Author: Patricegotting

Today I am on the tour for SnowBlind 10th anniversary edition by Ragnar Jónasson, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 476

Synopsis: SNOWBLIND

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thór Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose.

Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from an extraordinary new talent, taking Nordic Noir to soaring new heights.

FADEOUT – NEW!

When Ari Thór Arason receives a staggeringly high bill for a foreign credit card that was taken out in his name, his life takes a turn he never anticipated. The bill in question belongs to his namesake – his father, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances when Ari was only a child.

Seeking answers, Ari Thór travels to London to investigate, hoping to learn the truth about what happened to his father all those years ago, and discovering far more than he could ever have imagined…

My Thoughts: this is my first dive into Ragnars work although I know he’s a very popular well loved author!

I really enjoyed this one, it’s dark and chilling & not just because of the setting, I felt weirdly uncomfortable all the way through & couldn’t put my finger on why, the writing just had a way of working its way into your bones & you felt everything.

Ari has just moved to a village as a rookie policeman, everyone in this village knows each other so as a newcomer he stands out like a sore thumb, no one trusts him despite him being a police officer because he’s new and doesn’t yet know the way the village works, as you can imagine everything gets worse for him when he finds a last unconscious with no hint as to how or why she got there.

It feels like everything is against him and when another body turns up he’s left wondering if he made the right decision to move in the first place… but for now the avalanche and snow storm have left him with no way out!

The story had me hooked right from the beginning but I think it helped that I had read Fade Out first because it gave me Ari’s back story with Kristin and everything that had lead up to him wanting to be a police officer, I was on the edge of my seat throughout both of these stories, I wanted the best for Ari, I found myself feeling sorry for him and wanting to wrap him up in a hug and for him to know he wasn’t alone.

I will definitely be picking up more from Ragnar in the future when (if) my TBR isn’t so full!

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Pages: 475

Synopsis: My new billionaire boss has driven three assistants to quit in tears this year alone.

Everyone warns me that Ethan Kingsley is “profoundly complex.”

But I see right through him. He’s a walking textbook on emotional dysregulation, numbing himself with workouts, alcohol, and sex.

He’s destroyed his marriage, alienated his teenage son, and built walls so high that no one can reach him.

Lucky for him, I don’t do walls.

I work for Seraph, an elite agency placing accomplished women with men who need “full service” executive assistants and will pay obscene amounts for the privilege.

My job? Manage his stress. His schedule. His… everything.

I can handle the Ice King billionaire with the devastating looks and even more devastating control issues. That’s easy.

What I didn’t plan for? The man underneath the armour.

Because when he finally lets me in – when I see the terrified little boy still hiding inside the ruthless CEO – everything changes.

He needs to choose between the empire his father built and the son he’s losing.

Between the legacy he inherited and the man he could become.

And somehow, I’ve become the person he trusts to help him figure out which version of himself is worth fighting for.

The problem is, I’m falling for both versions.

Vivacity is a standalone billionaire single dad, grumpy/sunshine workplace romance featuring opposites attracting, found family, and a hero who learns that vulnerability is the ultimate power move. HEA guaranteed.

My Thoughts: I am starting to believe there is no end to this ladies writing talents.. she just writes the most perfect grumpy male character that you love to hate until you actually love him & believe me when I say that Ethan Kingsley is the most troubled one yet.

He’s angry, he’s grumpy, he’s switched off from anything but work, but you get hints of his vulnerability from the start, small little openings until he realises and shuts it down again. I have never wanted to hug someone more, you could tell that he just needed love and affection but wasn’t willing to accept it, so used his sexual prowess to distract instead!

This is where Sophia comes in, she is a Seraph. An executive assistant who goes all out to give her boss whatever they need & she’s just agreed to work for Ethan despite him sending some of her colleagues running for the hills in tears.. she knows she can get through to him & that she will have a lot of fun along the way.

