Blog Tour - Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane by Ellen Berry

Last winter she had a plan.

Lucy fell in love with tumbledown Rosemary Cottage as a child. So thirty years on, when she loses her city job and discovers the cottage is for sale, it feels like fate. She’ll raise her children in Burley Bridge and transform the cottage into a B with her husband.

But a year can change everything . . .

Now Lucy is juggling two children and a B, but on her own. Christmas looks set to be their last on Rosemary Lane – until she meets James, a face from her past and someone who might offer a different kind of future . . .
Should Lucy leave the cottage behind? Or could this winter on Rosemary Lane be the start of something new?

Ellen Berry has previously written two other titles in this series of books set on Rosemary Lane: 'The Bakery on Rosemary Lane' and 'The Bookshop on Rosemary Lane'. I really enjoyed both these titles and have been looking forward to my next visit for sometime and 'Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane' has been worth waiting for.

'Snowdrops on Rosemary Lane' is another great read which covers a range of themes and emotions including new beginnings, heartbreak, the strength of friendships and self discovery. I really enjoyed the early childhood connection and learning more about Lucy's childhood. 

Although this is the third book in the series it can be read as standalone novel although I enjoyed returning to Rosemary Lane and catching up with characters from previous titles. 

Ellen Berry has written another heart-warming tale from Rosemary Lane and I am already looking forward to my next visit.

Thank you to the publishers, 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. 

Blog Tour - The Perfect Fit by Mary Jayne Baker

After years living in London, costume shop owner Becky Finn is trying to build a new life for herself and fiancé Cole in her old home of Egglethwaite, a sleepy village in the Yorkshire Dales.

Keen to raise funds for the struggling village hall she loved as a child, Becky soon finds herself at the head of a colourful group intent on resurrecting Egglethwaite s Christmas pantomime. But, as she quickly discovers, there s more to panto than innuendo and slapped thighs.

As opening night grows closer, Becky starts to wonder if her embattled panto will ever make it to the stage and, with handsome co-star Marcus on the scene, if she s picked the right man for her after all.

'The Perfect Fit' is the second book in the Love in the Dales series of books by Mary Jayne Baker, although it could be read, as I have, as a standalone book.

The story is set in the Yorkshire Dales is full of Yorkshire cheer - add to this the fun and comedy of the pantomine and it all mixes together to make a great festive read which will have the reader laughing out loud throughout the book.

I really enjoyed reading 'The Perfect Fit'. The author, Mary Jayne Baker, has written a fantastic read, peppered throughout with Yorkshire twang and humour. 

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and Mirror 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 onTour Her Dark Heart by Carla Kovach

Rory is waiting at the door of the pre-school – a painted picture of his mother Susan in his small hand. But Susan isn’t going to see the picture, because she has vanished.

Susan Wheeler is a devoted mother. She would do anything for her three children. She drops them off and picks them up every single day. Until one day when Susan kisses them goodbye and then never comes to pick them up.

Susan’s mother Mary is worried. Susan is recently divorced and has been finding things hard recently, but she loves her kids – she’d never leave them. 
Susan’s sister Clare is furious. It’s just like her to go missing. It’s not the first time, either. Susan has always been a troublemaker. Always seeking attention. She knows Susan has been lying to the family for years. And she knows that Susan has been sneaking out of her family home for weeks…

As the hours turn into days, even Clare becomes fearful for Susan. And, when Mary discovers Susan’s diary, she begins to uncover a dark secret from her childhood. Something no one in the family knew. When the final diary entry leads the police to a man who is discovered dead in a local park, they’re left wondering whether Susan has vanished because she is a victim. Or because she is a suspect…

An explosively compelling crime thriller from bestselling author Carla Kovach – if you love Lisa Gardner, Robert Bryndza or Clare Mackintosh, you’ll love Her Dark Heart.

Carla Kovach is back with the fifth installment of her fantastic police procedural novel in the DI Harte series and she has written another brilliant book!!!

I love Carla's novels. They have everything a great crime, police procedural novel needs - a great crime, some gruesome moments, which all add to the police investigation and a cast of suspects, all of which are topped off by the strong police team who solve the crimes. DI Harte and her team are a great police team and I really enjoy returning to these characters each time.

