 Release date - 6th June 2017
Book length - 366 pages Publisher - titanbooks.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK It is 1895, and Sherlock Holmes's new client is a High Court judge, whose free-spirited daughter has disappeared without a trace. Holmes and Watson discover that the missing woman Hannah Woolfson was herself on the trail of a missing person, her close friend Sophia. Sophia was recruited to a group known as the Elysians, a quasi-religious sect obsessed with Ancient Greek myths and rituals, run by the charismatic Sir Philip Buchanan. Hannah has joined the Elysians under an assumed name, convinced that her friend has been murdered. Holmes agrees that she should continue as his agent within the secretive yet seemingly harmless cult, yet Watson is convinced Hannah is in terrible danger. For Sir Philip has dreams of improving humanity through classical ideals, and at any cost... MY REVIEW I have always enjoyed the tales of Sherlock Holmes and own a couple of different editions written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but this was my first time picking up one of the adventures written by James Lovegrove, and I am really glad that I did. In this adventure, Holmes and Watson are on the hunt for a missing woman, Miss Hannah Woolfson, who has vanished into thin air. Her father is distraught and hopes that his daughter has not come to some grisly end. But it is not long before Holmes uncovers the fact that Miss Woolfson has gone into the countryside in the hopes of saving her friend, Sophia, who appears to have gotten herself mixed up in some sort of cult. Soon Watson and Holmes find themselves in dangerous territory, with a group who are obsessed with Greek Mythology, but luckily for them, they are perfectly adept at piecing puzzles together, and they even have help on the inside... When I was reading THE LABYRINTH OF DEATH by James Lovegrove I fell completely under his spell and felt like I was transported to 1895 with its unique flair, language, and charm. This book is most certainly a must-read for Sherlock Holmes fans with echoes to the originals while also creating a fresh and creative storyline. I loved the characters, especially Hannah who is so independent and unafraid to show the world her intelligence. The story is well-paced with plenty of danger, mystery, and action throughout to keep your eyes glued to the page. This may be the first time that I have read this series but it most certainly won't be my last. SHERLOCK HOLMES - THE LABYRINTH OF DEATH by James Lovegrove is a compelling and exciting riddle that you simply must unravel. Happy reading!! Author Bio: James Lovegrove is the author of several acclaimed novels and books for children. James was born on Christmas Eve 1965 and, having dabbled in writing at school, first took to it seriously while at university. A short story of his won a college competition. The prize was £15, and it had cost £18 to get the story professionally typed. This taught him a hard but necessary lesson in the harsh economic realities of a literary career. Straight after graduating from Oxford with a degree in English Literature, James set himself the goal of getting a novel written and sold within two years. In the event, it took two months. The Hope was completed in six weeks and accepted by Macmillan a fortnight later. The seed for the idea for the novel — a world in microcosm on an ocean liner — was planted during a cross-Channel ferry journey. James blew his modest advance for The Hope on a round-the-world trip which took him to, among other places, Thailand. His experiences there, particularly what he witnessed of the sex industry in Bangkok, provided much of the inspiration for The Foreigners. Escardy Gap was co-written with Pete Crowther over a period of a year and a half, the two authors playing a game of creative tag, each completing a section in turn and leaving the other to carry the story on. The result has proved a cult favourite, and was voted by readers of SFX one of the top fifty SF/Fantasy novels of all time. Days, a satire on consumerism, was shortlisted for the 1998 Arthur C. Clarke Award (losing to Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow). The book’s genesis most probably lies in the many visits James used to make as a child to the Oxford Street department store owned by his grandfather. It was written over a period of nine months while James was living in the north-west suburbs of Chicago. Subsequent works have all been published to great acclaim. These include Untied Kingdom, Worldstorm, Provender Gleed, The Age Of Ra and the back-to-back double-novella Gig. James has also written for children. Wings, a short novel for reluctant readers, was short-listed for several awards, while his fantasy series for teens, The Clouded World, written under the pseudonym Jay Amory, has been translated into 7 other languages so far. A five-book series for reluctant readers, The 5 Lords Of Pain, is appearing at two-monthly intervals throughout 2010. He also reviews fiction for the Financial Times, specialising in the Young Adult, children’s, science fiction, fantasy, horror and graphic novel genres. Currently James resides in Eastbourne on the Sussex Coast, having moved there in August 2007 with his wife Lou, sons Monty and Theo, and cat Ozzy. He has a terrific view of the sea from his study window, which he doesn’t sit staring out at all day when he should be working. Honest. For more information: Website - www.jameslovegrove.com Twitter - twitter.com/JamesLovegrove7 *I want to thank Philippa at Titan Books, and the author James Lovegrove, for the opportunity to review this wonderful mystery.
