Book Review - A Keeper by Graham Norton

 

TITLE - A Keeper 

AUTHOR - Graham Norton

PUBLISHER - Coronet

BUY LINK - Click here

GENRE - Modern and contemporary fiction / Crime & Mystery

SYNOPSIS - 
Graham Norton's debut novel HOLDING was a Sunday Times bestseller and loved by readers everywhere. His new novel, A KEEPER, is a twisted tale of secrets and ill-fated loves that once again demonstrates Norton's understanding of human nature and all its darkest flaws.

The mystery of Elizabeth Keane's father is one that has never been solved by the people of Buncarragh - not for lack of speculation.

Her mother Patricia had been assumed a spinster, until she began dating a mysterious man from out of town, and within months had left Buncarragh and had married. Less than two years later, Patricia was back, with a new baby in her arms, but no new husband by her side and unbendingly silent about her recent past. A secret she would take with her to her grave.

Now, as Elizabeth returns to the village after her mother's funeral, bringing with her her own regrets and wounds, she finds a thin pile of ribbon-bound letters at the back of a wardrobe that may at last hold the key to her past:

Dear Lonely Leinster Lady,

I'm not really sure how to begin...

This is a really moving story. It is well written and gives an intriguing insight into what goes on behind closed doors. 

Elizabeth the main character, infuriated me at times. Sometimes I wanted to hug her as I felt so sorry for her, and other times I wanted to shake her and tell her to get a grip on life and make an effort to do something.

The characters in the book are very well written, and easy to picture in your mind, due to the way they are written. 

Mr Norton is great with his descriptive writing and really brings his home country alive. From the remoteness of the stone house, to the cliffs and the sea, to the countryside. 

I enjoyed his first book, but enjoyed this one even more. I look forward to reading his latest novel, Home Stretch.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graham William Walker is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist, known by his stage name Graham Norton. He is the host of the comedy chat show The Graham Norton Show and the BBC commentator of the Eurovision Song Contest.

This is his second book, with his third book Home Stretch having just been published in October 2020.

Connect with Graham on his website; Twitter

Dead of Winter ~ Lee Weeks ~ Book Review

 

TITLE - Dead of Winter

AUTHOR - Lee Weeks

BOOK SERIES - Willis/Carter book one

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS - 

Victim, suspect, policeman. When the lines blur, who do you trust?
When two bodies surface in the garden of a rented house in North London, Forensics discover fingerprints which link back to an unsolved crime that no one in the Metropolitan Police wants to remember.

More than a decade ago, in an isolated holiday cottage in Sussex, a family was found brutally slaughtered. The prime suspect was Callum Carmichael, the father of the family and a police officer from the Met's own ranks. But without enough evidence to arrest him, the case was hushed up and the trail left to go cold.

Now, with fresh proof that the killer is still out there, rookie DC Ebony Willis is sent to find Callum Carmichael. But Carmichael is an unknown entity and, with every piece of information she tells him, she risks leading a dangerous man closer to his prey.

It's been some time since I read a Lee Weeks book, but I liked the blurb on this one so couldn't resist it. I don't know wny I hadn't picked up this authors books for some time as I really enjoyed The Trophy Taker, which was my first read by the Author, followed by Kiss and Die; The first and last books in the Detective Mann series. 

This again, was a gripping read. My heart broke for ex Policeman Callum Carmichael who's Wife and Daughter were brutally murdered. He was the main suspect and it destroyed his life. 

Dead of Winter is the first book in the series with DC Ebony Willis, who's the new DC. She's a smart cookie; enthusiastic, determined and people seem to really trust her, especially Callum Carmichael. 

This was Ebony's first big case. How was she going to handle it? Who could she call on to assist? Would she cope on her own? 

This was my kind of thriller. Gritty, engaging storyline and powerful characters. If you've never tried this author you really should. She knows how to keep her readers hooked. I look forward to reading the rest in the series. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born - Devon, The United Kingdom

Website
http://www.leeweeks.co.uk

Twitter
leeweeksauthor

Genre
Crime, Mystery, Thriller

I was born in Devon of Welsh parents. My father was a detective, my mother a nurse. I left school with just one O level in Art and by seventeen I was living in Sweden.

