Release date - 8th June 2017 Book length - 294 pages Publisher - www.crookedcatbooks.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK “A gripping tale of secrets and lies remembered long after the last page.” – Amanda James, author of Behind the Lie. Doctor Abby Fenton has a rewarding career, a loving family, an enviable lifestyle - and a secret that could destroy everything. When human remains are discovered in the grounds of an idyllic Tuscan holiday home she is forced to confront the memories she has suppressed until now and relive the summer she spent at the villa in 1992. A summer that ended in tragedy. The nearer she gets to the truth the closer she comes to losing her sanity. In order to hold onto the people she loves most, she must make sure they never discover what she did. But the reappearance of someone else from that summer threatens to blow her secret wide open. MY REVIEW When I finished reading THE SILENCE by Katharine Johnson I had to sit for a few moments to try and gather my thoughts. For this book left me speechless. Utterly speechless. Dark, intense, and gripping beyond belief, I was swept along with this tale of lies and betrayals. Abby Fenton has a nice normal life - happily married to the perfect man, two beautiful kids, and a career where she gets to help people every day - what more could she ask for? But when she reads a newspaper article detailing the discovery of two bodies in Tuscany, Abby's life is turned upside down. Her past is hurtling towards her present and she has no idea how to stop it. For nobody knows what happened all those years ago. Abby is no longer that girl. She has made a new life for herself and carefully locked up her confusing memories deep down inside of her where she doesn't even know what was real or fantasy. But somebody else knows what happened that summer and is determined to make Abby pay. Compelling, disturbing, and horrifying in so many ways, THE SILENCE by Katharine Johnson is so clever in its narrative and it kept me guessing and on edge the entire way throughout. You know immediately that Abby has done something but I was never quite sure what, and I was definitely shocked as the story unfolded. THE SILENCE by Katharine Johnson is a story of toxic relationships and devastating secrets with desperate consequences. It is an excellently paced, disturbing novel that is perfect for suspense fans everywhere, and I highly recommend this excellent thriller. Author Bio: 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. Her next novel The Silence, a psychological/coming of age story set in Tuscany will be published on June 8th. For Katharine's latest news, writing advice, book releases and gossip follow her on: Website - katyjohnsonblog.wordpress.com Twitter - twitter.com/kjohnsonwrites Facebook - www.facebook.com/Katharinejohnsonauthor/ I WANT TO THANK EMMA FROM emmathelittlebookworm.wordpress.com AND KATHARINE JOHNSON FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THIS GRIPPING NOVEL. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A FASCINATING PIECE ABOUT KATHARINE'S ROAD TO PUBLICATION FOR YOU ALL TO ENJOY. HAPPY READING! ROAD TO PUBLICATION
This piece is about Katharine's experience from her first book idea to her first publication day. When did you first decide to get your ideas out of your head and onto paper? The idea for this book started rolling around my head soon after we bought our house in Italy fifteen years ago. I found people’s reactions intriguing when asked if they knew the history of the house. This was probably because they really couldn’t remember much about it but it made me think, what if it had a history they didn’t want to talk about? How long did that first manuscript take to perfect? Ages! It’s had many lives since I started writing it probably five years ago. At one stage it was a much longer book with several storylines but it got out of hand. How did you get it in front of publishers? After accepting my first novel, my publisher asked if I was working on anything else. When it was ready I sent it in but there was no guarantee it would be accepted. I had sent the earlier, longer version to a critique service a few years ago. Hilary Johnson was very encouraging and showed it to an agent she worked with. He was very nice about it too but said that as it stood, it was too complicated and that I could make a book out of Abby’s story alone. At the time I couldn't work out how to do that and I had already moved on, mentally to plotting another book which would become Lies Mistakes and Misunderstandings so I put it to one side and there it stayed for several years. Do you have an agent? No but if anyone’s interested…! What was the first reaction of people? I procrastinated for a long time putting an earlier version of the opening onto an online critiquing group. I had some lovely comments and helpful suggestions including a couple of reviews from publishers – and of course some less positive comments! I got to the point where I was going in circles, changing the story to suit each reader and then finding the next reader suggested doing it the way I had before. It was a useful learning process and toughened me up. In the end I decided I had to stop and follow my own instincts. Did the publishers want to change a lot? By the time it reached the publisher it had been to six beta readers so there weren’t any major issues but my editor flagged up a couple of areas that needed clarification and picked up typos, mostly incorrect em and en dashes. But the main changes came from me – I can’t say too much without giving spoilers but I had second thoughts about a couple of scenes while waiting for the first edits to come back. Did you agree? Or stick to your guns? Having been a freelance writer I’ve long passed the point of being precious about my work. If someone can see ways to improve it then that’s great for me. An editor friend describes being an editor as being a midwife which I think is a great analogy. How long did it take from them to get it out to the public? It was accepted just before Christmas and it’s being published on June 8th. What input did you have on the cover? Font? Etc. … My publisher chose the picture. I had envisaged a hot summery scene but I can see that this is very visually arresting and it’s had a really good reaction. I thought the original font was too large but my publisher pointed out that it has to be clear on a thumbnail so we compromised somewhere in the middle. If you could do it all again, what would you change? I would get my social media platform up and running much earlier. Again I want to thank Katharine for taking the time to give us an insight into her publishing journey.
