#Review! The Asset by Shane Kuhn (@ShaneSKuhn) @TheCrimeVault @LittleBrownUK

In the dream, Belle was always the same age as when she died…

Fourteen years ago, the final words Kennedy ever spoke to his sister were in anger. That day was September 11th 2001, and Belle died when her plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Since then, Kennedy has dedicated his life to airline security. He knows more about planes than the airport authority, a fact which doesn’t go unnoticed by the CIA. After kidnapping him, Kennedy is inducted by the Agency into a programme called Red Carpet.

Now Kennedy is a civilian asset, an ordinary man working with extraordinary people to stop the world collapsing around him, just as it did for his sister so many years before.

What does TWG think?

I admit, I am one those readers who decides to judge a book by its cover instead of reading the blurb. Before you start thinking that I am a rather judgemental reader let me explain. I’m not (much), I just refuse to read a blurb and get told way too much before I have even read the novel! When I opened the package containing ‘The Asset’, straight away the cover had a lot riding on it, especially seeing as I had never heard of the author until that very moment! Luckily for me, the cover told me everything I needed to know; ‘One disaster took his sister and turned an ordinary man into a hero’.

Brand new author, intriguing cover, text with a hidden agenda that proposed the question; ‘why?’, in conclusion I couldn’t wait to begin reading.

The prologue is four pages long. Four pages was all it took to have me hooked line and sinker. FOUR PAGES! Kennedy harbours a lot of guilt after his final conversation with his sister, Belle, before she died. He will be living with that guilt and sadness for the rest of life, so what does Kennedy do? He puts himself in the firing line, literally.

‘The Asset’ was a book like no other I have read before. Not only does the storyline contain a truck load of crime, gorey details and kick ass characters, it also has a slight (understatement) spy influence throughout. Because the main character is seen as an ‘ordinary man’ (just a very, very, very clever one), he quite often got himself into a little bit of trouble from people ‘in the know’. As far as Kennedy was concerned, they weren’t ‘in the know’! Arrogant? Hilarious? Both in my opinion! At first I did think that Kennedy was so far up his own backside that he wouldn’t know the difference between night and day, but as the storyline spread its wings a bit more, he managed to change my opinion quite drastically.

You know when something happens and reality says that you shouldn’t laugh because it’s not funny, yet you end up finding yourself laughing anyway? This book made me do that! There was a situation, which had it happened in real life I probably wouldn’t have laughed, yet Kennedy’s reaction to it had me in hysterics! Yes, I’m being vague, but go and buy the book!

‘The Asset’ kept me on my toes the whole way through. Usually I try to solve storylines with complex plots, channelling my inner detective and failing miserably, but this time I was so engrossed in everything that was happening that I merely sat back and let the guys ‘in the know’ solve it! Plus, to be honest, I know I would have made a rubbish detective in this storyline as I was getting too distracted by the bonkers, other characters in the storyline. The jokers with hilarious one liners and questionable personalities (yet utterly fantastic to have in a storyline). I’m sure you know the sort.

Even though Shane Kuhn’s novel was out of my comfort zone to a point, I am so glad that I was given the chance to lose myself in such a dark, twisted and thrilling plot. Yes there were copious amounts of shocking moments with gorey details, but I really don’t think that the storyline would have been as good had they not have been included. It needed those short, sharp, shocking situations and dark conclusions as they gave the storyline enough depth to make it stand out from the rest.

Captivating, thrilling, twisted, yet unbelievably fantastic; ‘The Asset’ is THE type of book that needs to be devoured in one sitting. Full of complex characters and complex circumstances, Shane Kuhn’s novel will have you surrendering yourself to his dark and suspenseful way of thinking.
Absolutely fantastic.

Thank you Little Brown Books UK.

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon US

#Review! The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even by @AnnaBell_writes @zaffrebooks

When Lexi’s sport-mad boyfriend Will skips her friend’s wedding to watch football – after pretending to have food poisoning – it might just be the final whistle for their relationship.

But fed up of just getting mad, Lexi decides to even the score. And, when a couple of lost tickets and an ‘accidentally’ broken television lead to them spending extra time together, she’s delighted to realise that revenge might be the best thing that’s happened to their relationship.

And if her clever acts of sabotage prove to be a popular subject for her blog, what harm can that do? It’s not as if he’ll ever find out . . .

What does TWG think?

First thing’s first, I have been a mahoosive fan of Anna Bell’s novels since her ‘Don’t Tell the…’ books. Now, seeing as I am one of THOSE types of females that likes to keep the scorecard level(ish) in a relationship, I knew straight away that her brand new novel, The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even, had to land on my lap one way or another.

Between you and me, lets just say that I am not as bad (or as good, depends how you see it) as Lexi! Damn gurllllll!!!! There is getting even, and then there is getting even Lexi style. Just like a large percentage of the male population, Lexi’s boyfriend, Will, is sports obsessed. If a football match is on T.V he will move heaven and Earth to watch it, same goes for getting tickets to a stadium match. No, really, everything in Will’s life comes AFTER sport. Well, that’s what Lexi seems to think anyway, especially as her boyfriend lied to avoid going with her to her friends wedding…for sport.

It really is a female thing to put two and two together and end up with five, I’m sure we have all done it. If you haven’t, don’t worry as Lexi makes up for it! Lexi does not take the lie laying down and she makes him pay by hitting him where it hurts (noo, not THERE! oh just read the book).

I’m not going to lie, most of the lengths that Lexi went to had me in hysterics as they were extremely over the top! She seemed to have the nerve to do the sorts of things a lot of us are too wussy to do, and she totally ran with those ideas. Oh, by ran I don’t mean ‘jogging to the shop for a packet of biscuits’ type run, I mean a marathon type run. Lexi wasn’t going to be stopping her revenge anytime soon, let me tell you!