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 Release date - 10th August 2017
Book length - 401 pages Publisher - Wildfire Books Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK How do you solve a murder when you can only remember yesterday? There are two types of people in the world. Those who can only remember yesterday, and those who can also recall the day before. You have just one lifeline to the past: your diary. Each night, you write down the things that matter. Each morning, your diary tells you where you were, who you loved and what you did. Today, the police are at your door. They say that the body of your husband's mistress has been found in the River Cam. They think your husband killed her two days ago. Can you trust the police? Can you trust your husband? Can you trust yourself? MY REVIEW Welcome to a world where there are only two types of people - Monos and Duos. Monos can only remember yesterday while Duos have the capacity to remember yesterday and the day before. For this reason, Duos feel far more superior to Monos and are considered the upper echelon of society. Armed with their iDiary, everyone carefully keeps an account of their days so that they can remember what has happened in their lives. Claire and Mark are an unusual couple in that Mark is Duo and Claire is Mono but on the outside, they appear to have a very happy life. Mark is even hoping to go into politics and is pushing a bill that will support mixed marriages between Monos and Duos, using his own happy union as an example of how it works. But when a woman's body is discovered, suddenly the police are interested in talking to Mark, because he is mentioned in the victim's iDiary. A lot. As events start to spiral out of control, Claire desperately wants to figure out exactly what has happened but how can she do that when she cannot remember and her iDiary doesn't seem to be shining light on the truth. But not everyone is always honest in the accounts of their days, and what if there are people who can remember everything... Intriguing, unconventional, and fresh, YESTERDAY by Felicia Yap drew me into a new world that still somehow felt familiar, and held my attention with compelling characters, suspense, and plenty of drama and subterfuge. Written in short chapters from different characters points of view, the plot moved along at a good pace and gave enough detail to keep me hooked and give us an insight into who these characters really are. With lies, betrayals, secrets, and unbridled anger, YESTERDAY is a wonderful debut novel that will translate perfectly onto the silver screen, and the ending was absolutely perfect! If you are looking for a crime thriller that is outside of the box and unlike anything else that I have read in a long time, then YESTERDAY by Felicia Yap is the one for you. Author Bio: Felicia Yap grew up in Kuala Lumpur. She has been a cell biologist, a war historian, a university lecturer, a technology journalist, a theatre critic, a flea-market trader and a catwalk model. Felicia lives in London and is a graduate of the Faber Academy. Her debut thriller YESTERDAY will be published around the world in August 2017. For more information: Website - www.feliciayap.com Twitter - twitter.com/FeliciaMYap Facebook - www.facebook.com/FeliciaMYap Instagram - www.instagram.com/feliciamyap/ *I want to thank the team at Wildfire Books, and the author, Felicia Yap, for the opportunity to review this intriguing book.  Release date - 5th September 2017 Book length - 336 pages Publisher - Mira Books Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Mothers and daughters, sisters and cousins--they lived for summers at the lake house until a tragic accident changed everything. The Summer That Made Us is an unforgettable story about a family learning to accept the past, to forgive and to love each other again. That was then... For the Hempsteads, two sisters who married two brothers and had three daughters each, summers were idyllic. The women would escape the city the moment school was out to gather at the family house on Lake Waseka. The lake was a magical place, a haven where they were happy and carefree. All of their problems drifted away as the days passed in sun-dappled contentment. Until the summer that changed everything. This is now... After an accidental drowning turned the lake house into a site of tragedy and grief, it was closed up. For good. Torn apart, none of the Hempstead women speak of what happened that summer, and relationships between them are uneasy at best to hurtful at worst. But in the face of new challenges, one woman is determined to draw her family together again, and the only way that can happen is to return to the lake and face the truth. Robyn Carr has crafted a beautifully woven story about the complexities of family dynamics and the value of strong female relationships. MY REVIEW THE SUMMER THAT MADE US by Robyn Carr is a layered tale of