Tag: RATED 5/5

A Home For Broken Hearts by Rowan Coleman

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Synopsis: Is there a cure for a broken heart?

Once upon a time, Ellen Woods had her ‘happily ever after’ moment when she married her beloved Nick. But fifteen years later her husband’s tragic death leaves her alone with their soon-to-become-a-teenager son and a mountain of debt. 

On the verge of losing the family home Ellen decides to rent out some rooms, and all too soon a whole host of characters enter her ordered but fragile existence – each with their own messy life in tow. But will this be enough to pull her out of her grief so she can learn to live – and love – again?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Ellen Woods is recovering from the sudden death of her husband Nick. Her soon to be teenage son Charlie is also struggling to find what is normal. However Ellen has bigger problems to deal with and it involves money, she just doesn’t have any. It seems the only way she can possible even consider keeping her home is to find herself some lodgers. With the help of her sister Hannah, before long Ellen has taken in 3 lodgers. The three lodgers consist of Lads Magazine writer Matt, the German lady Sabine who is recovering from her own marriage issues and the seventy something romance writer Allegra Howard. 

I instantly liked Charlie, Ellen’s son, however I struggled to get to know Ellen initially as it is quite clear she is still somewhat adjusting to the life of a widow. As soon as Allegra, Matt and Sabine show up I just knew I was going to love this book as all three of them bring something brilliant to the story. Allegra and Ellen strike up an unlikely friendship which to be frank is wonderful. The lady who says it as it is and Ellen walking round slowly adjusting to having a friend. Matt brings the humour to the book in spades and I loved how he was such a cheeky chappie, but one with a heart. And finally the no-nonsense Sabine who would demand that Ellen sort herself out.

I don’t want to mention anything about the plot as part of the beauty of this story is how each thread unravels, and although it was maybe there all along it was discreet and not noticed. As the layers are revealed another one appears and it almost feels as though the characters are stripped bare and we have to watch to see if they can build themselves back up. I read much more Crime and Thrillers and like to break it up with something light. I wouldn’t say this was necessarily a ‘light’ read as it deals with some serious heart wrenching issues, but is done in a way that is pure magic. An absolute joy to read, and one I would recommend to somebody looking for something that little bit different!

Lovers and Liars by Nigel May

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Synopsis: When Millionaire playboy Sheridan Rivers is found dead at his luxurious hotel on the paradise island of Barbados, there are several suspects in the frame…

Sutton: Sheridan’s long-suffering wife was permanently pushed aside for his younger lovers. Was it time for her to make a stand?

Kassidy: Sheridan’s assistant longs to be wealthy in her own right. Employed for her sexual and organisational skills, could she have had her eyes on a bigger prize?

Nikki: Sheridan’s oldest daughter has done something really bad that her dad has discovered. What price will she pay to keep his silence?

Heather: The apple of her father, Sheridan’s eye. But she’s recently been widowed due to a terrible accident Sheridan was responsible for. Is the time ripe for revenge?

Four women, each with a cross to bear – all waiting for the perfect moment to exact their revenge .

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: Well another Nigel May book an another corker of a read. It’s packed to the rafters with Glamour, murder, sex, more sec, infidelity, skulduggery…the list goes on! When I started to read this book I was a bit worried as there seemed to be so MANY characters. Actually by chapter 3 all the mundane duties such as housework, dinner and a bath had gone out the window. What at first seemed like a character overload ended up being just perfect. Sheridan Rivers is smack bang in the middle of every thread in this story. As the owner and Millionaire of the luxurious Hotels named Velvet he is every bit the arrogant idiot I expected him to be (and some). His long suffering wife Sutton is one of the ladies that has suffered as a result of this despicable man, however has the joy of having two wonderful daughters Nikki and Heather, The two girls couldn’t be more different as characters but equally as readable. Nikki is the party girl where a silly mistake gets her into an impossible situation. Heather on the other hand is a kind and gentle soul who is married to an amazing guy who is her world. Then on the other end of the spectrum you have Kassidy, Sheridan’s assistant who is not only hired for her skills but for her antics in the bedroom.

Phew…already I feel overloaded and I have already read this book! However the reality of reading this couldn’t be further from the truth. As each woman takes a thread to the story it gets more and more involved, dangerous and seems that nobody has any idea just how much double crossing is going on. At the halfway point I was completely and utterly enthralled, addicted and absolutely convinced that no amount of cajoling from my husband would move me from my sofa, book in hand.

A lot of the story features the women, however the main event that this story centres around is a major boxing match that will be set in the Barbados hotel featuring Hatton Eden. Hatton and his manager and trainer Fidge were excellent and added another layer of spice to the story. The settings for this sun drenched romp could’t be any better and it made me long for a sandy beach. It’s a saucy read (it seems Nigel is getting saucier with each book he writes and I LOVE it), so make sure you don’t have any nosey neighbours reading over your shoulder. Although in real life I did have to put the book down (sadly I HAD to eat) I read it in as near to one sitting as is humanly possible. If you are slightly prudish, then maybe not the book for you. For me this has everything PLUS MORE and I think this is my favourite of his books to date. Whoever said men couldn’t write romp clearly hasn’t had the pleasure of reading Mr May! Roll on the next book!