Whilst I did find most of her antics hilarious, I did end up feeling a little sorry for Will as I felt as though she was taking it a little too far. For me personally, the revenge parts went on a little bit too long. However, when Lexi had had her Snickers bar as she’s not herself when she’s hungry, the storyline took a belter of a turn and made me slap my hand to my mouth in shock.

Oh yes, I really wasn’t expecting the direction it took, but I most certainly welcomed the change with open arms. It was such a clever idea on the authors part and it really kept me on my toes. Look, I’m not the most romantic person, but Anna Bell’s novel chiselled some of the ice away from my heart with its romance and heart warming concept. If an author can do that to a renown Ice Queen then I am sold.

‘The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even’ is such a fun, bonkers, romantic, and hilarious read which will keep you entertained from start to finish. Full of shocking antics, cringy circumstances and a truck load of ‘what not to do’s’, TGGGtGE is the perfect book to forget all your troubles and get happy with!

Thanks Emily Burns & Bonnier Zaffre.

Buy now from Amazon UK

#BookReview – Differently Normal by Tammy Robinson (@TammyRobinson76)

Every family has its issues.

For Maddy, life is all about routine. It has to be, to keep her autistic sister happy and healthy. With just Maddy and her mother as Bee’s full time carers, there’s no time in Maddy’s life for complications like friends, let alone a boyfriend.

So when Bee joins a new Riding for the Disabled stable and they meet Albert, the last thing on Maddy’s mind is falling in love.

Some things, she’s about to learn, are outside of our control.

Albert has resigned himself to always being a disappointment to his strict father. When he meets Maddy, he gets a glimpse of what being part of a family can be like, and of the tremendous sacrifices that people will make for the ones that they love.

Differently Normal is a spellbinding story of love that will leave you breathless.

What does TWG think?

Author (whose success rate of making her readers cry is even higher than an episode of Greys Anatomy), Tammy Robinson, is back with yet another ‘totes emosh’ read. Whether you either finish reading her brand new novel and end up sobbing like a baby, or finish reading it with bone dry eyes, one thing is for certain; Differently Normal will reach out and steal your heart (obviously not literally, but you catch my drift).

For as long as Maddy can remember, day to day life has been governed by routine, and routine early. Even if the routine were to change through no fault of anyone’s, Maddy and her family would have to suffer the consequences and fix the situation before it escalated. Why? Well, Maddy’s life isn’t a case of ‘get up and get on with it’ as that is just an impossible request for her and her sister, Bee. Again, why? Bee has autism and life for her personally, has its own set of challenges. That’s even before you included the big, wide world’s challenges! Maddy would do absolutely ANYTHING for her sister and pretty much NOTHING for herself. If she were to be asked out her first answer would be ‘no’. If Maddy were to go out on her own or do something just for herself, she wouldn’t as she would worry about her sister. How unbelievably selfless.

I adored Bee; she was such a wonderful character to read about, so full of life and….herself. I honestly don’t think that I have enough words to explain how Maddy’s persona caught me, she truly is an outstanding person. If the world had more people like Maddy it would be a million times better. Fact.

As the storyline progressed, we saw Maddy loosen the ties on her life and live (to a point), thanks to a gentleman named, Albert. I found it quite troubling to read about his life as it was so raw yet incredibly common, which is such a shame. People’s lives shouldn’t be like that.

At times I wondered where my tears were, I couldn’t work out why my face was still dry and tears weren’t streaming down my face like a waterfall. But then it hit me. Tammy’s Robinson’s novels don’t HAVE to make you cry, they just INTEND to make you reach deep within your heart; and feel. Just….feel. The storyline moved me in a way I can’t even begin to describe, but, most importantly, it made me stop and think about the true meaning of what I was actually reading. Autism isn’t just a made up condition that is fixed by a couple of placebo’s and a hot toddy. No, it’s real life! It affects REAL LIFE people and their families. I couldn’t cry because if I did it would be like I was feeling sorry for Bee, or feeling sad for Maddy. But I didn’t, and I don’t. Why would you feel sorry for someone who knows no different? Why would you feel sad for a girl who was doing right by her sister?

So no, there was no sadness in my eyes from their situation, just copious amounts of admiration for their family. As for Albert’s situation, maybe I should have cried there too but I became numb. Differently Normal took me by surprise and had me feeling different things which I don’t often feel the need express; until now. I am in awe at the storyline, especially the strength of each individual family that finds themselves in a similar predicament as Maddy, and Bee. I am in awe at the authors deliverance of such a complex, real, and extremely unpredictable storyline; it certainly made me open my eyes.

Differently Normal is a storyline that will catch you unaware and will no doubt have you feeling emotions that are usually hidden under lock and key, waiting for the right moment to make themselves known.

A truly inspiring story which showcases just how misunderstood, yet beautifully challenging, autism can be.

mesmerisng, heart warming and a beautiful read from the author of real emotion, Tammy Robinson.

Thank you TBC Review.

Buy now from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon US

#Exclusive!! #Extract of Abi’s Neighbour by Jenny Kane (@JennyKaneAuthor) @AccentPress

WHY HELLOOOOO EXCLUSIVE!! TWG does like an exclusive! If I’m honest I think Accent Press were quite aware of that little fact when they asked me to do this today, after all, I am their number 1 fan (coughwheresmybadgecough)! I am beyond thrilled to welcome back to TWG author, Jenny Kane! Not only is she a brilliant author, she is also fantastic to host posts for as she introduces herself! I can put my feet up for a few moments in Abi’s House as I hand you over to the lady herself, Jenny Kane!

Extract Exclusive:

I’m delighted to be here, on the wonderful Writing Garnet site, to share an exclusive extract from my forthcoming novel, Abi’s Neighbour! Out on the 4 th May, this is the second story to feature children’s picture book illustrator Abi Carter. In Abi’s House, Abi left an unhappy life in Surrey behind her, and headed to Cornwall for a much needed new start. A year later, and everything is going to plan…until the house next door goes up for sale.

