Release date - 10th August 2017
Book length - 320 pages Publisher - headofzeus.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK When Caitlin moved from London to New York, she thought she had left her problems behind: her alcoholic father, her dead mother, the pressure to succeed. But now, down to her last dollar in a foreign city, she is desperately lonely. Then she meets Jake. Handsome, smart, slightly damaged Jake. He lives off-grid, in a lakeside commune whose members practise regular exercise and frequent group therapy. Before long, Caitlin has settled into her idyllic new home. It looks like she has found the fresh start she longed for. But, as the commune tightens its grip on her freedom and her sanity, Caitlin realizes too late that she might become lost forever... MY REVIEW From the very beginning of this story there is an aura of desolation and sadness and as we become embroiled in Caitlin's life it is completely understandable. Having lost her mother the year before, Caitlin can no longer face living with her father and his lies that he will stop drinking and in a fit of desperation, she grabs some clothes, money, and her passport and heads to New York where she hopes that the loudness and craziness of the city will help her find some peace. But Caitlin soon realises that you cannot outrun your problems and as she begins to panic and feel suffocated, a handsome American called Jake appears like a knight in shining armour. The next thing she knows, Caitlin finds herself in the countryside with Jake, who makes her heart melt, about to meet his family. But Jake has not been completely honest about himself or his intentions, for this family is made up of a crew of different people from different places who have shunned the outside world and vow to stay at the lakeside cabin to find their peace. Initially furious at his lies, as Caitlin sticks around she begins to see the positive signs of this place and its people, and time slowly fades away as she becomes immersed in its culture. But when Caitlin starts to fear that she is becoming like her mother and getting ill, she clings to Jake and begins to doubt what is happening around her. Can she really trust herself after all that she has been through? And can she trust these strangers who do not want her to leave? And when a body turns up, Caitlin may be in more danger than she ever thought possible... THE ROOM BY THE LAKE by Emma Dibdin is a dark story about sadness, grief, fear, and the lure that cults can bring. Caitlin is a character who is desperately seeking to belong, who is so afraid that she will someday become ill like her mother, and yet cannot rely on her only other family, her dad. She wants to feel safe and taken care of, and I wanted to reach out and give her a hug (and a shake) many times in this book. This story is not an action-packed thriller but rather a slower-paced, dramatic unfolding as pieces slowly start to fall in place and we wonder how Caitlin will find her own strength, instead of waiting for someone else to give her strength. Emma Dibdin hooked me from the beginning with her own style and flare, and I didn't come up for air until I had turned the last page. THE ROOM BY THE LAKE is a sinister, haunting, and warning tale about how far people will go when they are lost and lonely, and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: Emma Dibdin grew up in Oxford, and now lives in New York. She is a writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Esquire, Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Total Film. This is her first novel. For more information: Website - emmadibdin.pressfolios.com Twitter - twitter.com/emmdib I want to thank Clare from Head of Zeus, and the author Emma Dibdin, for the opportunity to review this gripping story, and take part in this blog tour. Don't forget to check out the other stops along the way!
