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THE SUICIDE PLAN BY EMMA CLAPPERTON (PATRICK MCLAUGHLIN #3)

Synopsis: Standing up and welcoming everyone to the spiritualist church is something Patrick McLaughlin does most evenings. Most of the faces in the audience are familiar to him, except one. David Hopkirk walks into the West End Spiritualist church in Glasgow and slits his own throat in the middle of a demonstration. His reasoning? Patrick is only of use to him in death. In this novella, Patrick is once more catapulted into a world which sees the death of a ten year old boy, a failed court case and a family torn apart. He has most of the puzzle pieces in his possession, he just needs to fit them together.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: This novella by Emma Clapperton forms part of the series featuring Patrick McLaughlin. Now firstly this series is a paranormal series which I know isn’t for everybody, and normally I would include myself in that list. However, there are exceptions to my rule and certain authors manage to hook me with this genre and Emma Clapperton is one of them. Patrick and Jodie McLaughlin are both mediums and Patrick uses his gift to try and pass along messages to people who have lost loved ones. One evening in the spiritualist church where Patrick and Jodie work a man named David Hopkirk arrives and slits his own throat in front of everybody, asking Patrick to help him before he commits this terrible suicide!

Yep, sounds crazy I know but in a weird way although it’s a grisly and violent opening it has the wow factor and you can’t help but wonder what it is that this man needs help with. Patrick then goes on to delve into the world of David and find out what was driving him so hard to commit suicide and help him. Although this is only 78 pages and a novella/short story (which I normally don’t enjoy) this one hit the spot nicely.

It re-introduces you to Patrick and Jodie and where they are with their lives, whilst delivering a fast paced and enthralling story. All in all this was a cracking book and only made me want to read the next full length book in the series….yesterday! A great book for this genre and a series I will continue to follow.

BLOG TOUR: THE KILLING GAME BY JS CAROL

This new release by JS Carol is also the one and only James Carol who writes the series of books featuring Jefferson Winter which I LOVE. This new book is a fast paced thriller which I promise…you won’t want to put down.

Synopsis: Imagine you are having lunch at an exclusive restaurant, filled with Hollywood’s hottest stars.

And a masked gunman walks in and takes everyone hostage.

You must bargain for your life against a twisted individual who knows everything about you.

He also has a bomb set to detonate if his heart rate changes.

If he dies. You die.

You have four hours to stay alive.

What would you do?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

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I Know Your Secret by Graham Smith

Synopsis: What would you do if your most intimate secrets got into the wrong hands?”

Set in modern day Cumbria, I Know Your Secret is a police thriller in which a priest is found crucified to the stone floor of his church. Fearing more attacks on the clergy, DI John Campbell and his team of misfits race to find the killer before he strikes again.

Meanwhile, DI Harry Evans, spends his days attending the trial of his wife’s rapist and his nights interfering in the investigation.

Can they catch the killer before he strikes again?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I read the latest in this series with the short story ‘Matching The Evidence’. Although it’s not necessary to read it, I enjoyed having that as a buffer prior to this book as you get a feel for where the team are in terms of work etc. DI Harry Evans runs the Major Crimes Team but at the beginning of the book its clear that he is preparing to hand the reins over to DI John Campbell. Harry is also going through the harrowing task of attending the trial of his wife’s rapist and the man who he believes led to her death and the death of his child. There are straight away two clear threads and although vastly different each had their place and kept me turning pages.

I like DI John Campbell and he was easy to read but there is always a question mark over whether he really is okay or not (if you know what I mean). He is trying to lead a new team, with the shadow of Harry as in the teams eyes there will only ever be one leader! With the crucifixion of a Priest being the tip of the Iceberg things just keep falling upon the team which makes each job that little bit harder. On top of that you have Harry trying to to keep his calm whilst attending court, as well as involve himself in the current case the team are working on the plot threads keep coming fast and furiously. Add in the model who cries rape, along with a bunch of detectives on the team who all have their own quirks and you have an extremely complex and entertaining story.

