Review - Four-Alarm Homicide

Title:   Four-Alarm Homicide
Author: Diane Kelly
Series: House Flipper Mystery #6
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 304
Date of Publication: April 23, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Some properties are too hot to handle...

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are hot for a historical property that has just come on the market—a fire station in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood that was built nearly a century ago.

The cousins have just begun the interior demolition work at the fire station when Joanna Hartzell, who lives in a townhouse around the corner, comes by with a plea for help. Joanna owns the right half of her building, which she proudly maintains in perfect condition, while the left side falls into disrepair: the seven adult children who inherited it years ago refuse to lift a finger on repairs. Never one to turn down a challenge, Whitney and Buck manage to acquire the rundown townhouse—though it turns out Joanna is only one of the many neighbors interested in buying the property once they’ve worked their magic.

Then Joanna shows up at the fire station confused and rambling, then collapses, never to recover. Alarm bells go off for Whitney: she suspects something—and someone—evil could be the real cause. Can she and Collin put the clues together and smoke out a killer?

https://amzn.to/3JtyW8F

MY THOUGHTS:

Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are really hoping that they will win the bid for a historical property, a fire station that they want to turn into a nice family home. After making the purchase and beginning the renovation, Joanna, the owner of a townhouse just around the corner inform encourage them to buy the left side of the townhome, which has fallen into disrepair. The owner has long since passed away, and none of their seven adult children have done anything to maintain the property.

So, Whitney and Buck just might have two properties that they could be working on at the same time - if they can convince each adult child to sign a quit-claim deed for a set amount of money for each of them. Now with the two projects going on at once, their next challenge is the fact that more than one person is interested in purchasing the townhouse, and the pressure is on.

Shockingly, after coming to the firehouse one day, Joanna suddenly drops dead. As she was one of the eager would-be purchaser of the townhouse, and it doesn’t take Whitney long at all to know that this must be a case of foul play. With more than one suspect that could be responsible, work on their two projects is easily slowed down as Whitney strives to discover the killer. As this is the sixth book in a enjoyable cozy mystery series, it was very nice to revisit Whitney. She never missed a beat, all while the renovations were in progress, as well as planning her impending marriage. I sure hope that this series continues as Whitney is a delightful character. 

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Paperbacks and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A former tax advisor, Diane Kelly inadvertently worked with white-collar criminals more than once. Lest she end up in an orange jumpsuit, Diane decided self-employment would be a good idea. Her fingers hit the keyboard and thus began her “Death and Taxes” romantic mystery series. A graduate of her hometown’s Citizen Police Academy, Diane Kelly, also writes the hilarious Paw Enforcement K-9 series, the Busted Female Motorcycle Cop series, the House Flipper series, the Southern Homebrew Moonshine series and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries series.

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AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Darling Girls

Title:   Darling Girls

Author:  Sally Hepworth

Publisher:  St. Martin's Press; Macmillan Audio

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Audiobook and Kindle ARC

Narrators:  Jessica Clarke

Audiobook Length:  9 hr 6 min

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   April 23, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

SISTERS, SECRETS, LOVE, AND MURDER... Sally Hepworth’s new novel has it all.

For as long as they can remember, Jessica, Norah, and Alicia have been told how lucky they are. As young girls they were rescued from family tragedies and raised by a loving foster mother, Miss Fairchild, on an idyllic farming estate and given an elusive second chance at a happy family life.

But their childhood wasn’t the fairy tale everyone thinks it was. Miss Fairchild had rules. Miss Fairchild could be unpredictable. And Miss Fairchild was never, ever to be crossed. In a moment of desperation, the three broke away from Miss Fairchild and thought they were free. Even though they never saw her again, she was always somewhere in the shadows of their minds. When a body is discovered under the home they grew up in, the foster sisters find themselves thrust into the spotlight as key witnesses. Or are they prime suspects?

A thrilling page-turner of sisterhood, secrets, love, and murder by New York Times bestselling author Sally Hepworth.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

Sisters Jessica, Norah and Alicia. Not sisters by blood, but sisters in every way that matters. As someone with four sisters, I can attest to the fact that there is an unbreakable bond. These three girls have that bond, a bond that was forged after being fostered in a home by a woman known as Miss Fairchild. They were only three of dozens of other fostered children, but as adults, some of the issues that led them to foster care, as well as living in a less than ideal foster home, has brought them even closer together. 

