BLOG TOUR - Murder Stage Left

 

Murder Stage Left

Verity Bright

SeriesLady Eleanor Swift #16

PublisherBookouture

GenreCozy Myste

FormatKindle ARC

Pages326

Pub. DateAugust 26, 2026

Rating🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

DESCRIPTION

Lady Swift and her handsome husband Hugh Seldon are totally charmed by the picturesque town where Shakespeare once lived. Everyone is abuzz with chatter about the upcoming production of Macbeth… But wait, is that a body backstage?

Dashing showman Richard Ratcliffe is set to return to the stage at the famous Shakespeare Memorial theatre. But when priceless items belonging to Shakespeare himself go missing from the theatre’s collection, Eleanor knows someone has gone off-book…

Then the beautiful old theatre is set on fire. The gang are horror-struck, and while racing to help, Eleanor’s loyal butler Clifford discovers an act of foul Ratcliffe, the show’s leading man, is dead inside from a blow to the head. Was the fire a deliberate distraction to cover up the murder? Hugh believes Ratcliffe may have caught the thief in the act, but Eleanor isn’t so certain.

With the production in tatters, the cast and crew are flailing. Everyone is playing a part and Eleanor needs to decide who is putting on a deadly show and who is telling the truth. Did the director have more to gain from the insurance money than a standing ovation? Maybe the leading lady feared she was about to be upstaged?

Hunting for local gossip at the town tearoom, Eleanor discovers Ratcliffe had secrets he was desperate to keep from stealing the show… But the culprit is waiting in the wings. And it’s only a matter of time before Eleanor steps too far into their deadly spotlight. Can she catch the killer before it’s curtains for her too?

A totally delightful historical cozy murder mystery. Fans of T.E. Kinsey, L.B. Hathaway and Lee Strauss will fly through the pages!

BUY LINK

Amazon:- https://geni.us/B0GPNW38XDsocial

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

MY THOUGHTS

Lady Eleanor Swift, her husband Hugh Seldon, and her ever-steady butler Clifford are looking forward to an evening performance of Macbeth - until a rapidly spreading fire in the theater puts an abrupt end to their plans. Even before the fire, however, something was amiss: priceless items believed to have once belonged to William Shakespeare have disappeared.

After barely escaping the blaze, Eleanor and Hugh are determined to uncover how the fire started, what happened to the missing artifacts, and whether the leading man, Richard Ratcliffe, actually died as a direct result of the fire.

With their exceptional investigative skills, the trio - Eleanor, Hugh, and Clifford - have always made quite a formidable team and have recently formed the Byron Detective Agency. Eleanor’s sharp wit, Hugh’s extensive career with Scotland Yard, and Clifford’s unwavering loyalty make them an impressive crime-solving team. But this case presents more questions than answers. Was the fire accidental, or was it deliberately set? What happened to the valuable Shakespearean artifacts? And what really caused Ratcliffe’s death?

What an engaging installment in this long-running series! This story is layered with intriguing mysteries, and, as always, Eleanor simply refuses to let things go. Her determination and forthright nature were particularly enjoyable in this book, even when her pursuit of the truth put her directly in harm’s way.

This historical cozy mystery, as well as every book that has come before it, is truly delightful. And, of course, we can’t forget Eleanor’s pudgy bulldog, Gladstone, or Eleanor’s ladies, the members of her staff who have become so much more than employees. They are now cherished friends and an important part of Eleanor’s life.

Verity Bright has once again delivered a wonderful mystery filled with charm, danger, and plenty of twists. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest adventure and can’t wait to see what is next in store for Eleanor, Hugh, Clifford, Gladstone, and the rest of the beloved cast.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

\Verity Bright is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing partnership that has spanned a quarter of a century. Starting out writing high-end travel articles and books, they published everything from self-improvement to humour, before embarking on their first historical mystery. They are the authors of the fabulous Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery series, set in the 1920s.

https://twitter.com/BrightVerity

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Verity Bright here: https://www.bookouture.com/verity-bright

Robin Loves Reading

Review - Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line

DESCRIPTION

Life hasn’t been easy for Finlay Donovan lately, but it just got a whole lot harder. Her nanny and partner-in-crime, Vero, has been extradited from Virginia to Maryland, where she’s facing criminal charges for a theft she swears she didn’t commit. A prisoner to an ankle bracelet as she awaits her trial, Vero is forced to live with her overbearing mother and nosy aunt. Threatening messages keep arriving on her mother’s door, demanding Vero “turn over the money . . . or else.” And if she doesn’t figure out who really stole her former sorority’s treasury funds, her next home might be a prison cell.

But proving her innocence might be an impossible feat. Vero was the treasurer of her sorority when the money went missing—one of the only people who had access to the cash. And her alibi is a date who ghosted her. With her court date quickly approaching, and her mysterious stalker on her tail, Vero needs to clear her name fast.

