Author: BCBandMore

The Apostle by J A Kerley (Carson Ryder #12)

J A Kerley The Memory KillerSynopsis: The Reverend Honus Schrum, a nationally renowned minister and owner of a broadcasting empire, tells the media he has come home to Key West to die. Meanwhile, Detective Carson Ryder is investigating the ritualistic murders of young women with chequered pasts, discovering the killings have religious overtones.

Simultaneously, a newly retired Harry Nautilus takes a job as a driver/bodyguard for Richard Owsley, an ambitious pastor in Mobile. They come to Florida, where Owsley meets with Schrum and is enlisted to complete a special and mysterious ‘project’ Schrum has promised a billionaire benefactor.

As Carson digs deeper into the murders, Harry, interest piqued by all the hush-hush goings-on of his new employer, begins to covertly investigate the strange project. Their independent investigations begin to converge, and Carson and Harry uncover a horrifying connection between the cases.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I really do like this series by Jack Kerley and was pleased to have caught up so I can go straight onto the newest release and Book number 13 entitled The Death File. In this latest release Carson is faced with a murder investigation that features some weird religious overtones. The absolute BEST part about this book is that we see the return of Harry Nautilus. Harry was Carson’s old partner but has now retired and has taken a job working as a driver to TV pastor Richard Owsley and his family.

Carson’s help this book comes in the form of Holly Belafonte, a young female originally from Bermuda. I really liked her and think she made a great team member along with Carson. I also love the fact that we see the return of Carson’s brother Jeremy. I have to be honest and say that as much as I really enjoyed this latest book the religious stuff really irritated after a while, but that’s just a personal thing I think.

What Carson and Harry soon realise is that there is a definite overlap with their jobs and before you know it they are both back side by side trying to layer back the secrets that form part of this weird circle of religious personalities. I really liked the daughter of pastor Richard Owsley, Rebecca. She and Harry made a prety good partnership! Overall a good read but frankly that was more down to the characters. I’m now really looking forward to the next book!

One Christmas Kiss In Notting Hill by Mandy Baggot

318x499Synopsis: Imagine the perfect Christmas Kiss…

His strong arms around her waist, her hands on his face, the snow slowly starts to fall…

It’s enough to make Isla Winters cringe! While her sister can’t get enough of this – increasingly common – sight on the streets of London, Isla’s too busy trying to stop Hannah’s wheelchair from slipping on the ice, and making sure she’s not too late to her dream job at Breekers International.

But everything changes with the arrival of Chase Bryan, fresh from the New York office. He’s eager to learn everything about Isla’s beloved Notting Hill, but as the nights get colder, will cosying up to him come at a price?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I do love a good Mandy Baggot book and this one was no exception. A beautiful christmas themed cover and something to make me feel like the world is not as depressing as it really is sometimes!

Isla Winters is our leading lady along with her sister Hannah. Isla works for Breekers and when she is told she is the new CEO’s ‘go to girl’ on his visit to London she is not amused. She has a Christmas Party to finalise and the last thing she wants or needs is to become somebody’s ‘go to girl’. What she didn’t bank on was ChaseBryan being such a hottie! Although Isla and Chase are the main focus of the stroy the other characters in this latest Mandy Baggot book were just as important to me. Isla’s sister Hannah as well as Chae’s children Brooke and Maddie as well as Raj the postman. This was a whole host of characters all very different and all very likeable for various reasons.

Hannah at only 20 is in a wheelchair but the way this element of the storyline was written was so refreshing. Done with a dusting of humour and along with the loveable cockney Raj they made for a pairr I loved reading about. Isla struggles as the plans for the new Breekers projest could threaten her own life and she finds herself stuck bang in the middle of her worst nightmare. However, she does what she can until there comes a point when she needs to rely oon others and it ends up with some very funny results.

Once again Mandy Baggot has produced a wonderful Christmas themed book which was packed to the brim with wonderful characters, a great storyline and a sprinkling of humour. I read this in just two sittings and absolutely loved it. It seems ever time I pick up a Mandy Baggot book I am never dissapointed and this latest one is certainly just as amazing as some of her others. A wonderful read that would definitely make the perfect stocking filler!