New construction is taking place - in a very old place. It was Wild Meadows, the foster home run by Miss Fairchild. When a body is discovered, the girls are faced with a past none of them want to relive, but they are witnesses to whatever it was that happened that eventually led to that body being discovered. The question is: are they witnesses or or are they suspects in a death that was no doubt a murder?

Darling Girls is the fifth book I have read by Sally Hepworth, and as before, I was really pulled into the drama in this story. Secrets, lies and murders are the fiber of this story, but equally so are love and sisterhood. There is trauma. There is drama. And with four points of view the story moves at a fast pace, especially as it was excellently narrated by Jessica Clarke. I definitely loved her performance. 

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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BLOG TOUR - The Home Front Girls

DESCRIPTION:

The war is raging in Europe. These girls will do everything they can on the home front – but is a happy ever after possible in such dark and uncertain times?

Manchester, 1940: The minute war was declared, best friends Sally and Deborah volunteered for the home guard, willing to do anything to help their boys fighting overseas. An Auxiliary Fire Service girl by night, Sally ends up stationed at the salvage depot by day. Working amidst the scrap metal and waste paper, helping to make do and mend, isn’t quite the glamorous life in uniform she’d imagined! But she’s determined to do her best, and turn saucepans into Spitfires.

When Sally meets Andrew, a quiet carpenter with a heart-breaking smile who understands how important her work is, she finally feels as though her efforts to keep calm and carry on are making a difference. As love blossoms, Sally feels herself opening up to Andrew in a way she’d never imagined possible.

But then, just as Sally feels as hopeful as she can be in these times of war, a devastating air raid threatens everything she holds dear. As bombs rain down all over Manchester, deadly fires begin to destroy homes, and lives. With Andrew out rescuing families from the rubble, Sally rushes towards the plumes of smoke that fill the night sky. And is horrified to realise the very worst hit area has the salvage yard right at its heart.

Desperate to help in any way she can, Sally, with her fellow salvage girls by her side, sets to work. But what will they find when the smoke clears? Will Sally and Andrew get the happy ending they so deserve? Or will her one chance at true love be lost forever as the morning dawns…?

A completely gripping and heart-breaking romantic saga. Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke, Nancy Revell and Lizzie Lane.

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0CSG3WLMVsocial

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:  The Home Front Girls

Author:  Susanna Bavin

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Historical Fiction

Series:  The Home Front Girls #1

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   329

Date of Publication:   April 16, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars 

When Sally and Deborah volunteered for the home guard while WWII was raging, they both thought that the jobs they would be doing would be more than what they  actually got assigned. Primarily, they will be doing salvage work, and it doesn’t take them long to realize that this job is indeed as important as other jobs for those who serve. 

As their characters were drawn out in this first book in the historical saga series by Susanna Bavin, this book also highlighted jobs often not mentioned during the war effort. Their work was indeed vital, and both Sally and Deborah saw firsthand the devastation that the war was bringing. For example, food rations. So difficult to read and to imagine, but it was just one of the tragedies that the victims of the war experienced. 

While this book shows how Sally and Deborah’s friendship blossomed, there was also a romance blooming, and this added another layer to this well-written book. As this is the first book in a new series, I am eager to see how both the setting and the characters continue to be affected by the war. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 Susanna Bavin has written 4 standalone sagas and her new WW2 trilogy, The Home Front Girls, will be published by Bookouture in 2024. She also writes as Polly Heron (The Surplus Girls 1920s saga series) and Maisie Thomas (The Railway Girls WW2 saga series)

Susanna lives on the beautiful North Wales coast with her husband and their two rescue cats. She is originally from Chorlton-cum-Hardy in Manchester, where her family has lived for several generations and which provides the setting for her family sagas.

Author social media

 

Website: www.susannabavin.co.uk

 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MaisieThomasAuthor

 

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BLOG TOUR - The Writer

DESCRIPTION:

Her body was found close to the university. She was on her way home after a night out. Just like in the story I wrote…

Every Monday, I meet my writing group in a warm, lively bar to drink a glass of wine or two. It’s the highlight of my week. But now something terrible is happening.

At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal. My tires were slashed. A woman was hit by a car outside my apartment. Then, yesterday, someone was murdered. And all the details are copied from the stories we shared.

Am I going mad, or is someone in my group a killer?

I thought they were the only people I could trust, since what happened ten years ago. But now I’m terrified one of them knows the truth that lies buried in all my work—the secret I’ve tried so hard to hide. And they want to make me pay for it.

I have to know who’s bringing my stories to life… but will the answer cost me everything?

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages! If you like Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and The Wife Between Us, then you’ll love The Writer.