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#Blogtour #Review: The Big Dreams Beach Hotel by Lilly Bartlett @HarperImpulse @MicheleGormanUK21/8/2017 Release date - 18th August 2017
Book length - 228 pages Publisher - www.harperimpulseromance.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Wriggle your toes in the sand and feel the warm breeze on your face when you check into the hotel that’s full of dreams… Three years after ditching her career in New York City, Rosie never thought she’d still be managing the quaint faded Victorian hotel in her seaside hometown. What’s worse, the hotel’s new owners are turning it into a copy of their Florida properties. Flamingos and all. Cultures are clashing and the hotel’s residents stand in the way of the developers’ plans. The hotel is both their home and their family. That’s going to make Rory’s job difficult when he arrives to enforce the changes. And Rosie isn’t exactly on his side, even though it’s the chance to finally restart her career. Rory might be charming, but he’s still there to evict her friends. How can she follow her dreams if it means ending everyone else’s? THIS IS A STANDALONE NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE CARLTON SQUARE SERIES, WITH A WHOLE NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH! MY REVIEW The beautiful and eye-catching cover of THE BIG DREAMS BEACH HOTEL by Lilly Bartlett is an excellent choice, as the story inside matches it perfectly with colourful characters and excitement that will capture your imagination as well as your heart. When Rosie's happily ever after in New York turns into one huge disaster, she flees back to her hometown of Scarborough to regroup and figure out what she wants. Working as manager to a hotel that is more dilapidated than luxurious, Rosie soon gets to know the quirky and eccentric permanent residents of this establishment as there isn't exactly an overflow of holiday guests. But when the new owners of the hotel are determined to revamp the building with a distinct Floridian style, the permanent residents are anything but happy and are resolved to take a stand. Rory is sent by the new proprietors to make the transition as easy as possible but he has definitely bitten off more than he can chew. And as attraction flares to life, will Rosie be able to help everyone she has come to care for, even if they are on opposite sides of the fence? THE BIG DREAMS BEACH HOTEL by Lilly Bartlett is everything I hoped it would be and more. Witty dialogue, engaging and relatable characters, and plenty of antics to keep you entertained from start to finish meant I flew through this story in record time. I don't want to go into too much detail as you just have to read it for yourself! THE BIG DREAMS BEACH HOTEL is the perfect read when a little escapism is needed, and this story will leave you smiling from ear to ear. Author Bio: Lilly Bartlett’s cosy romcoms are full of warmth, quirky characters and guaranteed happily-ever-afters. Lilly is the pen-name of Sunday Times and USA Today best-selling author, Michele Gorman, who writes best friend-girl power comedies under her own name. For more information: Website - www.michelegorman.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/MicheleGormanUK Facebook - www.facebook.com/MicheleGormanBooks/ *I want to thank Michele Gorman and Harper Impulse for the opportunity to review this lovely book and take part in this blog tour. Don't forget to check out all of the other stops along the way!!! Release date - 1st August 2017
Book length - 369 pages Publisher - www.simonandschuster.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Who Are You When No One Is Watching? When a beloved high schooler named Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, no one in her sleepy Colorado suburb is untouched—not the boy who loved her too much; not the girl who wanted her perfect life; not the officer assigned to investigate her murder. In the aftermath of the tragedy, these three indelible characters—Cameron, Jade, and Russ—must each confront their darkest secrets in an effort to find solace, the truth, or both. In crystalline prose, Danya Kukafka offers a brilliant exploration of identity and of the razor-sharp line between love and obsession, between watching and seeing, between truth and memory. Compulsively readable and powerfully moving, Girl in Snow offers an unforgettable reading experience and introduces a singular new talent in Danya Kukafka. MY REVIEW GIRL IN SNOW by Danya Kukafka is an intense and pensive novel that allows you to see deeply into the lives and minds of the three main characters - Cameron, Jade, and Russ. When the body of Lucinda Hayes is found, secrets are forced to the surface as the suspects are lined up. Cameron was always the strange one in town, the weirdo, who always stalked Lucinda from afar. Then there is Jade who had her own reasons to hope that Lucinda would simply disappear. And Russ, who is investigating the case, is in the uncomfortable position that his brother-in-law is also a suspect. But as the story unfolds and the seething darkness that underpins this murder starts to come to light, there are plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. The overall plot is good, the characters are interesting and while I liked the idea of this novel, I have to admit that the pace was extremely slow-moving and this just didn't work for me and I found myself wanting to skip ahead at points. If you want a slower, character study type of story then GIRL IN SNOW by Danya Kukafka will tick all of those boxes. Author Bio: Danya Kukafka is a graduate of New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She works as an assistant editor at Riverhead Books. GIRL IN SNOW is her first novel. For more information: Website - www.danyakukafka.com Twitter - twitter.com/danyakukafka Facebook - www.facebook.com/DanyaKukafkaWriter/ *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com Release date - 26th July 2017
