how real it feels. We’ve all heard stories about children struggling with cancer and the author manages to convey the struggle perfectly with his compassion leaping from the page. The author sadly had his own recent cancer battle and therefore understands exactly the emotions involved.

I loved the two main characters Rob and Anna who I thought were perfectly matched for each other, despite being very different. The story of how they met and fell in love is beautifully written and I so enjoyed watching it unfold. I was very involved in the story as I was so attached to the characters and therefore felt every twist acutely.

My favourite part of the book however was the wonderful descriptions of Rob’s close relationship with his father. It’s sadly unusual to read about such a close father son relationship and I thought this one was brilliantly portrayed leading to some of the most heart warming parts in the book. Having children of my own I could well imagine the scenes described and I had a tear in my eye whilst reading them.

This story is surprisingly gripping as the reader soon warms to the characters and wants to keep reading as they want to find out what happens to them. There are a few twists and turns but it’s the love for the characters that kept me reading.

This is unbelievably the author’s debut novel and I’m very excited to read more from him in the future. My heart normally sinks when I see author’s compared to Jodi Picoult but I feel this one is definitely justified as it’s similar in style and I felt it was incredibly good!

Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Trapeze books for my copy of this book which is going on my keep forever shelf! If you like gripping, emotional books then you’ll love this book!

About The Author:

Luke Allnutt is the author of Unspoken, a Kindle Single about the death of his father. His debut novel, We Own The Sky, will be published by Orion (U.K.) and Harlequin/HarperCollins (U.S.) in 2018. He grew up in the U.K. and lives and works in Prague.

Book Synopsis:

A story of Family, Rationing and Inconvenient Corpses.

Life in 1918 has brought loss and grief and hardship to the three Fyttleton sisters. 

Helped only by their grandmother (a failed society belle and expert poacher) and hindered by a difficult suffragette mother, as well as an unruly chicken-stealing dog and a house full of paying guests, they now have to deal with the worrying news that their late – and unlamented – father may not be dead after all. 

And on top of that, there’s a body in the ha-ha.

The Convalescent Corpse is available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

I’ve heard lots of great things about Nicola Slade’s writing, so I jumped at the chance to review her latest book, The Convalescent Corpse. Despite the title and cover picture this was a surprising funny book which was hugely enjoyable!

The story takes place in 1918 towards the end of ww1 where, sadly, Convalescent homes for soldiers injured on the front were needed. The author has clearly done her research as the setting for this novel really comes to life with all the little details the author includes into the story. I felt that I was transported back to 1918 with all the fear, anguish and weariness I can imagine went with the war and having an injured loved one.

The three Fyttleton sisters were absolutely brilliant characters who I loved to read about. They were all very individual characters and were all very charming in their own way. Combined though they are a fantastic force to be reckoned with and I adored how fun and quirky they were.

The actual mystery was well paced with lots of lots of action that kept me interested. Some of the events in the novel seemed quite realistic and made me even more invested in the story. The slow discovery of the murderer was well done and I though overall this was a fabulously told story.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I will definitely be reading more from her in the future! If you like fun, quirky cosy mysteries then you’ll love this book.

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

About The Author:

My ninth novel, ‘The Convalescent Corpse’, published by Crooked Cat Books, 20th November 2018, is a cosy historical mystery set in WW1. First review, from best-selling novelist Lesley Cookman: ” A delightfully unusual story from Nicola Slade.There is a mystery, or rather, more than one, but what really sets it apart is the wonderful characterisation and historical detail. A triumph.”

All my novels are set in or near Winchester or Romsey in Hampshire. My first novel was a romantic comedy, ‘Scuba Dancing’, published by Transita Ltd in 2005. After that I branched out into a series of Victorian mysteries: ‘Murder Most Welcome’,published by Robert Hale Ltd, featuring Charlotte Richmond, a young widow in the 1850s. The second of the series is ‘Death is the Cure’, and Charlotte’s third adventure is ‘The Dead Queen’s Garden’. All 3 republished in 2018 by Williams & Whiting.