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Book length - 336 pages
Publisher - Forever Yours Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Not every Valentine is a saint . . . Corruption. Greed. Illicit sex. Murder. Private investigator Valentine Shepherd thinks she's seen it all, and her strange ability to glimpse the future gives her an edge no one else in the world has. But when her fiancé is killed trying to exonerate his client, billionaire Max Carressa, Val makes it her personal mission to bring the people responsible to justice, no matter the cost. Convinced the two men are linked by more than attorney-client privilege, she enlists Max's help in her investigation and gets more than she bargained for. On the run, Val and Max must uncover who wants them dead and why. The answer leads them to a conspiracy that has Val herself at its center. She doesn't understand how or why, but time is running out to expose the truth and escape the danger she knows is coming . . . MY REVIEW I did not really know what to expect when I picked up VENGEANCE by Shana Figueroa but it certainly wasn't this unusual, explosive, paranormal story with a dark edge. Val Shepherd is using her unusual gift of seeing glimpses of the future, to try and prevent crime from happening. But when her fiancé is murdered, she will stop at nothing to attain vengeance against those responsible. Teaming up with Max to solve this conspiracy, they soon realise that they have more in common than they thought. But as danger closes in around them and the body count rises, will they be able to solve this mystery before it claims their lives? VENGEANCE by Shana Figueroa is not your normal crime fiction or paranormal novel and really belongs in a sub-genre all of its own. As the reader desperately tries to piece together the puzzle alongside Val and Max, there are so many twists and turns that will leave you reeling. This novel is definitely for adults only as there are a lot of sexual situations, and sensitive issues dealt with throughout. VENGEANCE by Shana Figueroa is fast-paced, energetic, intriguing, and as this is the first book in this series, the ending leaves you needing the next instalment - a unique and enjoyable read. Author Bio: I’m a kick-ass woman who writes kick-ass books about kick-ass women. Though they differ in tone – some light, some dark – all my books share strong, complicated women, hot dudes, intricate plots, and a hefty dose of humor. If that’s your jam, then you’ve come to the right place! Living in the Northeast with my husband, two young daughters, and two old pugs, I find time to read, write (obviously), teach martial arts, and occasionally take trips to Central Asia where I dodge bullets and bombs. By day, I serve my country in the US military. By night, I hunker down in a corner and crank out the crazy stories lurking in my head. For more information: Websiter - www.shanafigueroa.com Twitter - twitter.com/shana_figueroa Facebook - www.facebook.com/shanafigueroaauthor *I want to thank the author Shana Figueroa for the opportunity to read and review this novel. Looking forward to reading more from this series! Release date - 1st June 2017
Book length - 300 pages Publisher - orendabooks.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Bo Luxton has it all—a loving family, a beautiful home in the Lake District, and a clutch of bestselling books to her name. Enter Alice Dark, an aspiring writer who is drifting through life, with a series of dead-end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend. When they meet at a writers’ retreat, the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops. Or does it? Breathlessly pacey, taut and terrifying, Exquisite is a startlingly original and unbalancing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. MY REVIEW EXQUISITE by Sarah Stovell is simply superb. Compelling, dark, and terrifyingly intense, this novel wraps its psychological tendons around you from the beginning and doesn't release you until the very end. The narrative switches from Bo's perspective of what is happening to Alice's throughout, and this really lets the reader see deeply into these characters lives. Bo who seems to have a perfect life is instantly drawn to the younger, vibrant, if slightly damaged, Alice. While Alice immediately idolises this woman who seems to have everything in life that she wants for herself. As the story develops it becomes obvious that they are both battling with the issues from their childhoods, and in each other, they find their saving grace, as it were. But a darker threat lurks beneath the surface, and I know I spent most of this book wondering just what was going to happen. Edgy, atmospheric, and gripping, EXQUISITE by Sarah Stovell will keep you hooked and give you chills - and the ending is scarily perfect! EXQUISITE by Sarah Stovell should not be missed and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: Sarah Stovell was born in 1977 and spent most of her life in the Home Counties before a season working in a remote North Yorkshire youth hostel made her realise she was a northerner at heart. She now lives in Northumberland with her partner and two children and is a lecturer in Creative Writing at Lincoln University. Her debut psychological thriller, Exquisite, is set in the Lake District. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/Sarahlovescrime Facebook - www.facebook.com/sarahstovellwriter/ *I want to thank Anne, Orenda Books, and the author Sarah Stovell, for the opportunity to read and review this gripping novel. Don't forget to check out the other amazing stops on this tour!! Release date - 1st June 2017