family relationships, tragedy, and heartbreak underpinned by deep connections and memories that remind the characters of better days. Two sisters who married two brothers, and had three daughters apiece, used to spend idyllic summers together on the lake where they were as close and as happy as any family could be. But when tragedy struck, it tore them apart where bitterness and jealousy made sure that they would never reconnect again. Until now. The daughters are all grown up now, living their own lives and making their own mistakes, but when one daughter receives some shocking news, she is determined to bring her family back together so that they can finally heal the heartbreak from the past and face the future together. But life is never that simple and with plenty of emotions, anger, and problems of their own, it may not be as easy as she hoped... This book is about a family reuniting after years apart, and as each character has their own issues and lives to contend with, they must also confront that awful summer from all those years ago, and the underlying tension and jealousies that always existed between them. While many believe that you cannot fix the unfixable, this story shows that there is always hope - hope that you can find peace with the past and move forward together. Full of family drama and interesting characters, THE SUMMER THAT MADE US by Robyn Carr, is a story of loss, heartache, and hope, and ultimately the importance of family in all of its forms. While this wouldn't be my favourite book of Robyn Carr's it is definitely well worth reading, and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River and Thunder Point series, as well as highly praised women’s fiction titles such as Four Friends, What We Find, and The Life She Wants. Robyn has won a RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and in 2016 she was awarded RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the genre. Her novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Originally from Minnesota, Robyn now resides in Henderson, Nevada, with her aviator husband; they have two grown children. When she isn’t writing, Robyn puts her energy into community service: she has mentored a seniors’ memoir-writing group, attends book club chats in and out of state whenever possible, and is working with her local library on the Carr Chat Series, a program centered on fundraising and visiting author events that bring writers, their books, and the community together. For more information: Website - www.robyncarr.com Twitter - twitter.com/RCarrWriter Facebook - www.facebook.com/RobynCarrWriter/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/robyncarrwriter/ READ ON FOR A FABULOUS Q&A WITH THE WONDERFUL ROBYN CARR... Q&A w/ Robyn Carr — THE SUMMER THAT MADE US
Q: I heard through the grapevine that you wrote most of this book over 20 years ago, put it away, and then “discovered” it in a drawer. This is the stuff that writers—and let’s be honest, editors and publishers—dream of! What made you put the book away and pull it out again after all that time? A: I wrote the first half of the book about 18 years ago and had a sketchy outline for the rest, but my editor didn’t like it. Several years later I pulled it out, freshened it up, tried it again with a new editor. Again, no go. I tried it a third time and my agent and editor (at the time) still didn’t like it. They said it was “dark” and I found nothing dark about it. Then last year my editor (a relatively new editor, same publisher) made a comment about whether I had anything written that I hadn’t shown her or told her about and I think she was joking, but I said, “I do. A book I love. A book a couple of my trusted readers also loved. But my earlier editors didn’t like it.” I described the story and she asked me how soon I could send it. It has quickly become everyone’s favorite. And no, I can’t really explain why it wasn’t loved before and then became greatly loved years later. It’s not the first book that’s happened with. Sometimes it’s timing or the mood of the readers. Q: Louise and Jo are the two matriarchs of the family, sisters who married brothers and each had three daughters. Although once very close, Louise and Jo are also quite different from each other, and their lives have taken separate courses. Can you tell us a little about where the idea for these characters came from and what you hoped to illustrate about motherhood and sisterhood through these women? A: As a novelist the first thing you have to find is the conflict. Louise and Josephine, one year apart in age, grow up as close as two sisters can be, though they’re opposite in many ways. They love and envy each other. Jo envies Lou’s strength and Lou envies Jo's beauty and softness. But of course over time we realize the other characteristics of these two – Jo is stronger than she’s given credit for and Louise is more sensitive than she allows herself to show. As