review

The Runaway Wife by Dee MacDonald @DMacDonaldAuth @bookouture #blogblitz #TheRunawayWife

~ noveldeelights ~ 8 Comments

It’s publication day for The Runaway Wife by Dee MacDonald and I’m absolutely delighted to kick off the blog blitz.

My thanks to Kim Nash at Bookouture for the invitation and the review copy!

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Author : Dee MacDonald
Title : The Runaway Wife
Pages : 299
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : April 24, 2018

aboutthebook

Connie McColl is tired of solving one family crisis after another – usually involving her unruly grandchildren – while her husband Roger spends all day at his beloved golf course. Surely it must be time for her to shake off her apron and start living again?

So Connie packs a bag, gets in her little green car and drives off…

On her journey from England to Scotland, Connie stops in on long-lost friends and makes all sorts of colourful new companions along the way. As Connie has the time of her life, sleeping under the stars and skinny dipping in the sea, she finally begins to rediscover herself. And she starts to wonder, will she ever be ready to return home?

Or will this summer change her life forever?

mythoughts

Now, I’m sure by now most of you know this isn’t my usual type of genre but there was something about the book description that just spoke to me. So when I was offered the opportunity to read this one early, I didn’t hesitate at all. Yes, that is my quote on the cover there. *proud moment* (Thank you, Kim!)

The Runaway Wife is a blooming’ marvellous novel that will either make you want to leave your family far behind or count your lucky stars and want to hug them all that little bit tighter because they’re brilliant and you wouldn’t want to change them for the world. Either way, Connie’s story is sure to put a smile on your face.

At a time in her life when she should be enjoying her retirement, demands from her family just seem to keep piling up on top of one another. Her husband is no help at all as he spends most of his time on the golf course and Connie increasingly feels like she’s being taken for granted. Many of us can without a doubt relate to Connie’s circumstances, no matter our ages, as we desperately try to find some “me” time.

One day, she has had more than enough and decides to live a little. Jumping into her car, Connie sets off on a road trip from England to Scotland. Catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones along the way, she has the opportunity to rediscover herself and figure out what she wants.

Connie captured my heart right from the start. She is such a delightful woman, who feels that even though she may be 66 years old, she’s still young enough to have an adventure or two. Along the way she will meet people who validate her, who will make her feel there is still more to her than just being a wife, a mother and a grandmother. She will be seen for who she is and isn’t that something we all want?

There are a few sad moments along the way, showcasing the comforting and caring personality of Connie. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and following her around the country, not just rooting for her but also for her wee car, hoping it would be reliable and get her through the journey safely. But equally entertaining are the glimpses into the daily life of her family members who now have to fend for themselves without the ever-present maid, cook and babysitter.

With a truly hilarious laugh-out-loud event near the end, this is a funny, uplifting and inspiring story that goes to show you’re never too old to make a change. Second chances are there if you’re willing to jump up and grab them. An absolutely delightful and fabulously heartwarming read perfect for those sunny days!

The Runaway Wife is out today!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Google Play | Kobo | iTunes | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Service for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.

She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&B’s, and only began writing when she was over 70!

Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

Facebook | Twitter

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The Fear by C.L. Taylor @callytaylor @Sabah_K @AvonBooksUK #blogtour #TheFear

~ noveldeelights ~ 11 Comments

Delighted to welcome you all to my stop on the blog tour for The Fear by C.L. Taylor! I’ll be sharing my thoughts on this fabulous book right after I tell you what it’s all about.

My thanks to Sabah at Avon UK for the opportunity and the gorgeous review copy!

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Author : C.L. Taylor
Title : The Fear
Pages : 394
Publisher : Avon UK
Publication date : March 22, 2018

aboutthebook

Lou Wandsworth is used to being headline news as, aged fourteen, she ran away with her 37-year-old teacher, Mike, during a short-lived affair.

Now 32, Lou’s life is in tatters – and she resolves to return home to confront Mike for the damage he has caused. But she soon finds that Mike is unchanged, and is now grooming a young 13-year-old girl called Chloe.