Finlay decides a trip to Maryland is in order. After all, Vero stood by her through her darkest moments, and Finlay will be damned if she lets her best friend and children’s nanny be convicted for something she didn’t do. She sets off on a mission to sus out the real thief and bring Vero home.

MY THOUGHTS

If series titles could get better and better as a series progresses, then the sixth booke in the Finlay Donovan series, Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line, definitely fits the bill. I loved this installment because we don’t have Finlay and her usual crew setting out to solve just another crime. This time, Finlay’s nanny and best friend, Vero Ramirez, has been extradited to her home state of Maryland and is under house arrest. Finlay misses her, and she strongly believes the case against Vero is wrong. She is determined to prove her innocence.

The case against Vero goes all the way back to her college days, when she and her sorority sisters were involved in underground poker games. One night, a bag containing the winnings disappeared, and all fingers pointed to Vero. She dropped out of school, fled Maryland, and started a new life when she began working for Finlay. Now that she has been found, she is under house arrest until her trial and could be facing years in prison.

Finlay isn’t the only one concerned about Vero’s future. There is also Javi Romero, Vero’s boyfriend, who is willing to do almost anything to help her - even if that means breaking the law. The problem is that Vero insists she is innocent and doesn’t want to her situation even worse.

So, how does Finlay cross the line, as the title suggests? Finlay, our novelist, mother, and amateur detective, is determined to prove Vero’s innocence. Her boyfriend, Nick Anthony, generously agrees to stay home with her children while Finlay heads to Maryland. Of course, Finlay crosses the line in more ways than one, leading to another fun-filled adventure with plenty of chaos along the way.

This book delivers on so many levels: the strength of Finlay and Vero’s friendship, the solid relationship between Finlay and Nick, and plenty of laugh-out-loud chaos. I loved this installment and am already looking forward to seeing what comes next in this engaging and entertaining series.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elle Cosimano is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, an International Thriller Award winner, a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and an Edgar® Award nominee. Her acclaimed young adult novels include Nearly Gone, Holding Smoke, The Suffering Tree, and Seasons of the Storm. Elle’s debut novel for adults, Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, kicked off a witty, fast-paced contemporary mystery series, which was a PEOPLE Magazine Pick and was named one of New York Public Library’s Best Books of 2021. In addition to writing novels for teens and adults, her essays have appeared in The Huffington Post and Time. Elle lives with her husband and two sons in Virginia.

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ROBIN LOVES READING

Review - The Mother-Daughter Book Club

 

The Mother-Daughter Book Club

James Patterson; Susan Patterson

PublisherLittle, Brown and Company

GenreMemoir

FormatAudiobook

NarratorEllen Archer, et al

Length7 hrs 35 mins

Pages352

Pub. DateA;ril 20, 2027

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

DESCRIPTION

Secrets, spritzes, and second chances

“An entertaining book ... As friends talk books, hopes, dreams … and dishy revelations … it’s romantic love—both old and new … that drive[s] the story forward.” —Kirkus Review

Between their busy lives and their far-flung residences, the Mother-Daughter Book Club—four longtime college friends and their five daughters—more often discuss the books on their nightstands via 2 a.m. texts than in-person meetings. And maybe it’s just as well, after what happened at their last get-together ... 

So it’s an emotional reunion when they finally gather again, this time on the spectacular shores of Italy’s Lake Como. Sightseeing excursions, reminiscing fueled by “Como-politans,” and a hint of vacation romance all build toward the book club’s trademark “Night of Secrets.” 

These friends, and sometime rivals, are close readers—of novels, memoirs, and of each other. But as the years and the distance cast shadows and doubt, confidences and sympathies turn into surprising revelations.

MY THOUGHTS

Earlier this year, I read James and Susan Patterson’s Things I Wish I Told My Mother, and I was glad to be able to read another book that focused on the mother-daughter dynamic.  This story centers around four college friends who have worked hard over the years to maintain their relationships and make time for regular gatherings. It wasn’t just the four friends who came together - their five daughters were also part of these reunions.

Sadly, three years earlier, as one of those gatherings was coming to an end, Meg and Kathleen, the twin daughters of one of the women, were involved in a devastating accident. The aftermath fractured the friendships among the women and daughters and even damaged the once-close bond between the twin sisters.

Now, they all reunite and attempt to mend old wounds. Between them are secrets, unresolved feelings, and plenty of emotional baggage. The question is whether they can rebuild the relationships that once meant so much to them.

This is a warm, second-chance story that explores friendship, forgiveness, grief, and even romance. Using the framework of a book club, the women and their daughters are given an opportunity to confront the past and perhaps repair what was broken. While books bring everyone together, they definitely come second to the relationships explored throughout this story.