The book picks up pace towards the second half of the book and to be honest with you I think I finished that section in one go it was so enthralling! There was nothing I could find to criticise at all and thoroughly loved this. I also noticed that on the odd rare occasion that black sense of humour belonging to Mr Smith shines through which I absolutely adored! A great story with numerous plot threads, plenty of twists and fabulously flawed characters. You couldn’t really ask for more!

One Christmas In Paris by Mandy Baggott

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Synopsis: Ava and her best friend Debs arrive in Paris just as the snow starts to fall. The Eiffel Tower glitters gold, but all Ava can think about is Leo, her no-good, cheating ex.

Debs is on a mission to make Ava smile again, and as they tour the Christmas markets, and eat their body weight in pain-au-chocolat, Ava remembers there’s more to life than men… Until they cross paths with sizzling hot, oh-so-mysterious photographer Julien, with his French accent and hazelnut eyes that seem to see right inside her.

Ava can’t ignore the intense chemistry between them, but she can’t help but feel he’s hiding something. Her fingers have been burned before and she can’t forget it, especially when her ex, Leo, starts texting again. Can Ava really trust Julien – and what exactly is his secret?

Will Ava go home with a broken heart, or will she find true love in Paris?

Join Ava and Julien in the most romantic city in the world this Christmas, as they discover the importance of being true to themselves, and learn how to follow their hearts.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Ahhhh Mandy Baggot I have become a 100 percent fan girl and your books have become the equivalent of a snuggle blanket!!! When I am feeling rubbish, or am just thoroughly fed up of the dreary Wintry mornings, I pick up one of her books and can be transported into a magical world where anything is possible. Ava is such a great character and one that is clearly beautiful but is being bullied by her crazy high maintenance mother who wants her to continue modelling which is something she loathes. When her best friend Debs decides to take a trip to Paris Ava makes a decision to go with her and completely ignore her Mother’s requests for her to take on a new assignment.

Her crazy friend Deb has her own issues, mainly her Step Dad Gary and although she is in Paris ‘working’ that doesn’t stop her dragging Ava along to investigate being single in the City. Enter Julien and his friend Didier. Julien is a fabulous character and has his own harrowing past and is currently in a dark place which he is scrabbling to get out of. When they meet somehow Julien manages to rub Ava completely up the wrong way and they have a strange few hours getting to know each other.

As Julien is trying to move on, Ava also seems to be trying to make changes to her life and it seems their meeting is the catalyst for a whole host of things that go on while Deb and Ava are in Paris. As usual Mandy Baggot has created a book packed full of lovable and laughable characters. Ava’s Mother was brilliant and I wish we had seen more of her. Debs with her crazy dress sense and use of the word ‘totes’ was also a favourite of mine. You get a real feel for the city of Paris ewhilst you are reading this and I couldn’t help but be swept along with their time there.

There are people that may say this is predictable and yes maybe it is but I absolutely loved it. Had Mandy Baggot gone against the grain and done something ridiculous like had a sad ending or killed off a lead character I would have been furious…so for me predictability isn’t always a bad thing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have all her previous ones and I cannot wait to read her next one to escape the monotony of real life!

BLOG TOUR – The Taken by Casey Kelleher

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Synopsis: Saskia Frost’s world is blown apart when her dad dies. Without any family, she’s on her own now and up to her eyeballs in her father’s debts. He owed a lot of money to some very dangerous men – Joshua and Vincent Harper. Before long, aspiring ballerina Saskia finds herself lap-dancing in a London club to survive. A club run by the infamous Harper brothers. Saskia is now their property and they’re going to make her pay every penny back.

Teenager Lena Cona has fled a cruel and controlling marriage. She arrives in England with her newborn daughter, desperately relying on strangers for help. But she soon learns that not everyone can be trusted as she finds herself caught in the clutches of Colin Jefferies, a twisted individual obsessed by his own sinister secrets. As the sickening truth is revealed, Lena is forced to fight for her life – and her baby’s.