Blurb for Abi’s Neighbour

Abi Carter has finally found happiness. Living in her perfect tin miner’s cottage, she has

good friends and a gorgeous boyfriend, Max. Life is good. But all that’s about to change

when a new neighbour moves in next door.

Cassandra Henley-Pinkerton represents everything Abi thought she’d escaped when she left London. Obnoxious and stuck-up, Cassandra hates living in Cornwall. Worst of all, it looks like she has her sights set on Max.

But Cassandra has problems of her own. Not only is her wealthy married lawyer putting off joining her in their Cornish love nest, but now someone seems intent on sabotaging her business.

Will Cassandra mellow enough to turn to Abi for help – or are they destined never to get

along?

Complete with sun, sea and a gorgeous Cornwall setting, Abi’s Neighbour is the PERFECT

summer escape.

***

In Abi’s Neighbour, three brand new main characters join the Abi’s House regulars; Abi,

Max, Beth, Jacob and Stan. There is the unwelcome new neighbour, Cassandra Henley- Pinkerton; Dan Millfield, manager of the sheltered housing building where pensioner Stan Abbey lives, and feisty pensioner, Dora Henry.

Of all the characters I’ve ever invented, Dora Henry has to my one of my favourites. I hope you’ll love her as much as I do!

In this exclusive extract I’m going to introduce you to Dora for the first time.

We join the action as Abi joins her friend Stan Abbey, for their fortnightly dinner date in his sheltered housing flat.

Extract…

…As the front door opened, Sadie pushed her nose against her former owner’s legs,

and Stan beamed his ever-ready smile at his visitors as he affectionately ruffled the golden

retriever’s fur. ‘How are two of my favourite girls then?’

‘Well, Sadie here is just fine.’ Abi unfastened Sadie’s lead and followed Stan through

the hallway into his small open-plan living and dining room.

‘But I’m…’ About to tell Stan about her new neighbour, Abi abruptly stopped talking

as she realised they weren’t alone.

Stan’s grin became even broader, as he turned from Abi to the lady on the sofa, and

back again. ‘Dora, may I introduce you to my very dear friend, Abi Carter. Abi, this is Dora

Henry. And this beautiful creature is Sadie.’

Temporarily silent, Abi quickly came to her senses. ‘Hello, Dora, I’m very pleased to

meet you. You’re Stan’s bridge partner, isn’t that right?’

‘I’m a bit more than that, I hope.’ Dora winked at Stan, and Abi felt discomfort ripple

up her spine as she noticed that the table was laid for three and not two as usual.

Abi was spared from saying anything for a moment, as Dora said, ‘I’ve heard so much

about you. I’ve been dying to meet you. I hope you’re OK with me gatecrashing your

dinner?’

‘Of course!’ Abi wasn’t sure if she minded or not, but her inbuilt politeness had

automatically engaged, and anyway, she wouldn’t want to upset Stan for the world. Right

now he was looking more proud than she’d ever seen him. ‘I’ve heard plenty about you, too. I believe you’re the terror of the bridge club!’

‘Dora is something of a card shark,’ Stan said with a twinkle in his eye. Dora laughed.

‘I shall overlook that dubious accusation, seeing as you’re being so generous as to feed me,

Stanley Abbey.’

Then, speaking more seriously, she said, ‘I’m very pleased to meet you, Abi, but if

you object to me stealing some of your alone time with Stan, then I’m more than happy to

disappear.’

‘Not at all.’ Abi found her natural curiosity kicking in about this small, elegant

woman in Stan’s living room. ‘Shall I put the kettle on, Stan?’

‘It’s already on, Abi my girl. I tell you what, I’ll leave you two chatting, and I’ll make

the tea and get Sadie some water.’

Watching Stan disappear into the kitchen, Abi sat next to Dora. ‘I’m pleased to have

the chance to meet some of Stan’s friends.’

‘As am I.’ Dora focused her pale green eyes on Abi kindly. ‘Stan always keeps you all

to himself. He’s very protective of you, Abi.’

Abi’s initial disquiet at Dora’s presence eased as Dora received the Sadie seal of

approval. The dog, as if sensing Abi needed reassurance, padded across the room, and placed her chin on a delighted Dora’s knees.

‘You, my lovely,’ Dora stroked the retriever’s golden back, ‘are also at the top of

Stan’s list to talk about. And who can blame him? Not many blokes his age have two

beautiful females as regular visitors.’

Abi wasn’t sure what to say as she looked at Dora, who, although almost as old as

Stan himself, retained the air of a classic beauty. The tone of her words was gentle, and Abi

detected no sarcasm or jealousy, but there was something… something Abi couldn’t put her

finger on, that was hanging unsaid in the air. Deciding she was being ridiculous, Abi asked,

‘How long have you been living at Chalk Towers, Dora?’

‘Five years this coming Christmas.’ Dora’s warm smile lit up her eyes as Stan walked

about in with a tray of tea, and the unease Abi had felt instantly returned.

They aren’t… are they? Hoping she was letting her imagination run away with her,

Abi stuck firmly to small talk. ‘Do you like it here?’

‘I love it.’

With one eye on Stan as he sat down and served the tea, knowing he would never

have invited Dora to join them if he wasn’t very fond of her, Abi said, ‘I take it Stan has told

you how I ended up living in his house?’

‘It’s your house now, Abi.’ Stan passed her a mug.

‘True – but it took ages before I stopped feeling like I’d evicted you.’

Stan regarded his young friend. ‘I’ve said it before, and no doubt I’ll have to say it

again, but this is the best thing I’ve done in years. I was so lost after my Mary passed away.