Publisher - www.bobbunbooks.com Age range - 3 to 5 years old Amazon UK -www.amazon.co.uk ABOUT THIS BOOK Poppy dreams it would be fun to have a tail! But which kind will she choose? She tries out many different animal tails, then invents her own and finds lots of amusing and original ways to use it. With vibrant illustrations and light-hearted rhyme, Poppy's Tail is a playful and engaging picture book, designed to captivate a young child's imagination and entertain the reader. OUR REVIEW When POPPY'S TAIL by Cate Douglas arrived in our letterbox there was great excitement especially from our youngest dude who couldn't wait for bedtime so that he could get his hands on it - and I have to say the novelty hasn't worn off yet with him looking for Poppy's Tail every night since. Now from a parent's perspective this is a quality book with delightful illustrations, fun rhyming sentences, and the perfect length for bedtime reading with four to five sentences on each page. You can see some of the illustrations in the pictures below. My youngest has picked up on certain elements of the story, such as Poppy has lots of different friends that all look different, which is great, and he has even memorised some of the lines at this point! And naturally he has chosen his favourite tail from the story - the rainbow tail. POPPY'S TAIL by Cate Douglas is a bright, cheery, imaginative, and engaging picture book that has certainly hit the right note in our house so why not try it for the little people in your life. Happy reading! Author Bio: Cate Douglas has a background in graphic design and copywriting. A quiet calling to write children's picture books first emerged when her daughter was a toddler. Now, with an empty nest, she has been able to fulfil a passionate commitment to bring forth her first book, Poppy's Tail. She lives in London and takes time for creative nourishment on a small Greek island. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/CateDouglasAuth?lang=en Facebook - www.facebook.com/poppystailchildrensbook/ *I want to thank Cate Douglas and Bobbun Books for the opportunity to review this lovely children's book. Release date - 17th August 2017
Book length - 342 pages Publisher - www.penguin.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK What if your perfect home turned out to be the scene of the perfect crime? Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year ago. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it. So when they made a grisly discovery in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake. Because someone has just been murdered. Right outside their back door. And now the police are watching them... MY REVIEW Ok, so from the cover and the blurb of this book, I guessed that I was in for a few thrills and a couple of possible twists along the way, but nothing prepared me for this novel. Unique, compelling, at times witty and funny, at others terrifying and cloying, THE HOUSE by Simon Lelic kept me on tenter hooks from start to finish and gave me goosebumps throughout. Jack and Syd cannot believe their luck when they find themselves on the property market in London. Who cares that the place is like a hoarder's dream with the previous owner's strange possessions, all that matters is that it is theirs. But something is not quite right at the house and it is not long before their comfortable life starts to take a darker turn. As Jack and Syd try to make sense of what is happening, they decide to write down their individual versions of events and open up the horror that is unfolding right before them. But what exactly has happened at the house? Well, you will just have to buy it if you want to find out. I do not want to give too much away about the plot but it is safe to say I found it utterly enthralling. I loved the dual points of view which depicted the two characters of Jack and Syd so well, that you really felt you knew them and their distinctive voices. It got to the point where I didn't need to see the name of who was speaking as I could tell by the language whether it was Jack or Syd. At times very witty, there is always this foreboding shadow hanging over Jack and Syd as they desperately try to make sense of everything, and this left me on edge the whole time I was reading - which is exactly what I want when I'm reading a thriller! THE HOUSE by Simon Lelic is a clever, refreshing, and eerily haunting novel that will leave you unsettled for days to come. And as a bonus, it is the perfect housewarming gift for my friends that have recently purchased an old house in the city!! 😜 Author Bio: Simon Lelic is the author of The House, Rupture (winner of a Betty Trask Award and shortlisted for the John Creasy New Blood Dagger), The Facility and The Child Who (longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2012). The House is his first psychological thriller, inspired by a love of Alfred Hitchcock and Stephen King. Simon is married, with three young children, and lives in Brighton, England. Other than his family, reading is Simon's biggest passion. He also holds a black belt in karate, in which he trains daily. For more information: Website - www.simonlelic.com Twitter - twitter.com/Simon_Lelic *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com (with thanks to Penguin Books UK). Release date - 13th July 2017