the mothers of these six little girls, the balance is perfect: there is always someone who helps you make Barbie clothes or someone to coach you in swimming all the way across the lake; always someone to snuggle you after a bee sting, someone to take charge of games and diving competitions. They seem to do this effortlessly, but of course just beneath the surface there is competitiveness typical of siblings – Jo has the handsome, sexy but shiftless husband while Lou has the somewhat dull but steady husband who makes a good living. Q: What makes female bonds—familial or otherwise—such a rich topic of exploration in a novel? What was the most rewarding part of developing and digging into these powerful and often complex relationships? A: A million years ago when men went off to slay the woolly mammoth, the women were left behind to tend the home fires and, subsequently, took charge of the relationships. Women bond with each other on a deep and complex level. It’s not that they bond on a deeper level than men do (a military band of brothers comes instantly to mind), but they bond differently because women are natural nurturers and because they have always minded the survival of the family and the children and each other, and they have an innate sensitivity and vulnerability to emotions. And because women have such a wide range of personalities and skills, they also have a wide range of dealing with emotional issues. The canvas is very large! A writer of women’s fiction can write as many different female characters as there are females in the world! Finding a new set of characteristics that are not identical to a character already written is the biggest headache and the fiercest joy. Q: Which character was the most fun for you to write? Which was the most challenging? A: The most fun was definitely Krista. She’s a hard-ass. A sarcastic and rough-around-the-edges tough broad. But in her new freedom, in her new world, reunited with her best friends, each day brings her new and beautiful discoveries. Luxuries the rest of us take for granted. New, whiter-than-white soft underwear, scented soap, sunrise and sunset, air that doesn’t smell like cement and urine, a boyfriend. Watching her discover these things was such a joy; writing her quips and comebacks was too much fun. The hardest one of all to write was Louise, Charley and Meg’s mother, the meanest and most controlling woman of all, the woman who shut down the lake house when her 12-year-old daughter accidentally drowned. I knew in my heart that Louise wasn’t all bad; I knew that her loneliness only made her meaner and more intolerable. Saving her was a huge challenge. She is exactly the kind of woman we enjoy never forgiving! She was a lot of work, that Louise. At the end of the day I might not have adored her, but I definitely appreciated her. I think she rose to the top. Q: I have to ask, what’s next for you? What are you working on right now, and what can readers look forward to next? A: I’m writing the next book in the Sullivan’s Crossing series – we don’t have a title yet, but we’re close. I’m writing about Dakota Jones, formerly a major in the Army, and let me tell you, he is a good book boyfriend. Yes, he’s at the crossing, with his siblings Cal and Sierra, and he’s stirring up lots of interest. And a little trouble. *I want to thank Claire from littlebirdpublicity.com, and the wonderful Robyn Carr, for the opportunity to review this book, take part in this blog tour, and for such an interesting Q&A. Happy reading everyone!  Release date - 5th September 2017
Book length - 384 pages Publisher - Grayson House Books Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK With wry wit and boundless heart, Eva Woods delivers an unforgettable tale of celebrating triumphs great and small, seizing the day, and always remembering to live in the moment. “It's simple, really. You're just meant to do one thing every day that makes you happy. Could be little things. Could be big. In fact, we're doing one right now…” Annie Hebden is stuck. Stuck in her boring job, with her irritating roommate, in a life no thirty-five-year-old would want. But deep down, Annie is still mourning the terrible loss that tore a hole through the perfect existence she'd once taken for granted—and hiding away is safer than remembering what used to be. Until she meets the eccentric Polly Leonard. Bright, bubbly, intrusive Polly is everything Annie doesn't want in a friend. But Polly is determined to finally wake Annie up to life. Because if recent events have taught Polly anything, it's that your time is too short to waste a single day—which is why she wants Annie to join her on a mission… One hundred days. One hundred new ways to be happy. Annie's convinced it's impossible, but so is saying no to Polly. And on an unforgettable journey that will force her to open herself to new experiences—and perhaps even new love with the unlikeliest of men—Annie