Thursday, January 31, 2019

BLOG TOUR - The Second Wife


Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for The Second Wife by Sheryl Browne.

DESCRIPTION:
She made her bed. You’ll lie in it. 

Rebecca only wanted to help out – to be kind. Richard seemed so alone after his wife, Nicole, died, and Rebecca wanted to make sure he knew he had someone to rely on.

But now she’s in Nicole’s immaculate house. Drinking from her favourite crystal wine glass. Keeping shoes in her orderly closet. Comforting her sweet and grieving step-daughter. It feels like Rebecca is living another woman’s life.

And as she gets to know the neighbours, Rebecca hears stories that make her wonder: was free-spirited Nicole happy in this perfect life, or did she feel trapped? Did she feel, as Rebecca is beginning to, that something wasn’t quite right?

The book everyone’s talking about! If you loved The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us and The Girl Before, you’ll be totally gripped and unable to put down this twisty page-turning psychological thriller.

Buy Links
Amazon: http://geni.us/B07KD6YS3RSocial
iBookstore: http://ow.ly/fr8r30ntsU3
Kobo: http://ow.ly/Jjxw30ntsSx
Googleplay: http://ow.ly/apNW30ntsRX


Title:   The Second Wife
Author:  Sheryl Browne
Genre:   Psychological Suspense
Publisher:   Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  347
Date of Publication:  January 29, 2018
My Rating:  5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Rebecca and Nicole were the best of friends and now Nicole is dead. It was ruled a suicide. When Rebecca gets a call from Nicole's widower, she decides to assist him in sorting through Nicole's things. Rebecca promptly steps into Nicole's shoes. After all, they were best friends. Nicole would have wanted Rebecca, and Richard, to be happy. Is this what Rebecca really wants or does she have another motive?

Rebecca is not only re-reading Nicole's  last letters to her, but she is carefully perusing them. Meanwhile, Richard's daughter Olivia is interfering at every moment Richard and Rebecca try and spend time together. This is nothing new for Olivia. As it turns it, she treated Nicole the same way.

This chilling story is delivered in multiple points of view and timelines. Admittedly, I had to pay close attention to sort out Rebecca and Nicole. The reason why? Richard treated both women the same way. In all honesty, Richard is truly despicable. Rebecca is determined to get behind the fact about Rebecca's death. If indeed she committed suicide, would those letters reveal clues as to why?

I devoured The Affair by Sheryl Browne, so when I saw this book come up I just had to grab it. Smart move that. This read was spectacular. As if the characters weren't compelling, the twists and turns certainly were, and the conclusion all but threw me. For readers of intense psychological thrillers think, The Ex-Wife by Jess Ryder and The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, brings you powerful psychological thriller and contemporary fiction.  A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and previously writing for award winning Choc Lit, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.

So why does Sheryl write in two genres? Quoting E. L. Doctorow, Sheryl says: “Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights…” This she thinks sums up a writer’s journey, you never quite know where you are going until you get there. You might start with an outline, but a strong character will always divert from the plot. If Sheryl’s not sure where a character is going, she simply has to trust him to show her the way. Plus, according to one reviewer, she also has a scary insight into the mind of a psychopath. 

To find out more about Sheryl’s novels, go to www.facebook.com/SherylBrowne.Author/ or follow @SherylBrowne on Twitter. 

To find out more about Sheryl, go to www.sherylbrowne.com.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

BLOG TOUR - Duchess by Deception


Today is my day for the Blog Tour for Duchess by Deception by Marie Force.

Purchase links:
eBook: 
Amazon: http://geni.us/dbdamz
Apple: http://geni.us/dbdibooks
Nook: http://geni.us/dbdnook
Kobo: http://geni.us/dbdkobo
Google: http://geni.us/dbdgoogle

Buy in Print: 
Amazon: http://geni.us/dbdamzprt
Barnes & Noble: http://geni.us/dbdbnprt
Books-a-Million: http://geni.us/dbdbam
Chapters Indigo: http://geni.us/dbdchapters
Indie Bound: http://geni.us/dbdib

Listen to an Audio Sample: http://geni.us/dbd1audsample

Audible: http://geni.us/dbd1aud 



Title:   Duchess by Deception
Author:  Marie Force
Series:  Guilded #1
Genre:   Historical Romance
Publisher:   Zebra
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  320
Date of Publication:  January 29, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
In New York Times bestselling author Marie Force’s dazzling historical romance debut, the clock is ticking for a wealthy Duke who must marry by his thirtieth birthday—or lose his title...

