A Mother’s Secret by Renita D’Silva

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Synopsis: What if you discovered that everything you knew about yourself was a lie?

When pregnant Jaya loses her mother, then her baby son Arun in a tragic cot death, her world crashes down. Overcome by grief and guilt, she begins to search for answers – to the enigma of her lonely, distant mother, and her mysterious past in India. 

Looking through her mother’s belongings, she finds two diaries and old photographs, carrying the smoky aroma of fire. A young boy smiles out at Jaya from every photograph – and in one, a family stand proudly in front of a sprawling mansion. Who is this child? And why did her mother treasure this memento of a regal family lost to the past? 

As Jaya starts to read the diaries, their secrets lead her back to India, to the ruin of a once grand house on a hill. There, Kali, a mad old lady, will unlock the story of a devastating lie and a fire that tore a family apart. Nothing though will prepare Jaya for the house’s final revelation, which will change everything Jaya knew about herself. 

KAT’S RATING: 5/5

KAT’S REVIEW: Renita’s last book blew me away and if I’m honest I figured it may just have been that particular story. However, having devoured this latest book I now know for sure it’s the author and not just the story that makes you fall in love with a book. Durga, Kali and Jaya are all the focus of this intricately weaved story and one that I just fell in love with.

Durga is a young girl who has been sent to stay with her Grandmother who lives in a once grand house on a hill. Durga is a delightful character, a young girl who is labelled as naughty and is struggling to come to terms with her new home. However, upon arrival at her new home she sees that an older lady Kali is living there and being looked after by her grandmother. Kali is the other main character that is slowly introduced to the story. In addition we see Jaya living in London and dealing with the aftermath and emotional effects of losing her mother and newborn son.

Jaya’s story was in interesting one and as each story is unfolded at times I wondered what I was missing. I knew there were connections but just couldn’t see them. Once I was a quarter of the way in I knew I was hooked and there was no way I was putting this book down. Renita D’Silva has a way with words and as a reader you feel like she can physically transport you to that small village in India. You can see the sights, smell the spices and imagine you are right there alongside the characters.

As the story progresses I became more and more lost in this story and the connections became more and more revealed and the story just sweeps you along. The story is packed full of hope, despair, tragedy, loss and a whole host of other emotions. This is the second of Renita’s books that have literally knocked my socks off. They have such a different feel to them and I always feel that ridiculous sense of loss when the story is finished. I will hold my hands up and admit that seeing the cover and even reading the synopsis of her last book, I still thought “this isn’t for me”. Maybe that ridiculous pre-judgement makes me even more happy as the story took me by surprise. Truly a delight to read and a loss when finished. This is definitely a book I would highly recommend and I would urge you to give it a try even if it’s not your normal type of book, as it may just surprise you.

The Second Chance Shoe Shop by Marcie Steel

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Synopsis: All Riley Flynn wants is to meet someone who makes her happy. But attracting the right kind of man is not easy, and with her heart still hurting from her last break-up, Riley believes she’ll never find love again.

A year ago, Sadie Stewart’s whole world was shattered when her husband, Ross, died. She has struggled to keep herself together for the sake of their young daughter, but with the anniversary of his death approaching, Sadie finds herself overwhelmed by grief.

Sadie and Riley work at Chandlers shoe shop, in the charming town of Hedworth. But when Chandlers is threatened with closure, the friends are confronted with the loss of not only their jobs, but also their support network – the glue that holds them together when they are close to breaking.

As they put together a plan to save their beloved shop, Sadie realises that she might just be learning to live again. Could it be that new beginnings are just round the corner? The campaign also finds Riley unexpectedly crossing paths with charming photographer, Ethan. Maybe her second chance at love is right under her feet …

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: When I read my first Marcie Steele I admit I was worried. Marcie Steel is none other than the crime writer Mel Sherratt. Could she possibly have one foot in each genre successfully? It turns out she can! I really enjoyed the other MS books and was looking forward to reading the latest one. With this one out main character is Riley Flynn. She works in Chandlers Show shop and has done for many years. Alongside her, the other two characters appearing in this story are Sadie and Dan.

