BLOG TOUR - Guilty Mothers

   

DESCRIPTION:

She lies on the floor, her blue eyes wide and unseeing, arms outstretched as if begging for help. Kneeling next to her, wearing a purple sequinned ballgown and holding a knife in shaking hands, is her daughter…

In a quiet kitchen, where two mugs wait by the kettle to be filled, Sheryl Hawne lies in a pool of blood. Her only daughter, Katie, is found at her side, still clutching the murder weapon and apparently incapable of speech. To Detective Kim Stone, the case seems open and shut. But Katie is in no state to be questioned, so Kim and the team must dig deep to understand what triggered this brutal act.

Soon, they learn that Katie participated in beauty pageants as a child, and her mother kept a shrine to her achievements. As Kim gazes at the golden trophies and shiny rosettes, she is forced to wonder if this was what set Katie on the path to murder…

But then Kim receives a shocking call. Another woman is dead. And with Katie safely locked up, she cannot be the killer. The second victim also entered her daughter in pageants, and a broken tiara is found thrust down her throat. Someone clearly feels that these mothers are guilty – and that they deserve to die. Forcing back the memories of her own monstrous mother, Kim vows to find justice for these women, no matter what pain they caused.

Now more than a day behind their killer, Kim races to learn more about a competitive world where appearances are everything and mothers will go to any lengths to ensure their daughters triumph. Buried somewhere in this dark past is the key to unlocking the case… but will Kim be able to find it before another family is destroyed forever?

The twentieth book in the international, multi-million-copy bestselling series, Guilty Mothers will have you glued to the pages. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid and Robert Dugoni will devour this gripping crime thriller.

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Title:   Guilty Mothers

Author:  Angela Marsons

Series:  D. I. Kim Stone Book #20
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:  415

Date of Publication:  May 30, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

It is a sad fact that that some pageant moms can be described as “narcissistic zombie robots”. As this book begins, the question is, did Katie Hawne kill her mother in cold blood? Despite odd, childlike behavior displayed by Katie, D. I. Kim Stone and her team just might have an open-and-shut case with the most recent murder they are investigating. However, there is soon a second victim, and with telling evidence that the cases are connected, Kim quickly becomes sure of Katie’s innocence. Kim and her partner Penn are now beginning to see the sad and unfortunate reality of what can go on with little girls and their mothers in the pageant world. 

Is it an oedipus complex, Munchausen by proxy or narcissistic mother/daughter relationships that are the backdrop of an often ongoing part of a toxic world of pageants? While Kim is addressing the brutality behind the murders that tie into past pageants, there is a separate case with Kendrick and Tiff, a Constable making a big imprint on the CID. A body that was discovered proved to be that of a missing man. However, this discovery involves much more when it comes to a deep problem with another type of family dynamic. 

Oh. My. Word! Angela Marsons is talented beyond belief. Guilty Mothers ran the gamut when it came to me experiencing a plethora of emotions. Shock. Sadness. Rage. Even brought me to tears more than once. To say I loved this book would be a gross understatement. I loved it so much that I had to stop and go back and reread sections. The draw to this book is indescribable. This stunning book, a one-sitting read, had me holding my breath, grabbing my cheeks, and holding back tears. 

It is amazing how Ms. Marsons continues to breathe life into this amazing crime fiction series. And can I reiterate how she makes the reader FEEL? How this mega talented author evokes strong feelings in her readers! Oh my! Now I have to wait for Book 21!

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angela Marsons is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series and her books have sold more than 5 million in 7 years.

She lives in Worcestershire with her partner and their 2 cheeky Golden Retrievers.

She first discovered her love of writing at Junior School when actual lessons came second to watching other people and quietly making up her own stories about them. Her report card invariably read "Angela would do well if she minded her own business as well as she minds other people's".

After years of writing relationship based stories (The Forgotten Woman and Dear Mother) Angela turned to Crime, fictionally speaking of course, and developed a character that refused to go away.

She is signed to Bookouture.com for a total of 28 books in the Kim Stone series and her books have been translated into more than 27 languages.

Many of her books, including Blood Lines, Dead Souls, Broken Bones, Fatal Promise and Dead Memories reached the #1 spot on Amazon on pre-orders alone and the translation of Dead Souls, La Verita Sepolte, recently won the prestigious Primo Bancarella award.