As far as FMC’s go Sophia was a total badass, she’s strong enough to take whatever is thrown at her & secure enough in herself to know that none of it is a reflection on her, can she get this infuriating man to start dealing with his past and his parts before they consume him and take his relationship with his son with them?

This book was honestly beautiful, everything was dealt with sensitively but not pussy footed around and I really appreciated that. You are in for a rollercoaster of emotions with this one but I promise the ride will be worth it.

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Today I am on the tour for Infinite Stranger by Wendy Skorupski, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank ou to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 414

Synopsis: On a snowy February morning in 1978, eighteen-year-old Leah Cavanagh meets Brother Matthew Haddon while on a retreat with her Catholic girls’ school. The four days she spends at Greystones Abbey in the wilds of North Yorkshire will have a profound impact not only on her own life, but also on that of her single mother Molly, who never recovered from the murder of her fiancé in 1956.

Leah and Matthew start writing to each other. Soon a tentative friendship develops, with a hint of more. The longing that Leah feels is shared vicariously by Molly, who sees something of her late fiancé in a photograph that Leah shows her of the handsome young monk. When Leah leaves home to study at music college, her feelings for Matthew deepen and she has difficulty committing to other relationships.

Over the coming years Leah keeps returning to Greystones Abbey, spurred by her infatuation for Matthew. The forbidden desire between them grows in intensity with each visit, until it seems impossible that the monk’s vows of chastity will remain unbroken. Soon Leah finds herself unable to break free – neither from her controlling mother, nor her enigmatic yet tortured monk – and realizes that choices will have to be made.

My Thoughts: this was one of the most complex romance books I’ve ever read, because it spans such a long period of time, but also I guess because it wasn’t the only theme to the book, a big part of it was Leah’s relationship with her mum and how that has changed/developed over the years.

The book was so hard to put down because no matter what Leah did in her life, the people she met, the relationships she had throughout her life, she was always drawn back to brother Matthew at Greystones Abbey.. probably not helped by her mother who can’t seem to let Leah make her own decisions and reminds her of Brother Matthew and their “true love” at every moment possible, I remember thinking it was sweet and first and then it got pushy and made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.

The story had so many layers and made me feel so many emotions that it was hard to keep track, one second I’d be laughing and the next I’d be welling up, the writing had a haunted quality that left me captivated throughout & the fact that is based on true events makes it even more incredible.

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Today I am part of the Blogathon for My Girl by Jack Jordan, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Blog Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 250

Synopsis: Paige Dawson: the mother of a murdered child and wife to a dead man.

She has nothing left to live for… until she finds her husband’s handgun hidden in their house.

Why did Ryan need a gun? What did he know about their daughter’s death?

Desperate for the truth, Paige begins to unearth her husband’s secrets.

But she has no idea who she is up against, or that her life isn’t hers to gamble – she belongs to me.

My Thoughts: I literally have no idea how this man writes thrillers that are so sick and twisted yet entirely plausible and realistic at the same time!

This time we’re following Paige, who’s daughter was murdered when she was 14, the body was never recovered though, just one arm, not able to cope with the loss of his daughter a few years later Paige’s husband ends his life, now Paige is in the depths of depression & addicted to prescription drugs and alcohol, the only people she had left are her dad and her brother Maxim who are both starting to lose hope at Paige will ever be able to pull herself together!

I absolutely flew through this book, it’s so fast paced that you’re just instantly drawn in, the writing style really makes you feel like an observer, a fly on the wall, so when the twists dropped I swear I actually shouted “no way!!!” & was left trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.

You’re left thinking you know where the story is going but utterly powerless to stop any of it happening!

This honestly read like a movie & I am a little bit sad that the movie doesn’t exist!

I swear there is no end to Jack Jordan’s talent when it comes to writing.

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Today I am on the tour for The Secrets Between Us by Cyan Michaels, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 299

Synopsis: Amy is married to her dream man. She’s about to wake up.

