Year: 2017

Spring At Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin (Hope Island #1)

Synopsis: Bella has always had a sunny outlook and caring nature, despite recently falling on hard times. When she finds a handsome homeless man on her doorstep, her kind heart tells her she must help him. So, she invites Isaac into her cottage and into her life in ways she could never have imagined…

But Isaac is not what he seems. He’s keeping a huge secret from Bella, yet he never expected to fall for this open, generous and charming woman. 

Bella can’t ignore the chemistry between her and Isaac, but she’s had her trust badly broken in her past. Will she run when she learns the truth about Isaac, or will he be the one man who can help Bella believe in love again?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I am a huge Holly Martin fan and this latest release was no different and was a fantastic read. The only criticism I had was that this leans slightly more towards Bonkbuster type books than her normal fairytale romances. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, it was just a slight departure that I wasn’t quite prepared for! This latest tale introduces us to Bella. Bella lives on Hope Island and when she arrives home one day to find a homeless man on her doorstep, she does the unthinkable and lets him in to her house. It turns out the man Bella has let into her home named Isaac is not quite what she thinks, but when you see how Bella’s nature is (slightly vulnerable and maybe a wee bit too kind-hearted) you can see why she would have done it.

Bella is at a bit of a crossroads and is trying to secure a new job as an Events Fundraiser and you can’t help rooting for her. Her subsequent interview was very amusing and certainly made for an entertaining chapter! I loved the fact that as Bella’s story progressed that we got to learn of her family and how she got to where she currently is. I especially loved her extended family such as Erin and Rome and would certainly love to read nore about them.

It’s hard to go into too much detail with the soryline because it would essentially be a plot spoiler for everybody. What I will say is that this was certainly another great read by Holly Mertin and I can almost picture the Island. I liked the storyline and characters but maybe this just wasn’t quite as exceptional as some of her other reads, this author is far too much of a genius storyteller for her own good 🙂

Ruthless by Kerry Barnes

Synopsis: 1964 – London 

Dolly Vincent is born to an East End gangster but is sent away for her own protection. Mad Mick is hell bent on his revenge and will stop at nothing to kill her. Estranged from her family, she becomes a successful barrister, but after defending a young Italian man she finds herself caught up in a secret held by a high court judge. Tortured and left for dead she flees London and heads to New York. Only the Vincents know where she is, but even they don’t know the truth.

1990 – Francesca is back to face her demons but this time she is not alone. One woman three names…

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “Ruthless by Kerry Barnes”

You’re The One That I Want by Giovanna Fletcher

Synopsis: Maddy, dressed in white, stands at the back of the church. At the end of the aisle is Rob – the man she’s about to marry. Next to Rob is Ben – best man and the best friend any two people ever had.

And that’s the problem.

Because if it wasn’t Rob waiting for her at the altar, there’s a strong chance it would be Ben. Loyal and sensitive Ben has always kept his feelings to himself, but if he turned round and told Maddy she was making a mistake, would she listen? And would he be right?

Best friends since childhood, Maddy, Ben and Rob thought their bond was unbreakable. But love changes everything. Maddy has a choice to make but will she choose wisely? Her heart, and the hearts of the two best men she knows, depend on it…

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I have really loved all of Giovanna’s previous books and decided that I would give this one a try as it was sat on my unread pile of books. The book opens with Maddy as she walks down the aisle towards her future groom. We then take a huge step back to Maddy as a young child. The story revolves around her lifelong friendship with Ben and Robert. The story switches characters between chapters as we see the three friends start their blossoming friendship as young children. I loved the early days as we see them go from young children to teenagers.

What starts as a friendship becomes much more than that as we see Maddy, Ben and Robert fall in love. Yes you read that correctly. Maddy dates Robert and life seems perfect. With Robert at one side of her and hers and Roberts other best friend Ben at their side they have the world at their feet. As the story progresses we see Ben with his unflinching loyalty to his two friends suppress his real feelings about Maddy. The journey we are taken on is certainly one that captured me, however I wasn’t really sure where I stood with what Maddy should do. Maybe that was part of this story that is meant to drag you in. Real life isn’t as simple or cut and dried as it seems.