Derek Eagan, the dashing Duke of Westwood, is well aware of his looming deadline. But weary of tiresome debutantes, he seeks a respite at his country home in Essex—and encounters a man digging on his property. Except he’s not a man. He’s a very lovely woman. Who suddenly faints at his feet.

Catherine McCabe’s disdain for the aristocracy has already led her to flee an arranged marriage with a boorish Viscount. The last thing she wants is to be waylaid in a Duke’s home. Yet, she is compelled to stay by the handsome, thoughtful man who introduces himself as the Duke’s estate manager.

Derek realizes two things immediately: he is captivated by her delicate beauty, and to figure out what she was up to, Catherine must not know he is the Duke. But as they fall passionately in love, Derek’s lie spins out of control. Will their bond survive his deception, not to mention the scorned Viscount’s pursuit? Most important, can Catherine fall in love all over again—this time with the Duke?


MY THOUGHTS:

Derek Egan, Duke of Westwood, is about to turn thirty, and there is the unfortunate stipulation that he must marry before his next birthday. If he does not marry, he forfeits his title as well as his inheritance. Meanwhile, Derek discovers a woman on his property in Essex. She is feverish and he takes her in with hopes of saving her life. She is mostly unconscious that first night , and then Derek makes the choice to not tell her of his title. He instructs his staff to do the same.

Catherine has a single purpose which explains why she was on the property of the Duke of Westwood. However, she is totally unaware that the man who announces himself as Jack Bancroft, estate manager, is actually the Duke. Catherine reveals to “Jack” that she is on the run due to a violent man her father plans on marrying her off to. 

From the moment their eyes met Catherine and Derek were smitten with one another. Will the man pursing her locate Catherine? What’s more, how long will Derek keep his true identity and need to marry a secret from her? No doubt these revelations will bring angst to her and may just color her newfound feelings towards him. 

Duchess by Deception is a love match of two people that found one another at the perfect time in their lives. Danger ratchets up when the man pursuing Catherine gets too close and Derek shows his protective nature. They marry without her knowing he is the Duke. Their story is sexy, warm and tender. There was an enjoyable side story with his cousin Simon and her sister Madeleine.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is Marie Force's first historical romance, and that is being published now! I think something that was written years ago that brings in such a romance as well as the turn of the century technology that was being developed will go far in the hands of other readers. As always, I am definitely a fan of this prolific author's work.

Many thanks to Marie Force, Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception

Altogether, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction. 

Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news. 

Join Marie's mailing list for news about new books and upcoming appearances in your area. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter @marieforce and on Instagram. Join one of Marie's many reader groups. Contact Marie at marie@marieforce.com.



Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Review - Three Little Words

Title:   Three Little Words
Author:  Jenny Holiday
Series:  Bridesmaids Behaving Badly #3
Genre:   Romance
Publisher:   Forever
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  384
Date of Publication:  January 29, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
Gia Gallo is officially in bridesmaid hell. Stranded in New York with her best friend's wedding dress, Gia has six days to make it to Florida in time for the ceremony. And oh-so-charming best man Bennett Buchanan has taken the last available rental car. Looks like she's in for one long road trip with the sexiest - and most irritating - Southern gentleman she's ever met...

Bennett's pretty sure that if there was ever a woman to break his "no flings" rule, Gia would be it. Sure, she's stubborn. She's also funny, smart, and the attraction between them is getting hotter with every state line they cross. While Bennett doesn't do casual, Gia doesn't do "relationships." But if they break the rules, this unlikely pair might discover that their impromptu road trip could turn out to be the best ride of their lives.


MY THOUGHTS:

Gia Gallo is beyond incensed and concerned. Due to weather conditions, she is stranded to New York on the way to her best friend’s wedding. What’s worse is she has the wedding dress. Time is definitely of the essence. Six days is all she has. So, when best man Bennett Buchanan suggests getting a rental car and making the drive together, she feels she has no choice but to accept. 

Bennett is definitely attracted to the fiery Gia, but he has a strict rule about not engaging in flings. This is pretty contrary to what we normally see in these romance novels. Unfortunately, the longer they drive, and the more they get to know one another, the more Bennett is forced to fight his growing desire for Gia. 

Gia is a very successful model. She has had a problem dealing with a lack of self-confidence and anxiety. She is obviously weight-conscience. And, she wonders if she is aging out as she approaches the age of thirty. I found her love and appreciation of food sincerely touching because society proves that diet is everything in the cut-throat field. Gia finds her sudden love of good food contrary with her need to stay fit. 