When their worlds collide, Lena and Saskia form an unlikely friendship. But with the terrifying Harper brothers on their tail, as well as Lena’s vengeful and violent husband, can they escape with their lives?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS BY JENNY HALE

Synopsis: Snowflakes are falling, there’s carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother’s majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won’t be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.

But there’s a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn’t heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her.

Now David is all grown up. He’s gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house.

They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he’s starting to feel it too.

Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan’s advice to them both about living life without regrets … and take a chance on true love?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: Good old Jenny Hale, if there’s one thing you can be sure of it’s a curl up, feel good, good old fashioned romance! This latest release although not my favourite of hers was an easy to read book and one that is perfect for Christmas. Leah and her daughter Sadie are the lead in this Christmas book and we see Leah try to come to terms with the death of her Nan. Leah struggles as a single Mum, however knowing that her Nan had left her the family home ‘Evergreen’ in Virginia she feels like she at least has some stability in her future. However, when she receives a letter from her Nan she is shocked to discover that her Nan has actually left half of the house to a man named David Forester.

Leah is an easy character to like as is her daughter Sadie. Leah has two incredibly good friends Louise and Roz who both help support her and she leans on them heavily as she tries to make sense of what she needs to do. With the girls taking care of Sadie, Leah decides she needs to go to Evergreen and meet David to try and figure out what to do. What she didn’t account for was remembering the boy who was once known as Davey and suddenly recalling their childhood memories. She knows then that she just cannot give up her dream for her future home for her and Sadie.

What happens is we see the story unfold with the addition of more and more characters such as David’s mother June, and a man who has been kept a secret for many years. Although this was slightly predictable it certainly has the feel good factor and is a heart-warming story that shows the family bonds that people sometimes forget over Christmas. As usual Jenny Hale does a magical job of describing locations and only a few chapters in to Leah arriving at the house I was ready to stick on a pair of snow boots and go sledding with them. Like I said this wasn’t my favourite JH book but as always a great read.

A Cornish Christmas by Lily Graham

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Synopsis: Nestled in the Cornish village of Cloudsea, sits Sea Cottage – the perfect place for some Christmas magic …

At last Ivy is looking forward to Christmas. She and her husband Stuart have moved to their perfect little cottage by the sea – a haven alongside the rugged cliffs that look out to the Atlantic Ocean. She’s pregnant with their much-longed for first baby and for the first time, since the death of her beloved mother, Ivy feels like things are going to be alright.

But there is trouble ahead. It soon emerges that Stuart has been keeping secrets from Ivy, and suddenly she misses her mum more than ever.

When Ivy stumbles across a letter from her mother hidden in an old writing desk, secrets from the past come hurtling into the present. But could her mother’s words help Ivy in her time of need? Ivy is about to discover that the future is full of unexpected surprises and Christmas at Sea Cottage promises to be one to remember.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: So you read the synopsis and expect to be let in for a magical fluffy Christmas themed book. No! That’s not what you get at all I think…thankfully what you do get is a rather compelling sort of book. Let me explain. Many of my regular Blog Visitors know that when it comes to ‘paranormal’ or ‘ghost’ type stories I tend to roll my eyes. The exception to this rule only comes in the form of the extremely talented Crime Writer Caroline Mitchell. You may now add to that list Lily Graham. I’m never that keen on paranormal elements, and to be honest although I don’t mind story lines being slightly outlandish, sometimes paranormal type books extend that way too far over my preference for a line. When I started this book I had no clue this element was even part of the story line. Thankfully it’s done in such a way that it’s an emotionally charged kind of ‘tear-jerker’ book as opposed to something bordering on the ridiculous.

