#BlogTour The Safe House by Louise Mumford

It’s my turn on the Blogtour The Safe Place by Louise Mumford.

About the Author

Louise was born and lives in South Wales. From a young age she loved books and dancing, but hated having to go to sleep, convinced that she might miss out on something interesting happening in the world whilst she dozed – much to her mother’s frustration! Insomnia has been a part of her life ever since.

She studied English Literature at university and graduated with first class honours. As a teacher she tried to pass on her love of reading to her students (and discovered that the secret to successful teaching is… stickers! She is aware that that is, essentially, bribery.) 

In the summer of 2019 Louise experienced a once-in-a-lifetime moment: she was discovered as a new writer by her publisher at the Primadonna Festival. Everything has been a bit of a whirlwind since then. 

Louise lives in Cardiff with her husband and spends her time trying to get down on paper all the marvellous and frightening things that happen in her head. Follow @louise_mumford on Twitter

About the book

She told you the house would keep you safe. She lied. – Esther is safe in the house. For sixteen years, she and her mother have lived off the grid, protected from the dangers of the outside world. For sixteen years, Esther has never seen another single soul.

Until today. – Today there’s a man outside the house. A man who knows Esther’s name, and who proves that her mother’s claims about the outside world are false. A man who is telling Esther that she’s been living a lie. Is her mother keeping Esther safe – or keeping her prisoner?

Review

Esther can barely remember a time before the isolation, the bubble and the extreme fear. A fear of the world around her and especially of the outside – the air that can and will kill her given half the chance. Luckily she has a mother who fights ferociously for her daughter’s safety, health and life.

The innate trust she has in her mother, the woman who puts her safety above all else, slowly starts to crumble. Living in a bubble in isolation for the majority of her living years, well it means she can only judge and make decisions based on the information she has at this moment in time. It’s the difference between life and death for Esther, right?

It is until Esther starts to question the world around her, and her eyes are opened to some inconsistencies. Perhaps it’s time to face up to her fears and take small steps in the right direction or straight in the direction of death.

It’s an interesting doomsday scenario, which isn’t that farfetched in our day and age. There are plenty of people living off-grid and keeping loved ones isolation in the hopes of keeping them safe. The question is whether they are right to do so or in this case have the right to make those decisions for the more vulnerable.

Buy The Safe House at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: HQ Digital pub date 12 May 2022. Buy at Amazon com. 

#BlogTour Playing with Fire by Mary Burton

It’s my turn on the BlogTour Playing with Fire by Mary Burton.

About the Author

Mary Burton loves writing suspense, researching law enforcement and forensic procedures, morning walks, baking, books, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels of suspense and romance. 

A Richmond native, Mary has lived there for most of her life. She is a graduate of Virginia’s Hollins University and worked in marketing before she began writing full time. Her first book was published in 2000 and she’s now the author of thirty-four published novels, five novellas and four works of contemporary women’s fiction written as Mary Ellen Taylor.

A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters, such as her The Forgotten Files novels. 

When not traveling for research or visiting with readers at bookstores, book festivals and conferences, Mary remains very much a homebody. She and her husband spend time alternately enjoying and lamenting their empty nest and spoiling their four-legged babies Buddy, Bella and Tiki.  Visit maryburton.com

About the book

A year after the infamous arsonist Nero was found dead in one of his latest fires, journalist Darcy Sampson receives a tip that the body found at the scene wasn’t Nero at all. Determined to solve the case, Darcy heads to her small hometown in Virginia to track Michael Gannon, an arsonist investigator who refuses to believe that Nero is dead.

But when a new series of fires in the area have a remarkable resemblance to the arsonist’s previous work, Darcy and Gannon are in a race against time to put a stop to Nero once and for all.

But Nero is ready and waiting for them, and he intends on teaching both Gannon and Darcy one last, fatal lesson. (previously published as The Arsonist)

Review

If you have read books by Mary Burton before, then you might have read this when it was first published under the title The Arsonist. This is a reissue with a spiffy cover, and you might want to catch some of the other ones too.