I loved reading Henry Miller whilst listening to Neil Young. I travelled in France and settled in Germany at twenty-one, where I worked in a bar. I came back to the UK to study for a year or two and then went to live in Hong Kong. There I fell into the hands of triads.

A detective once told me to go home and I really should have listened him, I would have saved myself a near-death experience, but then I would never have had the material for my books.

Years later, one marriage down and two children fledged, I am writing my stories. Some are based on my life, all carry a part of me and my experiences.

Book Review ~ Darien ~ C.F.Iggulden ~ Fantasy Fiction

 

TITLE - Darien - Empire of Salt

AUTHOR - C. F. Iggulden

BOOK SERIES - Empire of Salt - Book 1

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS -
The city of Darien lies at the heart of a dying empire.

Twelve families race for a throne soon to be made vacant - by murder or civil war. Into this fevered, hungry city come six strangers:

An orphan and an old swordsman.

A hunter and a pitiless killer.

A young thief and a cynical chancer.

As the sun sinks the city will know no slumber. For long dormant passions have awoken. Fortunes will be won and lost. Lives will be staked and claimed.

And a story long waiting to be told will catch fire in the telling . . .

Darien is the first book in the Empire of Salt, THE epic fantasy series of spellbinding imagination.

My Husband has, for a long time, raved about Conn Iggulden's historical fiction novels. This is a move for the Author under the pseudonymn C. F. Iggulden, into the fantasy world. 

I thought I would give it a try as I'd been told he has a good way of writing stories. Well for those who normally enjoy fantasy novels, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The City of Darien is a city full of magic, intrigue, and much more. It reminded me some, of the TV show Merlin with it's peasants, it's Royal Family and it's magical intrigue. As with Merlin, there are disputes, assassination attempts on the King, and dark characters. I would describe it as a well packed book, with a lot going on. 

The main characters are well written and a picture of them formed in my mind, so I found it easy to follow them, however the story not so much. I think because it is a busy story line, I found myself having to go back a few pages and re-read them as I got confused. I am not normally a fantasy book reader so this may be normal, but it slightly puts me off reading it. I did persevere though. 

In summary, an action packed book, with some well rounded, although not all totally likeable characters.  Not particularly my personal cup of tea, but If you love fantasy novels I'm sure this will be a series you would enjoy as it's well written.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Publishes under author name Conn Iggulden and C.F.Iggulden.

I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.

My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.

I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.

That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.

Conn Iggulden

Never Ask Me ~ Jeff Abbott ~ Book Review

 

TITLE - Never Ask Me

AUTHOR - Jeff Abbott

VERSION - Kindle edition

SYNOPSIS

Each of us has a question we dread.

In a quiet neighbourhood in the wealthy Austin suburb of Lakehaven, the body of Danielle Roberts is discovered on a park bench. Danielle was a beloved member of the community, an adoption consultant who delivered the joy of parenthood to a number of local families. Her murder shocks Lakehaven.

Perhaps no other family is as crushed as the Pollitts, who lived two houses down from Danielle and thought of her almost like family. Her death becomes the catalyst for a maelstrom of suspicion and intrigue. You have been told a huge lie, an anonymous email charges the son, Grant. No one can learn the truth now, thinks the father, Kyle. Never ask me what I’d do to protect my family, resolves the wife, Iris. I’ll do whatever it takes to save him, vows the daughter, Julia, of Danielle’s grieving teenage son.

The Pollitts always thought they’d always be there for each other. When each begins to suspect the others of the unimaginable, the strength of their bonds will be tested in extraordinary new ways. The latest from New York Times bestselling author Jeff Abbott is his most suspenseful thriller yet: a riveting tale of the dangerous secrets one family has concealed—and what happens when the question each Pollitt hoped they’d never be asked threatens to expose their darkest truths.

I've been a fan of Jeff Abbott for a few years now and followed his career with interest, so when the opportunity came up to read and review this book before publication day I wasn't going to miss out. 