My contemporary cosy mystery series features Harriet Quigley, a former headmistress, and her sidekick and cousin, Rev Sam Hathaway. They appear in’Murder Fortissimo’ and ‘A Crowded Coffin’ both republished 2018 by Williams & Whiting. Harriet’s third outing is ‘The Art of Murder’ published September 2016 by Endeavour Press. 
My eighth novel, the award-winning ‘The House at Ladywell’ a contemporary romantic novel with historical interludes, was published by Crooked Cat Books in November 2017, in ebook and paperback.

My novels have received praise for their humour and the eccentricity of some of the characters, as well as depth and sensitivity in the writing. 
I live in Hampshire with my husband and with family nearby and visiting often. I’m also an artist and have had paintings exhibited in various places, including the Southampton Art Gallery and at Mottisfont Abbey.

Find out more at my blog:www.nicolaslade.wordpress.com and my website:www.nicolaslade.com and find me on Twitter @nicolasladeuk

Book Synopsis:

Love, Lies, and Betrayal in Wartime Italy.

Two girls growing up in Mussolini’s Italy share a secret that has devastating consequences.
Against a backdrop of fear, poverty and confusion during the Second World War, friendship is tested, and loyalties are divided until a chance encounter changes everything.

Their lives diverge when beautiful, daring Martina marries and moves into Villa Leonida, the most prestigious house in their Tuscan mountain village, while plain, studious Irena trains to be a teacher.

But neither marriage nor life at Villa Leonida are as Martina imagined. And as other people’s lives take on a new purpose, Irena finds herself left behind.

Decades later, a tragedy at the villa coincides with the discovery of an abandoned baby, whose identity threatens to re-open old wounds among the next generation.

The Secret is available in ebook and paperback now! The ebook is currently only £1.99 but you can purchase a copy of both using the link below.

My Review:

As regular readers of my blog know I’m a big fan of dual timeline stories that are based in world war two, so I can’t believe that I haven’t come across this author before as her writing is truly superb.

The author does a fantastic job of setting the scene and I really felt like I was there in Tuscany watching all the action unfold. I’m not sure if the author has some kind of connection with Italy but she seems to have a lot of knowledge about the Italian way of life, their food and their culture. I especially loved the scenes centering around the restaurant as I felt that was a wonderful climpse into Italian life.

The story drew me on from the beginning with a very intriguing opening which immediately made me want to read more. A tragedy during WW2 is hinted at from the beginning and I liked the way the details of this was gradually revealed to the reader. Some of the details involving this were very poignant to read about and I definitely had tears in my eyes whilst reading about it.

The thing that most stuck me about this book is that it is based on a real event, The Sant’Anna di Stazzema massacre, which made it a very emotional read. I can’t believe that people would be capable of doing such horrible things and it’s definitely a book that will stay with me because of it.

This is the first book by this author I have read and I will definitely be reading more from her in the future. If you like dual timeline mysteries based on true events with some wonderful, realistic characters then you’ll love this book!

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

About The Author:

Katharine Johnson is a freelance writer and editor and has worked for a variety of magazines. She has a passion for crime novels, old houses and all things italian (except tiramisu). She grew up in Bristol and has lived in Italy. She currently lives in Berkshire with her husband, three children and madcap spaniel. When not writing she plays netball badly and is a room guide in a stately home. She is currently writing her third novel.

For Katharine’s latest news, writing advice, book releases and gossip follow her on 
twitter @kjohnsonwrites
Facebook.com/katharinejohnsonauthor
website/blog http://www.katyjohnso nblog.wordpress.com

http://www.crookedcatbooks.com

Book Synopsis:

Love is a riddle, waiting to be solved…

Clued-up career girl Cassy Brookes has life under control until one disastrous morning changes everything. When she finds herself stuck in a doctor’s surgery, a cryptic message left in a crossword magazine sends her on a search to find the mysterious puzzle-man behind it.

Cassy is soon torn between tracking down her elusive dream guy, and outwitting her nightmare workmate, the devious Martin. Facing a puzzling love-life, will she ever be able to fit the pieces together and discover the truth behind this enigmatic man?

Puzzle Girl is available in ebook and paperback now, purchased your copy via the link below.

My Review:

Puzzle Girl is a fun, easy read that would make a great holiday read!