It’s what I would call a fast-paced romance thriller. The relationship between the ex-arson investigator Gannon and the reporter Darcy is a slow burner – pun totally intended – and in a way the attraction builds in intensity. Like a ember emerging into an all consuming flame. The emotional parallels of desire and destruction move alongside each other, which is actually quite accurate for the portrayal of one intent on igniting the world around him.

The arsonist plays a game of chess and is willing to do anything to get Gannon off his heels after a long twisted game of fire, destruction and even death. His death is a convenient closure, is it not? But the pull of the flame is powerful and soon it becomes evident that Nero is back from the dead.

You get crime, thriller and a bit of mutual attraction – all for the price of one with this read.

Buy Playing with Fire at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: ‎HQ Digital pub date 6 May 2022. Buy at Harper Collins.

#BlogTour Find You by Mary Burton

It’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Find You by Mary Burton.

About the Author

Mary Burton has lived in Central Virginia for most of her life. She’s a graduate of Virginia’s Hollins University and and she worked in marketing before her first book was published in 2000. Today she’s the author of thirty-seven published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and nine works of contemporary fiction as Mary Ellen Taylor, including Winter Cottage, Spring House, Honeysuckle Season, and the upcoming The Brighter the Light.

She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America. When not on the road for research or visits with readers at bookstores, book festivals and conferences, Mary remains very much a homebody. She and her husband spend time alternately enjoying their empty nest and spoiling their four-legged babies Buddy, Bella and Tiki. Visit maryburton.com

About the book

The chase is on in this utterly suspenseful and unputdownable mystery from New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton.

After being on the run for the last nine months, Kristen Rodale has finally settled in a small town in Virginia, where she hopes her dangerous and deadly brother Benito can never find her.

But former FBI agent, Dane Cambia, has other ideas: after his sister died at the hands of Kristen’s brother, he wants to hunt Kristen down and use her as bait to get his final revenge on Benito. Cambia manages to locate Kristen, setting his plan in motion. But playing into the killer’s hands is just the beginning of Kristen and Cambia’s new nightmare…

Review

Kristen has a price on her head. Her brother intends to make sure she never speaks about the crimes e as committed – the crimes she witnessed. He is willing to take anyone out to get to her, which means she has to disappear.

Dane Cambia is also on the hunt for Kristen. She is the perfect way to trap the man who murdered is sister, but he doesn’t factor in actually getting to know and like the woman he is hunting down.

It’s a crime read that veers into the romance genre. The connection between the two main characters crosses from target to protective behaviour. Vengeance is no longer a victimless option, which means some people have to reevaluate their choices.

It’s a fast paced read with a gangland vibe, which also filters in topics of abuse, loyalty, betrayal and of course the never quite black or white issue of revenge. It’s what I would call a comfortable crime with a bit of action and bite.

Buy Find You at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: HQ Digital pub date 8 April 2022. 

#Blogtour A Wartime Secret by Helen Yendall

 Happy Publication Day to A Wartime Secret by Helen Yendall and it’s also a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour.

About the Author

Helen Yendall: ‘I’m a writer and creative writing tutor, based in the Cotswolds . I was Warwick Poet Laureate from 2006-7. I’ve had dozens of short stories published in a variety of magazines, including Best, Take A Break, The People’s Friend and Woman’s Weekly. I won The People’s Friend serial writing competition in 2015. I am a member of the RNA and I now write female-focussed WW2 novels.’ Follow @HelenYendall on Twitter

About the book

‘Look after Violet!’ her mother called, as she was bundled into the back of the car. Then she was gone.

When Maggie’s new job takes her from bombed-out London to grand Snowden Hall in the Cotswolds she’s apprehensive but determined to do her bit for the war effort. She’s also keeping a secret, one she knows would turn opinion against her. Her mother is German: Maggie is related to the enemy.

