Friday, January 31, 2020

BLOG TOUR - The Perfect Sister



Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for The Perfect Sister by Sheryl Browne.

DESCRIPTION:

‘You don’t know me, but I’m your sister.’

Claire is shocked when she receives a message out of the blue from Sophie, a beautiful young woman who tells Claire that she’s their father’s secret child. Having spent years nursing her sweet little daughter Ella through a life-threatening illness whilst dealing with the emotional fall-out of a devastating marriage breakdown, Claire feels tentatively excited to meet Sophie. Perhaps she might finally have someone in the family to lean on…

As Claire welcomes her sister into her life, she’s delighted to see just how much Ella loves her new Aunt Sophie. But as the pair spend more time together, Claire begins to wonder where exactly her perfect new sister came from and what kind of person she really is. With their elderly father’s mind rapidly deteriorating, is it possible that he’s hiding something from Claire about Sophie’s sudden appearance in their lives?

When Sophie suggests a family day at the seaside, little Ella is beyond excited. But as Claire takes an important phone call from her demanding ex-husband, leaving Sophie in charge of Ella, something unthinkable happens. And as Claire rushes into the ice-cold sea towards the small, limp figure of her daughter, she realises that Sophie was watching the whole time. But why would Sophie want to hurt Claire’s precious daughter? Was trusting her new sister with Ella the biggest mistake of Claire’s life?

If you enjoyed The Girl on the Train, My Lovely Wife and Lucinda Berry’s The Perfect Child, you’ll love this heart-stopping psychological thriller from bestselling author Sheryl Browne.




MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Perfect Sister
Author:  Sheryl Browne
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   326
Date of Publication:   January 29, 2020
My Rating:   4 Stars

Claire and Luke's marriage is crumbling. Parents to daughter Ella rather takes second place to Claire's need to care for her father. He is suffering from Dementia and needs near constant care. Luke basically checks out of the marriage.

Meanwhile, Luke runs into a woman who apparently needs his help. Oh how he wished he had just walked away. With a photo taken at a right time and delivered to Claire, she is certain Luke is having an affair. At the same time, a woman comes into Claire's life as well. She claims that she is her sister. With her father's ailment, Claire is unable to get the answers she needs. Claire all but falls apart. No worries. Her new friend, her sister, Sophie, is there to prop her up.

So there you have it. Did he or didn't he? Are they really sisters? Well, The Perfect Sister is far more than that. It is a book full of lies, twists and turns as the book progresses. This is a book that will have you wanting to slap the main characters - Luke for falling into a woman's trap, Claire for believing a total stranger. Again, it is more than that. It is a convoluted story that dares the reader to put the book down for more than a few moments because you simply just do not know what is going to happen.

The reader can quickly guess that Luke's stranger and Claire's sister must be one and the same. The fun part is watching them come to this realization. Can things be salvaged before it is too late? No doubt you will not be able to wonder as to what the end game is. And oh, what a conclusion!

This was yet another excellent book by Sheryl Browne. I found it interesting that when I perused the previous books by Ms. Browne - The Second WifeThe Marriage Trap and The Affair - albeit different, I was reminded that they are all domestic thrillers. She has a very good formula, one that I look forward to partaking more of at the very next opportunity.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is 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.

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.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

BLOG TOUR - Mystery on Hidden Lane


Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Mystery on Hidden Lane by Clare Chase.


DESCRIPTION:

Seasoned obituary writer Eve Mallow has a new assignment: to tell the life story of famed musician Bernard Fitzpatrick. A chance to spend a few days in the sweet little village of Saxford St Peter, walking the country lanes with her beloved dachshund Gus and meeting new people sounds like a dream. But it turns out that Bernard’s life was much less interesting than his death. On the day she arrives, news breaks that the charismatic cellist was the victim of a grisly murder. Could this quaint English village be hiding a dark secret?

As Eve starts to interview Bernard’s friends and colleagues, she finds that he’d ruffled a few feathers. In fact, from the keepers of the Cross Keys Inn to his own staff at High House, there’s barely a person in town who doesn’t have some reason to hate him… is one of the friendly villagers a cold-blooded killer?