I have read all of the previous four books in the series and I have loved watching the characters grow and develop, however I think that this (as the previous four books) could be read on their own as standalone novels but I urge you all to read all of Carla's books!

I met up with Carla last month at a crime event held at my local library, The Hive in Worcester, where Carla, along with Sue Watson and Sheryl Browne, all three are local authors, ran a fantastic evening where crime novels were discussed. Carla's part was about the process of plotting and how her mind runs away with her while plotting - and I can't wait to see what her next novel is about (although I do hope that it isn't set in a hospital carpark Carla!)

Thanks to Bookouture and to Carla 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 - An Air That Kills by Christine Poulson

In An Air That Kills wealthy entrepreneur Lyle Lynstrum suspects it’s only a matter of time before there is a flu pandemic with the potential to kill billions. Funding research into transgenics at a high security lab on a tidal island off the North Devon coast, he sends in scientist Katie Flanagan as an undercover lab technician to investigate the rapid turnover of staff. After a colleague is struck down by a mysterious illness, Katie begins to suspect that the scientists are as deadly as the diseases…

'An Air That Kills' is a scientific thriller, a genre that I haven't read many tiltles from, however this book has kept me engrossed and invested within it from the very start.

A scientific thriller novel initially worried me because I was worried that I would not understand or follow the terminology or plot, however 'An Air That Kills' was neither of these. When I read the synopsis I immediately believed that this could be a real situation and who knows this could of already happened!

It is immediately obvious that the author, Christine Poulson, has done huge amounts of research and has a thorough understanding of the medical knowledge necessary to write such a book. Christine has written the book in a clever way where the readers and immediately drawn in and can follow the process, difficulties and importance of Katie, an undercover technician, as she works to solve the mysterious disease contamination. 

As Katie progresses to solving why there is such a high staff turnover, the pace of the novel quickened and this all adds to the draw of the read. I had to stay up to finish the book and it was well worth it - It is a must read. 

Thank you to Midas PR for inviting me to take part in the blog tour, and apologies for the delay in posting my stop. I received a copy of the book in return an honest review. 

Blog Tour -Into The Dark by Karen Rose

Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Rose is back with the gripping fifth instalment of the Cincinnati series. 

Fans of James Patterson , Karin Slaughter and Tess Gerritsen will love this unputdownable race to stop a serial killer out for revenge.

When Michael Rowland saves his younger brother Joshua from the clutches of his stepfather, he runs for his life with his brother in his arms. From his hiding place he sees the man who has made their lives a misery taken away in the trunk of a stranger's car, never to be seen again.

Doctor Dani Novak has been keeping soccer coach Diesel Kennedy at arm's length to protect him from her dark secrets. When they are brought together by the two young brothers who desperately need their help, it seems they might finally be able to leave their damaged pasts behind them.

But as the only witness to the man who kidnapped and murdered his stepfather, Michael is in danger. As Diesel and Dani do all that they can to protect him, their own investigation into the murder uncovers a much darker web of secrets than they could have imagined.

As more bodies start to appear it's clear that this killer wants vengeance. And will wipe out anything that gets in his way...

Karen Rose is a favourite author of mine and when I was offered a place on the blog tour to celebrate the publication of her latest release, Into the Dark, I jumped at the chance and I am really glad I did.

'Into the Dark' is the fifth installment in Karen's Cincinnati series and although it is part of a series it could be read as a standalone although I recommend reading the whole series.

I was immediately drawn into the book and did not want to put it down, as is the case with Karen's books.  The book has been classed as a romantic suspense novel and I really like this genre. The main characters Doctor Dani Novak and Diesel Kennedy (a soccer coach) are great characters and although Dani tries to keep a distance from Diesel it is evident that there is an emotional tension bubbling under the surface which builds throughout the book. 

Along with Dani and Diesel there are returns for a number of regular characters from the Cincinnati series and it was great to catch up with them throughout the book.

Although Karen's books are always thick books, as ever Into the Dark is jampacked with tension, crime and hard hitting themes and I recommend Into the Dark to all my blog readers - but be warned, once started you will not want to put it down until the very last word!

