Review - Do Not Open

Title:  Do Not Open

Author:  Kiersten Modglin 

Genre:   Psychological Thriller 

Format:  Kindle ARC

Date of Publication:  October 31, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

On the day author Mari Montgomery receives the email, she has little left to live for.

The message—simple yet utterly life-changing—offers a glimmer of hope to her dismal existence. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and if she takes it, it could change everything.

Mari’s immediate sense of unease is eclipsed only by her curiosity—elicited from the supposed fan on the other end of the email. Unsatisfied despite doing her due diligence, and with no way to discern the legitimacy of the sender, Mari takes a leap of faith and replies.


What harm could come from one innocent message?

Soon, as she comes face to face with her ‘number one fan,’ it’s all too clear things are not what they first appeared. Now trapped by a villain far more sinister than she could’ve crafted herself, the fate awaiting her is inspired by the darkest depths of the monsters in her own novels. 

In order to escape and survive, Mari must use the strength of the heroines she’s spent years writing about. But this villain has spent years inside her worlds, too. 

How will she defeat an evil who has learned from the best?

For fans of Misery, YOU, and Behind Closed Doors, million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin brings us a haunting tale of obsession and survival in the form of a writer’s worst nightmare come to life.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

He is her favorite fan. What could possibly go wrong? Does Misery by Stephen King come to mind? In breakneck fashion Kiersten Modglin treats her readers to a wild ride in her latest book. While you think you might be reading the same story, you just might find yourself surprised at the depth in this book.  

In this thrilling read, Mari is in fact a thriller writer. Due to a tragic event, Mari lost her family and also her ability to write. Well, one fan is not accepting that. He has a plan to get Mari writing again, and will go to any lengths to make it happen. This leads to Mari deciding to open a questionable email. She soon finds that it could’ve been one of the worst decisions of her life.

With fast pacing, well timed twists and a few shocking surprises, Kiersten Modglin has proved to be more than excellent at her craft. So, if you want a dark story for a dark holiday season, you cannot go wrong with Do Not Open. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kiersten Modglin is an Amazon top-30 bestselling author of award-winning psychological thrillers and a member of International Thriller Writers. Kiersten lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston Terriers: Cedric and Georgie. She is best known for her unpredictable suspense and her readers have dubbed her 'The Queen of Twists.' A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes super-fan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kierstenmodglinauthor 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kmodglinauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kierstenmodglinauthor

BLOG TOUR - Murder in a French Village

DESCRIPTION:

Join bookshop owner Flora Steele and handsome writer Jack Carrington as they set off on a French adventure and solve a chilling crime!

Jack is stunned to receive a call from his estranged mother, Sybil, asking him to drop everything and come to France. Together with Flora, his fellow sleuth, they pack their suitcases, dreaming of fragrant lavender fields and freshly baked pain au chocolat. It’s only when they arrive that they discover the shocking truth – Sybil’s friend was killed on a street in Paris, and she is desperate for their help.

The case leads them to a picturesque village in the south of France where life should be rosé, but even the bright blue skies can’t hide the fact that something is very wrong. And the mystery only deepens when Flora discovers that Sybil was in fact the intended target. Who would want her out of the way?

Perhaps Sybil’s relationship with wealthy Italian count Massimo Falconi has something to do with it. His darling daughter Allegra, ruthless business partner Pascal and his jealous estranged wife Isabella all have reasons for revenge…

Then when another person in the small French town dies in suspicious circumstances, Flora is convinced the two untimely deaths must be connected. Just when the case seems impossible to crack, a chess box provides an unlikely clue.

Can Flora discover the truth before Sybil meets her end? Or could trouble in paradise spell a final au revoir for the detective duo?

A completely addictive cozy crime novel. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis!

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0C53HLVP6social

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Murder in a French Village

Author:  Merryn Allingham 

Series:  Flora Steele Mystery #7
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   262

Date of Publication:   October 30, 2023

My Rating:   4 Stars

She may be taking time away from her bookshop, but the experience proves difficult as Flora Steele joins beau Jack Carrington in France. Flora actually has a dual purpose in going to France. Jack’s mother Sybil is asking for his help. Meanwhile, Flora may finally get to the truth when it comes to answers she has been looking for regarding the death of her parents years previously. 

When Sybil’s friend is murdered on a Paris street, Flora and Jack dive right into trying to solve the murder. As they are becoming rather seasoned amateur sleuths, finding answers is right up their alley. 

Things prove difficult right from the very start. To begin with, Jack and his mother have not spoken in seven years yet when she asked for his help, he was expected to drop everything and be there for her. Their stained relationship is not the only challenge. Considering that his mother may be planning to marry an Italian count, Massimo Falconi, Flora and Jack wonder if Sybil was a possible target.  