Then her evacuee sister sends her a worrying letter, missing the code they agreed Violet would use to confirm everything was well, and Maggie’s heart sinks. Violet is miles away; how can she get to her in the middle of a war? Worse, her mother, arrested for her nationality, is now missing, and Maggie has no idea where she is.

As a secret project at Snowden Hall risks revealing Maggie’s German side, she becomes even more determined to protect her family. Can she find a way to get to her sister? And will she ever find out where her mother has been taken?

Review

Still coming to terms with life without her mother, Maggie is finding it increasingly difficult to deal with her father. He thinks only of himself and not about how his actions and decisions may impact his family. It makes living and surviving in war-torn London so much more difficult than it already is.

When an opportunity presents itself, one her father disapproves of, but gives her the opportunity to find herself and discover friendship, love and conviction – her path becomes one she determines herself from this point forward. Maggie learns valuable lessons about judging a book by its cover, that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, and that small acts of kindness leave large ripples in time.

There’s nothing like a war to divide people and make them suspicious of anyone who has even a hint of the enemy about them. Maggie has to hide one side of her parentage, being half-German isn’t something you just throw out there into the conversation, when they are perceived as the essence of evil and the reason so many men have lost their lives, both in the Great War and during the ongoing one.

Yendall captures the essence of the time and her characters within said period of time. It’s historical fiction with a wink of humour, whilst laying bare the trauma of the war and the indestructible will to survive that was a paramount ingredient of the people in that situation.

It’s the kind of read that pulls at the heartstrings, and yet sees the light and joy in the small interactions and gestures. A riveting and enjoyable read.

Buy A Wartime Secret at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : ‎HQ Digital pub date 14 Jan. 2022. Buy at Amazon com. At Harper Collins.

#BlogTour Without a Trace by Jane Bettany

 It’s my turn on the BlogTour Without a Trace by Jane Bettany.

About the Author

Jane Bettany is the author of In Cold Blood, a crime novel featuring DI Isabel Blood and set in the fictional Derbyshire town of Bainbridge. The book won the 2019 Gransnet and HQ writing competition, which was for women writers over the age of 40 who had written a novel with a protagonist in the same age range.

In Cold Blood is Jane’s first novel, but she has been writing short stories and non-fiction articles for over twenty years, many of which have appeared in women’s magazines, literary magazines, newspapers and online. Jane lives in Derby. Follow @janebettany on Twitter

About the book

You can cover up the truth, but every murder leaves a trail… The rain was relentless. It stung Ruth Prendergast’s face as she dashed towards her house, desperate to escape the cold and settle down for an early night. But upon entering her bedroom, she finds a man, lying on her bed – a knife buried in his chest.

When Detective Isabel Blood and her sergeant arrive on the scene, Ruth claims she’s never laid eyes on the victim before. But with no sign of a break-in, how did the killer gain access to the house?

Then Ruth disappears, leaving Isabel and her team to fear the worst. Has their lead suspect escaped, or is Ruth in danger herself?

Forensic evidence at the crime scene is sparse, and it’s proving impossible for Isabel to make a breakthrough. With Ruth still missing, time is running out. But how can you catch a killer that doesn’t leave a trace?

Review

In this second book in the DI Blood series Isabel is torn in two directions for the majority of the read. Family – career – family – job. Isabel is also balancing or trying to balance her own slightly fractured image of family, whilst solving this mysterious crime. Reconnecting with a father she hasn’t seen for many decades and meeting a brother, who clearly isn’t interested in gaining a sister. It all takes a toll on her and her own family.

There are perhaps parallels to be drawn between Isabel and the case, which becomes clearer further into the read. The question is whether it will help her to relate and solve the mystery of a dead stranger in a now missing woman’s bed

It’s a crime series that delivers a main character who doesn’t just live to police. It’s also a breath of fresh air to have a female lead way over fifty. It will be interesting to see where Bettany goes with that particular aspect of Isabel’s character. Perhaps delve into the lack of equality, the preconceptions and bias in regards to gender in powerful positions. Then on a more personal level has she really dealt with the betrayal and the secrets, which were part of her childhood and helped to form her into the woman she is now.

