Friday, April 24, 2026

BLOG TOUR - The Girls in the Dark


DESCRIPTION:

I stare at the security footage, heart pounding in my chest. I know who broke into my home—she has a face just like my own. Twenty years ago, my sister was killed and I survived. So how can she be here now? And what does she want?

For years I have been haunted by memories of the almost five months my twin sister and I were abducted and held in darkness. I see her frightened eyes, staring at me for the last time as I whisper a promise to her, the one I failed to keep. “I’ll come back for you…”

The twentieth anniversary of our abduction brings a swirling sense of dread. And when I find a black rose on the passenger seat of my car, it feels like a warning. Not long after, a figure with a face so like my own breaks into my house. My sister.

I tell myself it can’t be true. Her body was never found and I’m sure she died in that room at the hands of our abductor. But what if I’m wrong and she’s back for revenge?

Because for years I’ve kept a secret about what really happened the night I escaped. And as the threats grow, I start to fear for my life. Now it’s clear someone wants the truth to come to light. But if it does, will it destroy everything?

An addictive and breathtaking thriller, packed with nail-biting tension and a shocking final twist, The Girls in the Dark is perfect for fans of Jessica Knoll, Mary Kubica and John Marrs.

BUY LINKS:

Title:   The Girls in the Dark
Author:  Avery Bishop
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Audio ALC
Narrator:  Brittany Pressley
Length:  10 hrs 37 mins
No. of Pages:   406
Date of Publication:   April 24, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Identical twins Allison and Megan were abducted two decades ago, and only one of them made it out alive. For months, the sisters endured unimaginable torture before Megan’s eventual escape. In the aftermath, she told their story in a haunting memoir. Now, on the twentieth anniversary of their kidnapping, that memoir is being re-released alongside a documentary revisiting the case. But as the spotlight returns, so do long-buried secrets - secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

Stories of abduction - whether fictionalized on screen or explored through true crime - carry an inherent sense of dread. That same unease pulses through this gripping novel by Avery Bishop, drawing readers into Megan’s lingering trauma and the unsettling secrets that resurface with the past.

Megan is forced to confront the unimaginable when a woman appears claiming - or at least suggesting - she might be Allison. The resemblance is undeniable, but it challenges everything Megan believes to be true. Having long accepted her sister’s death, Megan now finds herself questioning her own memories, her past, and even her sanity. Whether this stranger is truly Allison or not, her arrival threatens to unravel truths about the twins’ captivity that Megan would rather keep buried.

I had the privilege of experiencing this story in both ebook and audiobook formats, and the audiobook truly stands out thanks to narrator Brittany Pressley. Her performance adds emotional depth and urgency, perfectly capturing Megan’s fragility and fear. The dual timeline structure - easily moving between past and present - unfolds at a deliberate pace that steadily builds tension before accelerating into sharper, more suspenseful turns. It’s a rhythm that keeps the listener fully engaged.

Having listened to more than a dozen audiobooks narrated by Pressley, I can confidently say she delivers another captivating performance here. While Avery Bishop is a new author to me, this novel has ensured she’s firmly on my radar for future reads.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Avery Bishop is the pseudonym for a  USA Today bestselling and ITW Thriller Award-winning author of over a dozen novels. Avery’s previous titles include  Girl Gone Mad ,  One Year Gone , Dear Seraphina , and the Audible Original  The Chateau , which spent four straight weeks on AP’s Top 10 Audiobooks in the US.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Review - Our Extraordinary Summer

Title:  Our Extraordinary Summer
Author:  Lori Wilde
Series:   Hobby Island #2
Publisher:  Avon
Genre:   Romance; Women’s Fiction
Format:  Audio ALC and Kindle ARC
Narrator:  Dawn Harvey
Length:  12 hours 14 mins
No. of Pages:   377
Date of Publication:   April 21, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to the enchanting Hobby Island with a poignant story about two estranged sisters who come together after the passing of their mother, featuring family, love, and one unforgettable summer—perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

Two estranged sisters. One final wish. A summer that could mend everything…or tear open old wounds.

Calista and Athena Dempsey were once inseparable until their father’s ambition drove a wedge between them. When a very public betrayal shattered their bond, Calista walked away from her family, determined to rebuild her life on her own terms. Athena stayed behind, shouldering the weight of expectations and guilt in silence.

Now, with their mother gone, the sisters are summoned to Hobby Island, a secluded retreat where their mother spent her final days, with one final come together and make peace. But the past isn’t so easily buried.