Riley is an immediately likeable character and you get an idea very soon on that her friends including Sadie and Dan are like one big family. The shoe shop boss Suzanne soon makes an appearance and threatens to close the shop they have all worked at for years. Between them they decide there is nothing left to do but plan something to save the shop. We see Riley’s love life slowly unfold including some suspect ex-boyfriends. On the other side of the fence Sadie is struggling to get her life back on track following the death of her husband Ross. The friendship between everybody shines through and makes this a real feel good read.

The story was a little slow in the beginning but soon picked up when they are pitched against each other and their antics start. It’s a very light hearted read and certainly enjoyable although I still think her last book holds the edge. I certainly think Mel Sherratt is proving its more than possible to straddle two genres.

Tastes Like Fear by Sarah Hilary (Marnie Rome #3)

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Synopsis: The young girl who causes the fatal car crash disappears from the scene. A runaway who doesn’t want to be found, she only wants to go home. To the one man who understands her. Gives her shelter. Just as he gives shelter to the other lost girls who live in his house. He’s the head of her new family. He’s Harm.

D.I. Marnie Rome has faced many dangerous criminals but she has never come up against a man like Harm. She thinks that she knows families, their secrets and their fault lines. But as she begins investigating the girl’s disappearance nothing can prepare her for what she’s about to face. Because when Harm’s family is threatened, everything tastes like fear…

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: I was looking forward to book 3 in this new series and thankfully wasn’t too disappointed. For some reason I seem to be way off the mark in terms of what I thought. It seems to have accumulated a number of 5 star reviews already, however for me it was lacking something. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, because I did, but there seemed to be something missing for me. I think because of that I didn’t feel it was the full 5 stars but almost. The story itself was plotted well and layers appeared making the story all the more intriguing. However this time around it was the characters that didn’t quite feel right.

I have read the other 2 books in this series and really enjoyed them. When I started reading this latest installment I felt a little confused at times. It seemed like Marnie took somewhat of a back seat, and Noah seemed to take charge more often than not. Something about that set up just didn’t ring true for me. I actually really like Noah and think he is a strong character who certainly belongs in this series alongside Marnie. The story itself was a little slow in the beginning and then picked up pace considerably and the last half was absolutely brilliant.

I certainly had no clue where the story would go and felt so relieved that the ending and plot line that was revealed was a complete surprise. There are also two additional plot threads which are slowly building interest in the background. Marnie’s family tie to Stephen and Noah’s brother Sol, both which I think will make amazing future books. By the end I realised that I had thoroughly enjoyed the book, however there were a few times when the characters just felt different. Whether that is part of future planning I have no idea, but it kind of put me off my stride a little bit. That small thing aside it was once again a great read, and a series that I think I will be waiting impatiently each time I have finished one.

The Theseus Paradox by David Videcette

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Synopsis: 7 July 2005: in the midst of Operation Theseus, the largest police investigation that the UK has ever known, Detective Inspector Jake Flannagan begins to ask difficult questions that lead to the mysterious disappearance of his girlfriend and his sudden suspension from the Metropolitan Police.

Who masterminded London’s summer of terror?

Why can’t Flannagan make headway in the sprawling investigation?

Is Jake’s absent girlfriend really who she claims to be?

While hunting for the answers to the most complex case in British history,

one man will uncover the greatest criminal deception of our time.


KAT’S RATING: 5/5 Continue reading “The Theseus Paradox by David Videcette”

The Birds and The Bees by Milly Johnson

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Synopsis: Romance writer and single mum Stevie Honeywell has only weeks to go to her wedding when her fiancé Matthew runs off with her glamorous new friend Jo MacLean. It feels like history repeating itself for Stevie, but this time she is determined to win back her man. She isn’t going to act as he might expect. She isn’t going to wail and dig her heels in, she is simply going to pretend to let him go whilst she pursues a mad course of dieting, exercising and self-improvement.

And it feels like history is repeating itself for Adam MacLean too, who is also determined to win his lady, Jo, back with the same basic psychological tactics. Then he is going to initiate his master plan: Getting together with Stevie to drive Jo wild with jealousy.

So, like the Scottish country jig ‘The Birds and the Bees’, the couples all change partners and learn some revealing truths about each other along the way. But what happens when Adam’s master plan actually starts to work? And just who will Stevie be dancing with when the music stops?