Determined to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself, Lou decides to take matters into her own hands. But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as she tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that Lou could once again become his prey.

mythoughts

Hoo boy! Is this a humdinger or what?!

When Lou Wandsworth was fourteen years old, she found herself involved with her much older karate teacher, Mike. On what was supposed to be a romantic trip to France, she is rescued and Mike is sent to prison. Lou and her mother left the village they lived in for London and never came back. But now Lou’s father has passed away and Lou needs to clear out his house so it can be sold. With her life in pieces, she decides maybe the time has come to confront Mike, whom she blames for all the disastrous relationships she’s had. But then she discovers, Mike hasn’t changed at all and firmly has his sights set on yet another young teenager, Chloe.

The story is told through the eyes of Chloe, the now thirty-two year old Lou and a woman called Wendy Harrison, whose part in the story isn’t immediately clear though, I felt, rather easy to guess at. The Fear is very much a character-driven psychological suspense story. These three characters are all incredibly flawed and damaged in their own way and while not necessary likeable, they do evoke a level of sympathy. While this may not be a fast-paced plot, I found watching the characters develop and change throughout the story extremely compelling and fascinating.

At almost 400 pages, this isn’t exactly a quickie read and yet I devoured it in one sitting, flipping the pages faster and faster as I got closer to the staggering conclusion. There’s a constant threatening vibe and some parts make for some incredibly uncomfortable reading, especially where Lou’s past is concerned. But wow, could it possibly have been any more riveting?! I think not. The Fear held my attention throughout, had me completely captivated and I just couldn’t put it down.

I’ve arrived rather late, though still fashionably I’m sure, to the C.L. Taylor party and this is only the third book I’ve read by her but it’s most definitely my favourite so far. Some day, I will hopefully have the time to catch up on her older work but for now, I will eagerly await her next offering while you and you and yes, you as well, grab yourself a copy of this one!

The Fear is available for purchase!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Bookdepository | Kobo | Wordery | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

C.L. Taylor lives  in Bristol with her partner and young son. She is a three times Sunday Times bestseller and her books have hit the number one spots on Amazon, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play. Cally has a degree in Psychology, with particular interest in abnormal and criminal Psychology. She also loves knitting, Dr Who, Sherlock, Great British Bake Off and Margaret Atwood and blames Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected for her love of a dark tale.

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White Lies by Lucy Dawson @lucydawsonbooks @bookouture #blogblitz

~ noveldeelights ~ 13 Comments

Absolutely thrilled to host a stop on the blog blitz for White Lies by Lucy Dawson today! I’ll be sharing my thoughts in just a second, right after I tell you what this corker of a book is all about.

My thanks to Kim at Bookouture!

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Author : Lucy Dawson
Title : White Lies
Pages : 320
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : April 20, 2018

aboutthebook

Alexandra Inglis is a respected family doctor, trusted by her patients to keep their most intimate secrets. And if sometimes the boundaries between duty and desire blur… well, she’s only human.

But when Alex oversteps a line with Jonathan, one of her patients, she knows she’s gone too far. Jonathan is obsessive, and to get what he wants he will tear Alex’s world apart – threatening not only her career but her marriage and family too.

Soon Alex finds she’s capable of doing almost anything to keep hold of her perfect life, as it begins to spin dangerously out of her control.

mythoughts

Good grief. How to even begin to explain how White Lies made me feel? You know that game where you’re blindfolded and people spin you around and around and you’re left slightly nauseous, dizzy and completely disorientated? Yes, a bit like that.

Alex is a respected doctor, wife and mother. But when she crosses the line with one of her patients, she stands to lose everything. The story is mostly told by Alex and Jonathan but it quickly becomes obvious they both have rather different versions of the truth. Neither Alex or Jonathan came across as particularly likeable, nor could I figure out if they were reliable narrators. I found myself questioning every word they said and even now, I still find myself wondering if I have the right end of the stick.