It’s a premise with plenty of potential. It perhaps needs a little more bite and a little less kumbaya, either way it’s one to follow.

Buy Without a Trace at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎HQ Digital; pub date 29 Oct. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour The Secret Keeper’s Daughter by Samantha King

 It’s my turn on the BlogTour The Secret Keeper’s Daughter by Samantha King.

About the Author

Samantha King writes psychological suspense novels and lives in west London with her husband and two young children. Follow @SamKingBooks on Twitter

About the book

Holly Mayhew has the perfect family set-up. But when her seven-year-old daughter, Marley, begins to act strangely, refusing to speak and rushing off to hide in her room, she knows something isn’t right.

Desperate to understand why Marley has become so withdrawn, Holly creates a worry box, where Marley posts her thoughts each day.

At first, the messages seem innocent. But when Holly finds a note saying secrets make me sad, she begins to question everyone entrusted with her care… Including her family. Once the truth is out… there’s no going back.

Review

Holly is increasingly concerned about her young daughter Marley. She seems fearful, worried and has secrets. Secrets she is being asked to keep by the people who are supposed to keep her safe.

The stigma of mental health is firmly embedded in the read. Once you admit to having any kind of ill health or MH issue it will always be the go-to thing people think of when it comes handing out blame or used as an excuse for any kind of behaviour deemed unusual. Holly finds herself being gas-lit by both her husband and her sister.

Is she paranoid or is there something nefarious going on? It’s not as if she hasn’t already lived through being the scapegoat and called a liar by her family – it’s not a stretch to imagine being boxed into a similar situation again. Is her husband a threat to her child or herself? Is her sister part of some grand conspiracy?

It’s certainly an ambitious dark domestic thriller, a story of family secrets and about being stereotyped by the world and the people around you. It’s not paranoia if they are really out to get you, right? perception is absolutely everything in this story.

Buy The Secret Keeper’s Daughter at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎ HQ Digital pub date 10 Sept. 2021. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour A Mother Never Lies by Sarah Clarke

 It’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour A Mother Never Lies by Sarah Clarke.

About the Author

Sarah Clarke is a copywriter and lives in London, UK. In 2018 she enrolled on a course with Faber Academy and fell in love with fiction, particularly the dark and twisty kind. A Mother Never Lies – out in August 2021 – is Sarah’s debut novel. Her second psychological thriller will publish in February 2022.

Follow @scwwriter on Twitter, Visit sarahclarkeauthor.com and linktr.ee/sarahclarkewriter

About the book

Some Truths Can’t Be Told. I had the perfect life – a nice house, a loving husband, a beautiful little boy. But in one devastating night, they were all ripped from me.

It’s been fourteen years, and I’m finally ready to face the past. I’m taking my son back. He just can’t know who I am…or why we were torn apart.

Review

Phoebe is searching, albeit in secret, for the person who means the most to her – her son. He was taken from her, there is no way she would willingly give up her greatest treasure. Even years later her family, the state and everyone else are convinced the two of them should be kept apart.

Phoebe is an interesting character, one who will probably divide opinions. Is she someone who refuses to acknowledge the past and her accountability, especially when it comes to her son. At the same time there is also the Phoebe who has experienced trauma, anxiety and is a victim of her own dysfunctional and neglectful childhood.

The two sides often collide, which then leads to the division. Nature vs nurture plays a major role in this premise. Born evil – inclined to certain behaviour or raised to respond to certain stimuli with specific behaviour? And more importantly if it has a genetic component is that why Ben lacks impulse control and has anger issues.

This is a really compelling domestic thriller with a psychological component. Clarke balances the story well by straddling the grey areas of this premise – some things are neither white nor black. Life is unpredictable and messy, and the victims of an inadequate system will often fall through the cracks. Everyone believes they are making the right choice for their loved ones or are they?