Especially when Calista comes face-to-face with Reid Thornton, the man who once held her heart and then upended her life. He says he wants to make things right. But can she believe him? And can she forgive Athena when the scars between them still run deep?

As secrets surface and loyalties are tested, Calista and Athena must make a pivotal choice. Will they honor their mother’s last wish and find their way back to each other, or let their shared past destroy what little remains of their bond?


MY THOUGHTS:

Sisters Calista and Athena Dempsey were once close, but they became rivals - very much by their father’s design. Now, in the wake of their mother’s death - a mother they were ripped away from as children - they find themselves reunited on Hobby Island, the last place she lived. Both women are desperate for answers: who their mother became, why she never came back for them, and what truly tore their family apart. It’s a heartbreaking foundation for a story that asks whether old wounds can ever heal. Can they set aside years of resentment while grieving such a profound loss? And will they finally find the strength to stand up to their formidable father?

This character-driven novel digs even deeper. Calista must also confront Reid Thornton, the man who once broke her heart - as he is also on Hobby Island. The emotional tension runs high, with lingering pain, unresolved feelings, and the possibility of forgiveness weaving through every interaction. It’s this blend of hurt and healing that makes the story so compelling.

Although Lori Wilde is a prolific author, it has been decades since I last picked up one of her books. Our Extraordinary Summer, the second installment in the Hobby Island series, was a delightful read. I started with The Summer That Shaped Us, and both books captivated me. While each book can be enjoyed independently, there’s a special satisfaction in experiencing the continuity of this series.

In the end, this is a story about fractured family bonds, buried truths, and the fragile, powerful hope of reconciliation - one that lingers long after the final page. 

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



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.

She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.

Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.

She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill. 


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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Mad Mabel

Title:   Mad Mabel
Author:  Sally Hepworth
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press; Macmillan Audio
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Audiobook ALC and Kindle ARC
Narrators:  Hannah Fredericksen,
  Jenny Seedsman
Audiobook Length:  9 hrs 20 mins
No. of Pages:   352
Date of Publication:   April 21, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

From Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Good Sister, comes a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery about the two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies.

Meet Mad Mabel.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years--longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was "Mad Mabel" fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose?

Told with Sally Hepworth's twists, humor, charm, and heart, MAD MABEL is novel that weaves past and present together--through the power of justice and redemption, and all the way to its stunning conclusion.


MY THOUGHTS:

Elsie has spent more than sixty years living a quiet, orderly life on Kenny Lane. Now eighty-one, she’s known as the neighborhood curmudgeon - sharp-tongued, observant, and more than a little nosy. But beneath that prickly exterior is a past she’s kept carefully hidden. When young Persephone, a lonely and determined little girl, decides that Elsie will be her new best friend, an unlikely bond begins to form. In many ways, they are exactly what the other needs. Could a better match have been made?


Sally Hepworth’s latest novel unfolds across dual timelines, moving effortlessly between present-day Elsie and her fifteen-year-old self, with even brief glimpses into her earliest childhood. Through these shifts, readers learn that Elsie was once Mabel - a girl burdened with the cruel nickname “Mad Mabel.” The story behind that name, and the transformation from Mabel to Elsie, is both heartbreaking and compelling, gradually revealing the truth behind the walls she has built over a lifetime.


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Elsie is a wonderfully complex character - difficult at times, but deeply endearing. I loved her just as much as Mabel as I did as the older Elsie. Persephone’s curiosity and vulnerability make her impossible not to care about; she’s the kind of character you want to reach through the pages and hug. While the novel explores some heavy themes, it does so with a light touch, weaving in warmth and humor in a way that feels natural and earned. The ending is especially well done - poignant without being overdone - and it’s one that lingers long after the final page.


Many thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sally Hepworth is the bestselling author of The Secrets of Midwives (2015), The Things We Keep (2016) and The Mother's Promise (2017), and The Family Next Door (Feb 2018). Sally's books have been labelled “enchanting” by The Herald Sun, “smart and engaging” by Publisher’s Weekly, and New York Times bestselling authors Liane Moriarty and Emily Giffin have praised Sally’s novels as “women’s fiction at its finest” and “totally absorbing”.

Sally's novels are available worldwide in English and have been translated into 15 languages.

Sally lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children.



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Monday, April 20, 2026

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Last One Out

 
Title:  Last One Out
Author:  Jane Harper
Publisher:  Macmillan
Genre:   Mystery/Thrillers
Series:  Aaron Falk #3
Format:   Audiobook ALC
Narrator:  Angeline Armstrong
Length:  11 hrs 38 mins
No. of Pages:  326
Date of Publication:  April 14, 2026
My Rating:  5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Exiles and The Dry comes a captivating new novel set in a modern ghost town.