You did me a favour, Abi, coming along when you did.’

Abi squeezed his hand, and passed a cup and saucer to Dora. ‘Do you take sugar?’

‘She’s sweet enough without!’ Stan said.

Abi was about to laugh at the old cliché, but the expression on Dora’s face stopped

her. There was no doubt about it – her suspicions had been correct…

***

To find out more about Dora, the poker queen, tall-tale teller, and secret service operative (maybe)…then grab your copy of Abi’s Neighbour!

Buy links-  Amazon UK // Amazon US

***

Many thanks again to Kaisha for hosting me today,

Jenny xxx

Bio

Jenny Kane is the author of the full length romance novels Abi’s Neighbour, (Accent Press, 2017), Another Glass of Champagne (Accent Press, 2016), Abi’s House (Accent Press, 2015), the contemporary romance/medieval crime time slip novel Romancing Robin Hood (Accent Press, 2014), the best-selling contemporary romance novel Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013), and its novella length sequels Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), Christmas in the Cotswolds (Accent, 2014), and Christmas at the Castle (Accent Press, 2015).

Keep your eye on Jenny’s blog at www.jennykane.co.uk for more details.

Jenny also writes erotica as Kay Jaybee and historical crime as Jennifer Ash.

Social Media Links

Twitter- @JennyKaneAuthor

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads

#BlogTour! #Review of Sleep Tight by Caroline Mitchell (@Caroline_writes) @Bookouture

Close your eyes … Just pray you don’t wake up.

A killer stalks the streets of East London. All over the area, murdered young women are discovered, their bodies posed into disturbing recreations of fairytale princesses.

Detective Ruby Preston is determined to hunt down the murderer who is using the women to realise his dark fantasies. But when body parts are found at the home of her lover, Nathan Crosby, Ruby is torn between her job and her heart.
Convinced that he is being framed, Ruby must catch the killer before Nathan becomes the number one suspect. But as more victims are found, it becomes harder to prove his innocence.

As Ruby starts to close in on the twisted individual, can she stop him before he strikes again? And how well does she really know the man she loves?

A terrifying, addictive, serial killer thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, for readers of Angela Marsons, Peter James and Rachel Abbott.

What does TWG think?

Fairy tale princesses, murder investigation, AND a storyline full of more suspense than Snow White has dwarves; what more could you want from a book? There is a murderer on the loose who seems to be channelling their inner ‘Brothers Grimm’ by killing women and having their bodies pose; fairy tale style. Surely if they had wanted to see a real life version of Sleeping Beauty, it would have been easier to take a trip Disney World instead? Just a thought..

Detective Ruby Preston is on the case, once again as she hunts for the murderer of such a twisted and grim crime. Ruby Preston has a massive task ahead of her as she tries to find the culprit and answers to the questions that have been forming in her mind at an astonishing rate.

Geeeeeessshhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Never mind what was going through the murderers mind, I want to know what goes through the author’s mind!! To deliver yet another chilling, graphic and extremely suspenseful novel without losing any trademark grittiness hot on the heels of a previous novel, takes an incredible amount of talent. Talent that is instantly recognised as Caroline Mitchell’s. I shan’t be picking ‘Sleep Tight’ as my bedtime read any time soon, even if the title does suggest sleeping tight! I didn’t even sleep tight the first time I read the storyline! Well, I slept with my eyes open if that counts haha.

Ruby Preston is a belter of a character to read about, and follow the life of as she just oozes SASSINESS. I really wouldn’t want to cross her down a dark alley, that’s for sure! She is absolutely brilliant, it was as though this storyline was made for her (well, it was but you catch my drift).

It goes without saying that I read most of this book in between my fingers, not that that would have stopped the women getting killed but y’know! The storyline was graphic yet without that level of spine tingling description, I don’t think I would have enjoyed the novel as much. After all, if you’re going to write a storyline that involves murdered women posing as fairy tale princesses, it needs to look the part doesn’t it? So, yes, the goose bumps and slight nausea aside, the on point descriptions made Mitchell’s storyline come to life.

‘Sleep Tight’ is my most favourite Caroline Mitchell book to date due to the never-ending suspense and shocking moments. You definitely WON’T be sleeping tight after reading this, and you most certainly won’t be putting the book down until you have finished reading every single word. Guaranteed. I have no idea how Caroline Mitchell writes flawless plots and knifey characters, but I can tell you something, she is absolutely sublime at it.

Big thanks to Noelle from Bookouture.

Buy: Amazon UK // Amazon US

About the Author:

A former police detective, Caroline has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. Originally from Ireland, Caroline lives with her family in a pretty village on the coast of Essex.  She now writes full time.

www.caroline-writes.com

https://www.facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor/

https://twitter.com/Caroline_writes

#BlogTour! #Review of ‘Lost and Found’ by Danielle Ryan @aria_fiction #Italy #bookblogger

Can true love prevail when the real and online worlds collide?

Perfect for the fans of Miranda Dickenson and Paige Toon.

Melissa Riva works in Milan as a university researcher. After buying an iPad at

auction, she finds it contains files belonging to its previous owner.

Fascinated by the beautiful photographs of romantic landscapes and views of the

city, she starts her search for the previous owner. Locating him through Facebook,

Melissa can’t resist contacting him.

Melissa and Riccardo begin chatting online. Both of them becoming increasingly

dependent on this strange relationship, though acutely aware that it’s only likely to remain a virtual one.

But when real life bursts in on their digital world, they can’t resist revealing their

true feelings…

What does TWG think?

‘Lost and Found’ could not get any further into the 21st Century if it tried! I mean really, a lost iPad, auctioned iPad, male character & a female character chatting over Facebook; I’m just waiting for the virtual relationship to form! Oh, wait….it already did.

In this day and age, a lot of time is spent chatting to people on social media, engaging in harmless banter and lusting over a vast number of photographs posted. No, I don’t mean THOSE kinds of photos, eeeesh, get your mind out of the gutter! Melissa was taken aback by some rather impressive scenic photographs; making it her mission to find the face behind the photo. Oh she found the face alright, even if the gentleman did seem to be the proud owner of multiple faces…

If I am about to read a book written by an author I haven’t heard of before, nine times out of ten I take a peek at the reviews on Goodreads beforehand. I don’t read them in-depth, merely skim reading to get a feel for the author; ‘Lost and Found’ was no different. I’ll be honest, after reading the book for myself, the lack of sparkle on the ratings and the rather comme ci, comme Ça reviews I had spotted before I began reading rather surprised me! Don’t get me wrong, some of the phrases used in the sex scenes made my toes curl in embarrassment! If you’re going to describe something of the sexual nature, using the proper terminology would be advantageous, especially as I didn’t realise female genitalia was called ‘the sex’. My bugbear!

Now I have that out of the way, I can now say that I rather enjoyed this rather modern and brave version of a love story. I say ‘brave’ because some cynics reading the novel may think of Melissa and Riccardo’s situation as completely unrealistic, whereas the ‘happily ever after’ type readers may be on Amazon buying their wedding hat before the novel even finished. To put it in another way, I felt that Danielle Ryan was very brave and bold to put such an outlandish, (yet possible relatable), situation in the core of her storyline. It’s bound to be the main talking point of the storyline, and if it isn’t I want to know why! I’m not the most romantic person on this planet, I fully admit that! So yes, I did think the two characters relationship to be a little bit ‘realllyyyyyy?’ at times, but that didn’t stop me enjoying seeing how the events unfolded, nor did it stop me eagerness to find out the outcome. Does the boy get the girl? Or does the girl tell the boy to go and do one?

I really enjoy reading novels set in Italy which have been written by Italian authors as I consider them to be my guilty pleasure! The way an Italian author can describe their own country in their own storyline, is such a beautiful thing to read. Instead of describing Italy like a travel brochure, Danielle Ryan described Milan in such a vivid and incredible way, it was as though the buildings became familiar and every scent was bottled up ready to be smelt again. You really need to know a country to be able to write it into a storyline so flawlessly, and obviously Danielle Ryan knows her own country!

I’ll be honest, ‘Lost and Found’ didn’t give me that firework feel, however, it was a rather enjoyable and humorous tale that kept me entertained the whole way through. The storyline wasn’t heavy, the characters didn’t require an additional pair of hands to sort out their lives (the reader), and the overall plot didn’t need TOO much of my brain power. In all fairness, it was a light-hearted, pleasant, and fun trip to Italy, which took my mind off my own troubles for a little while. Can’t really argue with that now, can you?

Thanks Aria.

Amazon // Kobo // iBooks // Google Play

Author bio

Danielle Ryan was born in Como, Italy and has a degree in both Economics and

Communication Sciences. She writes with a passion and devotes every free minute

of her day to her work. Danielle is a bestselling author in Italy. Her debut

novel Finding You reached no. 1 on Italian Amazon.

Thank you Aria Fiction for inviting me on Danielle Ryan’s blog tour, you can follow the rest of the tour via the details in the picture below:

#BookReview! The First Time Mums’ Club by Lucie Wheeler (@lucie_wheeler) @HarperImpulse

A gorgeous, heartwarming debut for fans of Giovanna Fletcher, Paige Toon and The Unmumsy Mum!

Meet Pippa…

After years of trying and a failed IVF attempt, Pippa is thrilled to see two little lines appear on a pregnancy test. Finally a precious baby to call her own. This is all Pippa has ever wanted…if only husband Jason could show just a little excitement.

Imogen…

A baby is the icing on the cake for Imogen and Alice – proof that their love for each other can overcome any obstacle. But when Imogen starts receiving malicious texts, it’s clear that not everyone is thrilled about the girls’ good news.

And Ellie…

A drunken one-night stand and Ellie’s life is ruined! Pregnant, jobless and the relationship with her best friend, Chris, over- forever. Because Chris just happens to be the father of Ellie’s baby…and potentially the love of her life!

For these first time mums the road to motherhood is bumpier than most!

What does TWG think?

If I wasn’t broody before I read this novel, I sure as hell am now!!! Waiting for Lucie Wheeler’s book to land amongst the blogger community was quite similar to the last month of pregnancy; long and couldn’t come quick enough! The thing is though folks, I am rather disappointed. You know when you wait an absolute age for something whilst getting more and more excited as each day passes, the day finally arrives and you end up feeling ‘OH’, ever get that? I am at that point, so I am rather disappointed.

I mean, WHY THE MATERNITY DID THE BOOK HAVE TO END?!?!?! Nobody told me that it would end…I wasn’t prepared for the story to finish and be left sitting there. -cries eyes out- I WANTED TO STAY WITH IMOGENNNNNNNN, WAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Ohhhhhhh, sorry, did you think I was going to say that I was disappointed with the book? Er hell no! Being a mummy myself I was able to relate to a lot of the storyline, especially Ellie’s situation (to a point). Pippa, Imogen and Ellie all have babies on the brain, after all, all three ladies are expecting! At first the ladies are complete strangers yet they are all drawn to a certain café. Well, seeing as it’s Ellie’s sister who owns the café it would be a bit tricky for her not to be drawn to it…

Each lady has their own individual story; Pippa is married to husband Jason and after a failed attempt at IVF, they’re FINALLY going to be parents, Imogen is married to wife Alice and despite all of the hurdles their relationship has had to jump over, they are about to complete their family with a baby of their very own. Oh, and finally, there is Ellie who is probably the least maternal woman of the group, yet ta-daaaa she is about to become a mummy after a drunken sha….shenanigan left her eating for two. And you know what? They’re all unbelievably fabulous!

If you’re a pregnant, first time mum and are currently experiencing feelings such as the ones mentioned in this storyline, or if you have already had your baby(ies), you’ll know that finding out you’re pregnant has got to be one of the most phenomenal yet terrifying experiences. Yes, even if the pregnancy is planned! Lucie Wheeler has captured those fears, apprehension and sheer enjoyment, in every part of her storyline absolutely magnificently. A lot of people may think that pregnancy and impending parenthood will be a vision of white roses and bouncing rabbits (well, that was how you got there), when in reality it’s not always like that. Lucie Wheeler has taken the topic of pregnancy, laid it bare and written about it in such a black and white manner; aka realistically. Take Ellie for example; as soon as she found out she was pregnant she felt as though her whole world had nose-dived, yet that is quite a common reaction to pregnancy, especially if unplanned!

Falling pregnant isn’t a case of wham, bam, thank you mam and a baby is made. No. Some women may need additional help or may be classed as high risk, so their feelings are going to be completely different to women who do fall pregnant on the first sniff of the Sea Man. What really impressed me with the entire storyline was how nearly every avenue was explored; fertility issues, same-sex marriage, single parent, rocky marriage and so on. Hand on heart, how many storylines do you know of that cover all of the above in one sitting?

Even though I adored every character (bar one), I resonated more with Imogen’s personality and beliefs. She became my ‘go to’ character very quickly and it was her labour that caught me more than the others. Daft eh? On a very personal level what with being considered ‘higher risk’, just like Imogen I’ve always know that I wanted to be a mummy; her fears and levels of uncertainty was as though I was watching a video of myself pregnant. Maybe that’s why I found her to be my ‘go to’ character, I don’t know.

For me, ‘The First Time Mums’ Club’ was such a flawless representation of motherhood, even where the labour was concerned! I could go on and on about Lucie Wheeler’s book all night, it really is THAT good. But I won’t though!

It is incredibly rare to read a storyline which not only captures your heart, your soul and your ovaries, it also leaves you feeling a level of fulfilment that you have never, ever felt before; just like The First Time Mums’ Club. I cannot put into words how much I adored every word and every feeling that this storyline contained; every single thing was…perfection.
Personally, ‘The First Time Mums’ Club’ had the right amount of giggles, the right amount of solidarity and girl power, the right ratio of serious to light-hearted moments, and even the right way of showing all first time mums (and mums in general) that it’s more than okay to not have everything together ALL of the time.

Lucie Wheeler’s debut novel, ‘The First Time Mums’ Club’ is such an outstanding and beautifully written tale about motherhood and friendship; I cannot tell you how much I LOVED reading this belter of a book. I was absolutely devastated to reach the end of such an empowering and fantastic book, so much so I am debating whether to read it for a second time already!

Phenomenal debut novel from the inspirational, Lucie Wheeler. It’s safe to say that ‘The First Time Mums’ Club’ is ranking in TWG’s Top 5 books of 2017 so far; roll on book two!!

Thank you HarperImpulse!

‘The First Time Mums’ Club’ will be published by HarperImpulse on the 5th May 2017 – you can pre-order the novel now from Amazon UK.

 

#BlogTour! #Review of Lie to Me by Jess Ryder (@jessryderauthor) @Bookouture

How can you tell the truth… if all you’ve ever known is a lie?

Three minutes. That’s all it takes for Meredith’s entire world to fall apart when she watches the videotape of her four-year-old self with Becca, the mother who abandoned her.

Meredith can’t believe what her eyes have seen. Yet what if her memory has locked away the painful reality of her childhood? Can there be any truth in the strange and dangerous story her mother forced her to tell on camera? 

The search for answers leads Meredith to Darkwater Pool, the scene of the murder of a young woman, Cara, over 30 years ago. What could possibly be the link between her mother and the victim?

To find the truth Meredith must search through a past that is not her own. The problem is, she’s not the only one looking…

What does TWG think?

‘Lie to Me’ intrigued me from the very first moment I laid my eyes on the cover and the title; I couldn’t wait to get stuck into what I hoped would be a rollercoaster storyline.

Meredith is at the age where she has the ability to stand on her own two feet, as well as having the option to use her own mind to work out whether something should be pursued or not. Whether Meredith CHOOSES to think for herself or stand on her own two feet, is another thing entirely; especially where her father is concerned. After all, aren’t daughters the apple of their fathers eyes?

To begin with, there was no tip toeing around a storyline or the characters emotions, it was as though I had nose dived into a quicksand moment in the plot; all I could do was watch the events unfold without budging. I tried to get my head around what was happening but seeing as I had only come across one small piece of a MASSIVE jigsaw puzzle, I knew I had to be patient and bide my time by getting to know the characters, look for vital clues and not over think each situation. It’s safe to say that I was rather gripped by the book nihon straight away, hard not to be with an opening like that!

A very, very promising start to the novel made TWG rather happy, I raced through the first third of the story as though my life depended on it.

There was a point in the storyline where things started to travel in slow motion; the characters seemed unsure of their destinations and the plot seemed to struggle between ‘weak’ or ‘strong’. Don’t get me wrong, there were times where my palms became sweaty and Jess Ryder’s fantastic, descriptive writing created vivid imagery in my head, yet every now and then it just…dipped. For me, the parts where Meredith took control by going one step further when she shouldn’t have done, were my most favourite parts as they were the most gripping to read. However, what confused me the most was getting told brand new information, new characters getting involved yet none of which led to any clear resolutions. Instead, I found myself with a lot more questions than answers, all of which I hoped would conclude further on in the book; unfortunately I found that to not be the case.

I can clearly see what the author had set out to do in terms of suspense and grit, she did manage to achieve the desired effect for a lot of the book in my opinion. However, the lack of conclusion left me feeling a little bit unfulfilled. Now, if Ryder came back with another book following on from ‘Lie to Me’, that would be a whole new story and one I would LOVE to see happen. It really does have the premise to expand into another book and I really do feel as though it may give the author more scope to tie up some loose ends.

Overall, I did quite enjoy ‘Lie to Me’, thanks to its rather gritty and descriptive storyline, as well as it’s punch main character, Meredith. ‘Lie to Me’ has the punch, the suspense and enough skeletons in its closet to rival The Addams Family. Even though I couldn’t gel with a proportion of the storyline, I am really looking forward to seeing what Jess Ryder releases next.

Thanks Bookouture.

Buy from Amazon UK
Buy from Amazon US

About the author

Jess Ryder is the pseudonym of Jan Page, author, screenwriter, playwright and award-winning television producer.  After many years working in children’s media, she has recently embarked on a life of crime.  Writing, that is.   So she’s very excited about the publication of her debut thriller Lie to Me.  Her other big love is making pots.

http://jessryder.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/JessRyderAuthor/

https://twitter.com/jessryderauthor

We have come to the end of Jess Ryder’s blog tour for her debut novel, Lie to Me! Incase you have missed any of the previous stops on the blog tour, you can find the blog details below. Huge thanks to Bookouture for including me on this tour!

#BlogTour! #Review – After the Affair by Jonathan Kaye (@JonathanKaye000) @baattyabtbooks

Do you like a book with a gripping story? A page-turner you can’t put down? A book with believable (if not always likeable) characters, a twisty yet credible plot and an easy-to-read pace? If that’s you, then this thriller set in Dublin should be right up your street.

Here’s the blurb:

“University Lecturer David Ryan is having an affair. And he thinks no-one knows.

He’s wrong. Someone does know. And that someone is out to blackmail him.

But when the blackmail attempt goes wrong, both Ryan and the blackmailer find themselves dragged into an underground (and decidedly seedy) world of secrets, lies and violence. A world where no-one can be trusted and everyone has something to hide.

Set in modern-day Dublin, ‘After the Affair’ is the unputdownable debut thriller from author Jonathan Kaye.”

What does TWG think?

If you can hear a loud banging noise don’t panic, it’s just my heart attempting to beat its way out of my chest! I know hearts are supposed to beat and things, but geeeez, they’re meant to stay INSIDE chests. How on EARTH is this book ONLY a debut novel?! Seriously! I have read many, many books in my time that don’t help my heart plan its escape route, yet they have been the authors second, third or even fourth novel.

Debut.novel…mind blown.

‘After the Affair’ was another one of those ‘out of comfort zone’ type books for me. When I read those sorts of books, I ensure my mind is kept open and my wussiness is kept under lock and key. Ha, ha, well, I ATTEMPT to keep it under lock and key. Jonathan Kaye’s novel pulled me in from the very beginning; I was trapped in the storyline and the only way out was to finish the novel.

Not only did the storyline grab my attention from the start, the twisting and gritty circumstances within, made each and every hair on my arms stand to attention. I have to admit though, there were times where I felt a bit too panicked to continue reading, but I didn’t want to give up because I was feeling a wuss.

A couple of the characters stood out for me more than the others, but each individual character was written rather realistically. Even though there was a lot of information to process whilst reading this novel, the busyness of the storyline didn’t put me off in the slightest as it meant that there were no pregnant pauses or gaps in between events. The only downside is that I have to be rather cagey in my review so I don’t accidentally give anything away. Plus, ‘After the Affair’ is definitely the sort of novel that the reader needs to appreciate and devour with their very own eyes, as each reader will interpret the storyline in a completely different way and end up with a varied opinion. Yes, this book really does have THAT kind of storyline.

The fact that this is Jonathan’s debut novel really did surprise me as it oozes structure and grit that often appears later on in novels, let alone the first one. However, because I have read A LOT of crime/thrillers, I was hoping that this one would stand out from the rest for me, a little more than it did. That said, it was a corker of a read but not as memorable as I would have liked. Ten out of ten for the heart pounding grit though!

Thanks HC/Jonathan Kaye.

Buy now from Amazon UK

There are still a few more stops on Jonathan Kaye’s blog tour, make sure you check them out! Details below:

#BlogTour! #Review & #Extract – The Woman Who Met Her Match @FionaGibson @AvonBooksUK

Fiona Gibson has drawn her own blog tour banner and OHMYGOD it’s GORGEOUS!!! SWOOOOOOOOOOOON! I am beyond excited to be today’s stop on Fiona’s blog tour for her new book, The Woman Who Met Her Match, which was published by #TeamAvon on the 20th April! Today I bring you not one but TWO exciting things in my post; a review of the book and an extract. I hope you enjoy! Big thanks to #TeamAvon for asking me to be on the tour!

What if your first love came back on the scene . . . 30 years later?

After yet another disaster, Lorrie is calling time on online dating. She might be single in her forties, but she’s got a good job, wonderful children and she’s happy. This, Lorrie decides, is going to have to be enough.

That is, until she receives a very unexpected request from France. Antoine Rousseau, who had once turned a lonely French exchange trip into a summer of romance, wants to see her – after thirty years.

But Lorrie is a responsible woman. She can’t exactly run off to Nice with the man who broke her teenage heart . . . can she?

A wonderfully funny novel, perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Joanna Bolouri and Milly Johnson.

What does TWG think?

I’ll admit, I was UBER excited about Fiona’s new book as soon as I saw it! Have you SEEN that font?! Vintage swirls meet bold and inspirational, that’s my take on the font anywhoo!

SO, the book!! Lorrie, a single mum to two teenagers that are adamant to get her love life rocketing from 0-100, with a little help from a certain online dating site. Little did she know what colourful men she would meet on the dates! Cringe! Being a single lady in her forties didn’t seem to worry Lorrie TOO much, yet when her past decided to reappear once again, her personal life decided to use a question mark for a hat.