KAT’S RATING: 5/5

KAT’S REVIEW: Oh my. Milly Johnson recently got me out of a little reading funk with her release The Teashop On The Corner. When I realised that I still had a couple of books of hers I hadn’t read I was so pleased that I immediately bumped it up my to be read list, and thank goodness I did. Stevie Honeywell is an adorable character that you cannot help from the outset. She is a writer who is just weeks away from her wedding to fiance Matthew. However, she certainly wasn’t expecting Matthew to run off with the much skinnier and more glamorous Jo Maclean.

Her friend Catherine along with her husband Eddie and their brood of children make for excellent secondary characters and we see them chivvy Stevie along so that she can move on from Matthew. However, that was before Stevie met Adam Mac Lean, Jo’s ex-partner. Adam is a really funny character to read about, with his gruff Scottish drawl and brittle exterior,, he really is a lovable bloke. With Stevie experiencing so many setbacks, her and Adam are hellbent on showing they don’t need their exes, with the sole purpose of attracting them back.

As with any Milly Johnson book it takes little to settle in and the characters you instantly like and want to know more about. Every time I read a Milly Johnson book it cheers me up and I just want to keep reading. I find myself in that horrible position of only having one of her books left to read so shall save that for my next book funk moment. This is a warm-hearted and wonderful read that will cheer you up no end.

In The Shadows by Tara Lyons (Hamilton #1)

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Synopsis: Detective Inspector Denis Hamilton is tasked with apprehending a brutal murderer stalking the streets of London – and leaving not a shred of DNA evidence. As the suspect list mounts, his frustration and pressure from his superiors intensify. 

Grace Murphy, who is dealing with the recent loss of her beloved grandfather, falls deeper into despair when her friends’ bodies are discovered. Fearing she may be the killer’s next target, she begins to question if her horrifying nightmares are the key to unravelling the murderer’s identity. 

How far would you go to uncover the truth? Would you venture into the shadows to unmask a killer? 

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW: Detective Inspector Denis Hamilton is the main character in this debut novel by Tara Lyons along with Grace Murphy. The story started off a little slowly but in all honesty it gives you time to find out a little more about the other characters which make up this debut novel. Out of Grace and Denis, Grace was the one that held my interest initially. Grace seems like an ordinary woman, however she has recently lost her Grandfather who she was extremely close to. We see her struggle to cope with the loss and as the story unfolds she seems to spiral deeper into her own depression. The other element which makes Grace seem to spiral so quickly is that the recent murder that took place was somebody she knew. 

On the other side of the fence Hamilton and his colleague Lewis Clarke start to investigate the initial murder. However, before long it’s not just one murder they are dealing with and it become clear that the killer is extremely clued up as there is absolutely no DNA evidence making the investigation seem like a fruitless task. As the story progresses the tension mounts because it seems that each victim has a link to either Grace or the Theatre that she works at. I must say that I was pretty smug thinking I knew who the killer was after the first half of the book. I was wrong!

The whole book is written in such a way that you are drawn to reading about Grace and also you feel like you are almost part of the investigation. You don’t only see Hamilton and Clarke just swoop in and save the day, you see the whole team pulling their weight and going through the arduous tasks day by day and the frustration mounting. The last quarter of the book was absolutely brilliant and although I could see where it was going it took me until the last quarter of the book to figure it out. This is an outstanding debut novel and I am really looking forward to seeing what else Tara Lyon’s produces. This is certainly an author I would recommend and think fans of the ‘psychological thriller’ type genre will love this.

The Teashop On The Corner by Milly Johnson

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Synopsis:  Life is full of second chances…if only you keep your heart open for them. 

Spring Hill Square is a pretty sanctuary away from the bustle of everyday life. And at its centre is Leni Merryman’s Teashop on the Corner, specialising in cake, bookish stationery and compassion. And for three people, all in need of a little TLC, it is somewhere to find a friend to lean on. 

Carla Pride has just discovered that her late husband Martin was not who she thought he was. And now she must learn to put her marriage behind her and move forward. 

Molly Jones’s ex-husband Harvey has reappeared in her life after many years, wanting to put right the wrongs of the past before it is too late. 

And Will Linton’s business has gone bust and his wife has left him to pick up the pieces. Now he needs to gather the strength to start again. 