Ivy and her husband Stuart have moved from London back to Ivy’s home town of Cloudsea. A beautiful Cornish village by the sea, which has enabled them to start afresh. Now that Ivy is pregnant with their first child, the grief she feels following the death of her Mother eases. However when she brings her Mother’s old writing desk to her home she has no idea how that simple act will change things for her. Sadly I don’t want to explain any more of the story line as I think it ends up being a spoiler for those wanting to read it. What I will say is that the story line follows a normal couple, dealing with normal things. That sounds strange right? Well I have to say it made a refreshing change to read about the normal things, such as a great couple having arguments over misunderstandings and then making it work.

The characters of Ivy and Stuart are easy to like and extremely readable. I fell in love with their dialogue when referring to Stuarts Mother nicknamed ‘The Terrorist’. As the story progresses we see Ivy making decisions that help her deal with her grief such as contacting friends of her Mothers from a group nicknamed ‘The Thursday Club’. I loved the addition of a bunch of older women all so different and they definitely added to the colour of the story. Although I had my doubts at the beginning due to the ‘magical’ element that made not an ounce of difference. I ended up reading the book in one day and loved it. Any author that can produce a book featuring a paranormal element, as well as romance, tears and laughter get a (surprise) 5 out of 5 from me.

Time to Play by K A Richardson (The Forensic Files #2)

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Synopsis: DI Alistair McKay is still reeling from the ‘one that got away’ but when he is called to deal with a potential murder at the water side, he must put his personal worries aside.

As police diver, Marlo Buchanan, starts pulling bodies out of the water, it becomes clear that something isn’t right. Someone is torturing young girls and dumping them in the local reservoir.

Then the body of a man is discovered and Mackay and Buchanan are pulled into the seedy underworld of human trafficking. As the team race against the clock tensions start to run high. Can they overcome their personal demons to work together? And will they find the killer before he strikes again?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I haven’t read the other 2 books in the North East Police series but that made no difference to this book. However, having completed this book it’s just made me disappointed that I didn’t read them as this one was a great read. Marlo Buchanan is a Police diver and to be honest this career path is one I haven’t seen in a fiction book I’ve read so it made a refreshing change. Her and the team are called out regularly and at first there seems to be no link to the other part of the story.

Elvie is another main character we get to know as we witness human trafficking first hand as the young fifteen year old is brought to England to await her fate. The opening chapters are certainly an eye opener and I feel like there are no holds barred in the descriptive horror that awaits these girls. In addition to Elvie, we meet Marlo’s colleague Connor who is struggling not only with his own secrets, but the fact that his Mum is suffering with Alzheimer’s. I did love the character of Marlo and her colleagues and other team members that form part of the RIB, also subsequently form part of the ongoing story lines which start to thread together as the book progresses.We meet Ali who is another copper whose path ends up crossing that of the Dive Team and Marlo as he investigates his own cases. I liked the back story with Ali and he is an extremely likeable guy.

Due to the fact there are multiple threads going on, at first it seems there is too much much in all honesty it was done exceptionally well and each element to the story piqued my interest. As time progresses it becomes clear that there is a lot more linking all the characters than it appeared at first. The writing was easy to get into BUT I did have one major gripe. I understand that sometimes the use of accents means the author changes wording so it seems more realistic such as using slang etc. But in this book the word ‘gunna’ instead of going to appeared more times than it seemed I’ve had hot dinners. I know that seems like I am being super picky but it grated on me as I didn’t think it fitted with the characters. Also both Marlo and Ali towards the last quarter of the book start calling everybody ‘love’? It came from nowhere and again just wasn’t in keeping with the characters. This was the main reason for me not giving it 5 stars, otherwise it was a cracking read.

I shall certainly be reading her future work as the book was fantastic, I will just cross my fingers in the hope she is ‘gunna’ change the characters wording in future to slightly fit their mould more.

Take A Chance on Me by Carol Wyer

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Synopsis: When Charlie’s husband leaves after ten years of marriage, her spirits hit an all-time low. She just isn’t sure how to pick herself up again. So, best friend Mercedes makes it her mission to put a spring back in Charlie’s step with the perfect bucket list.