Bennett was the ideal hero. Bennett become a exceptional chef.  His past was devastating. But it is the man he is now that really touched my heart. Sadly, his issues with his family have been very hard on him. He cares for the homeless, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. It is his future goals as a chef and restaurant owner that truly made me misty. 

Three Little Words is the final book in the Bridesmaids Behaving Badly series. Although I do wish I read the previous books in the series, this one did well as a standalone. It was a touching read that I was able to enjoy in one sitting.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenny Holiday was always a reader, probably because she was lucky enough to have a children’s librarian for a mom. Growing up in Minnesota, she used to read in a willow tree in the backyard, rigging up a canvas bag that could be raised and lowered with tied-together jump ropes, thus allowing hands-free climbing and the transportation of books and snacks.

She started writing in fourth grade, when her awesome hippie teacher, between sessions of Peter Paul and Mary singing and anti-nuclear power plant letter writing, gave the kids notebooks and told them to write short stories. Most of Jenny’s featured a serial killer who managed to murder everyone except her and her mom. There were also poltergeist and alien invasions. She showed early promise as a romance writer, though, because nearly every story ended with a happy ending: fictional Jenny woke up to find that the story had all been a dream, and that her best friend, father, and sister had not, in fact, been axe-murdered.

From that time on, she was always writing, often in her diary, where she liked to decorate her declarations of existential angst with nail polish teardrops. Eventually she channeled her penchant for scribbling into a more useful format and became the editor of her high school newspaper, where she wrote impassioned editorials against the school’s controversial new “no hats” policy. She even helped start an underground newspaper that lasted all of one issue. (It turned out that fighting censorship and The Man was less fun when it involved actual work and not just driving around in a van swooning over Christian Slater a la Pump Up the Volume.)

After college, Jenny moved to Toronto, Canada, for grad school. After picking up a PhD in urban geography, she became a professional writer. Her favorite and longest gig was promoting research at a major university, which allowed her to become an armchair astronomer/historian/particle physicist, depending on the day. After a decade of that, she decided to try her hand again at happy endings—minus the bloodbaths. “How hard can it be?” she thought? Ha. Ha ha ha ha ha. Ha. Yeah, turns out it was super hard. But after lots of rejection and an embarrassingly bad manuscript in which the hero and heroine, if one could judge by their wild and unmotivated emotional swings, clearly had personality disorders, she finally started to get the hang of it. She has published contemporary, historical, and new adult romance novels featuring both straight and gay characters and is a USA Today bestselling and RITA-nominated author.

When she’s not writing, Jenny likes to ride her bike, hang out with her family, and throw theme parties. A member of the House of Slytherin, she lives in London, Ontario.

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Review - Judgment

Title:   Judgment
Author:  Joseph Finder
Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers
Publisher:   Penguin Group Dutton
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  400
Date of Publication:  January 29, 2019
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
New York Times bestselling author Joseph Finder returns with an explosive new thriller about a female judge and the one personal misstep that could lead to her--and her family's--undoing.

It was nothing more than a one-night stand. Juliana Brody, a judge in the Superior Court of Massachusetts, is rumored to be in consideration for the federal circuit, maybe someday the highest court in the land. At a conference in a Chicago hotel, she meets a gentle, vulnerable man and in a moment of weakness has an unforgettable night with him. They part with an explicit understanding that this must never happen again.

But back home in Boston, it becomes clear that this was no random encounter. The man from Chicago proves to have an integral role in a case she's presiding over--a sex-discrimination case that's received national attention. Juliana discovers that she's been entrapped, her night of infidelity captured on video. Strings are being pulled in high places, a terrifying unfolding conspiracy that will turn her life upside down.  But soon it becomes clear that personal humiliation, even the possible destruction of her career, are the least of her concerns, as her own life and the lives of her family are put in mortal jeopardy. 

In the end, turning the tables on her adversaries will require her to be as ruthless as they are. 


MY THOUGHTS:

Judge Juliana Brody made a decision that would most certainly threaten her judgeship, family and her very life. While away at a conference, Juliana makes the errant decision to sleep with someone. Once in a lifetime. They will put it behind them. Not so. 

Back on the bench, Juliana has a difficult case ahead of her. She is presiding over a sex-discrimination case. This case has garnered national attention. What’s more is that Juliana has been set up. The man that she had the one-night stand  with shows up in her courtroom making the most unreasonable demands. Make a certain decision in her current case, or a video of their sex-filled night will be released everywhere. It is not just the man she had an affair with has something against her, what Juliana has to be aware off is that strings are being pulled that could bring everything crashing down. 