Book length - 416 pages Publisher - www.hodder.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon US - www.amazon.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk ABOUT THE BOOK The first novel in the heartwarming, Yorkshire-set Hope Meadows series, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Cathy Woodman and Katie Fforde. Based on the globally bestselling Animal Ark series. Newly-qualified vet Mandy Hope is leaving Leeds - and her fiancé Simon - to return to the Yorkshire village she grew up in. There, she will help out in her parents' surgery whilst they're short-staffed. Mandy's life has always revolved around her work with rescued animals, and Welford offers an opportunity to work with creatures of all sizes, from hedgehogs and puppies to farm stock and even wild deer. But rural Yorkshire is very different to the hustle and bustle of a big city. Mandy must work hard to be accepted by the close-knit village community, and convince them of her abilities as a vet - especially Jimmy Marsh, the gruff owner of the local Outward Bound business, with whom she just can't seem to get along. When some long-neglected animals are discovered in a critical state on a nearby farm, Mandy is determined to prove herself as a confident and fearless vet. When it comes to protecting animals in need, she's prepared to do whatever it takes... MY REVIEW Mandy Hope is happy to return home to Welford for the summer, to help out her family's vet practice, Animal Ark, until they can get a suitable replacement. After all, it is only short-term and she will pop back to Leeds when she can to visit Simon, her boyfriend. But as Mandy settles back into her childhood home and lifestyle, it is not long before she can no longer remember her city life, or the ultra-sophisticated future vet practice plans that Simon is determined to start back in Leeds. Reunited with her best friend James, and the various faces from the village that shaped her over the years, Mandy is forced to question what she really wants from her future. And even though some people certainly seem to rub her up the wrong way, the handsome Mr. Marsh, for example, Mandy feels at peace here. As tragedy strikes, and pressure from Simon to return to Leeds mounts, Mandy must find the courage to grab hold of her dreams and seize the moment...if she can. SUMMER AT HOPE MEADOWS by Lucy Daniels is a stunning, emotional, beautiful tale of friendship, love, and the importance of being who you need to be. Naturally, there are plenty of animals to fall in love with in this story, especially Shy, but the characters and community of Welford are equally as compelling and I cannot wait to return for more in the next book. Mandy is a caring and determined character and I really loved that about her. Based on the bestselling Animal Ark Series which featured 12-year-old Mandy and her best friend James, it was wonderful to see Mandy and James all grown up and still as close as ever in SUMMER AT HOPE MEADOWS. Their deep friendship brings such an emotional element to this novel and as they face hardships together, their strength and ability to be there for each other, really warmed my heart. I laughed, I cried, and I became completely ensnared in SUMMER AT HOPE MEADOWS by Lucy Daniels and I cannot recommend it highly enough - it really has got it all!! Author Bio: Lucy Daniels is the collective name for the writing team that created the bestselling children's book series Animal Ark. For more information: Website - sarahmcgurk.wordpress.com Twitter - twitter.com/SCMcG *I want to thank Emily from Hodder Books and the author, for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful novel. Release date - 1st June 2017
Book length - 256 pages Publisher - www.millsandboon.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Expecting her boss's baby! Pilot Miranda Marlowe is too sick to fly her plane, and she must face the truth: she's pregnant! She knows well enough that her boss, Cleve Finch, is still grieving for his late wife, so to think, she heads to her sister's new inheritance, Villa Rosa. Despite the spiders and dust, the Mediterranean palazzo is as gorgeous as ever. Until Cleve turns up with a dramatic offer: a convenient marriage as soon as it can be arranged! It may be the sensible answer…but is it enough for Miranda? Summer at Villa Rosa - Book 1 of 4 MY REVIEW HER PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL by Liz Fielding is the beginning of a new series centred around Villa Rosa, and I cannot wait for the next instalment. Miranda Marlowe is a pilot who soon discovers that she is about to become a mother. Needing time and space to figure out what she wants from her future, she heads to Villa Rosa, which is so beautiful even if it does need some TLC. When her boss Cleve shows up and offers her a marriage of convenience, it would seem that a lot of her problems could be solved by simply saying yes. Except for one huge issue - Miranda loves Cleve and knows that love will never be possible with him, as he is still desperately grieving his wife. With lovely scenery, interesting characters, and plenty of hiccups along the way, HER PREGNANCY BOMBSHELL by Liz Fielding is a truly delightful, relaxing read. Relatively short, this novel is perfect for an afternoon in the garden or relaxing by the pool, or in my case curling up in bed on a cosy Friday night. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I look forward to more from Villa Rosa. Author Bio: Best-selling author, Liz Fielding, has more than 15 million books in print. Nominated seven times for RWA's prestigious RITA award, she won with The Best Man & The Bridesmaid in 2001 and The Marriage Miracle in 2006. A Family of His Own won the RNA's Romance Prize, and was named Reviewers' Choice Best Harlequin Romance by Romantic Times BOOKreviews in 2005. She has also been given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Romantic Times. For more information: Website - www.lizfielding.com Twitter - twitter.com/lizfielding Facebook - www.facebook.com/lizfieldingauthor/ *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com as a #MillsAndBoonInsider I am absolutely delighted to share with you, all of the details about A DAUGHTER'S COURAGE by Renita D'Silva on this blog tour, and I am lucky enough to have an extract for you all!!! But first here is what you need to know: Release date - 31st May 2017 Book length - 444 pages Publisher - www.bookouture.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK How much would you sacrifice to save your family? 1929. When a passionate love affair threatens to leave Lucy in disgrace, she chooses a respectable marriage over a life of shame. With her husband, coffee plantation owner James, she travels to her new home in India, leaving her troubled past behind her. Everything in India is new to Lucy, from the jewel-coloured fabrics to the exotic spices. When her path crosses that of Gowri, a young woman who tends the temple on the plantation’s edge, Lucy is curious to find out more about her, and the events that lead her to live in isolation from her family… Now. With her career in shatters and her heart broken by the man she thought was her future, Kayva flees from bustling Mumbai to her hometown. A crumbling temple has been discovered in a village nearby, along with letters detailing its tragic history – desperate pleas from a young woman called Gowri. As Kavya learns of Gowri and Lucy’s painful story, she begins to understand the terrible sacrifices that were made and the decision the two women took that changed their lives forever. Can the secrets of the past help Kavya to rebuild her life? EXTRACT
Prologue The Temple Happy Dreams In a scenic corner of India, beside sparkling fields and across from a jungle, near rain-bejewelled coffee plants lined with areca trees and pepper vines, a small temple nestles, slowly going to ruin. It has seen many generations come and go; it is hiding countless secrets deep within its crumbling walls. Woodlice have burrowed into its pillars and anthills adorn its steps and cling to its small veranda. Cobwebs stretch from one end of the temple bell to the other (once gleaming yellow, now tarnished rust; once heralding devotees and massaged by a thousand pious palms, now caressed by silvery skeins of spidery secretions and frantic with the frenzied patter of trapped insects). Peepal trees have conspired to form a canopy over the temple, hiding it from the world. Warm air, infused with the zesty tang of ripening pepper and the smokiness of coffee, hangs respectfully still around the temple, loath to disturb the sombre peace. A falling-down cottage is just visible between the columns of deciduous roots gracing the temple courtyard, which are almost as tall as the overgrown trees to which they belong. The disintegrating, moss-steeped walls of the cottage glow orange-gold in the shafts of sunlight occasionally piercing the vibrant green awning of branches, playing hide-and-seek with the ants that scurry around, searching for crumbs. The wall of tumbledown bricks surrounding the temple and the cottage is almost completely covered with velvet moss. From certain angles, with its foliage-festooned steps leading up to its open cave of a mouth, lush vegetation parting to afford a tantalising glimpse of the deity within, its small shrine draped with vine and creeper garlands, its offerings of rotting leaves and mulchy bark, the temple looks as if it is smiling; a slumbering child experiencing happy dreams. *Wow what a way to start a novel! I want to thank Kim at www.bookouture.com and Renita D'Silva, for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour. Happy Reading!! Book length - 352 pages