In the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, this story is incredibly apt. An innocent gesture may very well be blown up out of all proportions and a drunken mistake can easily ruin lives. Lucy Dawson paints a a thought-provoking and vivid picture of how hard it is to defend yourself against certain allegations, especially in a case like the one involving Alex and Jonathan.

White Lies is an utterly gripping and incredibly addictive psychological thriller that kept me up half the night and left me guessing until the very last page. It’s relatable in that way that I’m sure many of us have had a cheeky glass too many and maybe ended up doing something we might not normally do. By the time you think of the consequences, it’s usually already too late.

The ultimate conclusion left me spinning and also slightly confused for a while. During the night, when yet another bout of insomnia had me staring at the ceiling, I had a Eureka moment and all the pieces fell into place. I love this, in case you didn’t know. A storyline that keeps me guessing, that has me asking lots of questions, that has my brain going around in circles with a crazy amount of thinky-thoughts and is still on my mind days after finishing the book.

I thought Lucy Dawson’s previous book The Daughter was utterly brilliant but this one is even more so. A corker of a book and one you should undoubtedly add to your TBR right now! I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.

White Lies is available for purchase!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

I’ve been writing psychological suspense novels since 2008, when my first bestseller – His Other Lover – was published. I write full time (mostly on the playroom sofa) from my home in Devon, where I live with my husband and children. Before that, I used to interview the likes of Steps and SClub7 for a living, making absolutely no use whatsoever of my psychology degree from Warwick University, but it was a lot of fun.

I’m addicted to writing about the extraordinary things that can happen to ordinary people – I like stories that jump in at the deep end, with a gasp. When readers take the time out to let me know they’ve stayed up all night because they couldn’t put the book down, it makes my day.

I really enjoy catching up with readers and always reply to emails. You can reach me at lucy@lucydawsonbooks.com. I’m also on Twitter @lucydawsonbooks and have a Facebook page at lucydawsonbooks. Alternatively you can download a free short story of mine at www.lucydawsonbooks.com or if you want to look at a lot of pictures of the beach and books that I’m reading, find me on Instagram at lucydawsonbooks.

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The Girl With No Name by Lisa Regan @Lisalregan @bookouture #blogblitz

~ noveldeelights ~ 4 Comments

Good morning and welcome to my stop on the blog blitz for The Girl With No Name by Lisa Regan! My thanks to Noelle at Bookouture!

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Author : Lisa Regan
Title : The Girl With No Name
Series : Detective Josie Quinn #2
Pages : 337
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : April 19, 2018

aboutthebook

Detective Josie Quinn is horrified when she’s called to the house of a mother who had her newborn baby snatched from her arms.

A woman caught fleeing the scene is Josie’s only lead, but when questioned it seems this mysterious girl doesn’t know who she is, where she’s from or why she is so terrified…

Is she a witness, a suspect, or the next victim?

mythoughts

The Girl With No Name is the second instalment in the Detective Josie Quinn series and what a follow-up it is! If you’ve read the first one, then I’m sure you’ll remember Misty. She’s found brutally attacked in her own home and her newborn baby has gone missing. Josie needs to put aside any and all personal differences to focus on the task at hand. However, things will take a far more sinister turn and with the mayor breathing down her neck, Josie may need to ask for help from some unexpected sources.

Denton may be a small town but when things happen, they sure happen in style. From a woman broken and battered in hospital, to a girl who apparently can’t remember who she is, to a missing baby and business men wanting to build a casino … all these various threads kept me entertained from beginning to end. Meanwhile, we also get glimpses into the trial of the Interstate Killer and some newspaper articles that seem so incredibly random, you can’t but feel they play a part somehow. Not that I could figure it out and the author kept me guessing until the answer was almost spoon-fed to me.

This plot is insanely action-packed. Forget about a slow build-up as it’s all systems go from the first page. As Josie and her team chase down leads from one location to the next and the body pile starts mounting up, I felt there was barely any time to take a breather. Never mind the characters being tired, I was exhausted myself!