will slowly begin to realize that maybe, just maybe, there's still joy to be found in the world. But then it becomes clear that Polly's about to need her new friend more than ever…and Annie will have to decide once and for all whether letting others in is a risk worth taking. MY REVIEW SOMETHING LIKE HAPPY by Eva Woods is simply outstanding!!!!! This book broke me and no this is not an exaggeration - ask my husband who woke up suddenly to the sound of me wailing at 2 am, lol. This story sucked me in and made me care so deeply about the characters and pulled at my heartstrings from start to finish and I definitely went through a box of tissues as I read it, but it also made me laugh out loud, made me appreciate my life even more, and hammered home the point that life really is what you make of it. Annie Hebden is caught in a monotonous routine of sadness, anger, and grief. And in fairness, after what has happened to her, I completely understood why. Having suffered a tremendous tragedy in her personal life, she now lives in a dirty old flat, works in a job that she detests, and now spends most of her time in hospital visiting her mum who has dementia. Life is hopeless and miserable and Annie cannot see past the darkness. That is until Polly pops suddenly into her life and refuses to leave - colourful, vibrant, optimistic Polly who has an inoperable tumour and is determined to make each day count. Armed with a plan for her one hundred days of happiness, where she must do something that will make her happy every day for the next one hundred days, Polly ropes Annie into her scheme too. Annie soon finds herself meeting new people, actually showering, and making more of an effort to re-enter the world of the living. With plenty of hilarious antics, Annie and Polly soon forge a friendship that will make your heart melt. But in order to fully embrace the happiness of now, Annie must face up to the heartache of her past, and with the days dwindling away, Polly must stand toe to toe with her own demons too... Annie and Polly are just the best characters, and while I really loved the extended cast in this book, it is their relationship that really got to me. Both of these strong women are suffering in different ways, and together they find what they need to allow them to find the best in everything they can. Polly breathes life back into Annie's world and really wakes her up from her despair, while Annie is the straight-talking, honest, friend that Polly needs to get her through what is coming. While I cried my eyes out at parts of this story, this is by no means a depressing, morbid read, but rather a celebration of life with plenty of funny moments that made me laugh, and shows the importance of recognising hope and happiness in the smaller, more simpler things in life. SOMETHING LIKE HAPPY by Eva Woods is everything I could wish for in a story that revels in living life in the moment and the importance of friendship. It was an absolute honour to read this book and I will make sure to take note every day of the small things that make me smile, for as Polly likes to say, "Happiness is a state of mind." Author Bio: Eva Woods lives in London, where she writes and teaches creative writing. She likes wine, pop music, and holidays, and thinks online dating is like the worst board game ever invented. For more information: Website - www.ink-stains.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/inkstainsclaire Facebook - www.facebook.com/EvaWoodsauthor/posts/1906389069636934 Instagram - www.instagram.com/evawoodsauthor/ * I want to thank Katie from littlebirdpublicity.com, and the author Eva Woods, for the opportunity to review this book and take part in this blog tour!  Release date - October 2016
Book length - 224 pages Publisher - www.instantapostle.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Brilliant scientific researcher Tilda Mosse wakes up in hospital unable to speak or move and with no recollection of what happened to her. Determined to find answers and prove she is not in a persistent vegetative state, she travels back through her fractured memories looking for clues. Could someone really have tried to kill her? An indulged younger brother, an obsessive flatmate, jealous colleagues and a missing lover. Everyone has a motive. On the edge of death, and questioning the value of her life, Tilda's only hope is to unlock the key of all unknown. MY REVIEW I decided to pick up this book for a little light reading before bedtime but the next thing I knew it was 2 am and I had finished it. Compelling, emotional, and completely absorbing, THE KEY OF ALL UNKNOWN by K.A. Hitchins is a unique and terrifying story that is perfect for fans of thrillers with a psychological aspect. When Tilda Mosse wakes up, she realises she is in hospital and unable to move or talk, leading the medical team and those around her to believe that she is in a vegetative state. Terrified at what is