Eve hoped Saxford St Peter would be the perfect escape from her busy city life. But there is darkness even in the most sunlit of settings. And when a second body is found, Eve becomes certain that one of the people she’s met must be the murderer. She has never done any detective work before… but is there something in her notes that can crack the case?

An unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Faith Martin, Agatha Christie and Betty Rowlands.


BUY LINKS:
https://geni.us/B07ZVYJ8WJSocial


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Mystery on Hidden Lane
Author:  Clare Chase
Series:  Eve Mallow Mystery #1
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   296
Date of Publication:   January 30, 2019
My Rating:   4 Stars

Eve Mallow is an obituary writer with an extended assignment. She is not only going to write an obituary, she is to write musician Bernard Fitzpatrick's life story. Eve figures that spending time in a small village where Bernard was well known will be enable her to come up with enough detail about his life to do a good job.


She takes her dog Gus along for the trip and she is off. Unfortunately, Eve is not able to turn up much about Bernard's life. Shockingly, Eve learns that his death was actually due to murder and her questions about his life - now death - take on a different turn.


Eve now becomes an amateur sleuth because as she starts interviewing people she learns some unsavory things about Bernard. Things are not adding up. What is more is that another body is found in the idyllic town she is in and Eve now knows that at least one of the people she has been interviewing is indeed a murderer.


I love cozy mysteries and Mystery on Hidden Lane is the first book in a new series that I just know that I will enjoy. Eve's character is perfect, the setting is ideal and the mysteries abound. I look forward to meeting Eve again and seeing what she gets into, because, as is the case with any cozy mystery series, our protagonist will always find murder close at hand. Her job as an obituary writer will most likely be the angle used in future cases. Clare Chase is a new author to me and I am glad to have read this book. I look forward to reading Mystery at Apple Tree Cottage upon its release in March.


Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Clare Chase writes women sleuth mysteries. After graduating from London University with a degree in English Literature, Clare moved to Cambridge and has lived there ever since. She's fascinated by the city's contrasts and contradictions, which feed into her writing. She's worked in diverse settings - from the 800-year-old University to one of the local prisons - and lived everywhere from the house of a Lord to a slug-infested flat. The terrace she now occupies, with her husband and teenage children, presents a good happy medium.

As well as writing, Clare loves family time, art and architecture, cooking, and of course, reading other people's books.

You can find Clare's website and blog at www.clarechase.com

Author Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClareChase_
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10204574.Clare_Chase
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClareChaseAuthor/


Wednesday, January 29, 2020

COVER REVEAL - Chris Merritt's New Series KNOCK KNOCK



BLURB:


Natasha Mayston wasn’t expecting anyone to knock on her door so late at night and she has no idea that the face staring back at her is the last one she’ll ever see…

As Detective Dan Lockhart is called to a wealthy London street to investigate Natasha’s death, he’s startled by the similarity to another case. Noticing the cable-tie restraints and the tiny scratches on Natasha’s wedding finger, Dan already knows what he will find if he looks in her throat – the small metal ball which choked her to death. He knows for sure that this isn’t the killer’s first victim and that he will strike again.

Months earlier, Kim Hardy was found in the same position in a hotel across the city – the same cable ties around her wrists, lacerations on her left hand and the same silver ball in her throat. But Kim’s murderer was caught and sent to prison – did they arrest the wrong man? Fearing that he’s dealing with a serial killer, Dan calls in psychologist Lexi Green to help with the case.

Then another body is discovered just days later, just as Lexi finds a clue online leading to the killer. Dan and his team aren’t convinced she’s found the right man, but Lexi reaches out to the suspect, putting herself in unthinkable danger. Dan thinks he knows who’s next on the killer’s list. But can he reach her before it’s too late?

Fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Cara Hunter will love this thrilling new series from Chris Merritt. From an explosive start to a heart-stopping finale, you will not want to put this book down!