Carralon Ridge, a once vibrant village in rural New South Wales, has become a shell of itself, its houses and buildings bought up and left to rot by the mining company operating at its borders. A decade into its slow death, surrounded by industrial noise and swathed in thick layers of dust, the skeletal town is all but abandoned, with just a handful of residents clinging onto what remains.

After years of scorning those who left the Ridge behind as it fell into ruin, Ro never imagined she'd become one of them. But everything changed when she lost her son. Five years ago, Sam vanished while visiting during a break from college, leaving behind a rental car with his belongings inside. Sam had loved Carralon Ridge, and had been working on an oral history of the town to preserve its legacy before it vanished altogether. It wasn't long after his disappearance that the rest of the family began to crumble away too.

But when Ro returns to Carralon Ridge to be with her husband and daughter on the anniversary of Sam's disappearance, she begins to suspect that something important was overlooked in his case. Because while nothing can stop Carralon Ridge from dying, someone seems to want to make sure that its secrets die with it.


MY THOUGHTS:

Last One Out is a quietly gripping, emotionally charged story that lingers long after the final page.

It has been five long and difficult years for Ro since the loss of her son, Sam - a grief that has never truly loosened its hold. With a mix of reluctance and necessity, Ro returns to Carralon Ridge alongside her husband and daughter to face the anniversary of Sam’s death. The Ridge, once a forward-thinking and thriving village, has since deteriorated into something far more fragile. What remains is a community clinging tightly to its past, determined to preserve what little is left, even as it slips further into decline.

Ro is one of the many who left Carralon Ridge behind, and after Sam’s death, she had little reason to look back. But Sam never fully let go of the place. Before he died, he had been working on a report that could have safeguarded the Ridge’s future - an effort that now feels more significant, and more suspicious, with time. Ro becomes convinced that whatever Sam uncovered is tied to his death, and her return becomes less about remembrance and more about uncovering the truth.

Just as Ro is significant in the character-driven story, what truly stands out is the Ridge itself. Jane Harper has a remarkable ability to turn the setting into something almost sentient, as Carralon Ridge clearly proves. Its isolation, its secrets, and its quiet resistance to change create an atmosphere that is both haunting and immersive.

This is more than just a mystery; it’s a story about grief, resilience, and the lengths a mother will go to for answers. The emotional weight of Ro’s journey is palpable, making it impossible not to feel deeply for her and her family. Thoughtful and compelling, Last One Out draws you in with its slow-burn suspense and keeps you invested with its heart.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jane was born in Manchester in the UK, and moved to Australia with her family at age eight. She spent six years in Boronia, Victoria, and during that time gained Australian citizenship.

Returning to the UK with her family as a teenager, she lived in Hampshire before studying English and History at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

On graduating, she completed a journalism entry qualification and got her first reporting job as a trainee on the Darlington & Stockton Times in County Durham.

Jane worked for several years as a senior news journalist for the Hull Daily Mail, before moving back to Australia in 2008.

She worked first on the Geelong Advertiser, and in 2011 took up a business reporting role in Melbourne.

In 2014, Jane submitted a short story which was one of 12 chosen for the Big Issue's annual Fiction Edition.

That inspired her to pursue creative writing more seriously, breaking through with The Dry at the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards in 2015.

Jane lives in bayside Melbourne with her husband and their two children.

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Review - Stakeouts and Strollers

Title:  Stakeouts and Strollers
Author:  Rob Phillips
Publisher:  Minotaur Books
Genre:   Cozy Mystery
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:   March 17, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Amateur private investigator and new dad Charlie Shaw gets more than he bargained for when he agrees to track down a young girl’s missing father in Rob Phillips’ award-winning debut.

Charlie Shaw is low on sleep. And cash. Otherwise, life is going pretty well for the ex-crime reporter: He’s happily married to his college sweetheart, he’s a first-time dad to the most adorable baby girl in existence, and he’s making ends meet as a rookie PI. But when Charlie meets Friday Finley, a frightened sixteen-year-old runaway on a stakeout-gone-wrong, his world gets a little more complicated.

Friday is looking for her estranged father Shawn, an unreliable alcoholic who left when she was young—and who also happens to be her only shot at avoiding the foster care system since her mother’s death a few weeks earlier. At first, Charlie believes the man is simply hiding out somewhere, avoiding his responsibilities as usual, but the more he investigates, the more unsettling—and dangerous—Shawn’s disappearance becomes. When his own family is threatened, Charlie realizes he’s in over his head, but can he back out now that he’s begun to care for Friday as his own?