Josie is as fierce as ever and despite things getting her down, she’s determined not to give up. She may have accidentally gotten the role of Chief but she convinced me that it was right for her. For now, anyway. But for me, Lieutenant Noah Fraley completely steals the show. Sympathetic, level-headed and always there by Josie’s side, he’s most definitely someone you can count on. And even though I tend to have this thing against reporters, I even warmed to Trinity this time around.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Vanishing Girls, the first book in this series, but I feel this one is even better. I do so love it when a series goes from strength to strength. The Girl With No Name is utterly gripping, a true page-turner that had me completely absorbed. I can’t wait to see where Lisa Regan takes the team next.

The Girl With No Name is available for purchase!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

Lisa Regan is an Amazon bestselling crime novelist.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Master of Education Degree from Bloomsburg University.  She is a member of Sisters In Crime, Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and daughter.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

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The Ice Swimmer by Kjell Ola Dahl @ko_dahl @orendabooks @annecater #blogtour #TheIceSwimmer

~ noveldeelights ~ 4 Comments

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Ice Swimmer by Kjell Ola Dahl! Make sure you also check out my tour buddy Rachel’s post today! My thanks to Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books and Anne Cater for the opportunity and my review copy!

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Author : Kjell Ola Dahl [translator : Don Bartlett]
Title : The Ice Swimmer
Series : Oslo Detectives #8
Pages : 276
Publisher : Orenda Books
Publication date : February 1, 2018 (ebook) | April 30, 2018 (UK Paperback)

aboutthebook

When a dead man is lifted from the freezing waters of Oslo Harbour just before Christmas, Detective Lena Stigersand’s stressful life suddenly becomes even more complicated. Not only is she dealing with a cancer scare, a stalker and an untrustworthy boyfriend, but it seems both a politician and Norway’s security services might be involved in the murder. With her trusted colleagues, Gunnarstranda and Frølich, at her side, Lena digs deep into the case and finds that it not only goes to the heart of the Norwegian establishment, but it might be rather to close to her personal life for comfort.

mythoughts

Despite the fact Kjell Ola Dahl is known as one of the godfathers of Nordic Noir and that I’ve had Faithless on my bookshelf for aeons, this is the first book I’ve read by him. While it says The Ice Swimmer is the eighth book in the Oslo Detectives series, don’t let that put you off as this reads perfectly well as a stand-alone and I never really felt I was missing out on anything.

It’s a busy day in the city of Oslo. The body of a man is lifted from the freezing waters of the harbour and a young woman has apparently taken her own life by jumping in front of a train. Things aren’t quite what they seem though. Detective Lena Stigersand is in charge of the first investigation, while her colleague Gunnarstranda looks into the second one. But Lena has a whole lot of other issues to deal with.

The Ice Swimmer is a truly cleverly plotted police procedural. What looks like a simple drowning quickly turns into a murky tale full of lies, deceit and corruption. Not only does it involve a high ranking politician, it even looks like someone close to Lena may somehow be involved. And why does it seem like someone is following her?

I must say this thrilling investigation kept me guessing throughout and it was a true delight seeing various threads come together at one point. But I also really enjoyed the glimpses into the team’s personal lives and the realistic touches, like spending long hours of boring stake-outs in the freezing cold Oslo winter.

It’s easy to see why Kjell Ola Dahl is so highly regarded in this genre. Yes, I may have stumbled over the Norwegian names a few times or gotten some characters confused with others but that’s hardly the author’s fault and it didn’t ruin my enjoyment at all. If anything, it required me to focus that little bit harder. Which you’d think would have helped me solve the case, but no. The reveals left me completely blindsided.

The Ice Swimmer is a twisty and incredibly well written story, full of suspense and intrigue and it had me glued to the pages. Of course, I must also mention the seamless translation by Don Bartlett. If you’re a fan of the Nordic Noir genre, you will undoubtedly enjoy this latest addition to the Oslo Detectives series!