The book starts with a punch. I like it when a book starts like this as I know it's going to keep my interest. Young friends Ned and Julia are out catching critters; a young persons craze like Pokemon. They head to the park and come across a woman slumped over on a bench. When they check on her they discovers she's dead. What they don't realise is that she's been murdered. The book then picks up pace from here. 

The book is fully of family dramas; secrets and lie upon lie. Who has killed the woman and why? Who keeps leaving cryptic messages in a tree? 

It was a slight diversion from regular Jeff Abbott novels and this time involved the subject of overseas adoption and corruption. It's full of intrigue and suspense and much more. 

I didn't connect with some of the characters like I normally would, and found some a little narcissistic. However I really enjoyed the novel nonetheless and would recommend it to those who like thrillers and books that keep you guessing, which this one certainly did. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Abbott is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of many mystery and
suspense novels. He has been called “one of the best thriller writers in the business” (Washington Post). His novels have been called “compulsively readable” (Chicago Sun Times), “outstanding. . .genuinely moving” and “fresh, original… intricately woven” (Publishers Weekly), “nail-bitingly suspenseful and totally original” (Irish Independent), and “extremely compelling” (Associated Press). He is published in many languages and has been a bestseller in the US, the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, Portugal, and other countries.

Jeff’s novel Adrenaline was a Summer Great Reads choice by both The Today Show and Good Morning America. His novel Inside Man was a Summer Book Pick by O, The Oprah Magazine, and a Best Beach Reads pick by USA Today. Jeff is a winner of the Thriller Award (for The Last Minute) and was nominated for the Thriller Award for Panic. He is a three-time nominee for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award and a two-time nominee for the Anthony Award. Jeff’s first novel, Do Unto Others, won both the Agatha Award and the Macavity Award.

His novels Adrenaline, Panic, and Collision have been optioned for film and are in script development.

Jeff graduated from Rice University with a degree in History and English. He lives in Austin with his wife and two sons.

Connect with Jeff on Twitter; Facebook or contact him on his website

In Safe Hands by J P Carter ~ Book Review

TITLE - In Safe Hands

AUTHOR - J.P.Carter

Buy Link - Click here

SYNOPSIS 

How far would you go to save the ones you love?

The first book in a gripping new crime series featuring DCI Anna Tate.

When nine children are snatched from a nursery school in South London, their distressed parents have no idea if they will ever see them again. The community in the surrounding area is in shock. How could this happen right under their noses? No one in the quiet suburban street saw anything – or at least that's what they're saying.

But DCI Anna Tate knows that nothing is impossible, and she also knows that time is quickly running out. It’s unclear if the kidnappers are desperate for money or set on revenge, but the ransom is going up by £1million daily. And they know that one little boy in particular is fighting for his life.

It’s one of the most disturbing cases DCI Anna Tate has ever worked on – not only because nine children are being held hostage, but because she’s pretty sure that someone close to them is lying…

This is the first book in the series featuring DCI Anna Tate. I had not heard of this author before, but he is a bestselling author and this is a pseudonym.

It is an upsetting but entirely plausible story line about 9 children snatched from a nursery school. There are numerous suspects as the story line continues. It is an engaging read and hard to put down. The Author draws you right in and then throws a twist at you right at the end. I would have liked a bit more depth to some of the characters as I just couldn't warm to them, but that is my only real criticism.

I liked Anna and I'm interested to see where the author takes her next. All in all this is a good read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J. P. Carter is the pseudonym of a bestselling author who has also written sixteen books under the names Jaime and James Raven.

Before becoming a full-time writer he spent a career in journalism as a newspaper reporter and television producer. He was, for a number of years, director of a major UK news division and co-owned a TV production company. He now splits his time between homes in Hampshire and Spain with his wife.

Book Review ~ The Fear by C L Taylor ~ Psychological Thriller

Title - The Fear

Author - C.L.Taylor

Genre - Psychological Thriller

Buy Link - Click here or visit your local library.