The Memory Killer by J A Kerley (Carson Ryder #11)

Synospsis: Detective Carson Ryder faces a cunning and inventive adversary in this terrifying thriller from the bestselling author of Her Last Scream.

Young men in Miami are being abducted and tortured after their drinks are spiked with a cocktail of drugs that leaves them unable to recall their ordeal. Despite this, Detective Carson Ryder knows the predator’s name, height, age, colouring … everything. It’s impossible for the perpetrator to avoid detection. Yet he does.

When Carson seeks answers from his brother, a wanted criminal intimate with twisted minds, Jeremy’s odd behaviour sparks even more questions. With each abduction, the violence becomes more horrific, and it’s only a short time until torture turns to murder.

But how do you catch an invisible man?

Kat’s Review: 4/5

Kat’s Review: The reason for stepping back from so many Blog Tours were books like these! I am a big Carson Ryder fan and I discovered it had been 3 years since I read one in this series and I was now 3 books behind so I got back in the saddle with book 11, determined to be caught up this year! Carson has moved areas and is now based in Miami Keys and works alongside Ziggy his colleague. I remembered quickly how much I liked Ziggy and how well he and Ryder go together, although he is certainly not as good as Harry (Carson’s old partner).

This latest installment sees young gay men in Miami being adbucted and tortured and it’s far from pretty. Jack Kerly has an incrediibly descriptive manner and this book’s descriptions of these men had my skin literally crawling. The story had me guessing at who the killer was which I alwasy love and I was so thrilled to see a little more of Carson’s personal life taking a turn for the better. It was fabulous to get back into this series and I realised that I had left it far too long. The other element of this story which has always made it that little bit more special is the addition of Carson’s brother Jeremy and yes, he is back (Thank GOD!).

I absolutely loved getting back in touch with Carson and Ziggy and the rest of the characters in this series. This is a great series of books and I just know that reading this one has put me back on track and I will soon be back to read book 12 in the series named The Apostle.

Broken Bones by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #7)

328x500

Synopsis: The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone – one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.

As three more sex workers in the Black Country are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on the vulnerable.
At the same time, the search begins for the desperate woman who left her newborn baby at the station – but what at first looks like a tragic abandonment soon takes an even more sinister turn. Continue reading “Broken Bones by Angie Marsons (Kim Stone #7)”

Shadows by Paul Finch (Lucy Clayburn #2)

313x475

Synopsis: As a female cop walking the mean streets of Manchester, life can be tough for PC Lucy Clayburn. But when one of the North West’s toughest gangsters is your father, things can be particularly difficult.

When Lucy’s patch is gripped by a spate of murder-robberies, the police are quick to action. Yet when it transpires that the targets are Manchester’s criminal underworld, attitudes change.

Lucy is soon faced with one of the toughest cases of her life – and one which will prove once and for all whether blood really is thicker than water…

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I was looking forward to the second installment in this series as I loved the first book. This second book was I thought very different to the first. For a start the beginning was a little…sludgy? Is that even a word? I absolutely loved Lucy but couldn’t help but feel like she was stuck in a rut? When a spate of Robberies start occurring Lucy of course has to get involved and it seems like there could be crossover with other cases. A few characters in this book I didn’t warm to and by the end of the book I discovered why. However I still felt like the beginning was like she was wading in deep mud. 

Skip forward to maybe the halfway point and it turns into a full on action packed 5 star read. It was literally like reading about a different woman. With Manchester’s Underworld leading figures now being targeted it felt like the book ratcheted up the ante and it was every man for themselves. Lucy finds herself in literally more and more hot water as the book continues which just makes it all the more engaging and the second half of the book I read in one sitting, it was absolutely first class. 

As for the ‘Daddy Issue’ let’s not spoil for others but suffice to say this is a cracking element to the series made all the more interesting with this book. I was almost smiling ‘gleefully’ at the events that transpired for Lucy on this front. I think for me there was only one element missing and that’s a senior figure that is there for Lucy. normally in books like this there is a chain of command but it seems Lucy is almost on her own for most of the time and think that doesn’t sit quite right with me. I am a HUGE fan of this series and would highly recommend reading both this and the earlier books in order, another cracker by Finch! 