Danger is not too far from Flora and Jack in this seventh book in a delightful cozy mystery series by Merryn Allingham. It was nice to see the pair doing what they do best, albeit in a very different setting. When you factor in all of the elements of this story - the murder, investigation and relationships, including the strong bond shared between Flora and Jack, this book was a quick and enjoyable read. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband and one last cat, Bluebell. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

https://merrynallingham.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites

https://twitter.com/merrynwrites

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Merryn Allingham here:  https://www.bookouture.com/merryn-allingham

BLOG TOUR- A Secret for the Lifeboat Sisters

  

DESCRIPTION:

As the sun warms the sand of Port Promise bay and the sea is stained turquoise, Gaby Morrow is about to discover that her life is going to change forever…

As she looks through the window of Thistledown Cottage, her perfect home with its flower-filled garden and views of the sparkling, white-tipped waves, Gaby Morrow should feel like she has it all. She watches her two gorgeous children race down to the golden beach and waves goodbye to her husband Kilian, his chestnut hair tousled as he heads off for another day working on the lifeboats. To her friends and family Gaby’s life looks wonderful, but deep down Gaby knows that this is a lie.

Recently Kilian has grown distant, a terrible tragedy at sea causing him to withdraw. Try as she might, Gaby can’t get her beloved husband to open up, and she knows Kilian has been lying about where he has been going. Gaby wants to believe she can trust him. But when she discovers that he has been keeping a secret that will change all their lives, will she ever be able to feel the same again?

Gaby’s sisters rally round in her hour of need and remind her of everything she has that is worth fighting for. But just as she makes her decision, she sees helicopters circling the sea and the call she has dreaded her whole life comes in. Kilian’s rescue mission has gone wrong. Will Gaby’s life be turned upside down all over again? And has she only realised what is truly important when it’s too late?

A beautiful and emotional read about losing everything and piecing yourself back together. Fans of Nicola May, Jo Bartlett and Jessica Redland will lose their hearts to A Secret for The Lifeboat Sisters.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0C9DDVGXSsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you'll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

Title:  A Secret for the Lifeboat Sisters 

Author:  Tilly Tennant

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  361

Date of Publication:  October 12, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

While it may look like Gaby Morrow is living a charmed life, her relationship with her husband Kilian is troubled. In fact, despite being the parents of two children, Gaby wonders if their marriage can withstand the fact that Kilian seems to be keeping a secret from her. 

Kilian is part of a boat rescue team. Gaby had previously lost her father on one of his rescue missions, and worries about Kilian every time the get the call that a boater is in trouble. With harsh words shared between them, this latest rescue mission might cause the rescuers their lives, making Gaby wish she has at least one more chance to talk to her husband. 

Kilian is indeed keeping a secret, one that will definitely affect his family, but will that put up a wall too high to save his marriage? In this third book of a wonderful trilogy, in which the first two books featured Gaby’s two sisters, quite an emotional story is told. 

Port Promise Bay is an idyllic location, and the urgency of the boat rescue service is sure to make the reader hold their breath. Beyond that, this book delivers the powerful messages of communication, family and love. This lovely series comes to a close with a powerful story that delivers a powerful emotional punch. 

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

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From a young age, Tilly Tennant was convinced that she was destined for the stage.  Once she realised she wasn’t actually very good at anything that would put her on the stage, she started to write stories instead. There were lots of terrible ones, like The Pet Rescue Gang (aged eight), which definitely should not see the light of day ever again. Thankfully, her debut novel, Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was not one of those, and since it hit the Amazon best seller lists she hasn’t looked back. Born in Dorset, she currently lives in Staffordshire with her husband, two daughters, three guitars, four ukuleles, two violins and a kazoo.

Author Social Media Links
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TillyTennant/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/TillyTenWriter
WEBSITE: www.tillytennant.com

BOOKOUTURE EMAIL SIGN UP:  https://www.bookouture.com/tilly-tennant

  

BLOG TOUR - The Royal Daughter

  

DESCRIPTION:

“My darling B, my heart, my soul. I only wish we’d had longer. Longer to search for the daughter that I should never have given up. The daughter that I should have been brave enough to keep, brave enough to tell you about, brave enough to tell the world about.”

London, present day. As Ella looks down at a faded black and white photograph of an unknown woman and child alongside a yellowing piece of sheet music, she wonders how the two things can possibly relate to her own family. The items were left for her family at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers whose babies were adopted.

Soon Ella learns that the photograph was taken on the picturesque Greek island of Skopelos, nestled in the turquoise calming waters of the Aegean sea, and that the woman in the photo holds the key to her family’s heritage. As she opens up to her new flame Gabriel, he tells her that she should go to the island to unravel the mystery and that he will wait for her.