Sign up to Angie's newsletter to receive a download of ONE HOUR - a FREE and exclusive short story about a life-changing moment for a young Kim Stone.  https://www.bookouture.com/angela-marsons

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BLOG TOUR - An Invitation to the Cottage by the Loch

DESCRIPTION:

High on the hills above the wide blue loch, Deb pulls the torn, sepia photograph out of her pocket, tracing her thumb over the girl pictured playing happily amongst the heather. Her grandmother hid this secret for decades…

After losing her sense of self recovering from a serious operation, event planner Deb Sutherland is desperate to reconnect with her family and start living again. So, when an email arrives from the Laird of Loch Cameron asking her to plan his annual Spring Fling, Deb packs her life into her car and makes for the rolling hills of the Highlands. This could be her chance to explore the Scottish roots her beloved grandmother refused to speak about.

Auditioning bands and designing decorations at the Laird’s grand castle, Deb runs into property developer Kyle Abernethy on the edge of the manicured gardens. Kyle is maddeningly arrogant, but Deb can’t deny how his icy blue eyes make her stomach flip. And as they share a bottle of wine overlooking the glittering loch, Deb finds herself laughing like she hasn’t in years.

But when Deb finds an old map of tumbledown worker’s cottages in the castle archives, her heart stops. She remembers how tearful her grandmother would get when asked about her childhood. Was Loch Cameron her home before her family was tragically torn apart? Has Kyle been hiding this truth from her all along?

As the Spring Fling approaches, should Deb run from Loch Cameron for good? Or will confronting her heart-breaking family history mean she can finally move forward with Kyle by her side?

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0CX21ZHVVsocial

Title:  An Invitation to the Cottage by the Loch

Author:  Kennedy Kerr

Series:  Loch Cameron Book #5
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  228

Date of Publication:   May 29, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

Deborah Sutherland experienced painful reproductive problems and has had to have a hysterectomy. This is heartbreaking for her as she always wanted to have a family. This sensitive story by Kennedy Kerr brings a spotlight to the painful condition of endometriosis, a condition that affects just about 10% of the world’s population. Just reading about this has opened my eyes a bit more and that was before I even got into the meat of the story.

Making that permanent decision was perhaps the hardest thing Deb had ever done, and this did not help the success of her current relationship with her partner Dan. She takes the opportunity to get away for a while, and heads to Queens Point in Loch Cameron.  

Having been asked to plan the annual Spring Fling in Loch Cameron further cements Deb’s decision to go. This not only affords Deb a break, it has other advantages. For one thing, she gets to enjoy the beauty that is Loch Cameron, but more importantly, she gets to explore her grandmother’s roots. Deb never understood why her grandmother always refused to share her past, and perhaps now she can get answers that she always desired.

This must be the right place for Deb because she immediately feels right at home. The sense of community is second to none, and she experiences a warmth she did not expect. Also, she has met the property developed named Kyle who gets on her last nerve, despite the fact that she irritatingly finds herself drawn to him.

Despite being busy planning the Spring Fling, she is determined to break open the vault of family secrets. Hoping to land with her feet on the ground, Deb just might find herself in Loch Cameron for good. 

From the first book in this series, The Cottage by the Loch, as well as each successive book, readers are treated to thoroughly heartwarming stories, and this latest book certainly proves that. Despite the emotional punch that comes from Deb’s experience with endometriosis, the book is quite touching, and this includes a sweet love story.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

Kennedy Kerr is a USA Today Bestselling fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle's nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she's not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she'd eat it, anyway.

Author Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennedykerrauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KennedyKerr5

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BLOG TOUR - Murder on the French Riviera

DESCRIPTION:  

A grand old hotel, fresh coffee on the balcony, a perfect view of the sparkling ocean and… surely not another murder? Thank heavens Kitty Underhay is on the case!

Late spring, 1936. As Kitty Underhay steps onto the sun-drenched station platform in Nice, on orders from Whitehall to track down a missing man, she hopes there will still be time to lie by the pool, preferably with a cocktail in hand. But when she and her husband Matt take a brief evening stroll, instead of finding a perfect croissant, they stumble across a body…

Kitty and Matt quickly realise it is Fred Bennett, the man from Whitehall they were hoping to find. Had he simply drunk too much fabulous French wine, or is something fishy going on in this seaside city?