The Ice Swimmer is available in ebook now!

Amazon US  | Amazon UK | Bookdepository | Kobo | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

One of the godfathers of the Nordic Noir genre, Kjell Ola Dahl was born in 1958 in Gjøvik.

He made his debut in 1993, and has since published eleven novels, the most prominent of which is a series of police procedurals cum psychological thrillers featuring investigators Gunnarstranda and Frølich.

In 2000 he won the Riverton Prize for The Last Fix and he won both the prestigious Brage and Riverton Prizes for The Courier in 2015. His work has been published in 14 countries and sold over two million copies.

He lives in Oslo.

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Drift Stumble Fall by M. Jonathan Lee @MJonathanLee @HideawayFall

~ noveldeelights ~ 5 Comments

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Author : M. Jonathan Lee
Title : Drift Stumble Fall
Pages : 310
Publisher : Hideaway Fall
Publication date : April 12, 2018

aboutthebook

Richard feels trapped in his hectic life of commitment and responsibility. From the daily mayhem of having young children, an exhausted wife and pushy in-laws who frequently outstay their welcome, Richards existence fills him with panic and resentment. The only place he can escape the dark cloud descending upon him is the bathroom, where he hides for hours on end, door locked, wondering how on earth he can escape.

Often staring out of his window, Richard enviously observes the tranquil life of Bill, his neighbour living in the bungalow across the road. From the outside, Bills world appears filled with comfort and peace. Yet underneath the apparent domestic bliss of both lives are lies, secrets, imperfections, sadness and suffering far greater than either could have imagined. Beneath the surface, a family tragedy has left Bill frozen in time and unable to move on. As he waits for a daughter who may never return, Bill watches Richards bustling family life and yearns for the joy it brings. As the two men watch each other from afar, it soon becomes apparent that other peoples lives are not always what they seem.

mythoughts

I’m sure everyone is familiar with the concept of the grass is greener on the other side. Some people will watch their friends and neighbours rather enviously, wishing for their cars or their houses, or even their lives. It’s rather human, isn’t it? To want what someone else has? But you never really know what goes around behind closed doors, do you?

Richard is not a happy camper. He feels incredibly trapped in a life he didn’t specifically choose.  Married and the father of two children, he often finds himself staring out of the window, watching his neighbour Bill and wishing for his quiet life. A life in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, full of peace and quiet and the ability to do what he wants whenever he wants to, instead of taking long baths and hiding himself away. And so Richard begins to plan his escape.

Neighbour Bill often stands by his window as well but for very different reasons. His life came to a rather abrupt stop years ago. All he’s done since then is wait, watching the world go by and his neighbours across the street. For the reader, it soon becomes apparent nothing is ever what it seems and you should always be careful what you wish for.

Drift Stumble Fall is a realistic, relatable, thought-provoking and sometimes quite emotional story about family, loss, feeling utterly trapped and never quite knowing what you have until it could be gone forever. It’s a raw, sometimes brutal but honest account of what I’m sure thousands of parents go through on a daily basis. When your children are bouncing balls of excitement and joy and you really just need a few minutes to yourself. When things about your partner start to annoy you and you wonder what you saw in them in the first place. It makes you appreciate and cherish what you have, your life and the people around you because it could all disappear in an instant.

I thoroughly enjoyed Broken Branches when it was published last year but I must say that for me, Drift Stumble Fall is even better. While this is a slow story, it held my attention throughout, despite some characters not exactly being all that likeable. But it’s beautifully written and I find I quite like the author’s writing style. It flows and feels natural and I can’t wait to read more by M. Jonathan Lee!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy!

Drift Stumble Fall is available for purchase!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Bookdepository | Kobo | Goodreads

 

Deadly Secrets by Robert Bryndza @bookouture

~ noveldeelights ~ 6 Comments

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Author : Robert Bryndza
Title : Deadly Secrets
Series : Detective Erika Foster #6
Pages : 270
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : April 13, 2018

aboutthebook

On a cold icy morning, a mother wakes to find her daughter’s blood-soaked body frozen to the road. Who would carry out such a horrific killing on the victim’s doorstep?