Publisher - headofzeus.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK StoryWorld TV brings 'real life stories' to its viewers. But it's at the station where the true dramas are played out... Liz Lyon is Head of Features at StoryWorld TV. It's exhilarating and sometimes glamorous work, but as a single mother with a demanding career, her life is a constant balancing act. Then simmering tensions erupt at the station, trapping Liz in a web of rivalry, manipulation and deceit. If she trusts the wrong person, she could lose her job. But with everything she thought she knew crumbling around her, can she even trust herself? A twisty drama of secrets and lies in a London TV station, this is the first book in the StoryWorld series from the acclaimed author of The Lie Of You. MY REVIEW WOMAN OF THE HOUR by Jane Lythell is an exceptionally well-written story of a highly driven TV executive who is desperately trying to balance her career with her role as a mother, all the while handling the myriad of issues, some more serious than others, that is involved with working behind the scenes at StoryWorld TV. Liz Lyon shines at her workplace where she protects and looks after every person on her team, and puts her heart and soul into her job. There is only one other area of her life that is more important to her, and that is being a mother to fourteen-year-old Flo. Having always been close, especially since the divorce, lately their relationship has become very tumultuous, with arguments becoming the norm. But just when Liz needs to focus on her home life, things at work spiral out of control, and memories from the past resurface causing Liz to question everything. WOMAN OF THE HOUR by Jane Lythell shows us life behind the curtain of the television world with all of its crazy characters and oneupmanship. It is a story of friendship and family, both at home and at work, but this story also delves deeper into issues of sexual harassment and the ever present reality of the 'good old boy's club' in action. Liz is a great character as she is so realistic - always trying to keep a firm facade of control in place but underneath it all questioning her parenting and her personal decisions, never quite sure if what she was doing was the right thing or not. From the moment I picked this book up, it stayed in my hands until I had reached the end, but I hope this is not the last that we have seen from the people at StoryWorld TV. WOMAN OF THE HOUR by Jane Lythell is a clever and engaging novel and I look forward to more from this talented author. Author Bio: I worked as a TV producer for 15 years and my third novel WOMAN OF THE HOUR takes the lid off the TV industry. Behind the glossy exterior of the on-air programme there lurks backstage intrigues, scandal and huge egos in conflict; an insider's account of the private life of a TV station. My second novel AFTER THE STORM follows an English couple who get on a small boat with two American strangers to sail to an island after knowing them less then 24 hours. It has been described as Marine Noir. My debut novel THE LIE OF YOU is a portrait of obsession to the point of madness in which a woman tries to destroy her colleague. For my information: Website - chroniclesofchloegreene.blogspot.ie Twitter - twitter.com/janelythell Facebook - www.facebook.com/janelythellbooks/ *I want to thank Jane Lythell for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am SO excited to take part in unveiling the wonderful new cover for Rebecca Raisin's brand spanking new book THE LITTLE PERFUME SHOP OFF THE CHAMPS-ÈLYSÈES, which will be released on the 8th September 2017. Before I give you a glimpse of this beautiful cover, here is a little about the book to whet your appetite: ABOUT THE BOOK What is French for falling in love? When Del leaves small town America to compete in a perfume competition in Paris, she thinks it is just the next step on her five-year-plan. It’s an exciting opportunity. What started out as just a dream for Del and her twin sister is nearly in her grasp. If she wins this competition, they are on their way to opening their very own perfume boutique! Arriving in Paris, watching the sun glinting off the Seine and wandering the Champs-Elysees, Del discovers the most perfect perfumery she’s ever seen. Yet, as the competition dawns Del realises that whilst she might have had the best nose in her small village, her competitors seem to know more than she could ever have dreamed. This competition isn’t going to be easy… Del has the romance of Paris to sweep her away from her worries, but as the competition heats up, so does her desire for that which she cannot have! If only the dashing owner Sébastien didn’t smell so seductive, look so handsome and make her heart flutter like it never has before. They say love smells as sweet as a red rose in bloom, but Del would tell anyone that true love can’t be bottled – it’s beautiful and unique to everyone…even herself. With everything on the line for her future, can Del really let a little attraction get in the way of securing her dreams? Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Ok, so here is the moment you have all been waiting for... It is so eye-catching and I cannot wait to jump right into this story!!! You can pre-order it here:
www.amazon.co.uk www.amazon.com My thanks to LRR Promotions and Rebecca Raisin for including me in this stunning cover reveal. |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
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