As Charlie takes a chance and bungee jumps and belly dances her way through an array of adventures, her love life also begins to look up and she’s soon enjoying a few dates as a newly single woman. She begins to realise that finding romance, might not be so hard, especially when you’ve got someone like journalist Jake who has an adorable little boy and is very easy on the eye.

But is Jake too good to be true? As Charlie’s challenges on the bucket list get bigger, so do her questions about Jake. Should she continue to hold out for the fairy-tale? Or should she take a chance on Jake and hope for a happy ending?

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: This was a lovely read even though it started a little on the slow side. Charlie’s past has unfortunately shaped her future and she is struggling to lift herself out of her funk. Luckily for her she has a friend named Mercedes who is larger than life. Mercedes convinces Charlie one drunken night out to complete each others Bucket List. It took me a while to really warm to Charlie but as she takes on Mercedes list you can’t help but feel like spurring her on.

Mercedes and Charlie make a great twosome as friends and this makes for easy reading. The reasons spurring Charlie on at first seem obvious but as she takes steps to complete each challenge something new comes along and changes her outlook. Even when she feels like giving up you just know that somehow she will manage to pull it off. One of the nicest things about this book is the colourful array of brilliant characters that join Charlie on her journey. From Peggy the next door neighbour with her pet parrot Bert, to the class of Belly Dancing friends she meets. There are also her colleagues at the City Hospital where she presents a radio show.

In addition to Charlie completing the list she has to deal with a slightly strange ex-boyfriend as well as a pesky journalist who seems to pop up at every corner. Life is certainly interesting and fun ans you can’t help but to be swept along with the excitement of it all while reading. The latter part of the book gets a little more exciting and by the time I had reached the end I was disappointed to have finished it. This is a real feel-good and heartwarming book that I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to Carol’s next book!

We Were On A Break by Lindsey Kelk

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Synopsis: ‘You’ve just had a holiday,’ I pointed out, trying not to yawn. ‘Wasn’t that enough of a break?’

‘I don’t mean that kind of break.’

There’s nothing worse than the last day of holiday. Oh wait, there is. When what should have been a proposal turns into a break, Liv and Adam find themselves on opposite sides of the life they had mapped out.

Friends and family all think they’re crazy; Liv throws herself into work – animals are so much simpler than humans – and Adam tries to get himself out of the hole he’s dug.

But as the short break becomes a chasm, can they find a way back to each other? Most importantly, do they want to?

Kat’s Review: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Although I read maybe 70% crime, the remaining 30% is spent reading books like these. I am a bit of a Lindsey Kelk fan and loved the Angela Clarke series of books. However, this latest release I knew nothing about other that the fact I loved the author. When I started reading I realised that Lindsey Kelk has not lost her touch and as I read I recalled that one of her skills was telling the ‘real’ version of event. Especially dialogue between characters and this book is no different.

Liv is on holiday with her boyfriend Adam and she knows a secret. Adam is going to propose!!! Only he doesn’t, and what was meant to be a return from holiday with a rock on her finger ends up being the start of a ‘break’ between them. They are such likeable and normal characters with a whole host of secondary characters, all of which were brilliant. Vet is a vet and works with her father in the practice in their village. Adam is a self-employed carpenter who has a ridiculously self-important older brother Chris who plays his part in getting Adam into a stick situation.

Just a few chapters in and I was belly laughing at some of the situations they both found themselves in. The great thing about this was that each chapter was written from the POV of either Liv or Adam so we get to see how they are both coping with their current situation. Liv has a whole host of friends who are fabulous in equal measures, one of which is Cass who is married to Adam’s brother, the outspoken and blunt Abi, and the absolutely fabulous David her colleague from the Vets.

Throw in a cat named Daniel Craig (legendary!) some crazy parents a whole village that stick their oar in and you have the winning combination. Lindsey Kelk clearly writes from the heart and creates characters that you will fall in love with. This was an absolute joy to read and made me hastily return to my blog to see which books I have missed out on. Thankfully it is only one book I’ve missed, but with the miserable winter approaching I now have something to cheer me up!!!