There is a bonus at the end of the book - delicious recipes.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Susan Solie Patterson has a Bachelor of Science/Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she was also an All-American swimmer. She is the author of Things I Wish I Told My Mother and Big Words for Little Geniuses, which was a New York Times bestseller.

- - -

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, Michael Crichton, and Viola Davis, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Robin Loves Reading

BLOG TOUR - The Wife After Me

TitleThe Wife After Me

AuthorNora Valters

PublisherBookouture

GenrePsychological Thriller

FormatKindle ARC

Pages282

Pub. DateAugust 24, 2026

Rating4 Stars

Description

She married my ex-husband. They're living in my house. One of us won't make it out alive...

I share a house with my ex-husband, Ben. A floor each, a schedule for taking turns to use the kitchen. It may sound odd but it’s all perfectly amicable. Then his new wife moves in…

Yasmin breezes in on a cloud of expensive perfume, and it’s clear Ben is besotted. But her perfect veneer soon starts to crack. I know she’s been in my room. And I realise I have more to fear than I’d ever imagined…

Then Ben disappears, and I’m alone in the house with her. I hear a noise in our basement. I run down the steps and the door slams behind me. But is it Yasmin turning the key in the lock, or is the truth even more dangerous?

And will I survive…?

Fans of None of This Is True, John Marrs, T.M. Logan and Freida McFadden will be utterly gripped by this addictive, page-turning psychological thriller.

MY THOUGHTS

Steph and her ex-husband, Ben, have a rather interesting living arrangement. Their home is absolutely beautiful, and neither one wants to give it up, so they come to an agreement: they will share the house while maintaining separate spaces and following a schedule for common areas, such as the kitchen. It may be unconventional, but for them, it works. Steph has also changed careers and, for the past five years, has worked remotely as a grief counselor.

Then everything changes - and far too quickly for Steph’s comfort. Ben has found someone new, Yasmin. Steph doesn’t want Ben back and genuinely wants to be happy for him, but she soon feels increasingly hemmed in when Yasmin begins spending more time at the house and disregarding the rules Steph and Ben established. Meanwhile, Steph’s father, a former cop with whom she shares a wonderful relationship, is dealing with troubles of his own. Add to this the family of a former patient whose situation has left Steph with an unrelenting grief, and she certainly has her hands full. 

However, as Steph soon discovers, the drama surrounding her may be spiraling into something far more perilous. This thrilling story kept me on the edge of my seat. I managed to figure out a couple of the twists, but there were still more to come, so my enjoyment of this thriller was not diminished in any way. In fact, I couldn’t wait to see how everything would ultimately unfold.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nora Valters grew up in the New Forest in the south of England and has lived in London, Manchester, Bournemouth, Oxford and Dubai. She currently resides in Weston-super-Mare.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a career in marketing and copywriting.

Her debut psychological thriller Her Biggest Fan was published in October 2020. Her latest novel is His First Girlfriend and she’s currently writing her seventh novel, which will be out soon.

Nora loves to travel and has journeyed around the world. She enjoys exploring new places, knitting/crochet, painting, hiking, and is an avid reader. She’s also a bit obsessed with dogs!

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/nora-valters

Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - You Know Why

  

“We know what you did.”

“The surprise. The trip. The leaving. The email. The stranger. The secret.”

You Know Why

J. T. Ellison

PublisherBrilliance Audio

GenreMystery & Thrilers

FormatALC

NarratorsBrittany Pressley, et al

Length12 hrs 18 mins

Pages428

Pub. DateAugust 25, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION 

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a suspenseful domestic thriller about identity, revenge, and the dangerous secrets kept hidden from the ones we love most.

It’s the holidays, and photographer Brooklyn Locke is bound for Italy with her husband, Trey, and their two children. But when Trey vanishes from the airport, missing their connecting flight, their impromptu vacation—and life as she knows it—begins to unravel.

Desperate to find her husband, Brooklyn accepts help from a stranger on the same flight, Eden Barrow. But Eden soon makes a shocking claim. She is the sister of Trey’s first wife, and ten years ago he was the main suspect in her murder.

Struggling to comprehend these accusations, fate delivers one more a violent accident that leaves Brooklyn fighting for her life. With nowhere else to turn, Brooklyn leans on Eden for support. But each kindness feels too rehearsed, feeding her doubts about Eden’s motives and Trey’s true past.

Brooklyn has her own dark history she’d rather forget and confronts an unsettling possibility. Her life is not what it seems, and the truth is a trap—laid by someone waiting for the perfect time to strike.