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CS6QFGL9social

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

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   The Writer

Author:  Miranda Smith

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   326

Date of Publication:   April 15, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

“Being a writer doesn’t come with a clear career path, and a sad truth is, you can do all the right things and still never make it.”

When Becca decides to attend a writers group for authors in the genres she prefers, crime thrillers in particular, she was not prepared for what appears to be re-enactments of her stories. The group she has joined, Mystery Maidens, should be for inspiration, but things turn ugly rather quickly.  

Becca begins to wonder how many ways can the lives of a small writing group intersect?  Meanwhile, strange events begin to take place and this all began with the death of her friend a decade ago. When that happened, black hearts were left. Now, in present time, things are happening again, with those black hearts just like before. As these black hearts are accompanied by strange notes, Becca is certain that the timing of these current incidents seems rather strange. 

This fabulous book kept me guessing right until the very end. As a fan of Miranda Smith, I have loved her writing style and the way she develops the protagonists as well as the intricate plots that are perfect that keeping the reader guessing. I have read a number of her books and find myself completely drawn into her writing.  

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

https://mirandasmithwriter.com/

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BLOG TOUR - Christa Comes Out of Her Shell

Title:   Christa Comes Out of Her Shell

Author:  Abbie Waxman

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Romance; Women’s Fiction 

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   400

Date of Publication:   April 16, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Just when she thought she’d gotten far enough away . . .a life-changing phone call throws an antisocial scientist back into her least favorite place—the spotlight. A hilarious and insightful new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Bookish Life of Nina Hill.

After a tumultuous childhood, Christa Liddle has hidden away, both figuratively and literally. Happily studying sea snails in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Christa finds her tranquil existence thrown into chaos when her once-famous father—long thought dead after a plane crash—turns out to be alive, well, and ready to make amends. The world goes wild, fascinated by this real-life saga, pinning Christa and her family under the spotlight. As if that weren’t enough, her reunion with an old childhood friend reveals an intense physical attraction neither was expecting and both want to act on . . . if they can just keep a lid on it. When her father’s story starts to develop cracks, Christa fears she will lose herself, her potential relationship, and—most importantly—any chance of making it back to her snails before they forget her completely.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Christa appeared on many television screens as a child, but not out of choice. In fact, when her famous father went missing when she was quite young, she was often presented as the sad little girl who lost her daddy. As Christa grew older she had some difficulties, and this is when Christa ended up taking charge of her own life. Now a well-educated woman, working on a long-term research project on an isolated island, Christa is in her element. 

However, this all changes when her father, certainly thought to be deceased, shows up alive and well. Christa and her family are now thrust into the spotlight. Christa gets more attention than her two sisters and even her mother because of how she was presented as a child. Avoiding the paparazzi proves to be a huge challenge and while the family is seeking answers, she cannot wait to get back to her little island and the marine project that she is working on. 

Where is all of this going to lead? Where was Christa‘s father all of those years? What does that mean for her life and that of the life of her family even now? Beyond these questions, there is something else that this book offers readers. There is a second chance romance woven into the pages of this story that most certainly will affect Christa‘s future.

This was a delightful read and I love how the story evolved and how we got to see Christa’s life changing as the story progressed. This came to a wonderful conclusion and now I cannot wait to read the next book by this talented author.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Abbi Waxman was born in England in 1970, the oldest child of two copywriters who never should have been together in the first place. Once her father ran off to buy cigarettes and never came back, her mother began a successful career writing crime fiction. Naturally lazy and disinclined to dress up, Abbi went into advertising, working as a copywriter and then a creative director at various advertising agencies in London and New York. Eventually she quit advertising, had three kids and started writing books, mostly in order to get a moment’s peace.

Abbi lives in Los Angeles with her husband, three kids, three dogs, three cats, a gecko, a snake, five pigeons, four chickens, and two guinea pigs. Every one of these additions made sense at the time, it’s only in retrospect that it seems foolhardy.

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Review - Making Memories at the Cornish Cove

Title:   Making Memories at the Cornish Cove

Author:  Kim Nash

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Genre:   Women’s Fiction; Romance

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   277

Date of Publication:  April 17, 2024

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

It’s never too late…

After five husbands and five broken hearts, Lydia feels like she’s always been chasing something. But now she’s found her purpose, and having moved to Driftwood Bay to spend more time with her daughter Meredith, she’s happier than ever. 

But there’s still life in these old bones yet! With her newfound sense of identity, she’s keen to re-explore the things that made her happy as a younger person. Lydia’s passion was dancing – she used to compete in her younger years, and there’s no place she’s more at home than on the dance floor. 