The story follows Cassy as she tries to gain a promotional at work and solve the mystery behind the cryptic clues left in a magazine at the doctor’s surgery. Some of the things Cassy gets up to trying to solve this mystery were utterly hilarious and had my laughing out loud at times. In order to visit the doctor’s Cassy has to make up a variety of ailments which get more and more silly as the story goes on leading to some very fun, and embarrassing, situations.

Cassy was a fantastic main character who seemed a very real and likeable person, who I warmed to immediately. She was someone who it was easy to get behind and I found myself willing her on. The secondary characters were also great to read about even her rival Martin who I felt was nicer than he let on. I also loved her best friend who is the kind of friend I think everyone should have!

There are a few twists and turns in the story which kept the story interesting, though I did guess a few of them. The actual mystery surrounding who was leaving the puzzles was quite subtle and I didn’t figure it out until later in the book. I didn’t feel that this ruined the story for me though as I still really enjoyed it.

This is the author’s debut novel and I’ll look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Emily from Dome Press for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you like funny, light reads then I think you’ll love this book.

About The Author:

Rachael Featherstone was born and raised in Woodford. Her path to writing was a little unorthodox. After reading Mathematics at Oxford University, New College, Rachael went to work in research. When Rachael’s mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, Rachael decided to take a chance, quit her job, and fulfil a life time ambition to write a novel. She went back to university and completed a Masters in English Literature and had several short stories published. Rachael now lives in Hampshire with her husband, Tim and baby daughter, Elodie.

Book Synopsis:

Hella Mauzer was the first ever woman Inspector in the Helsinki Homicide Unit. But her superiors deemed her too ‘emotional’ for the job and had her reassigned. Now, two years later, she is working in Lapland for the Ivalo police department under Chief Inspector Järvi, a man more interested in criminal statistics and his social life than police work. They receive a letter from Irja Waltari, a priest’s wife from the village of Käärmela on the Soviet border, informing them of the disappearance of Erno Jokinen, a local. Hella jumps at the chance to investigate. Järvi does not think that a crime is involved. After all, people disappear all the time in the snows of Finland. When she arrives, Hella stays the village priest and his wife, who have taken in Erno’s grandson who refuses to tell anyone his grandfather’s secret. A body is then discovered in the forest and she realizes that she was right; a crime has been committed. A murder. But what Hella doesn’t know, is that the small village of Käärmela is harbouring another crime, a crime so evil, it is beyond anything any of them could have ever imagined.

Evil Things is available in ebook now and in paperback on the 11th January 2019. You can purchase or pre-order your copy using the link below.

My Review:

Evil Things is a gripping start to a promising new crime series which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Firstly the setting of this book is brilliant with the cold Finnish setting helping to add to the chilling story. The descriptions of the cold, snowy weather actually made me shiver and I found myself reaching for a blanket to cosy up with. I enjoyed learning more about Finnish weather, the language and some of the unique ways they cope with the long winters. I’ve not read many books about the disagreements between Finland and Russia so I found it very interesting to read more. The cold war always adds an interesting angle to the story too as it naturally adds mystery and intrigue.

I loved the main character Hella who manages to hold her own spectacularly again some very sexist opinions. Her intelligence and determination shines off the page as she uses both to try and solve the murder. She is very stubborn and there were times when she even frustrated me with how stubborn she was! However she is able to use this to her advantage and it is an important factor in her solving the case.

The murder investigation is quite fast paced with lots of atmosphere as the reader tries to work out what has happened. The setting of the woods helped add to this as I was never sure what was lurking there. There were lots of twists that kept me on my toes and ensured I kept reading as I was desperate to find out what would happen. I don’t want to give anything away but I was blown away with the reveal as I had never read anything else like it. It took me completely by surprise which I always love!

Think is the first book in a planned three book series and I really look forward to reading more from this talented author. If you like atmosphere, gripping thrillers with an fantastic twist then you’ll love this book.

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

About The Author:

Katja Ivar was born in Moscow and spent her teenage years in Dallas, Texas. She holds a BA in Linguistics and a Masters in Contemporary History from the Sorbonne University; she lives in Paris with her husband and three children. This is her first novel and is planned to be the beginning of a three book series.