BLOG TOUR: ‘FRAMED’ BY GAIL MEATH

BLOG TOUR #Framed by @gailmeathauthor
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THANKS TO @zooloosbooktours for my copy and spot on the blog tour today!
THE BLURB:
Things get pretty sticky for PI Jax Diamond and his courageous canine partner, Ace, when their best friend, a cop, is framed for murder. And not just anyone’s murder. The victim is the fiancée of the most notorious gangster in the city, Orin Marino, Jax’s worst enemy.

Laura Graystone, the budding Broadway Star and Jax’s new squeeze, proves to be an ingenious partner as they sift through clues trying to find the real murderer. But when Jax is pinched for another crime, Laura and Ace are forced to go undercover.

Hang on to your seat as Jax, Laura and Ace take you on another crazy, whodunit ride during the Roaring Twenties. Where no one is who they seem, and those who do, aren’t. Anything goes during an era of fun and frolic, song and dance, speakeasies, gangsters, bootlegging and bribes.
MY REVIEW:
I didn’t read the first book in the series, but the plot sounded right up my street so I had to give it a whirl!
I think reading the first book will have helped know the characters’ personalities and relationships between each other, as I felt the start was a little jarring for me trying to get everyone straight in my head.
The plot was fantastic though, and I was gripped throughout once I had done that. Having a dog, Ace, as a character was inspired. As a person obsessed with dogs, this was a fantastic touch and I loved him! I want to give an extra star just for that!
Now I have read the book and know the characters, I will definitely want to read the next book in the series, if there is one!

BLOG TOUR: AUDIOBOOK REVIEW OF ‘CRAGSIDE’ BY M J PORTER

curlingupwithacoffeeandakindle #BlogTour #AudiobookReview #Cragside by @m_j_porter

Thanks to Love Books Tours for my audio copy and spot on the tour!
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THE BLURB:
From the author of The Erdington Mysteries, a classic 1930s murder mystery house party.

Lady Merryweather has had a shocking year. Apprehended for the murder of her husband the year before, and only recently released, she hopes a trip away from London will allow her to grieve. The isolated, but much loved, Cragside Estate in North Northumberland, home of her friends, Lord and Lady Bradbury, holds special memories for her.

But, no sooner has she arrived than the body of one of the guests is found on the estate, and suspicion immediately turns on her. Perhaps, there are no friendships to be found here, after all.

Released, due to a lack of evidence, Lady Ella returns to Cragside only to discover a second murder has taken place in her absence, and one she can’t possibly have committed.

Quickly realising that these new murders must be related to that of her beloved husband, Lady Merryweather sets out to solve the crime, once and for all. But there are many who don’t want her to succeed, and as the number of murder victims increases, the possibility that she might well be the next victim, can’t be ignored.

Journey to the 1930s Cragside Estate, to a period house-party where no one is truly safe, and the estate is just as deadly as the people.

MY REVIEW:
I loved this audiobook!
This story took me straight into the 1930s and was extremely authentic in its descriptions of the period. The language, the scenes, the ‘props’ read like an Agatha Christie novel!
The plot was gripping throughout and I was constantly guessing the outcome as different clues were revealed. I did find it difficult to distinguish the characters from each other and as it was an audiobook a cast list wouldn’t have helped me here. Perhaps I would have preferred fewer characters? But I loved their connections with each other so in a way I’m glad there were many people!
The narrator was simply superb, her voice fitted her character incredibly well and she acted the part wonderfully.

BLOG TOUR: ‘LONG LOST GIRL’ BY JILL CHILDS

BlogTour #BooksOnTour #LongLostGirl by #JillChilds

Thanks to @bookouture for my copy and the spot on the tour!
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THE BLURB:
There isn’t a day I don’t think of you, my poor lost girl. I remember the sweet, milky smell of your skin, the shape of your lips. You were perfect, lying there in my arms, as tiny as a bird and just as weightless. Oh, my love, come back to me. Find me… before it’s too late.

When three-year-old Sara disappeared from their lives, it tore the Turner family apart. Years later, they are still startling at every knock, convinced it is Sara at the door. But the only trace of the cherished little girl is a fading photo in the hall, a single white knitted baby shoe tucked behind the frame.

Then, one day, as they pick at sandwiches in a crowded local café, a beautiful girl approaches, claiming to be Sara. With her wide green eyes and soft, straight hair, could she really be their long-lost girl? But where has she been all this time, and what happened to stop her from coming home?

Soon, Sara is turning up for Sunday lunch, and then moving her things into the little bedroom upstairs. But as Sara makes herself at home, not everyone is happy that she’s back in their lives once more. Long-held secrets are threatening to surface, and someone in this tight-knit family doesn’t want them to be told…

A gripping and emotional read about three generations of family secrets. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher won’t be able to put this book down.