Something stinks at a very high level. People are dying. Is Juliana safe? What of her family? No doubt her judgeship pales in comparison to those very people that are close to her heart. Other than here glaring indiscretion, Juliana is fairly happily married and she will do just about anything to protect her marriage. 

The case involves the most nefarious of individuals, Russian Mafia. The head of the organized crime family will go to any extent necessary to get Juliana to make a certain ruling. The interests concerned are directly related to the sex-discrimination case and if Juliana doesn't rule as they are blackmailing her to, far-reaching effects will be felt in more than one way.

I thought I knew how this book would end up and was prepared to go for a lower rating. However, the twists and turns were nothing less than chilling and this indeed flavored my rating. Not only was I impressed by the writing of Joseph Finder - the plot, the characters, the ending - the acknowledgements led credence to this well-crafted tale. I certainly look forward to reading much more by this prolific, bestselling and very masterly author again. 

Many thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joseph Finder is the New York Times bestselling author of fourteen previous suspense novels, including THE SWITCH, THE FIXER and SUSPICION. He introduced “private spy” Nick Heller in VANISHED, an instant bestseller, and the continuing series includes BURIED SECRETS and GUILTY MINDS.

Joe’s novels HIGH CRIMES and PARANOIA have been adapted as major motion pictures. GUILTY MINDS and COMPANY MAN won the Barry Award for Best Thriller. An international bestseller, KILLER INSTINCT won the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for Best Novel. BURIED SECRETS won the Strand Critics Award for Best Novel.

A founding member of the International Thriller Writers, Joe is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Association of Former Intelligence Officers. He is a graduate of Yale College and the Harvard Russian Research Center, and lives in Boston.




Review - Blink

Title:   Blink
Author:  K.L. Slater
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Publisher:   Grand Central Publishing
Format:  Print ARC
No. of Pages:  736
Date of Publication:  January 29, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
What if the person you love most in the world was in terrible danger ... because of you? 

Three years ago, Toni's five-year-old daughter Evie disappeared after leaving school. The police have never been able to find her. There were no witnesses, no CCTV, no trace.

But Toni believes her daughter is alive. And as she begins to silently piece together her memories, the full story of the past begins to reveal itself, and a devastating truth.
Toni's mind is trapped in a world of silence, her only chance to save herself is to manage the impossible. She must find a way to make herself heard. She must find her daughter.

Includes the bonus novel SAFE WITH ME: 

Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it's her turn to get even...

Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn't like to let people to get too close - she knows how much damage they can do.

Then one ordinary day Anna witnesses a devastating road accident and recognises the driver as Carla, the woman who ruined her life all those years ago. Now it's Anna's chance to set things straight but her revenge needs to be executed carefully...

First she needs to get to know Liam, the man injured in the accident. She needs to follow the police investigation. She needs to watch Carla from the shadows...

But as Anna's obsession with Carla escalates, her own secrets start to unravel. Is Carla really dangerous or does Anna need to worry about someone far closer to home?

*Review for Safe With Me:  https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2019/01/review-safe-with-me.html


MY THOUGHTS:

Toni Cotter was already living a grief-stricken existence when the unimaginable happens - her five-year-old daughter disappears. Toni is a widow of two years and is struggling emotionally and financially. She makes the difficult decision to move nearer to her mother with hopes of making her and her daughter Evie’s lives better. From the outset, things go from bad to worse. She cannot get a leg up financially, must cope with an overbearing mother who undermines her in front of Evie and is taking sedatives that are not even prescribed to her. Toni is not coping well, and she is unraveling. 

Getting Evie into a new school and a new part-time job are certainly things she can do to get her life back on-track. However, nothing goes right, and she keeps on self-medicating. Meanwhile, Evie was a self-assured, happy five-year-old. Now she is struggling at school and seems to be pulling away from Toni. It doesn’t help that Toni’s mum Anita constantly makes Toni feel inept. 

How horrifying when Evie suddenly disappears. Other things precipitated this, however. Toni feels her dependence on sedatives is responsible for everything that is going wrong. However, it is like she is on a speeding train headed downhill - and on the wrong track - but she is powerless to stop things. 