When Kitty and Matt uncover a casino matchbook in Fred’s pocket, they head to the glamorous waterfront establishment where a wealthy widow, a disreputable aristocrat and a cash-strapped reporter swiftly make their suspect list. But with more questions than cards in a pack, can Kitty and Matt nail the killer before he comes after them too? Or will they realise that everything isn’t always nice in Nice?

Fans of Agatha Christie, T.E. Kinsey or Lee Strauss will adore this utterly charming murder mystery. Set on the stunning French Riviera, this novel is the perfect treat for cozy crime fans!

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CVXVNHSPsocial

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MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Murder on the French Riviera

Author:  Helena Dixon

Series:  Miss Underhay #16
Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  296

Date of Publication:   May 28, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars 

Under the guise of vacationing in the French Riviera, Kitty Bryant and her husband Matt have been asked to conduct a bit of espionage. Their purpose is to retrieve papers from a man named Fred Bennett. Instead, Matt stumbles upon his body. The papers are nowhere to be found. Did his apparent drunkenness the previous night lead to his death, or was there foul play involved?

Despite the fact that they should contact the police immediately, Kitty and Matt first examine the body. Although they don’t find the papers they were looking for, they did discover something on his body which may lead to the cause of his death, and who, in fact, murdered him. Kitty pockets what they found and the pair begin to do what they do best, try to find out what happened. More than several times in the past, the pair have been more than adept at solving crimes, and this time they expect no difference.

Currently in Nice, Italy, checking out the beautiful surroundings and scenery may not be possible. They work independently at times, and sometimes with the local police chief to not only find the killer, but also the papers they were sent to retrieve. Finding someone to trust is no easy matter, not even the police, so Kitty and Matt do their best to stay under the radar as they look for the papers, as well as any answers they can unearth.

Helena Dixon has written another enjoyable book. Although 16 books into the series, each cozy mystery is a delight. Not only are Kitty and Matt wonderful characters, their skill at deducing what happens in their cases is always on point. Then the different settings always make each story quite enjoyable. In this case, their work has more of a nature of a spy story, and with a Second World War seeming more and more likely, this adds an extra layer to an already good book. The stories provide just enough intrigue to keep me tapping my Kindle from beginning to end in one sitting. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Helena Dixon is the author of the best-selling Miss Underhay murder mystery series and lives in Devon. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, and a crazy cockapoo. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and
housework. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 and Love Story of the Year 2010 as Nell Dixon.

Social Media 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/NellDixon

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/helenadixonuk

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BLOG TOUR - My Daughter’s Lies

 

  

DESCRIPTION:

In the middle of my beautiful daughter’s eighteenth birthday party, silence falls as I unfold my speech, my heart bursting with everything I want to say. But when I look down I see a note, and my world stops: She’s not who you think she is.

Ruby was our miracle baby. I would have done anything to become a mother, and when she finally arrived, I held her in my arms, looked in her blue eyes and swore I would never let anything harm her. Now she’s everything I could have dreamed of. I don’t even think about all the years of heartache I went through before she was born.

So when I get the strange warning at her birthday party, I ignore it, hiding it in my bag with trembling hands. Someone is simply jealous of her.

But as I watch my daughter, things I’ve been trying to ignore come flooding back to me – Ruby’s odd disappearances, her whispered arguments with her best friend, and a memory from her sixth birthday which still breaks my heart to remember.

I need to know the truth about who she really is, but digging into my daughter’s secrets might reveal my own. As the party draws to a close and the confetti is swept away, I gather my courage. I’ve spent eighteen years trying to forget my own mistakes, and it could only take a moment for everything to fall apart.

Do I risk tearing my family apart to keep my daughter safe? Because when my secrets come out, I could lose my precious girl forever…

A completely compelling and heart-wrenching read about the strength of a mother’s love for her child. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Amanda Prowse and Susan Lewis.

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CYQLM4HQsocial

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Title:   My Daughter’s Lies

Author:  Julia Roberts

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Women’s Fiction 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  297

Date of Publication:   May 23, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars 

MY THOUGHTS:

It is Ruby’s 18th birthday party, and it is rather a glamorous event. Planned by her beloved Aunt Sadie, Ruby’s father was supposed to present a speech in Ruby’s behalf, but he asks Ruby’s mother Melissa to deliver the speech instead. Melissa heads to the podium, begins looking at the pages of the speech she had written for her husband, and she finds a note that states: “She is not who you think she is.”