Can all three find the comfort they are looking for in The Teashop on the Corner? And as their hearts are slowly mended by Leni, can they return the favour when she needs it most…? 

KAT’S RATING: 5/5

KAT’S REVIEW:  Prior to starting this latest Milly Johnson I was in something of a ‘book funk’. Reading on average 3-4 books a week, I suddenly found everything I picked up didn’t hold my interest. I just couldn’t get in to anything and was wondering whether I should take a few days break. However, luckily for me I persevered. Well actually what that meant was closing my eyes and tapping a page on my Kindle for a ‘Lucky Dip’. That ‘Lucky Dip’ happened to be this one by Milly Johnson and what a treat it ended up being!

Carla Pride is in a position many women may empathise with. She has been married for ten years and her husband dutifully goes off to work, while she sits at home keeping the place spic and span whilst trying to find a new job. When her husband dies suddenly she becomes much more than just a grieving widow. Finding herself in a position where she needs to start afresh she is not only nervous but apprehensive about what is in store for her.

The Teashop on The Corner is owned by Leni Merryman and soon becomes the centre stage for this story. This book doesn’t just follow one lead character but a few and its done magnificently! Will Linton has lost everything and is starting again, Molly Jones has to deal with the re-appearance of an ex-husband and all together the Teashop becomes their sanctuary. In addition characters pop up such as Sean , Ryan and Mr Singh. It doesn’t feel like you are reading about any one of them, but all of them as a whole.

I fell in love with the teashop as well as the characters in the book. Milly Johnson has always been a fantastic author who I have loved reading but I must say this book had that extra something and I couldn’t even tell you what that ‘something’ was…it was just there! Read in one day, this book not only got me out of my book funk, but transported me to a town I actually wanted to be a part of. BY the end of this book I wanted to know what happened to them after that, a girl can hope right? A truly magical read which had me smiling, crying and laughing. A highly recommended read!

For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood (DCI Matilda Darke #1)

51YzLiJmaqL Synopsis: Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…

DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.

Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda’s case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…

Kats Rating: 5/5

My Review:

My, NOW I see what everybody was going on about! I’ve been seeing so much hype around this book but have literally been swamped with books and just haven’t had the chance. I finally got around to this and am so pleased I did. For a debut novel this was an absolute corker of a read and one that I can totally see why everybody would recommend (me included). DCI Matilda Darke isn’t just your both standard copper that has scars; it seems she is on the brink of destruction. We meet her upon her return to work. That in itself is a hardship and although the reader doesn’t quite know why, it’s very clear from the outset it won’t be an easy return to work for her.

Although Matilda has returned she is assigned with the cold case of the murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. A number of Matilda’s colleagues make appearances and they all seem to have their place within the story, especially DC Rory Fleming and DS Sian Mills. Her nemesis and acting DCI in her absence is Ben Hales. He makes for a loathsome character but an interesting one. As Matilda’s cold case starts to be worked on, DCI Hales catches a new investigation involving murder.

The two cases eventually collide which although easy to spot early on, made for extremely interesting reading. The plot was so well thought out and the characters just fitted right in. This book certainly doesn’t have the feel of a debut novel, more like a seasoned professional who has launched a new series. The flow, pace and depth of the story was all absolutely spot on and there was little to find fault with.

I certainly didn’t see the ending coming and although I wasn’t surprised by the turn of events it made for a compelling read. I devoured this book in just 2 sittings and certainly think I will be following this series. There is plenty of scope with characters and storylines, not just for Matilda although I admit she makes a cracking lead. I was certainly impressed by this debut and think most people if reading it with no knowledge would assume it’s from a longer standing author. This is most certainly a book I would highly recommend

The Secret of Orchard Cottage by Alex Brown (Tindledale #3)

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Synopsis: April Wilson is wondering what to do next – her life has been turned upside down after the loss of her husband so she’s hoping to piece herself together again with a visit to her elderly great aunt, Edith. Arriving in the rural idyll of Tindledale, she’s dismayed to find Edith’s cottage and the orchard behind it in a sorry state of disrepair. Edith seems to have lost interest completely, instead she’s become desperate to find out what happened to her sister, Winnie, who disappeared during WWII.