happening to her, Tilda knows that she must search back through her memories of the past to discover how she ended up like this. There must be something hiding in her mind which will shine a light on how she has become so severely injured. If she is to survive, her only chance is to open the lock on her mind and find the truth, no matter how terrifying that might be... THE KEY OF ALL UNKNOWN by K.A. Hitchins is a unique and really harrowing story that physically made me catch my breath many times throughout. Locked-in syndrome is utterly devastating and as Tilda desperately tries to make sense of everything that has happened, my heart broke for her. With many twists and turns, the mystery of Tilda soon begins to take shape and I fully became immersed in the plotline. THE KEY TO ALL UNKNOWN by K.A. Hitchins is a real page-turner and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: K. A. Hitchins studied English, Religious Studies and Philosophy at Lancaster University, graduating with a BA (Hons) First Class in English, later obtaining a Masters in Postmodern Literatures in English from Birkbeck College, London. K. A. Hitchins is married with two children. Her first two novels 'The Girl at the End of the Road' and 'The Key of All Unknown' were published by Instant Apostle in 2016. For more information: Website - www.kahitchins.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/KathrynHitchins Facebook - www.facebook.com/KathrynHitchins/ *I want to thank Kathryn Hitchins for the opportunity to review this novel.  Release date - 14th September 2017
Book length - 355 pages Publisher - www.harpercollins.co.uk Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK You never know who’s watching… Corinne’s life might look perfect on the outside, but after three failed IVF attempts it’s her last chance to have a baby. And when she finds a tiny part of a doll house outside her flat, it feels as if it’s a sign. But as more pieces begin to turn up, Corinne realises that they are far too familiar. Someone knows about the miniature rocking horse and the little doll with its red velvet dress. Someone has been inside her house… How does the stranger know so much about her life? How long have they been watching? And what are they waiting for…? MY REVIEW Cryptic, dark, and truly haunting at times, THE DOLL HOUSE by Phoebe Morgan drew me in immediately and sent shivers up my spine as the story continued. Corinne has a job that she enjoys and a man that she adores but in the last year, her life has gotten complicated and she finds herself more and more anxious as the days pass. With the death of her beloved father her world was shattered, and every time IVF fails, Corinne's desperation to have a baby of her own becomes even more heightened. She just needs something to give her a boost, and when she finds a little piece of doll house furniture in front of her flat, it reminds her of her idyllic childhood and takes it as a sign that her dreams may be about to come true. Ashley, Corinne's sister, is a happily married, stay-at-home mum to three children, working the odd shift in a local cafe to get her out of the house. Life is simple and enjoyable, with the exception of the teenage angst from her eldest girl but that is to be expected, right? But when her husband starts spending more and more time at work and begins to shut her out, Ashley can only assume that he is cheating on her. And when the silent phone calls begin, she knows it must be the other woman. But for someone else life was not the beautiful and joyful experience that Ashley and Corinne have enjoyed, but rather a dark and twisted existence that will lead them to do something that will destroy lives forever... THE DOLL HOUSE by Phoebe Morgan is a page-turner and a sure fire hit with psychological thriller fans everywhere. While I didn't exactly like Corinne, my heart went out to her for all that she was dealing with regarding IVF, and her need to have a child. Ashley was by far my favourite of the two, and I really wanted her to figure out exactly what was happening with her husband, and find a way to find more harmony with her children. The story is split into short, snappy chapters which keep the plot moving along nicely, and we get to see different characters views of what is happening, with the odd flashback to the past. As the story developed I had a few suspicions as to what was going to happen, some of which were right and some were wrong, but the way the author pulled all of the threads together to bring it to a harrowing conclusion, was absolutely fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. THE DOLL HOUSE by Phoebe Morgan is a creepy and twisted story of family, fear, and what can happen when secrets lie buried for too long. Well worth a read! Author Bio: Phoebe Morgan is an author and editor. She studied English at Leeds University after growing up in the Suffolk countryside. She has previously worked as a journalist and now edits crime and women’s fiction for a publishing house during the day, and writes her own books in the evenings. She lives in London and you can follow her on Twitter @Phoebe_A_Morgan. The Doll House is her debut novel. For more information: Website - phoebemorganauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/Phoebe_A_Morgan Facebook - www.facebook.com/PhoebeMorganAuthor/ *I want to thank Anna from Harper Collins, and the author Phoebe Morgan for the opportunity to review this gripping novel!!  Release date - 18th July 2017