What readers are saying about Chris Merritt:


Eeee. OMG! Ahhh! Where do I start? I have a new favourite author… a belter of a book!... I was so impressed, gripped, hooked and immersed. I don’t have the words to describe how much I loved this book!’ Between the Pages Book Club, 5 stars

‘Brilliant...  I absolutely loved… Addictive reading… You can’t tear your eyes away … I was totally gripped… Absolutely blew me away… One of my top reads of 2018.’ Ginger Book Geek

Chris Merritt can add me to his list of fans, as I loved this book, the plot, characters and most of all his writing… I couldn’t put the book down, even when I was tired and wanted sleep, so sign of a terrific book!’ Zoo Loo Book Blog

Wow… A fast paced, captivating thriller that will have you hooked throughout. What an opening to this story! Poor Zac!… made me keep reading, kept me intrigued.’ Between the Pages Book Club

‘A fast-paced, action packed and exciting novel… if you like Tania Carver, Stuart MacBride or Jane Casey then you must read this!’ Goodreads Reviewer

Exhilarating… a pacy and tense ride... hugely gripping and exciting… If you enjoy dark crime thrillers with plenty of suspense and intrigue then I highly recommend this book.’ Hooked From Page One 
‘Fast-paced and exciting… I fell into this story and finished it in two days.  After getting through this book so fast I really want to read more… A must read.’ Two Girls and a Book Obsession, 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Hello! I'm a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.

All my novels are set in London, where I live. My first trilogy starred Zac Boateng and Kat Jones, two detectives motivated by family, who tackle organised crime and police corruption. LAST WITNESS, the second Boateng and Jones book, reached #13 in the UK Kindle chart in 2019.

My second series features detective Dan Lockhart - an ex-soldier with a missing wife - and psychologist Dr Lexi Green, an American living in London. These novels are darker, more psychological serial-killer cases, with romantic relationships as a central theme.

I began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. I specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked my interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.

Now, I spend most of my time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When I'm not writing, I love climbing and playing basketball.

You can find out more about my work at www.cjmerritt.co.uk

 or follow me on Twitter @DrCJMerritt

Review - Justified

Title:   Justified
Author:  Jay Crownover
Genre:  Romance
Series:  Loveless, Texas #1
Publisher:  Forever
Format:  Print ARC
No. of Pages:   432 
Date of Publication:   June 25, 2019
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers a romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy...

Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he's determined to do everything by the book--until he's called to Aspen Barlow's office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn't the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge...

Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she'll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there's a thin line between love and hate... because there's nothing Case wouldn't do to keep her safe.


Includes It's All About That Cowboy, a bonus novella by Carly Bloom!


MY THOUGHTS:

I am all about tropes when it comes to reading romance. I cannot think of one that I don't enjoy. In this first book in the series by Jay Crownover, we have enemies to lovers. Sheriff Case Lawton has every reason to hate Aspen Barlow, the attorney who represented his wife in a custody case. Losing his son at that time was a devastating blow to Case. It is now years later and Aspen is back in town.

Case is determined to continually feed into the hate festering in his belly. But, he has a job to do and when Aspen's office is broken into, he is the man for the job. Then another scare happens to Aspen and Case realizes he must protect her. Business only is his plan. His libido, however, has different ideas. Slowly but surely Case's emotions take a different turn. 

I adored this book! It had all the elements of a wonderful romance, including the suspense surrounding the danger Aspen is in. Add in action, trust and loyalty, and this book proved to be a great read and it was near impossible to put down. I loved the progression of events as this couple found their way to each other's hearts.

Many thanks to Forever for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, The Point Series, Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.


Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Review - Cowboy Courage

Title:  Cowboy Courage
Author:  Carolyn Brown
Series:  Longhorn Canyon #5
Genre:   Romance
Publisher:   Forever
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:  400
Date of Publication:  January 28, 2019
My Rating:  4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
Love gets a second chance in this charming cowboy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of The Family Journal.

After spending years traveling the world with the military, Rose O'Malley is ready for a change. Heading back to Texas to hold down the fort at her aunt's bed-and-breakfast will give Rose just the break she needs. But while she may speak seven languages, she can't repair a leaky sink to save her life. When Hudson Baker strides in like a hero and effortlessly figures out the fix, Rose can't help wondering if the boy she once crushed on as a kid could now be her saving grace.

Hud has always been rock-solid and dependable-a quintessential cowboy to his core. But the moment Rose steps back into his life, his world is turned upside down by meddling family, a rescued baby, and one highly mischievous cat. Now he'll have to decide if it's time to throw caution to the wind and do whatever it takes to convince Rose that by her side is exactly where he wants to stay.