So when widower and antiques restorer Martin tells her about a big dance competition, she’s ready and raring to bring more joy into her life. But while making memories with Martin, the more she realises that both of their hearts need restoring too...

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Lydia intends on spending time with her daughter, Meredith, but she finds so much more than their connection. A spritely septuagenarian, having been married five times, she never expected to find love yet again. Moving to Driftwood Bay was a huge adjustment for Lydia. This is for more than one reason. Not only had she lived in America for years, she was rather estranged from her daughter Meredith.

While a big part of this fabulous book shows the slow-burn of what is going on between Lydia and Martin, Meredith's soon-to-be father-in-law, it was watching the relationship growth between mother and daughter that was the real draw to this story.

What a wonderful story of family, friendship, community and love. With moments of sadness, this truly engrossing one-sitting read by Kim Nash is a fabulous addition to the other books in the delightful Cornish Cove series. This amazingly-talented author could not have written Lydia's character any better. This warm and engaging story had a really heartwarming ending as it was filled with wonderful characters and is an excellent display of growth and relationships.

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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BLOG TOUR - Bride and Groom

   

DESCRIPTION:

Walking down the aisle in the packed church, sunlight glints off my ivory silk gown. This should be the happiest day of my life. But as I carefully lift my veil and greet my husband-to-be, my heart is pounding with fear. Does someone out there know what we’ve done?

Ethan gently squeezes my hand as he slides the golden ring onto my finger. But I know we aren’t worthy of happiness.

As I look down at my wedding ring, in a blistering flash, I suddenly remember another piece of that pitch-black, rainy night… but I try to focus on Ethan’s gorgeous blue eyes. I know exactly what he’s thinking. We can never tell.

All our family, friends and loved ones smile as they watch Ethan and I promise to be together until death us do part. But only we know what that really means…

Because we have already killed someone.

My dear, sweet new husband isn’t quite all he seems…

But then again, neither am I.

An incredibly addictive psychological thriller that will keep you up all night, gasping at the truly mind-blowing twists! A completely unputdownable, edge-of-your seat page-turner for fans of The Perfect Marriage, Freida McFadden and Shari Lapena.

BUY LINK:

https://geni.us/B0CT8Y3PLDsocial 

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

MY THOUGHTS:

Title:   Bride and Groom

Author:  Rona Halsall 

Publisher:  Bookouture 

Genre:   Psychological Thriller 

Format:  Kindle ARC 

No. of Pages:   321

Date of Publication:   April 5, 2024

My Rating:   4 Stars 

Separate secrets. A shared secret. Hidden lies. Till death to us part. Ethan and Nicci just got married despite a dark cloud hanging over their heads. With a foundation like that, what are the chances that they have happiness and forever in their futures?

Well, no doubt from day one - actually, even before they tied the knot - Ethan and Nicci’s lives were wrought with troubles. In fact, if there is a measure of accountability, this thrilling read explores who has a conscience that supersedes the other. Of course, there is no shortage of dilemmas facing this newly married couple, especially as there are shocking twists and turns in this latest book by Rona Halsall. Then, when the reader considers the likability of the characters, they can expect a roller coaster of feelings. 

It’s hard to believe that I have been reading these amazing books by the skilled and talented Rona Halsall since 2018! I have always found myself greatly entertained, and Bride and Groom is no exception. 

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rona is the #1 Best Selling author of psychological thrillers published by Bookouture. She loves to turn domestic storylines on their head to keep her readers guessing what the heck is going on.

Her 2023 release, THE BIGAMIST, has been short-listed for the International Writers Awards 2024, for Best Original E-Book, which is probably the peak of her writing career to date!

She has been a bit of a nomad during her adult life, moving around the north of England, before settling in Snowdonia, North Wales where she brought up her family while working as a business mentor. She lived on the Isle of Man with her husband and mad little Border Collie, Maid, for several years before returning to Wales. Recently, she has recruited a new member to the writing team - a Romanian rescue dog called Evie.

She is an outdoorsy person, who loves nothing better than stomping up a mountain, walking coastal paths and beaches and wandering round forests and woodlands while she's plotting her next book. She has three children and two step-children who are all grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of material for new stories.

If you follow her Author page on Amazon, you'll get notifications whenever there's a new book on the way, or when promotions are running on her backlist titles. Go on... hit that Follow button!

Social Media Links:

Website: www.facebook.com/RonaHalsallAuthor  

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