April gets to work immediately, discovering that the orchard still delivers a bumper crop each year, and with the help of some of the villagers – including Matt, the enigmatic Farrier – begins to unravel the mystery of the missing Winnie. Slowly,

April can feel things coming to life again – but can Orchard Cottage work its magic on her too?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Okay, where do I start? Alex Brown is a GENIUS people. I have read all of her books (with the exception of one) and they are just better and better with each book I read. When I read ‘The Great Christmas Knit Off’ and realised it was one book in a series all set within the village of Tindledale I fell in love. There was no warning, it just rushed up and smacked me in the face. I was drawn to not only this beautiful little village but all the people in it, and I really do mean ALL of them. The wonderful thing is that each book features the main characters but each villager plays their part, and before you know it you wonder which one of them will be featured in the next book. Following on from that first book AB released ‘The Great Village Show’ and then this month she has released this beauty.

April Wilson is the star of this latest release and as we see her trying to get over the loss of her husband Gray she decides to visit her older Aunt Edie who lives in Tindledale. More specifically she lives in a place called Orchard Cottage. Orchard Cottage and its magical feel translates across the pages as if you were standing right next to April. However, this latest Tindledale book is a slight departure from the other two in the sense that I feel like it was dealing with a couple of more serious and evocative issues. Thankfully, Alex Brown has sprinkled her Author Magic and made it a beautiful and wonderfully enjoyable book to read.

There are so many characters that are added into the Tindledale mix such as April’s Stepdaughter Nancy, and we see the return of much loved characters and places that feature in the other 2 books. Edie’s story is one that is a little sensitive as it deals with Edie’s apparent decline into Dementia. This along with the continual mention of Edie’s sister Winnie, April feels like she doesn’t know what is fact or fiction. This element of the story and finding out what happened to Winnie was so lovely and I really loved the way it was done. In addition we see April trying to get over her grief and it almost feels like the magic of Orchard Cottage rubs off on her as we see her develop.

Once again I was blown away by how great Alex Browns books are. They are going from strength to strength and I feel like at the moment she can do no wrong. She creates characters you really feel for and love as well as creating a village in my head that I would LOVE to visit. Bravo Alex, I am will be waiting with baited breath for the next Tindledale installment.

Journey To Death (Lucy Hall #1)

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Synopsis: Lucy Hall arrives in the Seychelles determined to leave her worries behind. The tropical paradise looks sun-soaked and picture-perfect—but as Lucy soon discovers, appearances can be very deceptive. A deadly secret lurks in the island’s history, buried deep but not forgotten. And it is about to come to light.

As black clouds begin to gather over what promised to be a relaxing family break, Lucy realises that her father stands in the eye of the coming storm. A shadow from his past is threatening to destroy all that he holds dear—including the lives of his loved ones.

A dark truth is about to explode into their lives, and that truth is going to hit them right between the eyes.

KAT’S RATING: 4/5

KAT’S REVIEW::  I was in two minds about how to rate this book, however I think as a Leigh Russell fan (especially the Geraldine Steel series) you have to accept this is an entirely different type of book. This is not a gritty thriller, more a generic mystery type book. Once you get your head around that you can look at the book with fresh eyes (so to speak). Lucy Hall is a character that is easy to read, however at the moment not that memorable (well at least not for the right reasons). Her trip to the Seychelles to get over her ex-boyfriend along with her parents is meant to be a relaxing time for her, to enable her to get herself together. What actually transpires is a holiday nightmare that will leave Lucy and her family reeling in shock.

The story itself was okay and I feel like this is just a mere introduction to Lucy. The characters were probably the thing I disliked most about this book, just in terms of the way there were quite dismissive throughout the book. That aside, the writing flows well and you begin to get a feel for Lucy and her Mother Angela and Father George. It’s revealed little by little why George’s  history on the island is now coming back to bite them in the behind! There was certainly an element of suspense and in some ways I quite liked the way the characters were second guessing themselves. I guess in real life, this is more likely to happen than an automatic launch into becoming your very own Miss Marple.

I loved the island setting and this Leigh did an amazing job of getting the setting and scenery across to the reader. There were certainly a few gripes I had with the book, but not enough to warrant a lesser rating. I think overall if you take this book for what it is…a mystery, then it’s certainly an enjoyable read. I will certainly look forward to book 2 to see what Lucy plans on doing next.