I certainly read the book quickly enough and I certainly enjoyed it. However in all honesty had the ending not been so surprising and brilliant I may have given it the middle of the road 3/5 rating. With the ending written as it was, I enjoyed it and felt like we had taken the complete journey with these three characters. As ever Fletcher’s wring flows beautifully and is easy to fall into, however it’s not quite as good as some of her other books I have read. I will still asd ever immensley look forward to any of her new releases.

A Daughters Courage by Renita D’Silva

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Synopsis: 1929. When a passionate love affair threatens to leave Lucy in disgrace, she chooses a respectable marriage over a life of shame. With her husband, coffee plantation owner James, she travels to her new home in India, leaving her troubled past behind her. 

Everything in India is new to Lucy, from the jewel-coloured fabrics to the exotic spices. When her path crosses that of Gowri, a young woman who tends the temple on the plantation’s edge, Lucy is curious to find out more about her, and the events that lead her to live in isolation from her family… 

Now. With her career in shatters and her heart broken by the man she thought was her future, Kayva flees from bustling Mumbai to her hometown. A crumbling temple has been discovered in a village nearby, and with it letters detailing its tragic history – desperate pleas from a young woman called Gowri. 

As Kavya learns of Gowri and Lucy’s painful story, she begins to understand the terrible sacrifices that were made and the decision the two women took that changed their lives forever. Can the secrets of the past help Kavya to rebuild her life? 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I confess that before I had read Renita’s work I was always a little put off. I don’t know why but the synopsis always seemed a little too ‘not my thing’. However, after reading the first book by her I was smitten. I always love it when an author and their book surprises me. Since then I have goine on to read and loved her tales, because that what they are. Cleverly woven stories which literally take you on a journey. When I saw she has a new book out I have to admit I was apprehensive. When you fall in love with an author and their work, I always get a little bit scared that their following books won’t live up to my expectations. Thankfully I was wrong and this book swept me away as much as her others have, if not more.

I confess when the synopsis indicated we would be reading about Lucy and Gowri in the 1920’s my heart sunk a little. I have never been big on historical settings however by the time I had finished the book I was literally blown away. This story is tragic, emotional and so compelling I literally didn’t want to put it down, something I never thought I would say when it comes to historical stories.

Lucy lives in England and Gowri in India. Their lives could not be further apart and their stories end up being completely interweaved in a tale that swept me away to tyhe wilds of India. Gowri is a young woman who was given as a Devadasi when she was a young girl. Upon finishing this book I googled and read a lot more about this sad and sorry tradition where young girls become a servant of God and essentially nothing more than a mans toy. My heart wept for Gowri but the story was told with such passion and heart that I didn’t just imagine this story, but felt like I was right there with her. On the opposite side of the world Lucy is an entitled young British woman who seems to have it all. Her story takes a turn when she makes a huge mistake in her life which leads her into the arms of James, a young eligible Bachelor who owns a plantation in India.

In addition to Lusy and Gowri we meet Kavya who is living in the present day and who has had to make the decision to return to her village after failings in her personal life. We also briefly meet Sue, a widow who is working through the grief of lsoing her husband whilst recently discovering she was pregnant. Although Gowri and Lucy stole the show for me, both Kavya and Sue were pivotal to the story towards the end. The book started a little slower than her usual books but with perfectly good reason. The background is all important as these girls lives are laid out before us.

This book was a sheer joy to read and I am putting myself out on a limb by saying this is the best book I have read in this genre this year. Please do not make assukmptions like I once did by either teh synopsis, or cover not being the style you would read. This is true storytelling at it’s best and transporting you to another time and another world. One that had me absorbed to the end. A truly outstanding book that I hugely reccomend to everybody. This is by far the best work Renita D’Silva has written and a book that I absolutely LOVED!

Secrets Of The Dead by Carol Wyer (Detective Robyn Carter #2)

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Synopsis: Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?

A bottle of bubble bath and colourful, plastic boats were scattered in small puddles on the floor. In the bathtub lay Linda Upton, fully-clothed, her lips a shade of blue, and her bloodshot eyes wide open.

When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying ‘all debts paid’, Detective Robyn Carter knows it’s just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognises the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed.

With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can’t find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.

Just when her leads have dried up, Robyn discovers an unsettling clue she thinks could unlock the case. But as she chases across the plush carpets and manicured lawns of the wealthy elite, honing in on the killer’s shocking motive, one of her own is put in terrible danger.