Was the note about Ruby? Or was it about Melissa? In dual timeline fashion (2023 and 2004), a slow reveal of secrets and lies is uncovered. More than that, the way that it was written with more than one POV enhances the drama in this compelling story. This domestic drama by Julia Roberts had some intriguing twists, surprising me more than once.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julia was born in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, and began her career as a professional singer/dancer. This enabled her to travel the world in her late teens storing up experiences she has since included in her writing.

Following roles as a hostess on The Price is Right and a member of the Beadle’s About ‘hit squad’ in the 1980s, she became a TV Presenter and filmed features for Sky Sports before launching the QVC shopping channel in 1993 where she still presents today. Having always wanted to write, she penned her first book, a memoir sold on QVC, in 2013 and has since written seven full length novels, two novellas and several short stories.

http://www.juliarobertsauthor.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/JuliaRobertsTV
https://www.instagram.com/juliagroberts/
https://twitter.com/JuliaRobertsTV

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BLOG TOUR - The Hospital

 

DESCRIPTION: 

When I wake up, I know three things. My name is Emma. Someone tried to kill me. And I can’t remember who.

When I blink, my eyelashes brush against scratchy cloth. My fingers twitch, numb and distant. In the distance, sirens wail. I’m in the hospital.

I should be safe here, but I know I’m not. The last thing I remember is running, seeing an arm raised to strike… Why would anyone want to kill me?

Desperately, I piece together my scattered memories. I’m standing with my husband on sugar-white sand, our rings glinting in the sunlight. I’ll get better, and I’ll go home to him, and he will protect me.

But when he visits, his new girlfriend is on his arm. He tells me we got divorced three years ago, and my world falls apart. What else have I forgotten?

The only way I can keep myself safe is to uncover the answers buried deep in my mind. But as I talk to my visitors—listening to the gentle tones of the doctors and nurses, grateful for the care of my friends and family—I start to see the lies that contradict what I remember of my life.

They say it’s just my broken memory. But I know the shocking truth: I can’t trust a word anyone says…

BUY LINK:

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Title:   The Hospital

Author:  Leslie Wolfe 

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Mystery & Thrillers 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:  351

Date of Publication:  May 24, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Emma Duncan escaped from a brutal attack. She is now in the hospital. She is struggling to remember what happened. Not only does she not remember. she has lost her vision. The only memory she has at the moment was that she was running from an unknown assailant. 

Emma is fairly sure that she is married to a man named Steve, and finds herself quite relieved when the doctor helps her to understand that chunks of her past will begin to unlock. As Emma goes day by day, struggling for feeling, struggling for memory. she is disheartened that growth is slow. This is very terrifying to Emma. Meanwhile, she is secretly being watched. 

Imagining Emma in a strange hospital under all of those circumstances was rather chilling. The fact that most affected me was the loss of her sight, and having to depend on her other senses to try to handle things each day, all while struggling to regain her memory.

This psychological thriller by Leslie Wolfe was truly engrossing. It was impossible to put down, especially when just before I read this book I was about to undergo a procedure and had in impending hospital stay. Ms. Wolfe did a fabulous job pulling me into the story and therefore allowing me to project Emma’s unusual circumstances to a real life scenario. Excellent job. Excellent twists. Excellent writing. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Meet Leslie Wolfe, bestselling author and mastermind behind gripping thrillers that have won the hearts of over a million readers worldwide. She brings a fresh and invigorating touch to the thriller genre, crafting compelling narratives around unforgettable, powerhouse women. Her books are not only an adrenaline-packed ride, but they're also sprinkled with psychological insights, offering readers an immersive, authentic experience that goes beyond conventional suspense.

You might know her from the Detective Kay Sharp series or have been hooked by Tess Winnett's relentless pursuit of justice. Maybe you've followed the dynamic duo Baxter & Holt through the gritty streets of Las Vegas or plunged into political intrigue with Alex Hoffmann.

Recently, Leslie published The Girl You Killed, a psychological thriller that's pure, unputdownable suspense. This standalone novel will have fans of The Undoing, The Silent Patient, and Little Fires Everywhere on the edge of their seats.

Whether you're into the mind games of Criminal Minds, love crime thrillers like James Patterson's, or enjoy the heart-pounding tension in Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni's mysteries, Leslie's got a thriller series for you. Fans of action-packed writers like Tom Clancy or Lee Child will find plenty to love in her Alex Hoffmann series.

Links

Website: www.WolfeNovels.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLeslieWolfe

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/LWNovels

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfe.leslie/

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