MY REVIEW:
This is my first book by Childs, and would certainly encourage me to pick up another of her novels!
I am a little obsessed with missing people novels and I am always on the lookout for another one to recommend!
I think this was marketed as more of a womens/ literary fiction book rather than a thriller, which I think would have suited the plot a little better. It was a mystery and there were lots of secrets revealed, but I think Childs is a much more emotional, character-driven writer, and this came across well. The intrigue was kept throughout, but I do prefer more plot-driven books with premises like this.
I would definitely read more books by Childs on the back of this

BLOG TOUR: ‘UNTIL LEAVES FALL IN PARIS’ BY SARAH SUNDIN

curlingupwithacoffeeandakindle #BlogTour #UntilLeavesFallInParis by @sarahsundinauthor
With thanks to @lovebookstours for my copy and spot on the tour!
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THE BLURB:
When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation—which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?

MY REVIEW:
This is a book filled with emotion. A book about books is sure to get me enthralled at the very start, and I loved the passion through the characters and the way Sundin writes about the bookshop made my heart melt.
The characters Lucie and Paul are amazing and I loved reading about their relationship as it developed.
I hoped a little more ‘wow’ factor though. This is a highly saturated genre and I feel there needs to be memorable stories as well as the characters to truly make an impact in the WW2 genre.

BLOG TOUR: ‘MAKE ME DISAPPEAR’ BY JESSICA PAYNE

BlogTour #MakeMeDisappear by @jessicapayne.writer

Thanks to @bookouture for my copy and my spot on the tour of this amazing read!
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THE BLURB:
By the time I realized the truth about Daniel it was too late. But the truth about me? He never saw that coming…

Dr Daniel Ashcroft was perfect: handsome, romantic, protective. I thought I was so lucky.

But then I heard the rumors about his previous girlfriend, that she had vanished without a trace. That’s when I found the cameras in my apartment.

I was trapped. Daniel made it clear I couldn’t leave him, not without risking everyone I loved. I had to disappear, so I arranged my own kidnapping.

I should have known Daniel would never let me get away that easily. But he could never have predicted what I’d do next…

Make Me Disappear is a brilliantly twisty psychological thriller guaranteed to keep you up all night. Fans of The Wife Between Us, Gone Girl and The Couple Next Door will find it impossible to put down.

MY REVIEW:
As if this is a debut thriller! I am absolutely astounded this is a debut, because it is truly exceptional. It has everything a thriller fan wants in a novel- strong characters (and these are seriously intense and creepy) a protaganist you root for, and the fast pace and twists to keep you reading into the night. The thrills through this book are crazy. A little (a lot) messed-up crazy, but also crazy-good.
I adored this, and I will now read anything Jessica Payne writes. She is a thriller writer to watch.
Thrilling read.

5 OUT OF 5 STARS!

COVER REVEAL: IMMORTAL ORIGINS- BOOK 1 IN THE DESIRE CARD SERIES

#CoverReveal#ImmoralOrigins by @leematthewgoldberg
Today I’m thrilled to support the cover reveal for Immoral Origins, book one in the #DesireCard series! Thanks to @lorihettler.tnbbc for having me!
Here’s the blurb and it sounds IMMENSE:
New York City, 1978. Disco and mobsters, gritty streets, needle parks and graffiti on the subways. Jake Barnum lives in Hell’s Kitchen, a petty thief selling hot coats with his buddy Maggs to make ends to meet and help his sick kid brother Emile. At a Halloween party downtown, he meets a woman with a Marilyn Monroe mask that works for an organization called The Desire Card, an underground operation promising its exclusive clients “Any Wish Fulfilled for the Right Price.” Its members all wear lifelike masks of old movie stars to remain incognito, and Jake is instantly taken with its leader, Clark Gable, who becomes a pseudo father but is a sociopath at heart. Jake has always thought of himself as Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the poor (i.e. himself), so he becomes Errol Flynn. As he falls in with the Card and in love with Marilyn, the money rolls in but the wishes become more and more suspect, even leading to murder.

The first book in the Desire Card series, Immoral Origins is a pulse-pounding thriller that asks how far we will shed our morals to help the ones we love and an origin story that will pick up in the present time with its sequel Prey No More, once Gable has taken his deceptive organization to an elite, international status. The books all following those indebted to this sinister organization, where the actual price is the cost of one’s soul.
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See, told you it sounded good!

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: ‘THE GIRL FROM THE SEA’ BY SHALINI BOLAND

AudiobookReview #TheGirlFromTheSea by @shaboland @bookouture

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Audiobook review
I’ve read a few of books by author Shalini Boland, and I have really enjoyed them.
This was a great audiobook, very intrigiung to start with and I loved the big reveal at the end! The middle section didn’t hold my interest as much, but this is a well constructed and clever thriller that is definitely recommended. The timeframes did throw me off the flow at times, but I can definitely appreciate the reasons it was displayed this way, now that I have seen the conclusion.
The narrator Katie Villa was superb, and portrayed the tension and emotion extremely well. She was very easy to listen to, and I would definitely listen to more of her work in the future.
Overall a great audiobook.