The press call him The Leopard for his stealth, speed and brutality. Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it’s too late?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “Secrets Of The Dead by Carol Wyer (Detective Robyn Carter #2)”

Love Me Not by M J Arlidge (Helen Grace #7)

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Synopsis: He Loves Me

A woman’s body lies in the road. At first it looks like a tragic accident. But when Helen Grace arrives on the scene it’s clear she’s looking at a coldblooded killing. But why would anyone target a much-loved wife and mother?

She Loves Me Not
Across town, a shopkeeper is killed while his customers are left unharmed. But what lies behind the killer’s choices?

She Loves Me
Who lives? Who dies? Who’s next? The clock is ticking.

She Loves Me Not
If Helen can’t solve this deadly puzzle then more blood will be shed. But any mistake and it might be her own …

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I was hooked with this series from book one and after the drama of book 6 I wasn’t sure where the series would go. However, fast forward a few months and we see DI Helen Grace trying and struggling somewhat to fit back in following her stint in prison. Helen is trying to come to terms with the fact that her now colleague DS Joanna Sanderson was instrumental in helping put her behind bars. This means she is largely relying and falling back on her trusted colleague Charlie Brooks. It’s pretty clear from the outset that Helen is struggling to trust anybody in her team and that sets an uneasy feeling throughout the book.

The team is on the hunt for a pair of killers with a Bonnie and Clyde feeling to it. The one thing I really liked about this latest book was the style of writing which included the times. It really gave a feel to how the plot was moving and gave an extra edge to the reader, knowing how fast-moving the crimes were. Within one day the pair indulge in a killing spree and the team are struggling to keep up so the book managed to keep up great pace throughout. The only thing that was slightly lacking for me was Helen herself. Don’t get me wrong, she is generally a moody and suspicious character anyway but something was missing in this latest book. Her mistrust, and her seemingly skewed judgement made me feel like she had changed too much. Part of me wonders if this is due to what happened in the last book, however it didn’t feel quite right.

However, that aside the series still appears to be going stong and with the end of this book having a rather monumental event take place, I feel like we may well see the return of a stronger and new and improved Helen in book 8. As ever this is still a fantastic read and read in two sittings so certainly still a great read, just not one of my favourites in the series. I will as ever eagerly await the next book, and can’t wait to see where M J Arlidge takes the team next.

Hard Wired by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #3)

Synopsis: When an ex-Delta Forces operative dies in a car wreck in Miami, the FBI dismiss it as a tragic accident. But Jon Reznick isn’t so sure—especially when he learns that his teetotal former colleague was apparently drunk at the wheel.

Reznick’s one-man investigation quickly enters dangerous territory when it becomes clear that this was merely the first in a series of mysterious deaths. All of the victims are ex-Delta Forces, and all were involved in a top-secret Iranian hit under Reznick’s command. Retribution will not be complete until Reznick is wiped out too.

With Iran’s ruthless Quds Force hunting him down on US soil, assisted by a powerful Mexican drug cartel determined to increase its own foothold in the country, Reznick’s survival is a threat to national security. FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein is not as keen as some government officials to sacrifice him as collateral damage, but the longer Reznick runs, the more audacious his enemies become. Innocent American lives are at risk, and only Reznick’s victory—or surrender—can save them.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “Hard Wired by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #3)”

THE QUIET MAN BY JAMES CAROL (JEFFERSON WINTER #4)

Synopsis: In Vancouver, the wife of a millionaire is dead following an explosion in her own home.

Everyone thinks her husband is responsible, but former FBI profiler Jefferson Winter isn’t so sure. The method is too perfect; the lack of mistakes, uncanny. He’s seen a series of carefully orchestrated murders – once a year, on exactly the same day, a woman dies in a situation just like this one.

That date is fast approaching and Winter knows another victim has been selected. Can he identify the quiet man before he strikes again?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: Having recently read Prey (Book 3 in this series) I was raring to go with the newest book by James Carol. Jefferson Winter is a memorable character, an ex-FBI guy with a shock of white hair who appears to live off of coffee and cigarettes. Seeing as Jeffersons own father was a Serial Killer, he has an unusual insight and has never really laid his hat anywhere. His work takes him all over the world and the latest case takes him to Vancouver in Canada.