Buy A Mother Never Lies at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any retailer. Publisher ‏: ‎HQ Digital pub 27 Aug. 2021. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Waterstones. 

#BlogTour Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen

Today it’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen.

About the Author

Author and sometimes foodie, Belinda is a ridiculous romantic who met her husband after being set up by a friend two states away. 

Residing in country Victoria, surrounded by books, cat-fur, and half-eaten cake, Belinda divides her days between writing rom-coms, baking, and indulging her love of comic books.

Follow @belinda_missen on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads, Visit belindamissen.com, Buy Accidentally in Love 

About the book

In the space of a week, Katharine Patterson has quit her job, decided to move back home, and broken up with the guy she thought was the one. No big deal. Because Katharine has a plan. She’s going to open her own art gallery, just like she’s always wanted. What she’s not going to do is worry about boyfriends.

Then she meets Kit, a handsome and talented local artist. He might be the most stubborn person Katharine has ever met. He might also make her feel like no one ever has before. And Katharine might be about to fall accidentally in love…

Review

Claps and waves a flag in support of Katharine in the office scene

There is nothing more condescending than being stuck in a position without the possibility of advancement, because your gender negates all of your qualifications, experience and clear ability to do a better job than your male counterparts.

The last thing she needs when her entire future has just gone up in smoke is her family trying to play matchmaker, which wouldn’t be such a bad thing if their choice wasn’t an arrogant, self-involved artist. The type that thinks that her own art and aspirations are pathetically immature, and he smirks at her lack of knowledge of mainstream art, especially as an supposed art expert.

I found this point quite interesting – that mainstream artists don’t get a platform or an opportunity to show their art to a larger audience, because the gatekeepers of the art world keep them locked outside. The focus always seems to be on the old classics, the dead, and the over-hyped and funded artists.

Although in essence a romcom, the author has grounded the story in realism, well as much as you can when you are writing an uplifting feel good read. I think this will resonate with many readers because it’s relatable. Families can be funny, they interfere, they can be eccentric and they can be annoying.

Missen captures all of that, but more importantly she captures the intent, which is predominantly a genuine love and concern.

Love isn’t a television film or episode. It’s complicated, messy and it isn’t always a fun filled breathless experience. It hurts. It can also be an exhilarating and freeing experience when you find someone who understands you, the things you like and what makes you laugh.

Sometimes love and relationships are just around the corner waiting to be discovered, accidentally in love is exactly the right title.

Buy Accidentally in Love at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ Digital; pub date 11 Sept. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.  Buy from Nook, Apple, Kindle, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Google, !ndigo or Kobo at books2read.

#BlogTour Katie’s Cornish Kitchen by Rosie Chambers

Today it’s a pleasure to take part in the BlogTour Katie’s Cornish Kitchen by Rosie Chambers.

About the Author

Rosie Chambers loves writing uplifting, feel-good stories set in sun-filled locations around the world. Her stories are filled with fun, friendship and foodie treats, which Rosie hopes will bring a smile to her readers’ faces. She’s always on the market for quirky stationery and is never happier than with a pen in one hand and a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit in the other.

Follow @RosieCbooks on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy Katie’s Cornish Kitchen

About the book

Kindness, community and cake are all on the menu at Katie’s Cornish Kitchen.

After the heartbreak of being jilted by her fiancé, Katie Campbell has been mending her broken heart in Bali. She has local restaurant owner and new friend Agatha to thank for providing a listening ear in her moment of need. When Katie confides she’s worried about going back to what’s left of her life in London, Agatha has just the opportunity for Katie – to manage her old café in the beautiful, picturesque village of Perrinby in Cornwall.