SYNOPSIS 

Sometimes your first love won’t let you go…

When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

MY BOOK REVIEW

I have read a couple of books by this author and they have always kept me gripped. Unfortunately, although this was a good read, it wasn't the same sort of story line so it didn't keep my attention in the same way. 

This is an uncomfortable story of a teachers love affair with his pupils, and I'm not quite sure where the book fits in the genre of psychological thriller. Therefore I put the book down several times and didn't pick it up for days. This meant I lost the thread a bit, and had to go back and re-read a few pages to refresh my memory. 

I found it hard to engage with the characters, and felt they didn't have much substance. I wanted to know more about them. I just had trouble connecting with any of them. 

I will certainly buy other books by C L Taylor as I've enjoyed her others, but sadly this one was just not for me.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

C.L. Taylor is the Sunday Times bestselling author of seven gripping psychological thrillers. They are not a series and can be read in any order:

2014 - THE ACCIDENT
2015 - THE LIE
2016 - THE MISSING
2017 - THE ESCAPE
2018 - THE FEAR
2019 - SLEEP
2020 - STRANGERS

She has also written two Young Adult thrillers, THE TREATMENT, which was published by

HarperCollins HQ and THE ISLAND, which will be published in June 2020.

C.L. Taylor's books have sold in excess of a million copies, been number one on Amazon Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and Google Play and have been translated into over 25 languages and optioned for TV. THE ESCAPE won the Dead Good Books 'Hidden Depths' award for the Most Unreliable Narrator. THE FEAR was shortlisted in the Hearst Big Book Awards in the 'Pageturner' category.

Cally Taylor was born in Worcester and spent her early years living in various army camps in the UK and Germany. She studied Psychology at the University of Northumbria and went on forge a career in instructional design and e-Learning before leaving to write full time in 2014. She lives in Bristol with her partner and young son.

Sign up to join the CL Taylor Book Club for access to news, updates and information that isn't available on the web, as well as exclusive newsletter-only competitions and giveaways and the books that CL Taylor thinks will be the next big thing. You will also receive THE LODGER for free when you sign up:

http://www.callytaylor.co.uk/cltaylorbookclub.html


www.cltaylorauthor.com
www.twitter.com/callytaylor
www.Instagram.com/cltaylorauthor
www.facebook.com/callytaylorauthor

Guest Blog Post ~ The Stories She Tells by @L_K Chapman ~ Publication Day

TITLE: The Stories She Tells

AUTHOR: LK Chapman

BUY LINK: Click here

SYNOPSIS:

When Michael decides to track down ex-girlfriend Rae who disappeared ten years ago while pregnant with his baby, he knows it could change his life forever. His search for her takes unexpected turns as he unearths multiple changes of identity and a childhood she tried to pretend never happened, but nothing could prepare him for what awaits when he finally finds her.

Appearing to be happily married with a brand-new baby daughter, Rae is cagey about what happened to Michael's child and starts to say alarming things- that her husband is trying to force her to give up her new baby for adoption, that he's attempting to undermine the bond between her and her child, and deliberately making her doubt her own sanity.

As Michael is drawn in deeper to her disturbing claims he begins to doubt the truth of what she is saying. But is she really making it all up, or is there a shocking and heartbreaking secret at the root of the stories she tells?

GUEST BLOG POST ~ Publication Day!

So far, I have had two publication days and I’m in the process of preparing for my third, which will be when The Stories She Tells comes out on the 12 October. My first two publication days have been very different to each other, and I think my next one will be very different again!

When my first novel Networked came out in 2014 my friends and family were very excited, but it wasn’t a big launch because the book was self-published and nobody else really knew about it. It’s all a bit of a blur, but I remember that either on the day itself or very close to it I went on a spa day, and then just checked my sales when I got home!

For my second novel, Anything for Him, publication day was even more low key. I had a newborn baby less than a month old, and all I did on the day was put online social media posts that I’d prepared in advance. I think I only had one or two sales!