This latest case is certainly unusual and it appears that the killer strikes just once a year on a specific date. His method of killing is by bomb and when PI Laura Anderton asks for his help he is only to happy to oblige. Anderton is a great character and seeing as she is an ex-copper it gives her an edge as well as experience. She and Winters make a great team and the cameraderie between them is obvious from the outset. Anderton was hired by the husband of the first victim and the two of therm together make a formidable team but don’t prove to be terribly popular!

Jefferson is one of those characters that has personal experience, years of actual experience as well as some twisted and warped logic at times. However, it seems to be what gets the job done. I particularly relished some of the scenes between Jefferson and a particularly irritating reporter. Although Jefferson is good at his job and such an interesting character to read he also has a darker side which makes for compulsive reading. As much as I enjoyed Prey the last book, this one feels more like the original book and was a real page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to read book 5!

Ella’s Ice Cream Summer by Sue Watson

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Synopsis: Ella’s life just hit rock-bottom, but can a summer by the sea mend her broken heart? When life gives you lemons… make ice-cream!

Life hasn’t always been easy for single mum Ella, but she has just hit an all-time low; she’s jobless, loveless, very nearly homeless and, to make matters worse, now the owner of a pocket-sized pooch with a better wardrobe than her.

Packing her bags (and a bigger one for the dog), Ella sets off for the seaside town of Appledore in Devon to re-live the magical summers of her youth and claim her portion of the family ice-cream business: a clapped-out ice-cream van and a complicated mess of secrets.

There she meets gorgeous and free-spirited solicitor, Ben, who sees things differently: with a little bit of TLC he has a plan to get the van – and Ella – back up and running in no time.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I have been a huge Sue Watson fan for a long time now and once I had finished reading this book I actually pondered over exactly what it is about her books that make them so special. It comes down to the fundamentals, which for me is the characters. Yes she has amazing ability as a storyteller and creates wonderful tales that will keep you entertained, but what does she do differently that others maybe don’t? Characters….that’s what! All of Sue’s books have a wonderful laugh out loud quality to them but most of this is instilled in each character and none more so than this latest book Ella’s Ice Cream.

Ella is feeling like her life has stalled. She has two children ready to fly the nest on gap years and a seventy something Mother who seems more at ease with technology than she could ever be. Then there is the smarmy ex-husband Dick who is currently shacked up in Spain with his boss. When Ella discovers that her aunt has left her a share of her Ice Cream business down in Appledore she is taken aback. Appledore is a place that holds fond memories for her as a child, however a family rift stops her from delving too far into the past. Ella takes the bull by the horns and makes her way to Appledore against her Mothers wishes.

As much as I adored Ella, the star of the show for me was her mother Roberta! I literally fell in love with the Mother who is obsessed with Mob Wives and sexting! With Italian roots, some of the scenes that I read involving Roberta had me laughing out loud. I could literally picture some of the scenes unravelling in front of my very eyes and I felt like I was sitting on the beach at Appledore observing this crazily lovable family. The fact that there is another book coming made me jump for joy and I cannot wait to get started on it.

This book is an absolute corker and a joy to read from start to finish. Sue Watson has produced a wonderful book that I think everybody would enjoy. I cannot recommend this author highly enough and think that more people need to discover the pure joy of her books. An outstanding book that is an absolute must for your Summer Holidays!

BLOG TOUR: THE SEARCH BY HOWARD LINSKEY (DI BRADSHAW #3)

Synopsis: Someone knows where the bodies are buried…

Little Susan Verity went missing during the heatwave of 1976. An unprecedented amount of police resource went into finding her, but to no avail. Until now.

Convicted serial killer Adrian Wicklow was always the prime suspect. In the past, he’s repeatedly lied to the police about where Susan’s body is buried – playing a sick game from behind bars.

But this time, he says, he’ll tell the truth. Because Adrian Wicklow is dying.

Detective Ian Bradshaw works with investigative journalists Helen Norton and Tom Carney to find the body. However, this is Wicklow’s life’s work. Would a murderer on death’s door give up his last secret so easily…?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5 Continue reading “BLOG TOUR: THE SEARCH BY HOWARD LINSKEY (DI BRADSHAW #3)”