Straight off her last harrowing case, Detective Erika Foster is feeling fragile but determined to lead the investigation. As she sets to work, she finds reports of assaults in the same quiet South London suburb where the woman was killed. One chilling detail links them to the murder victim – they were all attacked by a figure in black wearing a gas mask.

Erika is on the hunt for a killer with a terrifying calling card. The case gets more complicated when she uncovers a tangled web of secrets surrounding the death of the beautiful young woman.

Yet just as Erika begins to piece the clues together, she is forced to confront painful memories of her past. Erika must dig deep, stay focused and find the killer. Only this time, one of her own is in terrible danger.

mythoughts

Having really enjoyed the previous book in the series, which still remains a firm favourite, I was eager to see where Robert Bryndza would take us next. With this new offering, the author returns to the formula that has made Erika Foster so popular and this series such a huge success.

A young girl is viciously murdered right on her doorstep. Marissa Lewis had her finger in lots of different pies and was hiding a ton of secrets. But who would want her dead? As Erika Foster and her team investigate the case, they quickly find out more women have been assaulted in the area and they all have one frightening detail in common : the attacker wore a gas mask.

The investigation is, as always, gripping and compelling. Robert Bryndza knows how to build up the tension and keep the reader guessing. Deadly Secrets also delves a bit deeper into the team’s personal lives. Erika has to face the past, there are some great domestic scenes involving Moss, and Peterson has a secret of his own. This allows some team members to step a bit more into the spotlight which is never a bad thing.

I absolutely flew through this book, utterly surprised when I reached the end and realised my afternoon was behind me. Deadly Secrets is another great addition to what has been a hugely solid series from the beginning. You might expect a long-running series to lose its lustre after a while, but this one shows no signs up letting up any time soon. If you’re a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed!

Deadly Secrets is published on April 13th and is available for pre-order!

Amazon US  | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

The Stranger by Kate Riordan @KateRiordanUK @JennyPlatt90 @MichaelJBooks #blogtour

~ noveldeelights ~ 5 Comments

I’m absolutely delighted to host a stop on the blog tour The Stranger by Kate Riordan today! My thanks to Jenny Platt at Michael Joseph for the invitation and the beautiful review copy!

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Author : Kate Riordan
Title : The Stranger
Pages : 320
Publisher : Michael Joseph / Penguin
Publication date : March 22, 2018

aboutthebook

Cornwall, 1940.

In the hushed hours of the night a woman is taken by the sea.

Was it a tragic accident? Or should the residents of Penhallow have been more careful about whom they invited in?

In the midst of war three women arrive seeking safety at Penhallow Hall.

Each is looking to escape her past.

But one of them is not there by choice.

As the threat of invasion mounts and the nightly blackouts feel longer and longer, tensions between the close-knit residents rise until dark secrets start to surface.

And no one can predict what their neighbour is capable of . . .

In a house full of strangers, who do you trust?

mythoughts

Oh, what a wonderful novel this is. This is one of those stories that remind me why I love this genre as much as I do. As soon as I started reading, I knew I was in for a treat and I quickly found myself utterly immersed.

In 1940’S Cornwall, the war still seems to be pretty far off. Three women arrive at Penhallow Hall. Eleanor and her mother have opened the doors of their house to Rose, Diana and Jane who will work there as Land Girls, planting and growing vegetables to help out in the war effort. But tricky pasts and secrets will lead to a dramatic conclusion and their lives will be changed forever.

This story oozes atmosphere and has a fantastic cast of complex characters that you’ll either root for or want to slap in the face. Especially Diana Devlin, whom I accidentally kept calling devil in my head, which seemed rather apt at times. She’s quite the troubled young lady with a disturbing past and she’s bored. So very, very bored. Her need to liven things up just a little bit may just have consequences for innocent bystanders. Rose spent a glorious summer in Cornwall when she was sixteen. For various reasons, that period in her life has always stayed with her. Can she possibly recapture the spirit of the girl she used to be?

