Blog Tour - Where the Dead Fall by MJ Lee

One chance encounter, one street side murder, will change everything. The extraordinary new Ridpath crime thriller

DI Ridpath is in the process of getting his life back together when everything goes wrong.

Driving to meet his daughter, he is caught in a gruesome motorway accident, in which a near-naked man is rundown by a lorry, while fleeing from a lone gunman. As Ridpath closes Manchester’s road network in search of the assailant, one question remains: why did nobody else see him?

Ridpath’s investigations soon unearth a number of inconsistencies, which pulls the police force itself into question, and hint at something sinister to come.

For Manchester is on the brink of a fresh surge of violence unlike anything it has seen in decades, and Ridpath must battle this unprecedented conflict along with his own demons. One thing is for sure. There will be blood on the streets…

The nail-biting sequel to Where the Truth Lies, M J Lee’s Where the Dead Fall is an absolute must read, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Faith Martin and Peter James

This is the second book in MJ Lee's series of books featuring DI Ridpath. The first book in the series is Where the Truth Lies. I had not read the first book when I was invited onto the blog tour and therefore I read the first book first and thoroughly enjoyed both.

Set in Manchester, Where the Dead Lies is a great read, set within the gangland turf wars and has a great atmospheric feel where the reader is transported into the heart of the city and in the midst of turfwars and the conflict.

I really like DI Ridpath, an officer who has been sidelined from MIT, suffered from cancer although now in remission and now working in the Coroners office. He is a relateable character with lots of issues within his personal life that add depth to the backstory.

Thank you to the publishers, Canelo, and to Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest reivew.

Blog Tour - The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris

Vianne Rocher has settled down. Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, the place that once rejected her, has finally become her home. With Rosette, her 'special' child, she runs her chocolate shop in the square, talks to her friends on the river, is part of the community. Even Reynaud, the priest, has become a friend.

But when old Narcisse, the florist, dies, leaving a parcel of land to Rosette and a written confession to Reynaud, the life of the sleepy village is once more thrown into disarray. The arrival of Narcisse's relatives, the departure of an old friend and the opening of a mysterious new shop in the place of the florist's across the square - one that mirrors the chocolaterie, and has a strange appeal of its own - all seem to herald some kind of change: a confrontation, a turbulence - even, perhaps, a murder...

The Strawberry Thief is the fourth novel in the fantastic 'Chocolat' series of books.I really enjoyed revisiting Lansquenet-sous-Tannes and was glad to see that Chocolate is now acceptable in the town.

Joanne Harris is a fantastic storyteller and The Strawberry Thief is another brilliant tale which is interspun with a background of dark and mysterious folklore tales. 

There is a air of insecurity running throughout the book and the characters are all living with their own fears, with their neighbours also using them to their own advantage.

There are many strands within this story and The Strawberry Thief cleverly introduces and develops each one before they reach a satisfying junction and the ending is lovely but 
I really hope that Joanne has another book planned for the series as I would love to make another return visit and to see how Vianne and the townsfolk react to changes in the square.

Thank you to the publishers and Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Blog Tour - Sleep by C L Taylor

Today is a day I have been waiting for since before Christmas. I am really excited to be taking part in Avon Books blog tour to celebrate the publication of C L Taylor's latest book, Sleep.

All Anna wants is to be able to sleep. But crushing insomnia, terrifying night terrors and memories of that terrible night are making it impossible. If only she didn’t feel so guilty…

To escape her past, Anna takes a job at a hotel on the remote Scottish island of Rum, but when seven guests join her, what started as a retreat from the world turns into a deadly nightmare.

Each of the guests have a secret but one of them is lying – about who they are and why they’re on the island. There’s a murderer staying in the Bay View hotel. And they’ve set their sights on Anna.

Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One deadly lie.

Someone’s going to sleep and never wake up…






CL Taylor is like a fine bottle wine - with each new release her writing just gets better and better! I am a huge fan of Cally's and eagerly await each new release with baited breath and anticipation and Sleep is no exception. A fantastic psychological thriller that refused to be put down and I just had to keep reading until I reached the very end and now I have the agonising long wait until her next release!

C L Taylor writes fantastic novels. They are hard hitting from the very start and draws the reader in and continues to draw them in until that final line. There is lots of suspense and intrigue within Sleep and it will definitely not let the reader Sleep until they have reached the end.

Sleep begins with a letter to be read 'in the case of death' and what follows is a cleverly planned novel with seven guests, all have whom have their own secrets to hide, but who is the murderer.

C L Taylor has set a number of her novels in the Worcestershire area where I live and while I enjoy reading them and being able to picture the locations it was nice to visit the remote Scottish island of Rum, the setting adding to the atmospheric claustrophobia of the story - where the guests were stranded on the island and knowing that there was a killer amongst them.

I definitely recommend Sleep to all my blog readers, and if you haven't read any C L Taylor books before this is a great one to start with, and it won't be the last.

Thank you to Avon Books for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Books on Tour - The Mill on Magnonlia Lane by Tilly Tennant

The sky is cornflower blue, the air is scented with the smell of fresh apple blossom and Lizzie Lovell can’t wait to start her new life in the mill on Magnolia Lane. But is she just about to fall in love with someone she shouldn’t? 

When Lizzie loses her larger-than-life Dad she doesn’t know how to move forward. Encouraged by a childhood dream she shared with her beloved father, she is determined to continue his legacy and moves to the old Mill on Magnolia lane, a place he had always longed to own.