Book length - 319 pages Publisher - www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk/publishers/michael-joseph/ Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK From the present day . . . Applecote Manor captivates Jessie with it promise of hazy summers in the Cotswolds. She believes it's the perfect escape for her troubled family. But the house has an unsettling history, and strange rumours surround the estate. to the fifties . . . When teenage Margot and her three sisters arrive at Applecote during the heatwave of '59, they find their aunt and uncle still reeling from the disappearance of their daughter Audrey five years before. The sisters are drawn into the mystery of Audrey's vanishing - until the stifling summer takes a shocking, deadly turn. Will one unthinkable choice bind them together, or tear them apart? Step back in time for a richly evocative mystery, where the beauty of a Cotswolds summer is vividly contrasted with the violence which shatters it. MY REVIEW Evocative, beautiful, and heartbreaking are just some of the words that I would use to describe this breathtaking novel but even they do not do it the justice it requires. In the present day, we meet Jessie and her husband Will, whom she adores, her little girl Romy, and her angry step-daughter Bella. Determined to find happiness together as a family, Jessie is convinced that a fresh start in the countryside will help Bella overcome her resentment and accept Jessie and Romy as part of her life. So when she crosses the threshold of Applecote Manor, she is instantly captivated by all it has to offer, and desperately hopes that it will work its magic on Bella who is clinging to her old life when her mother was alive. But something lingers in the old rooms of this old house, a memory from the past which has never truly been unravelled... Switching back to the past and we become immersed in the lives of the Wilde sisters as they prepare to return to their Aunt and Uncle's home, Applecote Manor, for the summer, but this time it holds no appeal. For five years ago their cousin Audrey disappeared without a trace from the grounds and the Wilde's have never been back since. When they arrive, they soon discover that a lot has changed and there is a melancholy and dangerous air that permeates throughout the estate. And as interesting faces appear which seem sure to offer some entertainment, one sister will take on the quest to uncover the truth, with shocking consequences. THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE by Eve Chase was so much more than I expected and the deeper I fell into the story, the more it captured my imagination. The dual timeline is excellently portrayed with so many similarities between characters even though time has separated them. The devastation of losing a child and never knowing what happened is effortlessly conveyed and my heart broke at times when reading this book, and the unshakeable bond of sisterhood is a theme which is given great power. But most of all it is a story of family, love, and the fact that you cannot escape the past until you confront it. You know when you read a book that is just so superb that you need a moment to readjust back into your everyday life when you finish reading the final line? Well, that is how THE VANISHING OF AUDREY WILDE by Eve Chase made me feel. A phenomenal story that you cannot miss out on. And the cover is absolutely stunning to behold too! Author Bio: Eve Chase is the pseudonym of a journalist who has worked extensively across the British press. Eve Chase always wanted to write about families - ones that go wrong but somehow survive - and big old houses, where family secrets and untold stories seed in the crumbling stone walls. She lives in Oxford, England with her husband and three children. For more information: Website - www.evechase.com Twitter - twitter.com/evepchase Facebook - www.facebook.com/eve.chase.author/ *I want to thank Gaby from Michael Joseph Books, and the author Eve Chase, for the opportunity to review this stunning novel! Release date - 15th August 2017
Book length - 282 pages Publisher - us.macmillan.com/smp/ Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Marti Trailor—social worker on hold, mother of three, wife of a successful obstetrician, daughter of a Congressman—is ready to go back to work. She’s thrilled when the perfect opportunity falls in her lap. The catch? The job is at her husband's hospital and he seems not to share her enthusiasm. Undeterred, she takes the position counseling vulnerable young women as they prepare to give birth. Marti quickly begins to feel like she is making a difference in the lives of her clients. Soon, though, she finds herself caught up in the dark side of the medical center—with its long hours, overworked doctors and entrenched practices. When she witnesses something she can't unsee, Marti, who has always done her best to keep a low-profile, finds herself thrust under a dangerous spotlight with all of Richmond, Virginia watching. In her captivating domestic suspense novel Best Intentions, Erika Raskin weaves together high stakes hospital politics, the pressures of family life, and the consequences of trying to do the right thing. MY REVIEW BEST INTENTIONS by Erika Ruskin is a clever, detailed, and intricate story brimming with drama and characters that will get under your skin. Marti Trailor has the perfect life, married to a successful obstetrician with three beautiful children that she absolutely adores. Deciding to return to work she finds herself working alongside her husband at his hospital which isn't the best scenario, but Marti throws herself fully into her new clients and really enjoys the challenge. But when a delivery goes wrong, Marti finds herself charged for a crime