Book length - 290 pages Publisher - Lake Union Publishing Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK What would you do if you learned that the life you lived was a lie? Nina McCarrick lives the perfect life, until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels. Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind. But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life. Bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this stirring and empowering tale of one woman’s loss and love. MY REVIEW I have read plenty of books that I have really enjoyed, that have made me laugh and well up, but there are only a handful that has reached into my soul and taken up residence there, and THE ART OF HIDING by Amanda Prowse is one of those special few that make it difficult to describe just how amazing it truly is. Nina McCarrick has got it all - a husband she loves, two sons that she adores, a beautiful home, and a lifestyle where she never has to worry about the normal everyday things that most people lose sleep over. But even in her happy world, Nina struggles slightly with her confidence and whether or not she really fits into this gilded world of opulence and luxury, considering it is very far from where she started. But when her husband dies suddenly, Nina and her children are thrown mercilessly into a pit of grief and despair, but that is not where the anguish stops. For Nina's husband had lied to her about so many things and now Nina must start right back where she came from, only this time she must also try to protect her boys from the harshness of their new reality. Beautifully written with characters that will feel like you have known them your whole life, THE ART OF HIDING by Amanda Prowse exquisitely describes grief, loss, and the strength that one needs to forge ahead and find a different future than the one they always thought they would have. Nina is an excellent character and as she started to realise her own capabilities and re-establish her relationship with her sister, it was a joy to watch her grow and believe in herself. I am a mother to two sons, like Nina, so I completely felt for her as she wanted to do everything she could to protect them from what was happening, but as the story continued, it was great to see the boys come into their own as strong characters too. I cried, I smiled, and I loved alongside Nina and her family as they navigated their heartbreak and loss - both of their father/husband but also of life as they knew it. It is so easy to take what you have for granted, and THE ART OF HIDING will make you really take stock of that and make you look at your life with a much more appreciative view. THE ART OF HIDING by Amanda Prowse is special in so many ways and needs to be read the world over, and it is one of those rare books that will be re-read many times in my home. A truly stunning novel! Author Bio: Amanda has always obsessively crafted short stories and scribbled notes for potential books, but it wasn’t until she was forty that she began writing full time. The result was Poppy Day, the story of an army wife, whose incredible love for her husband gives her the courage to rescue him from hostages in Afghanistan. This was followed by the number 1 bestseller What Have I Done? Amanda now has ten novels and four novellas published. All of Amanda's books in the No Greater Love series share common themes in that they are contemporary love stories, the main characters are women, just like you and I, who find themselves in extraordinary situations for love. Her new series is the No Greater Courage series, tales of women facing the trials that life throws at them and having to dig deep to find the will and strength to succeed. This series includes the A Mother’s Story and Perfect Daughter, which continue to receive brilliant reader and press reviews. Amanda’s ambition has always been to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can’t possibly read another book until the memory fades... Currently, Amanda lives in the West Country with her husband and their 18 & 19 year old boys Josh and Ben. For more information: Website - amandaprowse.org Twitter - twitter.com/MrsAmandaProwse Facebook - www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/mrsamandaprowse/ *I want to thank Amanda Prowse for the opportunity to review this compelling novel.  Release date - 22nd August 2017 (US)