Although reopening the café and making it profitable won’t be easy, Katie is determined to make the most of her fresh start. She quickly makes new friends in florist Jay, waitress Talia and handsome neighbour Oscar, and focuses on making the café a welcoming place for the community – from hosting floristry workshops to pizza-making nights and even the local knit-and-natter group. But, with the café under threat from the local property developers circulating just as she’s starting to grow closer to Oscar and finally feeling at home, can Katie find the recipe to make her Cornish Kitchen a success?

Review

Katie is still recovering from being dropped by her husband-to-be. She was lucky to meet someone who gave her enough distractions to not go off the deep end and now that person has handed her the keys to a new chance in life. The opportunity to reinvent herself without the burden of a catastrophic career and an ex-partner who has different priorities – the kind that have nothing to do with her.

So it’s off to Cornwall to try and run a cafe. A dusty neglected one that happens to be considered prime real estate by the local property developer, a smarmy tosser with a lot of determination.

The only thing about books that connect emotions with food, especially warm and fluffy ones, is that a read like this will probably have you either snacking throughout or hungry for something just as delectable. Chambers uses the food and recipes as a medium between the characters, their pain and ultimately their path to healing.

It’s a lovely feel good story with romance at the core, but more importantly it is about being able to trust again and to feel as if you belong to someone, something and somewhere. At the same time it is also about comprehending that it is fine to be alone in the midst of many, because there will be someone to be pick you up when you fall down. Chambers gives her readers humour, hope and a heartwarming read.

Buy Katie’s Cornish Kitchen at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ Digital; pub date 6 July 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of A Year of Chasing Love by Rosie Chambers.

#BlogTour Sun, Sea and Sangria by Victoria Cooke

Today it’s my turn on the BlogTour Sun, Sea and Sangria by Victoria Cooke.

About the Author

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of her career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters. When she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria has always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first novel in 2016.

Follow @VictoriaCooke10 on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, on Facebook, on Instagram, Visit victoria-cooke.com, Buy Sun, Sea and Sangria

About the book

Escape to the palm-fringed beaches of the Canary Islands and wash your worries away.

Kat swore off dating many years ago, after her marriage ended in a catastrophic mess. Having moved to the Canary Islands for a fresh start, she has never had much time for romance, channelling all her energy into managing all-male dance troupe – the Heavenly Hunks.

With golden beaches, sparkling blue water and relaxing after work with a glass of sangria – or three – for Kat, it’s summer all year round. But despite life being postcard perfect, Kat can’t help but wonder if she is missing out on the most important thing of all… love.

The dancers are all well-known for their flirtatious antics and aren’t looking for anything serious… except Jay. Sitting by the pool, watching the sun reflecting in the water, Kat feels like she can tell him anything.

Handsome, caring and a good listener, he ignites a fire in Kat’s heart that scares her witless. But her relationship with Jay should stay strictly professional… right? There is absolutely no way that she can be his boss and his date. As the temperature rises, will Kat be able to take the plunge, let go of her past and find romance in paradise?

Review

Kat is the manager of a top-class sweaty, groin thrusting male stripper act. They know how to whip up the crowds of screaming women, and a few men who are there to enjoy the view. The Heavenly Hunks are building a reputation of the kind of act that is tough to follow and a surefire way to keep your audience entertained.

Kat doesn’t partake in the pleasures on offer. Instead her team members are also her friends – people she cares about. Until Jay turns up she doesn’t even consider crossing the line of professionalism. Simultaneously her friends think it is time she put her past and mistrust behind her and started dating again.

It’s a feel good romcom and the kind of escapism that will have readers wanting their own portion of sun, sea and plenty of sangria. Oh and perhaps a wee bit of grinding and knicker-tossing male stripper escapades.

Cooke keeps it fun and light, despite the seriousness of Kat’s past. It’s very much a story of friendship, women in business and the way love often seeps in to your life when you least expect it, but perhaps when you need it the most.

Buy Sun, Sea and Sangria at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: HQ Digital; pub date 10 Jun. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of It Started With a Note by Victoria Cooke.