Now I’m onto my third book things are quite different. I’ve got a little bit of a following now from people who enjoyed reading Anything for Him, and it’s a wonderful feeling that people are excited for the launch of The Stories She Tells. I’m going to prepare some of my social media posts and website updates in advance like I did for Anything for Him, and try to relax as much as possible in the run up to the day, because I know it’s going to feel quite frantic! My husband will take the day off work, and in the morning my one-year old son will be with us before he goes off to nursery, so I’m hoping my husband will be able to keep my stress levels down! I think the day will mainly be spent in front of the computer. As my e-books are self-published directly with Amazon I can see the sales almost straight away on a graph, so there is quite a bit of sales-graph-checking, plus keeping an eye on my bestseller ranking on Amazon. Hopefully at some point we’ll manage to fit in a celebration dinner and glass of bubbly, but I think by the evening I’ll be exhausted! In a way, I find the lead up to publication day and the day itself a bit overwhelming. It’s exciting but I think I’m happier when I’m quietly and calmly working away on my next book! However, I do have plans to get a cake with the book cover printed on it ready for a celebration with friends later on in October. When publication day preparations overwhelm me, I think about how good it will be to eat that cake!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise Katherine Chapman was born in Somerset, UK, in 1986. She studied psychology at

the University of Southampton and has worked as a psychologist creating personality questionnaires for a consultancy company. She has also spent some time volunteering for mental health charity Mind. 

Chapman loves to write because she loves learning about people and she loves stories. A major turning point in her life was the day she realised that no matter how strange, cruel or unfathomable the actions of other people can sometimes be, there is always a reason for it, some sequence of events to be unravelled. Since then she is always asking “why” and “what if” and she is fascinated by real life stories capturing the strength, peculiarities or extremes of human nature. 

LK Chapman’s first novel, Networked, was a sci-fi thriller but now she’s turned her attention to writing psychological suspense. She lives in Hampshire with her husband and young family, and enjoys walks in the woods, video games, and spending time with family and friends.

Catch up with the author on Facebook  // Twitter // Website

Lily Alone by Vivien Brown ~ Q & A with the Author ~ @HarperImpulse

Welcoming Vivien Brown to my blog today following  the "Publication Day" of her Paperback "Lily Alone". She has been kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Welcome Vivien. 

TITLE - Lily Alone

AUTHOR - Vivien Brown

PUBLISHER - Harper Impulse

PUBLICATION DATE - Paperback 5th October 2017

PAGES - 416

BUY LINK - Click here

SYNOPSIS 

What sort of mother would leave her daughter alone? Would you leave a very young child at home on their own – knowing that terrible things can happen in the blink of an eye?

Lily, who is not yet three years old, wakes up alone with only her cuddly toy for company. She is hungry, afraid of the dark, can’t use the phone, and has been told never to open the door to strangers. In the flat downstairs, a lonely and elderly woman keeps herself to herself but wonders at the cries coming from upstairs. Lily’s grandmother frets that she can no longer see her granddaughter since the child’s parents separated. Lily’s father hasn’t seen her for a while. He’s been abroad, absorbed in his new job and his new girlfriend. A young woman lies in a coma in hospital – no one knows her name or who she is, but in her silent dreams, a little girl is crying for her mummy… And for Lily, time is running out.

QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION WITH THE AUTHOR

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? 
I started writing poems at about the age of sixteen, and only moved on to fiction in my thirties. Writing was important to me but for too long it remained a hobby, a side line, and although I did start to have a few successes with short stories in magazines, I had no idea just how hard it would turn out to be to get myself, and my work, noticed once I made the decision to take it all seriously. So, if I could go back, the big message would be: Start earlier, treat writing as a job, and give it your all. Don’t let work or family or doubt get in your way, and never use them as an excuse.

What is your favourite childhood book?
I absolutely love picture books. I worked with the under-fives for many years, reading them stories in libraries and children’s centres, organising fun book-related events like outdoor story walks, giving out free Bookstart packs, and advising parents on reading at home. So, I have read literally thousands of picture books, some of them many many times over, and I never tire of them. Picking favourites is hard, but my choices change with circumstances – whether I want to laugh, cry, enjoy the fun rhythm of a great rhyming text, or use a story to help a child deal with one of life’s problems, like loneliness, moving house or grief. I still love the simple magic and old-fashioned world of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, almost 50 years after it was first published, and anything by Julia Donaldson, especially Stick Man, which is a brilliant concept and so cleverly done. My own childhood favourites were the Mr Pinkwhistle books from Enid Blyton, which seem to have been forgotten nowadays in favour of her better known characters like Noddy and The Famous Five.