Includes the bonus novella, Wildflower Ranch, a continuation of Daisies in the Canyon.


MY THOUGHTS:

In admittedly one of my favorite tropes, that of a second chance romance, Rose O'Malley and Hudson Baker get a chance to finally get it right and to find their way to a happy future. This is certainly not the turn in life Rose expected. Instead, she is waiting for a promising promotion at work. Meanwhile, dealing with the fact that she was left her aunt's bed and breakfast has her all twisted up.


For one thing, it needs a lot of work - and time. Does she even have time to get involved in a romance, and with the man who once snagged her heart? Besides, being in Texas is only a temporary thing and it seems that Hud has his roots set nice and firm.

Hud has his own world turned upside down. Of course, being in close proximity with Rose is enough to knock off his cowboy hat. Factor in other troubling scenarios, like a baby that was found. Can Hud redirect his life in such a way to find a joyous bounty at the end?

I loved this book by Carolyn Brown. In fact, I have enjoyed the entire series. Although I am rather addicted to series, this book, as well as the others, does perfectly fine as a standalone. The next book is Cowboy Strong, where Pax gets his story, and that is coming in June, 2020.

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

Review links:

Cowboy Bold, https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2019/01/review-cowboy-bold.html
Cowboy Honor, https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2019/01/review-cowboy-honor_10.html
Cowboy Brave, https://www.robinlovesreading.com/2019/01/review-cowboy-brave.html
Cowboy Rebelhttps://www.robinlovesreading.com/2019/05/review-cowboy-rebel.html

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Carolyn Brown was born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma. These days she and her husband make their home in Davis, Oklahoma, a small town of less than three thousand people where everyone knows everyone, knows what they are doing and with whom, and read the weekly newspaper to see who got caught.

A plaque hangs on her office wall that says I know the voices are not real but they have such great ideas. That is her motto and muse as she goes through the days with quirky characters in her head, telling their stories, one by one, and loving her job.


She has been married almost half a century to a retired English teacher that she calls Mr. B and he does not read her books before they are published because she cannot afford a divorce. They have three grown children.—and enough grandchildren to keep them busy and young.


When Carolyn is not writing she likes to sit in the back yard and watch the two tom cats protect the yard from all kinds of wicked varmints like crickets, other cats, spiders and blue jays.


web | facebook | twitter 


Review - Mermaid Inn

Title:   Mermaid Inn
Author:  Jenny Holiday
Series:  Matchmaker Bay #1
Genre:   Romance
Publisher:  Forever
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   480
Date of Publication:   January 28, 2020
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Escape to Matchmaker Bay in this hilarious and heartwarming second chance romance from the USA Today bestselling "master of witty banter" (Entertainment Weekly).

Eve Abbott has a problem-actually, make that a lot of problems. And they're all going to get worse the moment her toes hit the sand in Matchmaker Bay. Once a blissful summer escape, now the tiny town just reminds Eve of loss. Inheriting her aunt's beloved Mermaid Inn is the only reason Eve is coming back. She's definitely not ready to handle nosy neighbors, extensive renovations, or the discovery that a certain heartbreaker still lives down the street...

Police Chief Sawyer Collins always does the right thing, even when it costs him everything. Like Evie. He's spent the past ten years trying to forget her--to forget how right she felt in his arms, to forget the pain in her eyes the day she left. The last thing he expects is to see her back in town or to find that the spark between them is as strong as ever. Sawyer knows this is his only chance to prove that his feelings have always been real... before Eve turns tail and leaves for good.

Includes the bonus novella Meant to Be by Alison Bliss! 


MY THOUGHTS:

Eve Abbott and Sawyer Collins are about to get a second chance at love. Oh, I know this is an often-used trope, but no worries, Jenny Holiday delivers this to readers with excellent writing, witty dialogue and a delightful conclusion. 

Eve is back in Matchmaker Bay. She is a librarian with career aspirations and is targeted on a dream job, so she hopes to sort out the reason why her Aunt Lucille left her the Mermaid Inn. Unfortunately, Eve realize that it needed a lot of renovations and I hope was to get the major issues taken care of and put this thing on the market so that she can get back into her life. What is she does not like is the fact that she is going to be forced to face her first love Sawyer and the fact that he broke her heart isn’t that she will never forget. 