There’s a threatening, almost claustrophobic vibe haunting the rooms of Penhallow Hall, that feeling of something not being quite right. I found that to be the perfect contrast with the glorious descriptions of the Cornwall landscape. Kate Riordan’s writing is incredibly beautiful and pulled me right in. I could hear and smell the ocean, feel the sun beating down on my back and if Cornwall wasn’t already on my list of places to visit one day, it sure would be now.

From the first chapter, it’s obvious a mystery needs to be solved but as it turns out, that’s not the only one. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story of first loves, loss and grief, secrets and family. This is only the second novel I’ve read by Kate Riordan and it has left me wanting more so I’ll be catching up on her other books and very much look forward to whatever she comes up with next!

The Stranger is available for purchase!

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Bookdepository | Kobo | Wordery | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

Kate Riordan is a British writer and journalist. After working on staff at the Guardian and Time Out London, she left the capital and moved to the Cotswolds in order to concentrate on writing novels. Published by Penguin, HarperCollins and Heyne, she’s currently writing her fifth book.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

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Lying to You by Amanda Reynolds @amandareynoldsj @Wildfirebks @annecater #blogtour #RandomThingsTours

~ noveldeelights ~ 4 Comments

Delighted to welcome you all to the final stop of the blog tour for Lying to You by Amanda Reynolds! My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours and the publisher for the opportunity and the review copy.

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Author : Amanda Reynolds
Title : Lying to You
Pages : 368
Publisher : Wildfire
Publication date : April 1, 2018 (ebook)

aboutthebook

When Jess Tidy was Mark Winter’s student, she made an accusation that ultimately saw him sentenced to three years in prison. A jury found him guilty, but he always maintained his innocence. Now, Jess’s mother’s death has brought her back to the village where she grew up, and where Mark still lives with his wife. And the truth about that night ten years ago which nearly destroyed them both is finally going to come out.

mythoughts

Goodness gracious me, what a sticky web of lies and deceit this story is!

When Jess Tidy was a teenager, she made an accusation against her teacher, Mark Winter. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout, Mark was sent to prison. Ten years later, Jess returns home to attend the funeral of her mother. Home is the village where she grew up but also, the village where Mark still lives with his wife and daughter. Will the truth about what happened all those years ago finally be revealed?

The story alternates between Jess and Karen, Mark’s wife and the chapters are interspersed with snippets from counselling sessions Jess has attended and excerpts from a book Mark was trying to write. Suffice to say that none of these characters, while realistic and believable, are particularly likeable and I often found myself wondering how reliable their version of the truth was. Jess is obviously a very troubled young woman with a rather disturbing background and while Karen may have deserved some sympathy for her situation, for some reason I found it quite hard to muster any up.

The fall-out from whatever event occurred between Jess and Mark has an effect on everyone around them. This adds a truly thought-provoking layer to the story. How well do you really know someone? Why would a woman stand by her husband when he has been accused of something horrible? How does something like this affect the life of his own daughter? I admit that when stories like these pop up in the newspaper, these aren’t exactly the people I’ll be thinking of.

This is one of those character-driven slow burners, where the scene is set and the characters are introduced. Nevertheless, I personally thought it was utterly gripping from the start and found myself turning the pages faster as the truth was slowly being revealed. As topics go, this isn’t exactly an easy one to deal with but I feel the author tackled it brilliantly and has delivered a well-written and compelling story.

This is my first introduction to Amanda Reynolds. I’ve had her debut Close to Me on my TBR pile since it was published but still haven’t gotten around to reading it. If that one was anything like this one, I’ve been missing out and I should rectify that error soonish. Thoroughly enjoyed this psychological drama and I’m definitely keeping my eye on this author in future!

Lying to You is available in ebook format now! The paperback will be published in July.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

Amanda Reynolds debut novel, Close To Me was published in 2017 by Wildfire (Headline) and Quercus US. Close To Me was an Amazon Kindle bestseller.

Her second psychological suspense, Lying To You, is published in April 2018.

Amanda lives in the English countryside with her family.

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88° North by J.F. Kirwan @kirwanjf @rararesources #blogtour

~ noveldeelights ~ 14 Comments

Such a pleasure to welcome you all to my stop on the blog tour for 88° North by J.F. Kirwan! My thanks to J.F. Kirwan, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity and to the publisher for my review copy.

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Author : J.F. Kirwan
Title : 88° North
Series : Nadia Laksheva #3
Pages : 384
Publisher : HQ Digital
Publication date : December 14, 2017

aboutthebook

The deadliest kind of assassin is one who is already dying…

As the radiation poisoning that Nadia Laksheva was exposed to in Chernobyl takes hold of her body, she knows she has mere weeks to live. But Salamander, the terrorist who murdered her father and sister has a deadly new plan to ‘make the sky bleed’. Nadia is determined to stop him again, even if it is the last thing she ever does…

The only clue she has are the coordinates 88˚ North, a ridge in the Arctic right and one of the largest oil fields in the world, three thousand metres below the ice. If Salamander takes hold of the oil field, he could change the climate of the whole planet for generations to come.

But can Nadia stop him before her own time runs out?

mythoughts

88° North is the third and final instalment in the Nadia Laksheva spy series and what an amazing ride it’s been. This review may be a tad on the vague side as I desperately try to avoid spoiling anyone for events that happened in the previous books. Personally, I don’t feel you should treat this one as a stand-alone. While some things are explained and will give you a good feel of the background story, I think you should read the entire series to really understand where Nadia is coming from and why she’s so determined to stop Salamander. This isn’t just about making sure a terrorist doesn’t ruin the planet. It’s also personal.

Throughout the series, I sometimes found Nadia quite hard to warm to but I never ceased to admire her sheer determination in doing what was necessary. Even if it went against her own principles. In 88° North, she tries to restore a balance that was screwed up, to see the smaller picture instead of the bigger picture, to do a kind act and hope for some kind of ripple effect and just like that, I liked her that little bit more.

But the biggest threat is of course Salamander, who will stop at nothing and his next plan is to “make the sky bleed”. True to form, this spy thriller takes us to various exotic places around the world including Russia, Hong Kong and The Sudan. One word : camels! As the team is unwillingly split up in their pursuit of Salamander, they realise they are merely pawns in his game. Like a true chess master, Salamander is always several steps ahead and time is running out. Not only for the world, but for Nadia as well.

Full of tension, thrills and harrowing moments, 88° North is the perfect conclusion to this series. Some characters even managed to surprise me and the tense knife fights had me on the edge of my seat. What I truly liked is that you’re never really sure who will survive. The author has no qualms in killing off what could be important characters and I always like it when I’m left guessing as to who will make it out alive.

While it’s always sad to see a series come to an end, I feel J.F. Kirwan wrapped things up brilliantly. The exciting arc that runs throughout the three books had me hooked and if you like your well-paced and action-packed spy thrillers, I have no doubt you will thoroughly enjoy this series! I look forward to whatever J.F. Kirwan comes up with next!

88° North is available from the links below. While there, why not pick up the other two books as well.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Kobo | Goodreads

abouttheauthor

J. F. Kirwan is the author of the Nadia Laksheva thriller series for HarperCollins. Having worked in accident investigation and prevention in nuclear, offshore oil and gas and aviation sectors, he uses his experience of how accidents initially build slowly, then race towards a climax, to plot his novels. An instructor in both scuba diving and martial arts, he travels extensively all over the world, and loves to set his novels in exotic locations. He is also an insomniac who writes in the dead of night. His favourite authors include Lee Child, David Baldacci and Andy McNab.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Website

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