Do you read your book reviews?
How do you deal with good or bad ones? There is a horrible fascination with reviews that I find it impossible to get away from. Of course, I know that not everyone is going to love my books, but when a one star rating appears on Goodreads with absolutely no written review or comment at all, it’s hard not to want to scream! Not only do I want to ask why, but it lowers the average rating quite dramatically, especially in the early days after publication when the book may only have a handful of reviews. Five star reviews are fantastic, but having too many of them tends to look like an author has enrolled all their friends and family to write them, so I am quite happy to see a good mix of comments and star ratings, provided they are honest and genuine. Being criticised is part and parcel of being a writer, and does sometimes show up a fault or annoying habit that you aren’t aware of but that can be taken on board when writing later books!

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
I have only actually been Vivien Brown since I got re-married three years ago. I spent many years before that writing as Vivien Hampshire, so I am slowly getting used to living, working and writing under more than one name and trying to remember which one I am in any given circumstance! It actually comes in handy now as Lily Alone is a new genre for me and the change of name has helped me to separate my writing into two distinct halves – magazine fiction, non-fiction and lighter rom-coms as Vivien Hampshire, and the new domestic drama novels as Vivien Brown. I also have another (secret!) identity as Rosie Kent, writer of funny poems for children.

What’s the best money you ever spent as a writer?It’s all very well spending lots of money on laptops, notebooks and fancy pens (the traditional idea of what a writer needs), but there is nothing quite as useful as meeting other writers and industry professionals and learning your craft. No amount of expensive equipment will give you talent or teach you what you need to know to become a competent and successful writer in the current publishing climate. Many years ago I took a risk and spent about £300 to go away on a writer’s holiday to Caerleon in Wales, and I learned so much, and met so many useful contacts and new friends, in that one week that I went back almost every summer for years! Nowadays I attend the annual Romantic Novelists Association conference, where I first met my editor at Harper Collins (so it is where Lily Alone in published form was born!), and I am an active member of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. The membership fees of both organisations are worth their weight in gold.

Have you ever googled yourself and if so what did you find?As Vivien Hampshire, and especially when I was a fairly new writer, I googled often. With such an unusual name, most of the results (and they ran to at least 3 pages) were actually about me! I discovered several things I had been unaware of, including that a poem of mine, ‘The mother of the groom’ which had won a Marriott Hotels competition had now found its way (unofficially) onto a wedding website where it was suggested as a reading at weddings. There was also a subsequent totally fabricated interview in an online magazine, purporting to be with me, announcing me as ‘Londoner of the Day’, and discussing my own feelings as the mother of a groom – even though I have no sons, let alone married ones! I also found that a short novel opening I had written and that had won a Mail on Sunday competition was being used in a Cambridge University Press study workbook for adult learners of English. I couldn’t resist buying a copy out of curiosity! As Vivien Brown, it seems I have a namesake who is a renowned doctor and author of medical books in Canada.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vivien Brown lives in Uxbridge with her husband and two cats. She worked for many years in banking and accountancy, and then, after the birth of twin daughters, made a career switch and started working with young children, originally as a childminder but later in libraries and children’s centres, promoting the joys of reading through story-based activities and training sessions.

As Vivien Hampshire, she has written many short stories for the women’s magazine market and a range of professional articles and book reviews for the nursery and childcare press, in addition to a ‘how to’ book based on her love of solving cryptic crosswords. Now a full time writer, working from home, Vivien is combining novel-writing and her continuing career in magazine short stories with her latest and most rewarding role as doting grandmother to two-year old Penny. 

Connect with Vivien on Social Media ~ Facebook; Twitter; 

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda ~ Book review and giveaway @HQStories

New Release....