Book length - 256 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 From the NYT bestselling author comes a chilling new thriller about a ritualistic murder of a college professor that sends a small town cop back into the trauma she thought she’d put behind her. Officer Miranda Rader of the Hammond PD in Louisiana is known for her honesty, integrity, and steady hand in a crisis—but that wasn’t always so. Miranda comes from Jasper, just south of Hammond, a place about the size of a good spit on a hot day, and her side of the tracks was the wrong one. She’s worked hard to leave the girl she used to be behind and earn respect in her position as an officer. However, when Miranda and her partner are called to investigate the murder of one of the town’s most beloved college professors, they’re unprepared for the gruesomeness of the scene. This murder is unlike any they’ve ever investigated, and just when Miranda thinks she’s seen the worst of it, she finds a piece of evidence that chills her to the core: a faded newspaper clipping about a terrible night from her long-buried past. Then another man turns up dead, this one a retired cop, and not just any cop—Clint Wheeler, the cop who took her statement that night. Two murders, two very different men, two killings that on the surface had nothing in common—except Miranda. 14 years ago. And when her fingerprints turn up at the scene of the first murder, Miranda once again finds herself under the microscope, her honesty and integrity doubted, her motivations questioned. Alone again, the trust of her colleagues shattered, Miranda must try to trust the instincts she’s pushed down for so long, and decide what’s right—before it’s too late. MY REVIEW How have I never read anything by Erica Spindler before?!?! Well after devouring THE OTHER GIRL I am definitely going on a shopping spree for Erica Spindler's backlist. Officer Miranda Rader's life changed forever on a single night when she was just fifteen. Back then she was a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, getting into trouble, and developing a reputation as a liar along the way. But that night everything changes when that terrified young girl's pleas for help fall on deaf ears. Fast-forward to the present day and Miranda has worked very hard to leave the past behind. Now she is a well-respected and hardworking cop who is known to be upfront and honest at all times. When she is called to a horrific murder scene, Miranda prepares to do what she must to find the killer. But as Miranda suddenly finds herself linked to the crime itself, she will be forced to face her past head on if she is ever to unravel the truth. Perfectly paced, with engaging and dynamic characters, I could not get enough of this story. The crime is so gruesome but as the tale unfolds, we begin to see why it was the way it was. I loved the relationship Miranda had with her partner Jake and their ups and downs really added so much to the narrative, and Miranda is such a wonderful character - a strong woman who fought back against a system that wanted to see her fail, a woman that was determined not to allow that night from her past to destroy every part of her although it would never leave her. Even though she is a hardened police officer, Miranda is still compassionate and caring, and I love the way that she follows her gut instincts even though they may seem obscure and unreliable. Tense, dramatic, and atmospheric, I could not put this book down and THE OTHER GIRL by Erica Spindler is a must-read for crime fiction and thriller fans worldwide. Author Bio: A New York Times and International bestselling author, Erica Spindler's skill for crafting engrossing plots and compelling characters has earned both critical praise and legions of fans. Her stories have been lauded as “thrill-packed page turners, white- knuckle rides and edge-of-your-seat whodunits.” Erica loves meeting and interacting with her fans, both in person and online. She has a wicked sense of humor, an optimistic spirit and loves coffee, chocolate and red wine, not necessarily in that order. In 2002 her novel Bone Cold won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence. A Romance Writers of America Honor Roll member, she received a Kiss of Death Award for her novels Forbidden Fruit and Dead Run and was a four-time RITA® Award finalist. In 1999 Publishers Weekly awarded the audio version of her novel Shocking Pink a Listen Up Award, naming it one of the best audio mystery books of 1998. Erica lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons. For more information: Website - www.ericaspindler.com Twitter - twitter.com/EricaSpindler Facebook - www.facebook.com/EricaSpindler *I want to thank Justine at St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book via Netgalley.com. |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! 
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