that she vehemently denies, and so the story unfolds as she tells us her version of events. BEST INTENTIONS by Erika Ruskin is character driven and when we read Marti's account we can feel the anger, frustration, and sadness oozing from her out of the page. With plenty of medical and legal elements in this novel, it is obvious that the author has spent a lot of time on her research. With plenty of unexpected twists and turns, BEST INTENTIONS by Erika Ruskin took me by surprise throughout and I became invested in this story which is always a sign of a great book. If you like a dramatic story with a medical bent then definitely give this one a try. Author Bio: Erika Raskin grew up to the sound of typewriter music. Her mother, bestselling novelist Barbara Raskin, was a rollicking story-teller who could turn mundane trips to the grocery store into readable high drama. Marcus Raskin, Erika's dad, was an author of non-fiction but still delighted in getting his daughter to make up back-stories of unsuspecting passers-by. She learned at an early age to collect details, catalog interesting behaviors, and then put them on paper. (In short, she joined the family business.) Erika has written essays for print and radio, articles and short stories. Her fiction has been recognized by the Reynolds Price competition, Glimmertrain, and the Virginia Commission on the Arts. She was a fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Erika's first novel, CLOSE, was published by Harvard Square Editions in October of 2014. CLOSE was a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards. Erika and her husband Keith have three (grown-up) offspring and a peculiar dog with a fondness for lingerie. They live in the mountains outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. For more information: Website - erikaraskin.net Twitter - twitter.com/erikaraskin Facebook - www.facebook.com/Erika-Raskin-Author-1401459626772643/?ref=hl *I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley.com Release date - 1st August 2017
Book length - 384 pages Publisher - www.millsandboon.co.uk Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK There's safety in solitude…isn't there? Single dad and best-selling thriller writer Ethan James has no problem being Templeton Cove’s most famous recluse…until a surprise visit from the past plunges him into a real-life crime drama, just as feisty nurse Leah Dixon barges her way into his world. Ethan’s first priority is to protect his daughter. His second priority is to keep Leah out of this dark web—and that means out of his bed. Except Leah isn’t going anywhere; she's afraid little Daisy is in danger. Ethan couldn’t live with himself if anything happened to Leah…but pushing her away may be even harder! MY REVIEW ETHAN'S DAUGHTER by Rachel Brimble is an action-packed tale of romance and suspense and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thrown straight into the story we meet Leah, a very dedicated and compassionate nurse whose job is her entire life. But all of that changes when she comes across Daisy, a delightful seven-year-old girl with a handsome and infuriating father, Ethan. Wanting to help this single dad who seems so isolated and alone, Leah does what she can for him and Daisy even when he makes it clear that he would rather she didn't, but Leah senses when someone is in trouble, and her gut is telling her they need her. Now all she needs is for Ethan to open up to her and who knows what could happen... Ethan will do whatever he must to protect his daughter and keep her safe, so when his ex shows up unexpectedly one day bringing serious trouble to his door, Ethan is prepared to shut himself and his little girl away even more than he already has. His beautiful little girl has lost enough already when her mother walked out without a second glance and he will do what he must to guard her heart and his own. But he never counted on bubbly Leah and her pure kindness to wedge its way into his soul. But when danger threatens to hurt the people he cares most about, will he push Leah away to save her? Exciting and well-paced, with some twists and turns along the way, ETHAN'S DAUGHTER by Rachel Brimble gives us the perfect example of romantic suspense. While there were some frustrating times when I wanted to bang Leah and Ethan's heads together and shout stop messing around, this all worked well to cement the struggles that these two loveable characters were going through as they tried to open themselves up in ways that they had never done before. Daisy is an absolute sweetheart and I really enjoyed another visit back to Templeton Cove - this book can be read as a standalone but trust me when I say that this is a great series! The danger element worked for me and was believable which always makes a storyline work that little bit better for me. All in all, ETHAN'S DAUGHTER by Rachel Brimble is a great read and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Her first novel was published in 2007. Since then, she's had several books published with small presses and since 2012 has written mainstream romance and romantic suspense for Harlequin Superromance (Templeton Cove Stories) and Victorian romance for eKensington/Lyrical Press. Agent represented in both the US, Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn't writing, you'll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused... For more information: Website - www.rachelbrimble.com Twitter - twitter.com/RachelBrimble Facebook - www.facebook.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/ *I want to thank Rachel Brimble for the opportunity to review this wonderful novel. |
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