The story is delivered in the then and now, which is three years later. For all of those years, the police hadn’t a clue. But a change in events give the haggled Toni cause for hope. She never once feared Evie was dead. There are sections in the narrative where a stroke patient has a dialogue, although nearly catatonic - and unidentifiable - to the doctors and nurses. Her role in this terrifying tale is pivotal. 

This story took me a while to get into, but I still kept at it, finishing it in a handful of hours. But, when it grabbed me, it was as if I was in a choke hold. Just about every one of my assumptions were incorrect; I just couldn’t read fast enough! I truly had to know what was what and also whether or not Toni’s belief in Evie still being alive had any merit. 

I am so pleased to have gotten my hands on this exceptional read by K.L. Slater. It is definitely worth any investment in time. The twists and turns were riveting, and the conclusion was chilling. 

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

My writing journey . . .

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, I went back to university at the age of 40 where I gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Although I also had a day job during the five years I studied at university, the courses gave me the time and space to try different writing and increased my confidence and belief in my writing. Before I graduated from my MA, I had secured representation at the Darley Anderson Literacy, TV and Film Agency who got me my first book deal. My literary agent is Camilla Bolton.

My first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as my dissertation on my English & Creative Writing degree in 2010.

The creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!

Please take a look at my ‘Books’ page for the full list of my titles.

I first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. My award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for my MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

I am now a full-time writer. I have a daughter and two stepsons and live with my husband in Nottingham and Yorkshire.



Review - Safe With Me

Title:   Safe With Me
Author:  K.L. Slater
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Publisher:   Grand Central Publishing
Format:  Print ARC
Date of Publication:  November 3, 2016
My Rating:  3 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it’s her turn to get even …

Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn’t like to let people get too close – she knows how much damage they can do.

Then one ordinary day Anna witnesses a devastating road accident and recognises the driver as Carla, the woman who ruined her life all those years ago. Now it’s Anna’s chance to set things straight but her revenge needs to be executed carefully …

First she needs to get to know Liam, the man injured in the accident. She needs to follow the police investigation. She needs to watch Carla from the shadows…

But as Anna’s obsession with Carla escalates, her own secrets start to unravel. Is Carla really dangerous or does Anna need to worry about someone far closer to home?

A compelling, gripping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and The Sister. 

Link to purchase the book* This book is included as a bonus story in Blink, also by K.L. Slater,

The link for that review is: https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2019/01/review-blink.html.


MY THOUGHTS:

What happened thirteen years ago, and did it drive Anna completely crazy?  She is a mail carrier in Nottingham with some strange proclivities. For example, her mail delivery practices were abhorable. And, she mails herself birthday cards and flowers. Anna has spent years wishing revenge upon Carla, a woman she feels was responsible for a terrible turn of events. Those experiences may have precipitated Anna’s descent into madness. When Anna eyewitnesses a terrible car accident where Carla was the driver, she sets a plan of action in motion.

Anna ingrains herself into the life of Liam Bradbury, the victim of the accident. She hopes that there will be a police investigation into the accident, thinking this might be a way to watch Carla’s actions. She lost track of Carla once before. Now this perfect opportunity presents itself and she’s not about to give up this chance for revenge. 

I don’t know when I have spent so much time in the mind of a depraved individual. However, the more the story progressed, it became clear that Anna isn’t the only one so imbalanced. She’s gone mad. No doubt about that. Who else in this tale could possibly be as demented as Anna?

As icky as I felt, I admit to being enthralled, giving up hours of my time to read this straight through. At the outset, Anna seems to be leading a fairly normal life. However, the deeper the story got, it was evident that she was as far from normal as could be. We also get Carla’s point of view and it was rather curious to wait and see when their paths would cross yet again. 

There is a lot of misdirection in this story by K.L. Slater. This is my second read by this author, and I found it interesting that this is her debut novel. This definitely was an entertaining book. 

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


My writing journey . . .

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, I went back to university at the age of 40 where I gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Although I also had a day job during the five years I studied at university, the courses gave me the time and space to try different writing and increased my confidence and belief in my writing. Before I graduated from my MA, I had secured representation at the Darley Anderson Literacy, TV and Film Agency who got me my first book deal. My literary agent is Camilla Bolton.

My first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as my dissertation on my English & Creative Writing degree in 2010.

The creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!

Please take a look at my ‘Books’ page for the full list of my titles.

I first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. My award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for my MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

I am now a full-time writer. I have a daughter and two stepsons and live with my husband in Nottingham and Yorkshire.