TITLE - Best Day Ever

AUTHOR - Kaira Rouda

LENGTH - 384 Pages


Synopsis

A loving husband. The perfect killer?

‘I wonder if Mia thinks I have a dark side. Most likely as far as she knows, I am just her dear loving husband.’ 

Paul Strom has spent years building his perfect life: glittering career, beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in the suburbs.

But he also has his secrets. That’s why Paul has promised his wife a romantic weekend getaway. He proclaims this day, a warm Friday in May, will be the best day ever.

Paul loves his wife, really, he does. But he also wants to get rid of her. And with every hour that passes, Paul ticks off another stage in his elaborately laid plan…

Behind Closed Doors meets Liane Moriarty in this creepy, fast-paced psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming!

MY REVIEW 

Well what a deceiving book title this is. I couldn't put it down and read it quicker than I've read a book in a while and I'm a slow reader!

The whole book takes place over a day, and is extremely well written, with so much content packed into it.

It is written from the perspective of Businessman, Husband and Father, Paul Strom. Well what an arrogant, self-centered, egotistical man he is. There are some great chauvinistic comments, like when talking about women saying they should "Look good, take care of the kids" and referring to his wife saying "At home these days, I am king of our castle and my queen needs to fall back in line". I really disliked him. But how well written his character was!


There are some great lines written in this book from Paul's' perspective and they actually make you laugh in places. I kept wondering if I knew anyone like this or even if someone like this actually existed. If they do then I'm glad they're not in my life! It makes you think a lot when you're reading it, about what some women may well go through in real life. In parts it's some underlying form of domestic abuse.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, and when I read the synopsis that this was a psychological thriller, I couldn't understand after reading the first 100 pages or so of the book, where the thriller part was going to come in to the story. I soon realised that the author was teasing us and very cleverly leading us into a real roller-coaster ride. 

This book has such a twist at the end, so without saying anymore and giving any spoilers, you'll just have to read it and find out for yourself! 

I look forward to reading more from this author.

******

Book available to buy from....

Amazon.co.uk    Amazon.com   Google Play   Barnes and Noble   iBooks   Kobo   Waterstones   HarperCollins

‘A tensely written, shocking book that will hold readers on the edge of their seats to the very last page.’  Publishers Weekly 

‘Fast-paced, dark, and slightly disturbing, you won’t be able to put this book down until its jaw-dropping ending… Absolutely brilliant!’ Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Everything We Keep 

‘Through self-conscious charm and a chilling wit, Rouda’s narrator creates laugh-out-loud moments that will feel like guilty pleasures. This may well be the most entertaining read of your year.’  Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy, on Best Day Ever

'Deliciously diabolical and highly readable, BEST DAY EVER kept me flipping the pages with anticipation and fascination. Unputdownable!' A. J. Banner, USA Today bestselling author of The Twilight Wife

About the Author

Kaira Rouda is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary women's fiction and sexy modern romance novels that sparkle with humor and heart. Her women's fiction titles include HERE, HOME, HOPE, ALL THE DIFFERENCE, IN THE MIRROR and THE GOODBYE YEAR (April 2016). Her bestselling short story is titled, A MOTHER'S DAY. Kaira's work has won the Indie Excellence Award, USA Book Awards, the Reader's Choice Awards and honorable mention in the Writer's Digest International Book Awards. Her books have been widely reviewed and featured in leading magazines. 

Her sexy contemporary romance series set on INDIGO ISLAND includes: WEEKEND WITH THE TYCOON, Book 1; HER FORBIDDEN LOVE, Book 2; THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS, Book 3; and THE BILLIONAIRE'S BID, Book 4. Each of these novellas can be read as a stand alone, or enjoyed as a series. Her new series is set in LAGUNA BEACH and includes: LAGUNA NIGHTS, Book 1; LAGUNA HEIGHTS, Book 2; and LAGUNA LIGHTS, Book 3, and LAGUNA SIGHTS, coming winter 2016. She also helped launch Melissa Foster's The Remington's Kindle World with her bestselling novella, SPOTLIGHT ON LOVE and in the Dare to Love Kindle World, THE CELEBRITY DARE. 