Thank you to Headline and to Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

BlogTour - Christmas Kisses on Hollywell Hill by Jackie Ladbury

Christmas is coming and actress, Kirsty Castille, is having a crisis of faith. All around her actors are bagging interesting roles in Christmas pantos while she’s stuck as Nag the pantomime horse. By a stroke of luck, she lands the lead role in a well-known musical and can finally wave goodbye to the cast in the seasonal production of Snow White and the Seven Christmas Puddings.

Things get even better when she bonds with handsome chef, Jake Levy, over a piece of squid at her local supermarket. Sadly, romance is the last thing on Jake's mind. He has a Christmas deadline, an ex-wife to mourn and lots of emotional baggage to drag around – and he certainly wouldn’t fall for someone like Kirsty who craves the limelight: been there, done that.

A misunderstanding leads Jake to offer Kirsty a job in his new restaurant and she is savvy enough to realise that she will have to take the job offer if she wants to see more of him.

Her charm offensive appears to work, but while he’s cooking up a storm she’s secretly sparkling under the spotlight – until keeping a low profile becomes impossible. The fallout is catastrophic, but as they say in Luvvie Land, the show must go on, even if Kirsty wonders if she's taken her last curtain call and ruined her chance for love.

Read on and immerse yourself in this delightful winter romance as the snow starts to fall and Christmas day comes ever nearer.

This gorgeous love story is loosely set in St Albans only half an hour away from London, where chef Jake relocates having lost everything that was dear to him. Enter actress, Kirsty Castille, who lives mostly in a world of her own until she meets Jake and realises she'd quite like to share the real world with him. If only he thought the same, things would be wonderful.

I was expecting a festive read, full of pantomime humour and festive cheer and although this is set in Winter, it does not have the usual Christmassy feel and I really enjoyed this read as an alternative, but great, winter read.

The author, Jackie Ladbury, has written a great story. I really enjoyed visiting Hollywell Hill, the location sounded beautiful and Kirsty Castille is a fantastic character. She has a great sense of humour which kept popping up throughout the book and had me chuckling at many times (which wasn't perfect as have a terrible cough which made laughing not advisable!)

There is a great romantic story throughout the book as the title suggests, which is between Kirsty and Jake. Their initial meeting is a really beautiful moment and I enjoyed watching their friendship turn to romance but will she get her happy ever after ending?

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and to the publishers for sending me a copy of the book in return an honest review. 

Blog Tour -A Convenient Marriage by Jeevani Charika

Chaya is a young woman torn between her duty to family and her life in the UK. While her traditional Sri Lankan parents want her to settle down into marriage, what they don’t know is that Chaya has turned away the one true love of her life, Noah, terrified of their
disapproval. 

Gimhana is hiding his true self from his family, terrified that revealing his sexuality will lead to them disowning him. But it’s getting harder and harder to turn down the women that his family introduce as potential brides. 

When Chaya and Gimhana meet, it seems that a marriage of convenience would be the perfect solution to keeping the lives they have built in the UK, whilst fulfilling their family’s wishes to see them married to a Sri Lankan partner.

But when both Chaya and Gimhana find themselves falling in love outside of their marriage, they’re left with an impossible decision – risk their family’s anger, or follow their heart? 

Will they choose love, or live a lie? 

A page turning read about love, family and the secrets we keep, for fans of Amanda Prowse, Ayisha Malik and Susan Lewis. 

'A Convenient Marriage' is Jeevani Charika's latest release. I really like Jeevani's books, they feature ethnic minority characters and I really enjoy learning about their lifestyles and customs.

'A Convenient Marriage' features a very real situation where two people are bought together to marry but each have their own secrets which mean they don't want to marry but also know that they can't tell their parents why not for fear of upsetting their family and potentially alienating them from their community. There are many other themes throughout this book and the one I was most interested in was the mental health aspect with both characters struggling as they try to understand their own feelings, accepting who they are before they ask others to accept who they are too.

I really enjoyed 'A Convenient Marriage' and think it is one of those books that all should read and could help others in a similar position to understand their thoughts and realise that it is possible to live how they want and be accepted by others.

Thank you to Hera Books and Sarah Hardy's blog tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.