MY THOUGHTS

Food blogger and formerly sought-after food photographer Brooklyn Locke is married to Trey, and together they have two children. With Christmas just around the corner, Trey has a surprise for Brooklyn: a three-week, all-expenses-paid trip to Italy. He tells her that he is taking his boss’s place on a business trip, but that most of their time will be devoted to the family. Although Brooklyn is more than a little unsure about the sudden change of plans, she agrees to go.

The next morning, the family boards a plane bound for Italy. But when Trey looks at the monitor, his expression suddenly changes. The flight is being diverted, and their travel plans have been completely rearranged. They have to board another plane. Even more unsettling, another passenger, Eden Barrow, recognizes him - but she calls him by a different name. Trey panics, makes an excuse, and leaves the plane. What else can Brooklyn do but follow, except Trey has completely disappeared. Now she is left stranded with her children. With little choice, Brooklyn is forced to accept Eden’s eagerly offered assistance.

The book is told through dual perspectives - Brooklyn’s and Eden’s. It is through Eden’s narration that readers discover she is the twin sister of Trey’s first wife, and she is convinced that Trey murdered her sister. Although he was cleared of the crime, Trey disappeared and started a new life. Eventually, he met Brooklyn, seemingly leaving that traumatic chapter of his life far behind.

There is more. So much more. Brooklyn begins to question whether she ever really knew her husband. Before she can sort through everything she is learning, she is involved in a terrible accident that leaves her fighting for her life. This makes her even more dependent on Eden, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Brooklyn has secrets of her own.

This is a multi-layered story built on deception, secrets, revenge, mental illness, and ultimately, danger. It is a story where the ghosts of the past can suddenly catch up with you when you least expect it.

The pacing is excellent, with plenty of twists and turns that kept me invested from beginning to end. I also found this to be a particularly thrilling audiobook experience. With several narrators bringing the characters and their perspectives to life, it was easy to follow the different voices and added another layer to the suspense.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

J.T. Ellison is the NYT and USA Today bestselling author of more than 20 novels, and the EMMY-award winning co-host of A WORD ON WORDS, Nashville's premier literary show. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 26 countries. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens.

Social Links:
Author website
Facebook
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BLOG TOUR - The Girlfriend’s Secret

DESCRIPTION:

My son thinks she’s perfect. But I know she’s here to destroy me…

From the moment I meet my son’s new girlfriend, I know she’s going to be trouble. Haven isn’t the kind of partner I imagined for my darling boy. Joel is sensitive and kind, whereas Haven is so loud and full of confidence. Her sun-kissed locks and gleaming smile are perfect… too perfect. She doesn’t belong here. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get rid of her…

Except Haven is smart. I underestimated her. I thought if I made life uncomfortable she’d leave my son alone. Instead, she’s somehow wormed her way into the heart of my family, and now she’s living under my roof.

I’m sure she’s not really here because she loves my son. I catch her staring at me with her big blue eyes. She smiles, like she knows something she shouldn’t. Like she knows my darkest secret. And my heart skips a beat.

Why is Haven really here? And how far will I go to protect my family…?

A completely addictive and twist-filled page-turner from the king of psychological thrillers and number one bestselling author Daniel Hurst. Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, John Marrs and Freida McFadden

BUY LINK:Amazon: https://geni.us/B0GZC319YGsocial

Title:  The Girlfriend’s Secret

Author:  Daniel Hurst

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   284

Date of Publication:   August 19, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

Told from multiple perspectives, The Girlfriend’s Secret is a thrilling story that unfolds in the aftermath of a tragic death. While visiting her mother, Liane discovers her dead at the bottom of the stairs. What a devastating loss for Liane and her entire family. Liane, her husband Frederik, and their sons Joel and Scott are left to grieve. But there is another person in the picture: Haven, Joel’s girlfriend.

From the outset, Liane doesn’t trust Haven. Each member of the family is left a sizable inheritance, and Liane becomes determined to prove that Haven knew Joel was going to come into money and that his inheritance is the only reason she is with him. Convinced that Haven is hiding something, Liane sets out to uncover the truth.

Told through the perspectives of Liane, Haven, and Scott, this story will definitely give readers pause. Is there more to the way Liane’s mother died? Is at least one of them hiding a secret? And, perhaps most importantly, who can be trusted?

As always, Daniel Hurst delivers a fast-paced psychological thriller filled with suspicion, secrets, and unreliable narrators. I never quite knew who was telling the truth, and that uncertainty kept me turning the pages. That is exactly why I love reading his books!

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, multi-million-copy bestselling author of addictive, fast paced psychological thrillers and the King of jaw-dropping endings. His chart-topping titles include The Doctor’s Wife, The Couple’s Revenge, I Want Your Family and Our Perfect Holiday.

Daniel has been a full-time author since 2021 and prides himself on writing fast, releasing stories often and engaging with his readers.

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/daniel-hurst

Website: https://www.danielhurstbooks.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dhurstbooks

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