Her nonfiction titles, REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, and REAL YOU FOR AUTHORS: 8 Essentials for Women Writers, continue to inspire. 

She lives in Southern California with her husband and four almost-grown kids, and is at work on her next novel.

Find the author on the following sites...

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Other Women's Fiction books by the author...

Follow the book tour




I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!

Win $25 Amazon.com or Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Ending on Sunday 1st October at 11.59pm 

Open Worldwide

Enter Below & Good Luck !!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a book reviewer or book blogger? Join our book tours reviewers team - Apply Here x

Current book tours open for sign ups HERE

Book Review - Lost in the Lake by A J Waines ~ Publication day!

!! PUBLICATION DAY !!

TITLE - Lost in the Lake

AUTHOR - A J Waines

PUBLICATION DATE:- 07th September 2017 

GENRE - Psychological Thriller

SYNOPSIS
She came at first for answers…now she’s back for you

Amateur viola player Rosie Chandler is the sole survivor of a crash which sends members of a string quartet plunging into a lake. Convinced the ‘accident’ was deliberate, but unable to recall what happened, she is determined to recover her lost memories and seeks out clinical psychologist, Dr Samantha Willerby.

But Rosie is hiding something…

Sam is immediately drawn to the tragic Rosie and as she helps her piece the fragments together, the police find disturbing new evidence which raises further questions. Why is Rosie so desperate to recover her worthless viola? And what happened to the violin lost in the crash, worth over £2m?

When Rosie insists they return to the lake to relive the fatal incident, the truth about Rosie finally creeps up on Sam – but by now, she’s seriously out of her depth…

The second book in the Dr Samantha Willerby series, Lost in the Lake is a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat Psychological Thriller that will leave you glancing over your shoulder.

MY REVIEW

I am always wary about reading a book when it is number 2 or 3 etc. in a series, as I wonder if I would miss something going on in the background. Well I didn't have to worry about this book as it works great as a standalone novel.

I initially found the story a bit slow, but I could tell it was going to pick up as it was starting to hold my interest. I found the character of Sam, the Psychologist, as a very strong and caring person. She seemed very enthusiastic about helping Rosie.

Rosie was a very interesting character. She came across as vulnerable, but to me she also seemed quite unstable. For some reason as I was reading the book, there was just something about her that I didn't trust, and this was with me throughout the book. She had been in a serious road traffic accident, where the van had gone into the lake, and her "friends" were missing. However she seemed more interested in getting her lost viola back than to finding her friends, and her focus was more on the viola. She was hoping that Sam could tell her how or why the accident had happened as she couldn't remember. I still didn't trust her though and was very keen to see what it was about her that made me mistrust her so much.

The author managed to hold my interest throughout, despite the slow start. I kept coming up in my head with my own theories about why Rosie was like she was, only for the Author to take me in another direction and make me change my mind. It was the gaps in her memory that were making me think, could she really remember or was she lying. It really kept me guessing.

I didn't see the ending coming which is just what you would expect from a well written book. Yet another great read from AJ Waines. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AJ Waines writes Psychological Thrillers. *Over 400,000* copies sold in 13 countries, worldwide

A Number One Bestselling Author - GIRL ON A TRAIN topped the UK and Australian Kindle Charts in 2015 & 2016

*A Kindle (KDP) TOP 10 'MOST-READ AUTHOR' in UK (2016)*

All her books can be read in any order:
The Evil Beneath, Girl on a Train, Dark Place to Hide, No Longer Safe, Inside the Whispers, (#1 in Sam Willerby series but also stands alone), Lost in the Lake, (#2 in series but also stands alone)

Find them all at: Amazon.co.uk orAmazon.com

Formerly a Psychotherapist for fifteen years, she has worked with ex-offenders from high-security institutions, giving her a rare insight into abnormal psychology. She is fascinated by secrets and lies, crimes of passion, devious motives and anything hidden under floorboards.

AJ lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband.

Sign up for AJ's NEWSLETTER for book updates, or follow on Facebook, Twitter or AJ's Blog