Some Kind of Wonderful by Giovanna Fletcher

Synopsis: When the love of your life says you’re not The One, who are you?

Lizzy and Ian have been a couple since the first week of university. Now, after celebrating a decade together, everyone thinks they’re about to get engaged.

Instead, a romantic escape to Dubai leaves Lizzy with no ring, no fiancé and no future.

Lizzy is heartbroken – but through the tears, she sees an opportunity. This is her moment to discover what she’s been missing while playing Ian’s ideal ‘better half’.

But how much has Ian changed her, and who should she be without him?

Determined to discover who she is at heart, Lizzy sets out to rediscover the girl she was before – and, in the meantime, have a little fun . . .

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Well I have to say this is a bit of a departure from the normal Giovanna Fletcher writing style but one that I absolutely loved. Lizzy has been with Ian since Uni and she has their whole lives planned out, even if it is only in her imagination. When they go on a trip to Dubai Lizzy is convinced that this is ‘it’. Instead she finds herself at the polar opposite of where she thought she would be and flies home a single woman. This throws her and she returns to her Mum’s house to lick her wounds and find out who she really is.

The reason I say this is a departure is that it doesn’t follow suit with some of her other fabulous books where everything is wrapped up neatly by the end. This isn’t about Lizzy finding the man of her dreams which will fix everything, it’s about her journey from being part of a couple to suddenly re-discovering what she likes to do and the things she wants from life.

All of the additional characters were brilliant in this book especially her friendship with her friend Connie. Then there is her very funny sister Michelle, her Mum and husband, her Dad and a whole fleet of other people who pass through. This truly was a fantastic read if only because I think it will resonate with so many people. It’s been written with humour and love throughout without the condescending tone that some books manage to spill out. It was a sheer joy to read and I loved every page of it. Although I absolutely loved her other type of books such as Billy & Me this really was a brilliant book. The icing on the cake was the ending where it’s not all wrapped up and the options for Lizzy are limitless, bravo Giovanna!

I Heart Forever by Lindsey Kelk (I Heart #7)

225x346

Synopsis: Winter in Manhattan…and someone’s keeping a secret.

The day her husband Alex picks up a backpack and goes travelling, Angela Clark promises to stay out of trouble and keep both Louboutins on the ground.

So when her best friend’s boyfriend confides in her, it can’t hurt to help him pick out a ring at Tiffany’s surely?

And when her fashion magazine announces major changes, being terminally late and arguing with your boss isn’t that bad, is it?

Then suddenly there’s another big secret Angela’s got to keep – and the man she loves is still thousands of miles away. As the wedding of the year looms, and Manhattan switches on its Christmas lights, Angela is going to need her friends by her side as her old life looks set to change forever.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: It’s been far too long since I read a book in this series but it took me no time at all to get back into the swing of it with the loveable Angela Clarke. Angela is settled in New York and seems to have it all now, but as loyal readers will know everything Angela does is NEVER easy. This time around her husband Alex is on travels to Asia and Angela is left in New York which would be fine…until she discovers a secret. I know as one of those loyal readers that secrets and Angela don’t mix very well. IN fact is almost always a recipe for disaster and this latest book is no different.

What makes this series so special is not only Angela herself but the characters we have met along her journey such as Jenny Lopez her best friend. These two are a match made in heaven and some of the things they get up to had me roaring with laughter. In addition Angela has issues at work where she is Editor of Gloss magazine. With Alex away travelling we don’t actually see too much of him but in all honesty this book was all about Angela and Jenny and it just worked. 

I’m fearful of saying anything else about the storyline, because it really will be a spoiler for those that haven’t read it yet. Suffice to say that I absolutely loved this book and feel like I have severely missed out having not read any Kelk books for some time! I have seen other readers and reviewers say this may be the end of the series. I can’t say I have seen that anywhere but will be truly gutted if that’s the case. Besides the ending is left open for a corker of a next book if that’s not the case. This truly was a joy to read and I will be moving my unread Kelk stand alone books firmly up my to read list.

Ladies Who Launch by Milly Johnson (Short Story)

372x500

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: So the follow up from the Short Story Here Come The Boys is this one and it’s a perfect continuation and wrap up of both Angie and Selina’s story. Angie and Selina are now firm friends following their years of not speaking after their school days. Their last trip resulted in Seina making the brave decision to leave her husband and it made Angie see what she had waiting for her at home!