Monday, January 28, 2019

Review - What Happens in France

Title:   What Happens in France
Author:  Carol Wyer
Genre:  Women’s Fiction 
Publisher:   Canelo
Format:  Kindle ARC
Date of Publication:  February 4, 2019
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Canelo acquires two novels from bestseller Carol Wyer

Camelot Digital Publishing Limited is delighted to announce the acquisition of two heart-warming women’s fiction novels by bestselling author Carol Wyer. The first new book – What Happens in France – is to be released on 4th February 2019, with an as yet untitled second book provisionally scheduled for April 2019.

In What Happens in France, Bryony Masters isn’t one to shy from a challenge, so when her father falls sick she makes it her mission to find her long-lost sister and reunite their family. With the help of handsome friend Lewis, she snags a coveted spot on a primetime game show set in beautiful France – the perfect, public platform to launch her search!

With a social media star dog, a high maintenance quiz host and a cast of truly unique characters, Bryony and Lewis have their work cut out for them to stay on the show and in the public eye. Yet as the audience grows and the grand prize beckons they find that the search that brought them together may just fulfil more than one heart’s wish…

What Happens in France will delight fans of Fiona Gibson, Daisy James and Jo Watson.

Carol Wyer said ‘To say I am thrilled to be joining Canelo is an understatement. I'm so looking forward to working with the wonderful Hannah Todd and the rest of the team on two new comedies and can't wait to share them with you.’

Hannah Todd, Assistant Editor at Canelo, said ‘I am absolutely delighted to be working with Carol on her hilarious women’s fiction. Carol’s novels are like a conversation with a friend; you sit down for a good giggle and leave feeling better for it! I can’t wait to share them with her fans.’

As a child, Carol Wyer was always moving and relied on humour to fit in at new schools. A funny short story won her popularity, planting the seed of becoming a writer. She won the 2015 People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction, and can sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth. Now writing full-time, Carol has several books published alongside journalism in many magazines.

Canelo are a digital publisher based in London, specialising in commercial fiction.




MY THOUGHTS:

Bryony Masters has a mission. Her father has suffered a serious stroke. He gets better to a degree, but Bryony feels that she must now do the impossible. Thirty years ago her older sister Hannah ran away from home. Her family has never been the same since. Bryony feels that she must find Hannah before her father has any further health issues. She comes up with a fantastic idea. She decides to apply for a game show, hoping that this may be a way to appeal to the public in order to find her sister. Bryony knows that there very well may be several media opportunities that she can take advantage of.

Bryony has a blog dedicated to her search for Hannah. However, although she leaves regular blog posts, her reach is rather limited. Meanwhile, Bryony enjoys time with with her best friend Melinda. This turns out to be a blessing, because Melinda‘s husband has a new friend named Lewis. Due to ideal circumstances, Lewis ends up becoming Bryony’s partner on the game show, which is called, What Happens in ...

As expected, Bryony gets plenty of opportunities to talk about Hannah and about how much she is loved and truly missed. During the show quite a bit happens and each activity is really enjoyable to read about. I loved the trivial aspect of the show, all the characters in the story, and the beautiful landscapes that were described during the events.

Carol Wyer has written an engaging women’s fiction story that develops into a wonderfully-endearing romance. I really enjoyed the humor that was peppered throughout the story. One thing that really worked for me was a twist that was funny and very surprising. The story was very well-balanced as there were sensitive moments that kept me keenly interested. What Happens in France flowed very well because it was rich with delightful characters, including a dog with a strong media presence of his own. This delightful read is done with excellent pacing, thus showcasing the marvelous talents of this prolific author.

Many thanks to Carol Wyer and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carol E. Wyer, who also writes as Carol Wyer, is an award-winning author and stand up comedian who writes feel-good comedies and gripping thrillers.

Her book, Grumpy Old Menopause, won The People's Book Prize Award for non-fiction 2015.

The DI Robyn Carter series has earned her acclaim as a crime writer and the first book in the series, Little Girl Lost, shot to the #2 best-selling spot on Kindle #9 best-selling audiobook on Audible, and was also a USA Today top 150 best-seller.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ''Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly' featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

To learn more about Carol, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer. 

Carol also blogs at www.carolwyer.com.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

#24in48 Update #1

My #24in48 Readathon Update is as follows:


Hi. Here is my First Update for 
the #24in48 Readathon of 2019!
http://www.24in48.com
This is my first year to participate!

Currently I have read 13 hours into the 24 hour goal!

My first book in this Readathon was to finish:



Then I completed two books one after the other:




At the halfway mark, I am a little more than halfway through: