#BlogTour! #Review – Silent Night by Geraldine Hogan (@gerhogan) @Bookouture

Thank you to Geraldine Hogan and Bookouture for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for ‘Silent Night’, and for the ARC. It’s an honour to be closing the blog tour today – hope you enjoy my review:

‘She reached into the pram and placed her hands on the cotton blanket. It was still warm. But her smiling, new baby sister, with her wide blue-grey eyes, was gone…’

Twenty five years later, three bodies are found at a ramshackle cottage in the Irish countryside, and Detective Iris Locke is sick to her stomach. The victims are Anna Crowe and her two young children.

Iris has only recently joined the Limerick Murder Squad. Against her father’s advice, she’s working the narrow lanes and green hills of her childhood. Iris still remembers Anna, who was just a small girl when her baby sister was snatched, never to be seen again. It was the one case Iris’ own father never solved, and Iris can’t help but wonder if the two crimes are connected.

She’ll stop at nothing to find Anna justice, but a fire has destroyed almost all the physical evidence, and Limerick is the same small town she remembers: everybody protects their neighbours, and Iris has been away for too long.

Can Iris unpick the lies beneath the surface of her pretty hometown, and catch the most twisted individual of her career, when reopening the old case means reopening old wounds for her team, the rest of the community, and her own father?

What does TWG think?

You may be sitting there thinking to yourself, ‘this name sounds familiar’, and you would be right. Geraldine Hogan, as a lot of you may already know, has written contemporary novels under the name of Faith Hogan. When I found out that she would be writing a crime novel, I was a little apprehensive as her other books are deeply moving, emotive, dynamic reads, and I just wasn’t sure.

‘Silent Night’ is the first book in a brand new series which follows Detective Iris Locke’s policing journey into the Murder team, and she is certainly thrown into the deep end with her first investigation!

I wasn’t taken by the storyline at first, I’ll be honest. There was a lot of information up in the air, with the storyline to-ing and fro-ing between the characters without first making sense of what had already been written. I didn’t really like the feeling of mismatch, but I tried to keep an open mind.

Thankfully the last 40 percent of the book completely turned my opinion around. I was shocked by the difference as it felt like I was reading a completely different story than the one I had started with. Perhaps Geraldine Hogan grew in confidence towards the end of the book, who knows, but I was so pleased by the strength of the latter chapters.

Iris Locke is such an intriguing character, and I can just tell that there is a lot more to her colleagues that meets the eye. I am rather looking forward to finding all of that out, that’s for sure.

The concept of missing child, devastating secrets, and murder, was such a compulsive and gripping mixture which, by the end of the book, had my pulse racing. I did not expect the turn of events, and I certainly did not expect my opinion of the book to change so drastically, but it did.

Geraldine Hogan has taken a promising step into the crime fiction genre, and I am looking forward to see where it takes her next.

Buy now from Amazon

#BlogTour! #Review – #DeadGuilty by Michelle Davies (@M_DaviesWrites) @panmacmillan @annecater

Many thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me to take in Michelle Davies’ blog tour for ‘Dead Guilty’, and of course thank you to Panmacmillan for the ARC. Here is my review:

Has the killer in DC Maggie Neville’s cold case returned after a decade of silence?

Katy Pope was seventeen when she was brutally murdered on a family holiday in Majorca. Despite her mother’s high rank in the Met and the joint major investigation between the British and Spanish police, Katy’s killer was never caught.

Ten years later, Katy’s family return to the Spanish island to launch a fresh appeal for information, taking with them the now skeletal team of investigating Met detectives, and newly seconded Maggie as the family liaison officer.

But Maggie’s first international investigation quickly goes from being more than just a press conference when another British girl there on holiday goes missing, and Katy’s killer announces that it’s time for an encore . . .

What does TWG think?

Having not read the previous three books in the series, I was a bit concerned that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the storyline due to not having all the backstories of the characters. However, I needn’t have worried – I was able to slot into the series as though I had been following it all along!

‘Dead Guilty’ was absolutely brilliant. The intensity was through the roof, and the honesty of every single character was brought into question multiple times. I loved the uncertainty of not knowing who to trust, and the fact that the ‘whodunnit’ could have been anyone because of them each harbouring some sort of guilt, was so gripping.

Not only did Michelle Davies’ novel focus on a disappearance that was now ten years on, it also tuned into the characters psyches, highlighting the lengths in which people go when grieving or feeling pressured. The psychological element to the story, for me, was outstanding and gave the book such a complex and addictive vibe.

I may have not read the other books in the series, however my bank is about to take a beating as I aim to get those beauties in my hands sooner rather than later.

If you’re after a novel which delivers in both suspense and psychological brilliance, I honestly cannot recommend ‘Dead Guilty’ enough.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – Her Last Promise by Kathryn Hughes (@KHughesAuthor) @HeadlinePG @AnneCater

Apologies for the delay in posting my review today, I have been at Edinburgh Book Festival! Many thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for Kathryn Hughes’ latest novel, ‘Her Last Promise’. Also, many thanks to Headline for the ARC. Here is my review:

Tara Richards was just a girl when she lost her mother. Years later when Tara receives a letter from a London solicitor its contents shake her to the core. Someone has left her a key to a safe deposit box. In the box lies an object that will change everything Tara thought she knew and lead her on a journey to deepest Spain in search of the answers that have haunted her for forty years.

Violet Skye regrets her decision to travel abroad leaving her young daughter behind. As the sun dips below the mountains, she reminds herself she is doing this for their future. Tonight, 4th June 1978, will be the start of a new life for them. This night will indeed change Violet’s destiny, in the most unexpected of ways…

What does TWG think?

Ever since I lost myself in Kathryn Hughes’, ‘The Letter’, I just knew that this was an author to watch and, after reading ‘Her Last Promise’, my opinion of the authors talent was cemented on a whole new level.

As far as I am concerned, Kathryn Hughes is the queen of historical fiction who also knows how to incorporate the dramatic realism, with the hint of broken family ties that readers have come to know and love.

‘Her Last Promise’ focuses on the devastating effect that harboured regret and guilt can have on one person and families alike.

The gentleness of Tara’s personality alongside Violet’s lack of confidence, could easily have been a recipe for disaster, yet their characters spoke volumes and made the story, and their own personal journeys, come to life beautifully.

I loved how Kathryn Hughes emphasised the importance of living life to the full as best as you are able, as well as highlighting the fact that a lot of people get scared when they are faced with life changing decisions, just like both Tara and Violet.

‘Her Last Promise’ is such a beautifully written and thought provoking novel which made the hair on my arms stand to attention due to the power of the written word.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Extract from ‘A Cruel Deception’ by Kim Booth (@K_B_Author) @BOTBSPublicity

Many thanks to Sarah for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for ‘A Cruel Deception’ by Kim Booth. Here is an extract from the book, as well as the blurb and the all important ‘buy’ link:

For Joan and Ted Warner, an innocent and trusting couple, a chance encounter with Barbara Hendry, a cunning con-woman who turned their settled lives into a living nightmare

The Warners were not victims of a remote scam, carried out over the internet by fraudsters from afar. For six years, faking a friendship face-to-face, this plausible woman carried off the impersonation of a member of the nobility fallen on hard times, manipulating the emotions of her victims, deceitfully draining them of every penny they had set aside for their retirement, and plunging them into debt.

Hendrys intention was to slip away, having sucked the Warners dry of all their hard-earned savings. But for some dogged investigative work by a determined detective she would have succeeded- and remained free to prey on other vulnerable victims.

Follow this journey of fraud and depravity in the company of the one man who knows the full story – the British detective who cracked the case and brought Barbara Hendry to justice.

Buy now from Amazon

Extract.

During the following months and after having spent a large amount away on the fraud enquiry it was time to return to getting on with my local work and wait for justice to take its course. I had left requests for statements to be recorded from witnesses that I had been unable to see and was waiting for any replies. In my absence there had been a number of burglaries at large houses on the patch that needed looking into, I still had the enquiry to pursue where an “additional” grave had been discovered by a gardener in a local graveyard and I had also been given an enquiry to look into about some very suspicious “goings-on” and a very large country house in the north of the patch. Gossip was rife about women being chased around the very large gardens of the premises scantily clad, chauffer driven cars arriving at all hours of the day and night being let into the premises which were guarded by very large metal gates. I decided to go and take a look to see what was going on, and when I approached the gate was met by a very large male with no neck who when I enquired as to who lived there was told in no uncertain terms to “Piss off!” not a good move really by the man on the gate it only served to feed my appetite as to what was going on.

I had not introduced myself for fear of compromising any future enquiries but as it turned out the premises were owned and being used by a multi-national company as a “knocking shop” where executives would no doubt take advantage of the pleasures on offer to ease the process of any business negotiations! The premises later featured in a national corruption enquiry involving a well-known national company.

#BlogTour! #Review – #Control by Hugh Montgomery (@hugh_montgomery) @ZaffreBooks

Many thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for ‘Control’ by Hugh Montgomery, and thank you to Zaffre Books for the ARC via Netgalley. I am delighted to be reviewing this book for my stop on the tour today. Enjoy!

Renowned surgeon Michael Trenchard locks his office door and prepares for a relaxing evening. But what follows is a living nightmare when later he is discovered in a locked-in coma, the victim of an auto-erotic asphyxiation.

It is left to Doctor Kash Devan, Trenchard’s young protégé, to uncover the truth. And what he discovers is chilling . . .

In his ruthless pursuit of wealth and success, Trenchard has left a trail of wrecked lives, and angry people, behind him. Which of Trenchard’s victims hated him so much that they wanted to ruin not only his reputation, but his life as well?

Not all doctors are heroes . . .

What does TWG think?

Goodness me – I have never, EVER read a book like this before! A book which was so gripping, yet mindblowingly farfetched at times, I just simply couldn’t tear my eyes away.

I didn’t dislike the book, in fact, I really did enjoy it. However, certain eventualities within the storyline were a bit too unbelievable at times, and my enjoyment dipped ever so slightly because of that. I am fully aware that ‘Control’ is the work of fiction and the author is well within their right to overuse their imagination wherever they see fit and, seeing as I have my own overactive imagination at times, I don’t mind when situations go off on their own little tangent. To a point. There’s always that fine line, isn’t there?

Kash Devan is fresh meat, so to speak, and he finds himself under the wing of an exceptionally well known surgeon, Michael Trenchard. As far as Kash is concerned, as soon as he steps foot onto the various wards, the life and health of his patients take precedence over everything else. Did I mention he was under the wing of a well known surgeon? I never stated whether Trenchard was well known due to his positive actions, or whether he was well known because more people seemed to dislike him than genuinely like him…..

Let’s just say that Kash Devan’s mind was elsewhere due to the Chinese whispers around the hospital. Were they true, or were they purely fiction?

What I enjoyed most about ‘Control’ was how the author incorporates the reader into the storyline which enables them to form their own opinion of certain characters, as well as trying to work out who should be in the firing line, if anyone at all. It was as though Hugh Montgomery refused to steer his readers down his thought path in an obvious manner, even though deep down I knew that that was going to happen, simply because he knew what was going to happen and us readers could only attempt to guess.

The medical side of the book were incredibly eye-opening and very, very dark. Some of the descriptions are a teeny bit graphic, however the book isn’t full of scenes which would make you chuck up your previous meal. At times I thought that there was a lot of medical jargon which flew over my head, but I just went with the flow as ‘Control’ is centred around medicine due to it being predominantly set in a hospital. That said, if you’re wanting to feel as though you could go on and become a doctor right after finishing read this, kudos to the medical jargon!

‘Control’ is a compulsive, complex and psychologically twisted novel which kept on surprising me and left me in a false sense of security. I thought that the characters were brilliantly written, each adding their own dynamics to the overall vibe of the book.

I really do recommend picking up ‘Control’ if you’re a fan of dark, medical reads – just not straight after eating food….

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – #IfYouWereHere by Alice Peterson (@AlicePeterson1) @simonschusterUK @TeamBATC

Huge thanks to the wonderful Simon and Schuster team for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for Alice Peterson and ‘If You Were Here. Also, many thanks for the ARC. Here is my review:

When her daughter Beth dies suddenly, Peggy Andrews is left to pick up the pieces and take care of her granddaughter Flo. But sorting through Beth’s things reveals a secret never told: Beth was sick, with the same genetic condition that claimed her father’s life, and now Peggy must decide whether to keep the secret or risk destroying her granddaughter’s world.

Five years later, Flo is engaged and moving to New York with her fiancé. Peggy never told her what she discovered, but with Flo looking towards her future, Peggy realises it’s time to come clean and reveal that her granddaughter’s life might also be at risk.

As Flo struggles to decide her own path, she is faced with the same life-altering questions her mother asked herself years before: if a test could decide your future, would you take it?

What does TWG think?

If you could look into the future to find out how your life would pan out, would you do it? Honestly, I don’t think I could even answer that. Life is full of surprises, however if you knew what lie ahead of you, would you feel more confident about dealing with the negative things if you had warning?

Flo is faced with that very decision. Should she take a medical test to find out whether she is likely to succumb to the very illness that took her parents away from her? Before reading Alice Peterson’s latest novel, I had heard of Huntington’s disease but I didn’t quite know how devastating it could be. Just like many illnesses, it isn’t a one size fits all as many sufferers react differently to the symptoms and challenges they face.

Told as a dual narrative, ‘If You Were Here’ tells the story of Peggy and her granddaughter, Flo. Peggy finds out something which could like a fuse under her granddaughters life and, instead of biting the bullet and being honest with her, Peggy keeps that information to herself because she doesn’t want to hurt someone she loves dearly.

I could see where Peggy was coming from to an extent, however I could also see where Flo was coming from because it wasn’t up to Peggy to withhold that vital information about Flo’s health, from Flo herself.

The family dynamics and secretive notions, are very emotional and intense. It was incredibly difficult to form a solid opinion on the characters actions, having not endured what they have, yet finding a way to be empathetic is such an important mindset to have whilst reading this.

Alice Peterson writes stories about characters who are dealing with things that no-one hardly ever talks about. If the subject is likely to be seen as taboo, Alice Peterson is straight in there, bringing her characters personalities to life with such dignity, courage, poise and realism.

Getting to know Peggy and Flo was an absolute joy, however I was undeniably bereft when their story ended. I have a feeling that their emotional journey will stay with me for a long while to come, and I cannot wait to read another beautiful, uplifting novel from an author who knows, and understands, the power of empathy and emotion when it comes to hurdles involving illnesses.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – #ThreeDaysInFlorence by Chrissie Manby (@chrissiemanby) @JennyPlatt90 @HodderBooks @HodderPublicity

Third and final blog tour of the day, and we head to Italy for my stop on the ‘Three Days in Florence’ tour! Huge thanks to Jenny Platt and Hodder Books for the blog tour invite and ARC. Here is my review:

Kathy Courage has never visited the famous Italian city of Florence before, so she’s thrilled when she and her boyfriend Neil are invited there for a wedding. Unfortunately, with Neil’s constant complaining and his teenage children in tow, it’s not exactly the romantic break Kathy was hoping for.

But when a mix-up with her flights leaves Kathy stranded in the city, she decides to embrace the unexpected and stay on alone.

What follows is a life-changing few days in the Tuscan sun, as Kathy begins to question the choices that have led her here. With the help of the colourful Innocenti family, who offer Kathy a place to stay, she gradually begins to realise that there’s a much bigger world out there, if only she can be brave enough to explore it.

Could Italy hold the answers to her future happiness? Or is Kathy destined to return to her old life?

What does TWG think?

Please say that I’m not the only one who thought that Neil and his kids were absolute doorknobs?!?! Oh, wait…that would make them useful. Ugh! I didn’t like them AT ALL…..if you hadn’t already guessed that. I just wanted Kathy to turn round to Neil and go, ‘you know what f’WIT, go to hell!’. But she didn’t. I think she would have been well within her right to do that though, wouldn’t you agree?!

Kathy has longed to visit Florence for as long as she can remember and, thanks to Neil’s brother getting married in that very city, Kathy is over the moon that she can finally step onto Italian soil. Best laid plans and all that meant that Kathy’s trip didn’t exactly go the way that she had hoped it would. I won’t spoil it for you, but judging by what I’ve said above, I’m sure you can guess who the culprit was!

Anyway, through lack of communication and clerical error by Neil’s PA, Kathy found herself staying in Florence longer than anticipated. Not that she would have complained!

Is it mean that I laughed out loud at Neil being annoyed? It wasn’t Kathy’s fault! I was so pleased that we were able to watch her personality flourish in her beloved city, and watch the person she has kept under wraps, finally spread its wings and be the person she is meant to be. Honestly, it was as though I reading about a completely new person and, as weird as this sounds, I felt proud as punch. It was as though she had had a lightbulb moment regarding her worth.

I really enjoyed getting to know the Innocenti family, and I absolutely loved being caught up in the beautiful story that Chrissie Manby had created. The underlying message about happiness and living life to the full, really hit home and is definitely something people should do their bests with. Life is incredibly short, so why should we spend it being unhappy and stuck in a situation that we had no say in?

‘Three Days in Florence’ is a home away from home novel which filled me with hope.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – Where I Found You by Emma Robinson (@EmmaRobinsonUK) @Bookouture

Another Bookouture blog tour for you this afternoon, but this time it is for Emma Robinson’s, ‘Where I Found You’. Many thanks to Bookouture for the blog tour invite and ARC. Here is my review:

Your daughter does not speak… But can she teach you how to live?

Ever since Ruby was tiny, she has been unique. Her smiles are magically rare, her building blocks are always colour-coded, and she communicates only in gestures. Sometimes, being Ruby’s mother is hard, but the way she sees the world makes it new for Sara every day.

When Sara’s husband walks out on them, Sara’s world falls apart, and her mother-in-law, Barbara, is the only person she can turn to for help. But Barbara thinks Ruby’s problems are all in Sara’s head; that she just doesn’t know how to raise a child right.

Sara can’t see how she’ll cope alone. Barbara won’t listen. Can a girl who doesn’t speak show them the way?

What does TWG think?

I really don’t know how to begin this review. I’m pretty torn with my thoughts on this book, to be perfectly honest.

Anyone who has children will find the first few chapters this book incredibly difficult to read. I was so overcome with emotion, my body had no idea how to expel it. My heart went out to little Ruby and the fact that she didn’t know how to make herself heard. Not only that, my heart went out to her mum, Sara, too. I wanted to shake her husband because he was being an absolute -insert bad word here-. Just because he couldn’t see further than his nose, it didn’t mean that Sara was wrong and should be ignored. A little support would have gone a long, long way and perhaps the whole situation wouldn’t have been as much of an emotional turmoil for Sara if she had had his support in the first place. And then there’s Barbara. I took an instant dislike to her because she was an interfering bat. Sara is Ruby’s mother, not her! Her constant interfering alongside her sons incapability to think of anyone other than himself, made me so angry. I just wanted to make everything okay for Ruby, you know?

As the storyline progressed, things regarding Barbara start making sense, however whilst I was able to show her more empathy, she seemed to want Sara on side one minute and then go behind her back the next. Which one was it to be? By the end of the book, I didn’t dislike Barbara, thankfully, I just didn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.

I thought the addition of the art and being able to let Ruby flourish with anyone expecting too much of her, was so touching and filled me with happiness from top to toe. However, this is where I began to feel torn with my opinion. The first three quarters of the story was intense, emotional, and unique to Ruby’s personality, so when the story started to fast forward without much of an explanation, I couldn’t help but be a bit confused. I was unsure as to why the latter half of the book ended up feeling rushed with several things being unanswered. It just didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the book and gave off a different vibe.

That said, I could feel the emotion and the thought behind everything Sara did for Ruby. For me, that little girl was the star of the show and was such an incredible character to read about and get to know. I was also pleased that Sara was listened to, it was just a shame that it took so long. And yeah, I am aware that that is what happens in reality, and it shouldn’t at all.

To all the parents who have a child like Ruby, you are superheroes for having their backs.
To all the children like Ruby, you are legends of your own castle.
To Emma Robinson, thank you for such an honest and emotive read.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – Her Silent Cry by Lisa Regan (@LisalRegan) @Bookouture

First of three blog tours today is my review of ‘Her Silent Cry’ by Lisa Regan. Many thanks to Bookouture for the blog tour invite and ARC – I adore this series!

Round and round she goes, blonde pigtails flying, her high-pitched giggle catching on the wind. But as the ride slows to a stop, her seat is suddenly empty. Little Lucy is gone…

When seven-year-old Lucy Ross is snatched from the carousel in Denton city park, Detective Josie Quinn joins the frantic search. She’s the one who finds Lucy’s sparkly butterfly backpack abandoned by the ticket booth, a note with a devastating message stuffed inside: answer your phone, or your sweet little darling will die…

The next day, Lucy’s parents are filled with hope when they pick up a call which they think is from their babysitter – but instead it’s a chilling male voice on the line. Josie races to the babysitter’s small apartment only to find her lifeless body in a tangle of sheets on her bed.

Josie is faced with the most high-stakes case of her career as each new phone call from someone connected to the family ends with the shocking discovery of another body. This twisted killer wants revenge, and he won’t stop until the Ross family are in pieces…

Something is telling Josie that Lucy’s parents aren’t giving her the whole truth, but digging deeper into their lives will force her to confront a life-changing secret of her own. Does Josie have what it takes to crack this case? She has no choice if she’s going to bring Lucy home alive…

What does TWG think?

Josie Quinn is back, ladies and gentleman! I cannot believe that we are on book six of the series already, I really hope there are plenty more of these books to come. If you haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, don’t starting panicking as each book can read perfectly well as a standalone. That said (as always), if you like to know more of the backstory of the characters you’re reading about, I would advise reading the books in order, especially as ‘Her Silent Cry’ doesn’t really show as much of Josie Quinn’s personality or history, like the other books do.

Now you see her, now you don’t. Literally. Seven year old Lucy was on a carousel one moment, and then the next it was as though she had disappeared into thin air. Detective Josie Quinn has seen more than her fair share of child disappearances, so she is well aware of the importance of time and getting the child back home sooner rather than later.

If only it was that easy….! There are a lot of dots to try and connect in this storyline, and I have to say that the author was exceptionally clever at not tripping up! I didn’t guess the outcome before it happened, instead I managed to scare the AHEM out of myself when I went downstairs and thought someone was behind me when in fact, it was just my hair and the kitchen light making it appear different. So yeah, the storyline is pretty atmospheric and realistic!

I was bowled over by the intensity of the book and the uncertainty of Lucy’s future. The not knowing is what made my blood run cold as I had everything crossed that she would go back home unharmed. Even though I admitted above that ‘Her Silent Cry’ doesn’t show much of Josie’s personality, I still felt as though we were able to see a different side of her than in previous books. I’m not saying that she never had a heart, however she did come across a lot more human than before, and the disappearance of Lucy really made Josie Quinn seem approachable and less like a Rottweiler.

‘Her Silent Cry’ is such an unsettling, uncertain, and brilliant novel which really tunes into the psyche of the characters and the outcomes of the choices they make in life. This series is one of the best series I think I have ever read, so more please!!

Buy now!

#BlogTour! #Review – The Beekeepers Cottage by Emma Davies (@EmDaviesAuthor) @Bookouture

Many thanks to Bookouture for the blog tour invite, I am delighted to be one of the bloggers closing the tour for Emma Davies and ‘The Beekeepers Cottage’. Here is my review:

Comforted by the gentle hum of the beehives at the bottom of the garden, Grace drains the last of her tea and walks slowly back towards the little hillside house she adores. Her marriage is over, but is it too late to start her life again?

Beekeeper Grace thought throwing out her cheating husband would be the hardest thing she ever did. But when she opens the door to a property developer one morning, it’s clear that keeping her beautiful home and garden – her only sanctuary throughout her miserable marriage – will be the greatest challenge of all…

Fleeing to her best friend at the farm next door, Grace blurts out all her problems, only to be overheard by Amos, a handsome, free-spirited visitor with a twinkle in his eye. Fascinated by Grace and her bees, Amos offers to stay in the village of Hope Corner, to help turn her home into a guest house in return for lessons on beekeeping.

As Grace shows Amos how to nurture a hive and harvest honeycomb without getting stung, he is charming but secretive. He never stays long in the same place after an incident in his past involving a mysterious woman named Maria. But as their eyes lock over a jar of homemade honey, Grace can’t help feeling that she’d really like him to stay…

Determined to dispel her growing suspicion that Amos is running from something serious, Grace goes in search of the truth about Maria. But when she finds it, will she still want Amos to put down roots in Hope Corner, and will they still have a house to return to?

What does TWG think?

Ooooo it’s not everyday you read a book with a beekeeper in it! I must admit that I did enjoy finding out about Grace’s life and how she tends to the bees. They are such understated yet incredibly important species, so it was nice to see the bees get their time in the spotlight as it were.

Now, onto Amos; that man could have invented the word ‘intriguing’, it oozed out of him big time! I’m I’m complaining by the way, I enjoyed getting to know him and working out what made him tick, especially where Grace was concerned. The fact that the characters had similarities with their lost soul type personalities, was very endearing. That said, it was very clear that both characters had suffered pain in one form or another. Like I’ve admitted once or twice before, I’m not a sucker for romance, yet I really wanted Grace and Amos to have their moment, whether it was with each other or separately.

Emma Davies has an incredible talent at making her stories come alive as though you’ve known the characters your entire life. The way she told Amos’ story had such an enchanting and flawless feel to it, the entire book was such a pleasure and a joy to read. Emma Davies just keeps on getting better and better.

Buy now.