Though Ella is torn she decides to go and once there, she discovers a heart-wrenching story of a royal family forced to leave their country for a new life in London, and of a girl with a unique talent for music who captured the heart of a young violinist but was forced to leave him and London behind for the sake of her family.

When Ella discovers the sacrifice made by the two young lovers and comes face to face with her forgotten Greek family, will their story give her the courage to follow her own heart back to London and Gabriel, or will the beauty of the island capture her heart and lead her to a new love altogether?

A totally addictive and heartbreaking novel about the strength of family ties and never giving up on true love. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0BZ8WW9NZsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Royal Daughter

Author:  Soraya M. Lane

Series:  The Lost Daughters #3
Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   295

Date of Publication:   October 12, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars

The Italian Daughter and The Cuban Daughter are the first two books in the touching Lost Daughter series by Soraya Lane. Both stories were wonderfully warm and inviting. Ms. Lane writes an equally effective story with this book, The Royal Daughter. In book one in this series, we learn of Hope’s House, which was a home for unwed mothers. In that book, Lily was able to learn of her past and how she was connected to the home. In book two, Claudia was able to unravel the secret of her past.

This third book, which could be read as a standalone, tells how Ella travels to a beautiful Greek island in her quest to discovering the story of an old black-and-white photograph. In this dual timeline story, readers join Ella as she tries to discover if she has a grandmother that she never knew. This grandmother, whom we learned is named Alexandra, suffered great heartbreak when she was sent to Hope’s House. 

When Ella receives the photograph, just as she meets a man named Gabriel, who just might be her future, she knows she must go to Greece to find answers. As the story shifts to the past, we learn of Alexandra In 1973 who was forced to make a very difficult sacrifice. She had a beautiful love story that ended up in heartbreak. 

One thing that I really enjoyed about this story was its connection to classical music as well as art, all while finding the secrets of the heart and following the heart, even after disappointing circumstances. This was a very compelling read, one that I read from cover to cover in one sitting. This lovely story was quite captivating and had a very warm ending. I very much look forward to book four in the series, The Sapphire Daughter, set for release next March. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn't the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women's fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind. 

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she's not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

Author social media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthorInstagram @SorayaLaneAuthor

Website: https://www.sorayalane.com

Newsletter sign up:

https://www.bookouture.com/soraya-lane-email-sign-up/

Review - Finding Family at the Cornish Cove

Title:   Finding Family at the Cornish Cove

Author:  Kim Nash

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   270

Date of Publication:  October 3, 2023

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

For years, Gemma has been running her late mother’s café with devotion, and when an opportunity comes to buy out her next-door neighbour and expand, she jumps at the chance.

She knows she will do her mother proud – keep her legacy going strong – but deep down she knows there’s still something missing. But sometimes family are those you choose, or those who choose you!

With a growing community of supporters cheering Gemma on, will she really spend the rest of her life alone?

And with some new faces at her blossoming bistro, perhaps romance may also be on the cards?

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

 

If you enjoyed Kim Nash’s previous book, Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove, where Meredith, approaching fifty, found her chance at love, then you are in for a treat with this latest book. Finding Family at the Cornish Cove was a really enjoyable read. In this book, Gemma may have lost her mother previously, but running her café with plans of expansion keeps her really tied into her community. Not only is Gemma wonderful, but her friends and neighbors are as well. Good friends are a fine thing, but love? Is that in the cards for Gemma, or will she continue on alone in life?

Gemma having this opportunity to expand her café proves not to be the only light in her life. In fact, Gem soon meets Jude Adams and his daughter Occy, and before long, the direction in her life begins to change. This wonderful story about friendship is also a sweet romance that is mixed with tender moments that makes this book to be a memorable read. 

I loved this book, and I love the cover as well. What Ms. Nash does not know is that lighthouses are my favorite thing in any scene. The fact that a lighthouse is featured on this cover truly makes this book even more inviting.  

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Nash is an author of uplifting, funny, heartwarming, feel-good, romantic fiction.

She lives in Staffordshire with son Ollie and English Setter Roni, is Head of Publicity for Bookouture and is a book blogger at www.kimthebookworm.co.uk

.

Kim won the Romantic Novelists Association's Media Star of the Year in 2016, which she still can't quite believe. She is now quite delighted to be a member of the RNA.

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog, reading, standing on the sidelines of a football pitch cheering on Ollie and binge watching box sets on the TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day and a gin and tonic (not at the same time!) Kim also runs a book club in Cannock, Staffs.

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone else and you will only contacted about Kim's books.

Amazing Grace was her debut novel with Hera Books and came out in April 2019. Escape to Giddywell Grange is Kim's second novel and was published in September 2019. Sunshine and Second Chances is Kim's third novel and will be published on June 4th 2020.

You can read Kim's Blog here: www.kimthebookworm.co.uk

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