A perfect blend of humor and high stakes, Stakeouts and Strollers is a heartwarming story of fatherhood, family, and what it really means to be a “Girl Dad.”


MY THOUGHTS:

Charlie Shaw, a new dad juggling his role as an amateur private investigator, finds himself in a challenging situation. Like many new parents, he’s struggling with sleep deprivation and limited time. Despite these obstacles, Charlie’s responsibilities demand that he take on cases, even those with potential danger.

One of Charlie’s new cases takes on a personal significance. Friday Finley, a sixteen-year-old girl, is desperate to find her father after losing her mother. While she doesn’t anticipate a warm reunion, she recognizes that he’s the only living relative she has left. Either Friday finds her father or she’ll end up in the foster care system.

Maybe because he is the father of a six-month-old daughter, Charlie’s concern for Friday deepens. He hopes for a reunion between her and her father, hoping that he can turn his life around. However, danger lurks for both Charlie and Friday, and it becomes evident why they’re struggling to locate her father. Despite these challenges, Charlie remains determined to find Friday’s father.

What a delightful debut novel! All the protagonists, including Charlie’s long-suffering wife, were enjoyable. The story is excellent, with humor that keeps it light-hearted. I’ll definitely be reading more by Rob Phillips in the future. 
Many thanks to Minotaur and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rob's debut novel, STAKEOUTS AND STROLLERS, won the Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Award. STAKEOUTS AND STROLLERS is now available for preorder (publication date 3/17/26).

Rob grew up in the Dallas area, where he became an Emmy-winning sportswriter covering the Dallas Cowboys for print, radio and television. Rob and his wife are proud parents to a spunky senior King Charles spaniel and a lively young daughter who’s still waiting for her first stakeout.



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BLOG TOUR - The Happy Family



DESCRIPTION:

Behind closed doors, nothing is as it seems…

I stare at the photograph. It was taken on an ordinary day at the park. The four of us look so happy – our smiles wide and cheeks rosy. But just a month after this image was taken, I lost everything.

I’m watching them now, walking in the park my handsome husband, my beautiful daughter and my adorable son. They’re with her. She’s playing happy families with my loved ones. She stole them from me.

She thinks she’s got rid of me.
But I’m going to get my family back.
And I’m going to get revenge…

The Happy Family is an utterly page-turning and completely addictive psychological thriller full of incredible twists by number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, John Marrs and Freida McFadden.


BUY LINK:

Title:  The Happy Family
Author:  Daniel Hurst
Series:  The Hunt Family #3
Publisher:  Bookouture
Genre:   Psychological Thriller
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   336
Date of Publication:   April 20, 2026
My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

The Happy Family by Daniel Hurst is a perfect example of the author’s talent for creating protagonists you’d never want in your real life - yet you can’t look away from the chaos they create. His books are, quite simply, addictive.

In this trilogy, readers are introduced to Luna, whose diabolical mindset drives the entire series. From the very beginning, she wants what Sadie has: a husband, two children, and that picture-perfect life. In I Want Your Family, Luna carefully crafts a plan to take everything from Sadie. Working as a delivery driver gives her the perfect access - and the perfect opportunity to insert herself into Sadie’s world. By the time we reach I Stole Your Family, Luna has succeeded in getting exactly what she wanted.

So where does that leave us in The Happy Family?

Sadie has lost everything - and she’s not backing down. She’s determined to expose Luna and reclaim her life, no matter the cost. Throughout the book, one thought kept circling my mind: only one of them can win. The tension feels almost gladiatorial, as if you’re watching an inevitable, brutal showdown inch closer with every chapter.

I’ll admit, I didn’t read this trilogy in order - I went into The Happy Family completely blind. But that misstep didn’t last long. Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I quickly went back and read the first two books, and I’m so glad I did. It gave much-needed depth to the story - especially with the introduction of Gemma, whose role proves to be pivotal.

The Happy Family delivers a fitting end to an utterly addictive series. Hurst has crafted a central character who is completely unhinged - and somehow, that’s exactly what makes you unable to stop reading.

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


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Daniel Hurst is an Amazon number one bestselling author of fast-paced psychological thrillers. His most popular titles include The Doctor’s Wife, which reached number one in the UK Kindle store in February 2023, The Couple’s Revenge, The Couple in the Cabin and The Perfect Nurse. 

Daniel prides himself on writing fast-paced, twist-filled stories with jaw-dropping endings and he loves engaging with his readers.



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