Hard Kill by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #2)

Synopsis: A senior American security adviser is missing, presumed kidnapped for his top-level military intelligence. FBI Assistant Director Martha Meyerstein needs to track him down before classified information gets into the wrong hands. She needs Jon Reznick on board.

The former black-ops assassin is supposed to be on vacation with his daughter, but when Meyerstein calls, it doesn’t pay to keep her waiting. Her elite team is convinced that the missing diplomat’s expertise in the Persian Gulf points to an Iranian terrorist cell, but Reznick isn’t so sure. His gut instinct tells him they’re all wrong. Never one to play by the rules, he finds himself working alone, following a lead that everyone else has dismissed. But to Reznick, the suspect seems a little too clean…

When the team comes under attack, the kidnapping is exposed as part of a much wider conspiracy, one far more dangerous than Meyerstein feared. Nothing and nobody is safe—and only Jon Reznick stands between national security and a campaign of unprecedented terror.

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Continue reading “Hard Kill by J B Turner (Jon Reznick #2)”

Death Note by Caroline Mitchell (Ruby Preston #1)

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Synopsis: Twenty years ago you were forced to give your daughter up. Now she’s back. Or is she?

Women who’ve had to give up children for adoption are being killed. A knock at their front door begins a nightmare from which they will never wake up.

Detective Ruby Preston and her team must hunt down a disturbed individual before someone else is taken. But just when they think they’ve made a breakthrough, Ruby receives a sinister email, and the case takes a terrifying personal twist.

When bodies start turning up, staged in perfect, domestic scenes, Ruby realises they’re chasing the most frightening serial killer she has ever faced.

Can Ruby catch the killer before they strike again? Or will her troubled past catch up with her first?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Continue reading “Death Note by Caroline Mitchell (Ruby Preston #1)”

Dark Waters by Robert Bryndza (Erika Foster #3)

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Synopsis: When Detective Erika Foster receives a tip-off that key evidence for a major narcotics case was stashed in a disused quarry on the outskirts of London, she orders for it to be searched. From the thick sludge the drugs are recovered, but so is the skeleton of a young child. 

The remains are quickly identified as seven-year-old Jessica Collins. The missing girl who made headline news twenty-six years ago. 

As Erika tries to piece together new evidence with the old, she must dig deeper and find out more about the fractured Collins family and the original detective, Amanda Baker. A woman plagued by her failure to find Jessica. Erika soon realises this is going to be one of the most complex and demanding cases she has ever taken on. 

Kat’s Rating: 5/5

Kat’s Review: I came to the Robert Bryndza party late (book 2 to be precise), but having read that and then this latest release I realise why everyone was making such a fuss. First off Erika Foster is a great lead character and the writing is flawless! That’s just for starters, so yes I think we can safely say I am a fully fledged fan now and will be impatiently waiting for each new instalment.

Erika Foster is a Detective working in South London and the book opens with her and a colleague waiting for a team of divers to dredge a disused quarry. What they were looking for was linked to a drugs case, however what they didn’t bank on was the discovery of the body of a young child. Yep, I know it’s certainly not the nicest of stories to read about but with the setting so atmospheric the tension jumps up a few stages in the very first couple of chapters.

Erika quickly establishes herself as being the one who wants this case, but to do that she has to put a few noses out of joint which is not a problem in her world. Erika is an interesting character especially since she lost her husband on the job previously. What it means is that she takes everything extra personally, and you can tell she is constantly battling with herself to always do her best and to not make mistakes. When she finally gets her wish of running the case she has to break the news to the family. Jessica Collins was only 7 when she went missing and Erika is determined to find out what really happened.

The story has multiple layers pretty early on and we see the old case officer Amanda Baker being brought into the story. However Amanda Baker has her own issues and it makes for interesting reading. In addition numerous characters are brought in as potential suspects and the story just keeps building in suspense. The best part was that Erika gets to choose officers to work with and she calls back 2 old colleagues, Moss and Peterson, both of whom I think deserve a place in this series. I read this in 2 sittings and absolutely loved it from the first page to the last. I certainly didn’t see where the ending was going and by the time I got there I was genuinely surprised. As always comes the crashing disappointment of having to wait for the next book but I’m confident it will be worth the wait. If you haven’t read this author, I suggest you give him a try, I doubt you will be disappointed!

CHRISTMAS AT THE LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY BY JENNY COLGAN

Synopsis: It’s Christmas in the Cornish coastal village of Mount Polbearne – a time for family, friends and feasting.

Polly Waterford loves running the Little Beach Street Bakery. She’s at her happiest when she’s creating delicious, doughy treats and the festive season always inspires her to bake and knead something extra special for the village residents. In fact, the only thing she loves more than her bakery is curling up with her gorgeous boyfriend, Huckle. She’s determined that this Christmas is going to be their best one yet, but life doesn’t always work out as planned…

When Polly’s best friend Kerensa turns up with a secret that threatens the life Polly and Huckle have built together, the future begins to look uncertain. And then a face from Polly’s past reappears and things become even more complicated. Polly can usually find solace in baking but she has a feeling that’s not going to be enough this time. Can she get things back on track so that everyone has a merry Christmas?

Kat’s Rating: 5/5 Continue reading “CHRISTMAS AT THE LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY BY JENNY COLGAN”

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

Continue reading “BLOG TOUR: THE KILLING GAME BY JS CAROL”

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!

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.

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!!!