Sawyer is none too pleased to see Eve back in town. He is a good man through and through and he has as it turns out very good reason for why he let Eve go all those years ago. Running into each other they find that spending time together is makes it clear that they still have something between them. But Sawyer can never let even know why he did what he did all those years ago.

As serious as this sounds, Mermaid Inn is threaded with humor throughout and it made for a very good read. The path to love in this romance was a pleasant one and a very nice journey. The fact that the town is called Matchmaker Bay, lends to the fact that there is indeed a plot that neither Eve nor Sawyer could ignore. The town is a place where everybody minds everybody else’s business.  This was a fun and enjoyable story and I was glad that I had the opportunity to read it.

This is the first book in a new series and I am more than eager to read the following books. As this is my second novel by Jenny Holiday I am realizing that she could easily become a favorite.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenny Holiday is a USA Today-bestselling and RITA-nominated author of romance novels. The New York Times once had this to say about one of her characters: “His feminist bona fides can seem piled on for a hypermasculine hero.” She took it as a compliment. She lives in London, Ontario.




Monday, January 27, 2020

BLOG TOUR - The Forgotten Wife



Today I am pleased to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Forgotten Wife by Emma Robinson.

DESCRIPTION:

When you see them, they are so happy, so in love. He’s holding the door open for her, she’s clearly expecting a baby. You think: she has everything I don’t. Everything I ever dreamed of…

There’s room in her house where Shelley has shut away a heartbreakingly-soft, never-used baby blanket. In a box, under a bed, behind a door that she never opens. If it’s there, she can forget about it. Just like she has her memories. Of a marriage that hadn’t been perfect. Of a life that didn’t go the way she had hoped.

Every day she acts like everything is normal. Going to work and following a routine helps her pretend the bad stuff never happened. Until one day, everything changes.

She sees the couple moving in next door, laughing sweetly as they walk up the path to their new home. The woman is pregnant. It’s like she has everything that Shelley has lost. But when Shelley properly meets Lara, she soon discovers Lara is actually carrying a heartache to match her own.

As her friendship with Lara deepens, Shelley starts to wonder what might happen if she opens the box she’s hidden away, with the tiny, beautiful blanket in it. Will the secrets from her past – about what she lost, what she’s hiding from, and what she has been doing her best to forget – destroy her? Or will opening it up finally give her a change to live again?

A heartbreaking emotional drama about the power of friendship that will make readers laugh and cry, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Dani Atkins and Daniela Sacerdoti.  


BUY LINKS:
Amazon: http://bit.ly/36n0arl
Kobo: http://bit.ly/38v5L0e
Apple Books: https://apple.co/30NEYJU
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2Ro4NNz


MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Forgotten Wife
Author:  Emma Robinson
Genre:   Women's Fiction
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   277
Date of Publication:   January 27, 2020
My Rating:   4 Stars

When a new couple moves in next door to Shelley, the wife, Lara wants to befriend her. Lara is pregnant and Shelley immediately feels deep pangs of loss. She is still grieving the fact that her husband Greg has left her. What is more is that she is hiding something special away, a baby blanket among the things.

Lara all but barges into Shelley's life. Before she knows it, Lara is helping her to declutter her home, with a book she read giving both women direction. Meanwhile, Shelley begins to notice things about Lara, even wondering about the state of her marriage. Their friendship grows closer, yet each woman is keeping secrets from the other.


The Forgotten Wife is a very good story that hits hard. I found a kinship with each woman and their losses. As we read the book, we are getting the story delivered in both of their perspectives. It is easy to see how two strangers could easily become so close. Grab some tissues, because they will definitely be needed. Despite the tears, the story ended with hope, so this delivered a very good balance. This is my second book by Emma Robinson and I highly recommend it. She writes deeply emotional stories that will stay with the reader for a very long time. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emma Robinson is the author of five novels about motherhood and female friendship including The Undercover Mother.

Her fifth novel - The Forgotten Wife - will be out in January 2020.

When she is not writing, Emma is an English teacher and lives in Essex with a patient husband and two children who are an endless source of material.