BLOG TOUR: ‘WHAT HAPPENS IN GREECE’ BY SUE ROBERTS

Huge thanks to Bookouture for my spot on the blog tour and copy of this lovely book!

THE BLURB:

Buying a rundown cottage in Greece. A crazy, wine-fuelled idea, or the best decision she’s ever made?

Charlotte takes in the scene. To the left, her (ex?) fiancé’s retreating back as he runs back to civilisation; in front, the crumbling Greek island farmhouse she thought was their shared dream; and just below, a goat munching merrily on her sunhat…

At first, Jamie had leapt at Charlotte’s idea to permanently swap drizzly Chester for sun-drenched Crete. Now it looks like she’ll be living this dream alone. Devastated but determined, she rolls up her sleeves and gets to work turning the ramshackle house into her forever home. At least the local community welcomes her with open arms, including sexy restaurant-owner-slash-handyman, Darius.

Taking a sledgehammer to her old life, and snacking on homemade honey cake on her breaks, Charlotte begins to see the promise of a future without Jamie. But on a trip back home, he suddenly appears, wanting her back. Faced with a choice between the first love who broke her heart and the gorgeous Greek man who has been putting it back together, how will Charlotte choose where she truly belongs?

MY REVIEW:

I really enjoyed this one, my first book by Sue Roberts.
This was read during my Bed And Book time, a light hearted read that helps to ease me to sleep away from the darkness of my thrillers during the day!
The first thing that drew me to the book was the setting at the start of the book. I also live in Chester so I loved seeing the references to the River Dee and such like. I could picture every scene in remarkable clarity!
When Charlie ups sticks to Crete, Roberts does a wonderful job of place setting, and her descriptions made me feel like I was there, and I have never before visited so I had no point of reference! Her descriptions of the food in Crete were fantastic, and I’d bet Roberts is a good cook by the way she describes the food.
The writing is okay, and very easy to read. Perfect for my evening read book.

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BLOG TOUR: THE YOUNGLINGS: SHADOWS & MAGIC (BOOK 1) BY HELENA M CRAGGS

BlogTour #theyounglingsshadowsandmagic

by @craggshm

AD #Gifted #LoveBooksTours

Thank you @lovebookstours for my copy and spot on the tour for this amazing YA Fantasy read!
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THE BLURB:
A captivating and hilarious paranormal fantasy! After finding out his father is a demon king, Quinn Carter becomes embroiled in a supernatural world — and when paranormal problems spill over into the mortal realm, he and his supernatural team must devise a way to stop it…
MY REVIEW:
Absolutely superb.
This was a fantastic addition to the fantasy genre. Fantastic fantasy!
I am always rather apprehensive to reading fantasy as I am fairly new to the genre, and I need the story to be really accessible for me to follow. This was perfectly suited to my needs. There is something for everyone- demons, vampires, witches and the list goes on.
The characters Quinn and Eve are fabulous, so likeable and their chemistry just oozes out of the kindle.
I would have loved to read this in my teens, as I think it would have given me a much earlier introduction to fantasy books! I am loving having the opportunity to read books I may never have read. Books like this make me grateful for the blog tours I am invited to.
So excited to read the next installment in what is a fabulous series.
I have just received my GORGEOUS delivery of Book 2 #Fire&Magic so look out for my review on 5th July!

BOOK REVIEW: ‘FIND THE GIRL’ BY HELEN PHIFER

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THE BLURB:
The tent door flutters in the warm breeze, opening towards the silent woods beyond. A silk eye mask lies on top of the empty sleeping bag, blood-red spots ruining the cream fabric…

When a woman disappears from Forest Pines campsite, Detective Morgan Brookes scrambles a search party. Sara Fletcher has never missed a lunch date with her best friend and when Morgan finds a large rip in Sara’s tent, she knows that something terrible must have happened. About to lose hope after hours combing through the acres of dense forest, the excited bark of a tracker dog leads Morgan to female remains, partially covered by leaves and dirt – but the bones don’t belong to Sara.

Morgan trawls through missing persons files until she finds three cold cases with chilling similarities – three other victims dating back twenty years who were taken from campsites while they slept, by a killer the police called The Travelling Man. The post-mortems indicate he kept them alive for 72 hours, meaning every second is crucial to find Sara alive.

Morgan’s team is terrified that this twisted murderer has returned. But Morgan also can’t ignore the fact that a merciless killer from her own past has recently escaped from prison… Could they be chasing the wrong man? If she’s correct, how deep will she have to dig to save Sara and other innocent women like her before time runs out for them all?

A completely unputdownable, heart-in-your-mouth crime thriller. Fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Rachel Abbott will be glued to the page!
MY REVIEW:
I adore this series, and I was so looking forward to reading the next installment.
I was hooked from the start, the beginning scenes gave me chills and palpitations!
As the story progressed, my attention did wane a little, certainly more than I am used to with this series, but I think this was more about my own concentration than the book itself.
The characters are becoming like old friends, and this is why I love reading strong book series.
I have already received an ARC of the next book Sleeping Dolls which I may start immediately…