Amy Taylor thought she knew her husband Craig. A quiet tech expert, devoted father, reliable partner in their suburban life.

But then she finds the photo that changes everything. The image shows a boy identical to their son – but taken at a school he doesn’t attend. Is it possible Craig has another child?

Craig is away on business for the weekend. So Amy has 72 hours to figure out who she’s living with. And it’s so much worse than anything she could ever have imagined.

Yes, he does have a second family. But as she digs further, she realizes that’s the least of her worries.

Because it’s what Craig does on Mondays that is truly terrifying. And the weekend is nearly over.

Will Amy even make it to Monday?

My Thoughts: I have been spoilt this year with the psychological thrillers I have read, I won’t lie the synopsis of this one made me doubt if I was going to enjoy it, it seemed like a story that had been done so many times before. Which is the reason I normally go in blind because I was wrong.

The book is twisty, it’s creepy & it leaves a permanent lump in your throat because you just have no idea which way the story is going to go..

1 man, 2 wives, 2 children & a load of missing women. The book had so many layers that just as you crack one secret there’s another one waiting round the corner & you just never know which way is up! – who’s the good guy, who’s the bad guy? you’ll think you have it all sussed & then the story literally flips on its head.

Really really enjoyed it & can’t wait to see what Cyan comes out with next!

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Today I am on the tour for Soft Rebound by Fiona Embers, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 264

Synopsis: The first hookup after a long relationship is always meaningless. Right?

Still reeling from his divorce two years ago, Joe Larson sleepwalks through life until a chance encounter with Liz Jensen jolts him awake. Their sexual chemistry is undeniable, but Liz is fresh off a broken engagement and has no intention of letting anyone get close. Joe must overcome his fear of being hurt again if he is to convince Liz that love does not mean being powerless and that their rebound fling is actually their happily ever after.

My Thoughts: I should’ve known better having read the first book in this series but I truly wasn’t prepared for how much this book would have me in a chokehold until it was finished, so much so that I read it in one sitting. I literally refused to move until Liz & Joe had got their shit together.. at least that’s the ending I was hoping for.

I adored this book right from the off, Liz is minding her own business in a bar, she would have camouflaged herself with the walls if she could to avoid being seen by anyone, unfortunately for her the bar is busy & the staff wanted her to move to the bar so she wasn’t taking up a table.. & then Joe appears at her table.. they don’t know each other but he was asked to leave his table too.

Little do they know what that one chance encounter is going to lead to for them both!

I loved that Liz had her boundaries, although as a reader I wanted her to forget about them, as a woman I admired the strength she had to stand by them.

Joe had a hard time accepting those boundaries at times, but I dish loved the fact that although he pushed a little harder than he should have at times he never really overstepped and backed off when he could see that he was making Liz uncomfortable.

The chemistry between these 2 was absolute fire & that was portrayed perfectly in the spicy scenes.

I wanted everything & more for both these characters I just loved them.

Please just go pick it up, I adored this book.

Today I am on the tour for The One by T.A. Caldwell, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 343

Synopsis: Marcus knows Emily isn’t perfect. Yet.

Emily is young and naive. Fresh out of college, she dreams of true love while struggling to get a foothold in New York City. Marcus is wealthy, handsome, a charming British born billionaire who has everything – except the perfect wife.

When they meet, Marcus is immediately drawn to this vulnerable young woman. He sweeps Emily off her feet with romantic dinners and a picnic on his yacht. Head over heels, she agrees to a weekend getaway on his private Caribbean Island.

It’s perfect – golden beaches, crystal clear water, a staff to take care of every need. Emily thinks she’s landed in paradise. There’s just one problem – Marcus has no intention of ever letting her leave.

Isolated, alone, Emily gradually realizes that she has stumbled into her own private hell. Marcus has all the power and he is determined to transform her into his warped idea of the perfect woman.

And if Emily fails to meet his exacting standards… the consequences could be fatal.