Can you imagine that, having a question mark for a hat? Wouldn’t really keep your head dry if it rained though, eh?

Just like Fiona Gibson’s previous novels, TWWMHM (The Woman Who Met Her Match) was full of one liners, sarcastic humour and enough cringey moments to keep you full until dinner time (aka A LOT). Honestly! Some of the things Lorrie’s dates came out with caused my hand to fly up to my face so quickly due to embarrassment, I ended up slapping my own face! Classy TWG, classy.

I thought that the French addition to the storyline was a genius idea as I was able to see a different side to Lorrie. She seemed to have a larger than life personality and I wanted her to show it off!

What really hit home with Fiona’s novel was the underlying inspirational touch throughout the entire storyline. Instead of the frequent use of candyfloss inspirational messages, Fiona incorporated fictional kicks up the tooshes into her relatable, bold storyline. There didn’t seem to be any unattainable hidden messages about situations that could happen once in a blue moon; instead there were positivity outcomes to real life circumstances. What more could you want? For me, the real life edge gave the entire storyline its own special platform and made it stand out from the rest.

Whilst I enjoyed the overall storyline, there were a couple of moments where the storyline slowed down and I ended up wondering where it was heading. Luckily, it did get its little nudge and the storyline picked back up again but I did hope that Lorrie could have filled that gap with her big personality.

There were A LOT of things in this book that made me laugh out loud and think to myself , many things which could be seen as spoilers so I’ll keep it to myself. BUT, those thought-provoking moments in the storyline really did open my mind and helped me to see certain things in a different light.

TWWMHM is a bubbly, colourful, laugh out loud read which will keep you on your toes, and have you reaching for a slice of cake to support Lorrie. When the Spice Girls used the term ‘girl power’ back in the nineties, I ignored it, yet Fiona Gibson has just made ‘girl power’ popular again thanks to THIS novel.

Yet another delightful and insightful novel from the very talented, Fiona Gibson. Definitely NOT to be missed!

Thank you Avon Books!

Buy now from Amazon UK

Extract!

30 Years Later

He’s done that thing.

That thing of using a really old photo on his dating profile. How long ago was it taken? Ten years? Fifteen? This could be a fun guessing game. As if I wouldn’t notice that his hair isn’t in fact a lush chestnut brown as it appears in his picture but actually silver.

‘Lorrie? Hi!’

‘Ralph, hi!’ Force a smile. Don’t look shocked. Don’t stare at the hair.

‘Lovely to meet you.’

‘You too . . .’

‘Shall we go in then?’ he asks brightly.

‘Yes, of course!’

As the two of us stride into the Nutmeg Gallery, I try to reconcile the fact that the man I’ve had lodged in my head – with whom I’ve been corresponding via email all week – isn’t the eerily youthful-looking Ralph I’d expected to meet. Dressed in a crisp white shirt, new-looking jeans and a blue cotton jacket, he is a perfectly presentable man of forty-eight. He has striking blue eyes, his teeth are notably good – shiny and white, probably flossed – and he’s in pretty decent shape, suggesting that he does a bit of light jogging and goes easy on the booze. So why dig out a picture from something like 2002? When someone does that – and it contravenes the trade descriptions act really – it doesn’t matter how attractive they are, because it’s all you can think about.

And you feel sort of duped.

It was Ralph’s suggestion to meet here, outside the gallery tucked away by a pretty stretch of the canal in Islington. Ideal, I thought. The art bit would feel pleasingly grown-up. I know I shouldn’t still regard galleries in that way, being forty-six myself. I mean, I am mother to two teenagers, for goodness’ sake. I shouldn’t need to do certain things – like look at art – in order to feel like a bona fide adult. Then, after we’d sped through the gallery, we could get to the part I was really looking forward to: a chat in the cafe he’d mentioned, with tables overlooking the canal. ‘Amazing home baking,’ he’d said.

I’d had a good feeling about today, and not just due to the cake element. Ralph had been chatty and interesting in his emails: a solicitor – again, pleasingly grown-up – with hints of poshness and a warm, likeable face. After a couple of dud dates with other men I’d allowed myself a glimmer of hope. But now, well, he’s just not what I expected.

‘I didn’t even know this place existed,’ I tell him as we wander into the first gallery room.

‘Oh, I’ve been here a few times. It’s a charming little place.’

As we study the paintings – at least, I pretend to study them – a sense of awkwardness settles over us.

‘So, how’s it been so far?’ I ask lightly. ‘The whole, um, online thing, I mean?’ An older couple are perusing the artworks, and my voice sounds terribly amplified in here. Perhaps it wasn’t such a great choice of venue after all.

‘Oh, I’ve just started really,’ Ralph says. ‘In fact, you’re the first person I’ve met.’

‘Really? Well, I’m flattered.’ Silly thing to say, I know. He probably just hasn’t got around to meeting anyone else yet.

‘What d’you think of these?’ He indicates a row of small paintings, all in similar beigey hues. They are close-ups of various body parts – a forearm, a thigh, a rather septic-looking finger – each bearing a plaster.

‘Not crazy about them,’ I admit. ‘It’s all a bit medical, isn’t it?’

Ralph chuckles. ‘Yes, it is a bit. The permanent collec­tion’s much better – let’s go take a look.’

We stroll through to an airier room filled with bright, splashy abstracts which are far more pleasing with their cheery colours. Ralph makes straight for a still life depicting a wobbly yolk-yellow circle on a sky blue back­ground.

‘That’s quite striking, isn’t it?’ I remark.

He nods. ‘Yes, it was always Belinda’s favourite.’

‘Belinda?’ I give him a quizzical look.

‘My wife,’ he explains.

‘Oh, right.’