Restoring the old windmill is a much bigger job than Lizzie bargained for, especially when she is distracted by her new next door neighbour Jude, who has temptingly twinkly eyes and a body to die for. But when Jude’s ex- girlfriend Harriet arrives back on the scene, Lizzie begins to wonder if life wasn’t far simpler before she moved to the mill. Especially when it emerges that Harriet knows something about Jude’s past, something that could shatter her new start and her heart into smithereens …

If your heart is warmed by Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Josie Silver’s One Day in December, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful feel-good story about finding love when you least expect it. 

The Mill on Magnolia Lane is a heart-warming tale of a renovation of a windmill which has been left to Lizzie following the death of her father. A renovation filled with memories and new opportunities which sees Lizzie grow in confidence and strength.

Tilly Tennant always writes fantastic novels and I am really hoping that there will be a second novel set in Magnolia Lane as I want to know more about Lizzie and her neighbour  Jude.

Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me to take part in their Books on Tour to celebrate publication of the book and a copy of the book in return for an honest review. 

Blog Tour - Him by Clare Empsom

BIG LITTLE LIES MEETS 13 REASONS WHY IN THIS DARK AND SUSPENSFUL DEBUT FROM A STUNNING NEW TALENT

‘You’re stuck there, aren’t you? Right at the end. And I wonder if it might help to go back to the beginning, to put everything in some kind of order?’

Catherine has witnessed something so traumatic that she can’t speak. Or won’t speak. The doctors say the only way forward is to look into her past.

Catherine needs to start with ‘HIM’.

Fifteen years ago, she met Lucian at university and fell into a passionate love affair. They were meant to be together forever. But something happened. Something that destroyed them.

Catherine then married someone else and had two children. She moved on – or so she thought. Now Lucian is back, showing her how different her life could have been.

But going back to the beginning won’t change the ending. In fact, it might be the thing that finally breaks her…

'Him'  is a book that I recommend everyone must read. It is one of those titles that will stay with the reader past the final line. Full of intrigue, psychological manipulation, obsession and guilt it draws the reader in and keeps them hooked.

'Him' is narrated through two voices, Catherine and Lucian. I really like this style of narration, it gives each character a voice and makes the story real. Catherine's narrative slips between the present day and flashbacks from fifteen years ago - this all adds as to the intrigue as Catherine is currently mute and in a hospital bed. I felt the fear that Catherine was feeling.

This is a fantastic psychological thriller and a must read this summer!

Thank you to the publishers, Orion, and to Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and a copy of the book in return for an honest review. 

Blog Tour - The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis-Graves

What if you had a second chance at first love?

Annika Rose likes being alone.
She feels lost in social situations, saying the wrong thing or acting the wrong way. She just can't read people. She prefers the quiet solitude of books or playing chess to being around others. Apart from Jonathan. She liked being around him, but she hasn't seen him for ten years. Until now that is. And she's not sure he'll want to see her again after what happened all those years ago.

Annika Rose likes being alone.
Except that, actually, she doesn't like being alone at all.

The Girl He Used to Know is an uplifting novel full of surprising revelations that keep you turning the page. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Gail Honeyman, Jill Santopolo and Sliding Doors.

An easy to read contemporary fiction which kept me occupied for a long weekend. 'The Girl He Used to Know' is a girl meets boy story which is love at second sight rather than first. It gives hope to all those girls who regret not persevering with their first love.

The story is quite simple and although there is no great shocks or surprises it was a good book to read when I wanted an easy weekend read, one which I didn't have to think too much about and left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

Thank you to the publishers, Trapeze and to Compulsive Readers for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Books on Tour - The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings by Donna Ashcroft

 Today I am really pleased to be taking part in Bookouture's Books on Tour promotion to celebrate Donna Ashcroft's new release, The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings. 

The Sunshine Hideaway, with its big bay windows and stunning view of Sunflower Island’s golden beaches, is the only place Madison Skylar has ever truly thought of as home. Could returning to the island be the second chance she needs? 

When twenty-three-year-old Madison arrives at The Sunshine Hideaway, she discovers the beautiful little guesthouse is falling into disrepair. With the help of old friends Amy and Connor, Madison throws herself into creating a gorgeous wellness retreat, introducing yoga sessions, adventure walks and ice-cream sundaes with a delicious twist. But will it be enough to save her childhood home?

Handsome and mysterious Connor has lived on Sunflower Island his whole life. He works hard as a builder, with his faithful dog Jaws by his side, but something is missing and he dreams of bigger things. As Connor helps to revamp The Sunshine Hideaway, this could be his opportunity to tell the woman he’s secretly been in love with for years how he really feels…

As spontaneous and fun-loving Madison settles into life on the close-knit island, sparks fly between her and shy Connor as they clash on the reinvention of the guesthouse. Are the they too different to make things work or will Madison and Connor finally find true love this year?

An utterly perfect, feel-good romance about the power of friendship, the meaning of home and the joy of falling in love in the sunshine. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Debbie Macomber.

 

I really enjoy Donna Ashcroft's books and The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings is not exception. Set in a beautiful setting that I would love to visit and with a cast of characters that I would love to spend time with it is the perfect book to loose oneself in over a long relaxing summer weekend. 

The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings is an easy read and I would love to revisit the guesthouse again to see how the characters continue to develop after this novel finishes.

Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me to take part in the Books on Tour promotion and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.