This book seemed a little shorter than the last and I literaly read it in about 10 minutes. I think this would have been better being added on to the last short story. Unfortunately about 40% of this was the short story and the rest is extracts from another MJ book. Couldn’t helpp being a little bit dissapointed but am hoping we return with a full length book at some point to see how Angie and Selina are getting on.

Here Come The Boys by Milly Johnson (Short Story)

257x346

Synopsis: Angie Silverton and her husband are taking a much-needed holiday on the cruise ship Mermaidia, so the last person she hopes to bump into is her one-time best friend Selina who stole the love of her life and married him twenty years ago. 

And what she needs even less is to be marooned in Malaga with Selina when both of them manage to miss boarding the ship in port. 

It will take three days for them to travel across Europe to catch up with the ship again in Croatia. And in the company of each other twenty-four/seven, a lot of old baggage is going to be unloaded. 

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: Considering I don’t read short stories this is the second of Milly Johnson’s I’ve read in the same amount of weeks:-) Angie and her very loveable husband Gil are taking their very first trip aboard a cruise ship. From the moment they start their journey on the coach they realise this will be very different to what they are used to. No sooner have they arrived do they start to meet some onboard friends all of whom had their own part to play in this story.

Both Angie and Gil are such likeable charaters however when Gill is suffering from sea sickness when they dock in Malaga, Angie decides to do some shopping on her own. What she didn’t bank of was not making the ship in time and being stranded. Not only that she ends up being stranded with her ex-best friend who went off and married the man she was supposed to end up with.

This story was a delight to read and as soon as I had finished I checked out whether there was a continuation of sorts andd sure enough the short story named ‘Ladies Who Launch’ appeared and hey Presto, my next Milly Johnson arrived on my Kindle. It’s been far too long since I read this lady’s books it certainly put me back in that zone! A great short read… 

Blog Tour: A Cosy Candelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant

326x500

Synopsis: It’s the week before Christmas and Isla McCoy has just received an unexpected gift: a letter announcing she is due a life-changing inheritance, but only if she’s willing to make amends with the father who abandoned her.

She has absolutely no intention of forgiving him, but who could resist an all-expenses-paid trip to the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville?

There she meets smooth-talking Justin and nerdy glaciologist Sebastian; two very different men, with two very different agendas. Torn between her head and her heart, Isla finds herself utterly lost in a winter wonderland of her own feelings.

Surrounded by twinkling candles and roaring log-fires, Isla’s resolve finally begins to melt. But will she learn how to reconnect, not only with a whole new family, but with herself and her heart?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I really enjoyed the last book by Tilly featuring Isla’s friend Dodie. However I wanted to get stuck in with this book as I was curious about her best friend Isla. This book moves on to the same time period as Dodie, but we get to catch up with what Isla has done. Isla has had a strange phone call saying that her Grandmother she never knew has left her something in her will. However, that means visiting the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville and seeing the Father who walked out on her and her Mum when she was a girl. <blog_break>

As Isla arrives in the resort she has no idea but upon meeting Dahlia the owner of the place she is staying, and geeky but loveable Glaciologist Sebastian things seem to take a turn for the better. I absolutely adored Sebastian and although Isla is quite prickly and defensive you could tell that she was thawing to both him and the lovely Dahlia that owns the hotel. Tilly does a cracking job describing this beautiful place and it was easy to fall in love with it all as you read.

There are certainly some hairy moments as Isla faces her fears and meets not only the Father she doesn’t know but the new step mother and half siblings. There are a couple of curveballs going on and you get the feeling that all is not as it seems on the surface. However, Isla doesn’t suffer fools gladly and you can see her battling to do the right thing. What I did love was that the process wasn’t shown to be easy. If she would have met her Dad and everything was instantly wonderful it wouldn’t have had the same impact.

I read this book in just two sittings and absolutely loved it. As much as I enjoyed reading about Dodie in book 1, geeky Seb and stern Isla stole the show and this book was definitely my favourite of the 2. A wonderful book and a perfect Christmas present!