My Thoughts: this book is dark, but dark in the way that you don’t see it coming at first & by the time you realise what’s happening, you don’t really want to read it but you’re so hooked that all you can do is keep turning the pages and watch it all unfold.. the whole time your jaw is hitting the floor your heart is beating so fast & all you want to do is hide under a blanket. 😂

Marcus is the perfect man, he’s kind, attentive, caring & he has the money to take care of you, Emily rightly so gets swept off her feet.. and to begin with I was proud of her, she started off standing her ground and telling Marcus when he was wrong but very slowly that started to change.

The story is fast paced which matches the speed of the relationship between them, who would have thought the picture perfect paradise would actually end up being a living nightmare.

I think I spent the majority of this reading experience feeling weirdly uncomfortable, but I loved it!

Highly recommend to fans of a psychological thriller!

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Today I am on the tour for Appy Ever After by Chrissie Harrison, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 354

Synopsis: Beth is fed up with dating.

Sam doesn’t date.

So why are they creating a dating app together…?

After a failed marriage and months of strikeout dates, Beth is starting to think she’s not cut out for a forever love. Then she meets Sam.

Sam has an uncanny knack for matchmaking his friends into long-term relationships. Now they’ve challenged him to turn his skill into code – a dating app with a difference. It all seems ridiculous… until he’s introduced to Beth.

Beth’s job in venture capital, and her dating experience, are ideal. Plus, she desperately needs a fruitful client project, or her job is on the line. Sam clearly has the matchmaking skill and the coding knowledge to make this app a success. Not only that, maybe he’ll find her a Mr Right?

When they start double dating for project research, Beth falls hard. There’s just one problem: Sam, an incurable romantic, has his heart set on a Paris meet-cute destiny, and won’t consider anyone else.

However, when they decide to fake date as part of the app’s marketing plan, it’s clear to everyone that they belong together.

But if Sam can’t see that Beth is his perfect partner, he’s failed the ultimate matchmaking test, and the app is doomed.

Can she change his mind, save the project, and secure them both an Appy Ever After?

My Thoughts: this is the first book by Chrissie Harrison that I’ve picked up but I adored this one so much that I can promise you it won’t be the last!

This romance book is quite long compared to the others I’ve read recently but I was that swept up by the story and the lives of Sam and Beth that I just devoured it.

Sam had it in his head that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his parents and his sister & fall in love in France, but spent his life pairing people up, it seems that his skill in finding people their perfect match is second to none so with him being a software engineer he can create the perfect dating app.. he just has no money!

This is where Beth comes into the story, her job is to find investments for her boss, they meet by chance but it’s like the stars aligned for them!

This was honestly so much fun, it was hilarious and the banter between them was on point!

I honestly wasn’t ready for the book to finish, I need more of Sam and Beth, some couples you just get attached to!

Perfect for romance fans who prefer the closed door type, plenty of flirting & swoon worthy moments but no spice! As a self confessed spice lover I can tell you that the fact there isn’t any doesn’t take away from the story at all. I was honestly hooked all the way through!

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Today I am on the tour for Overdue by Stephanie Perkins, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Blogtours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 450

Synopsis: Ingrid Dahl is a cheerful, twenty-nine-year-old librarian living in the cosy mountain town of Ridgetop. She and her boyfriend since college, Cory, have never discussed marriage; they’re perfectly happy with the way things are. But when Ingrid’s sister announces her engagement to a woman she’s only been dating for two years, Ingrid and Cory suddenly feel pressured to start thinking about the inevitable: marriage and kids.

The thing is, neither of them has ever been with anyone else. Shouldn’t they sow their oats before settling down?

They make the unorthodox decision to separate for a month to date other people, assuming that at the end of it, they’ll reunite and start planning their nuptials. And Ingrid has the perfect man in mind for this relationship sabbatical–Macon Nowakowski, her cantankerous and completely adorable coworker for whom she’s had a crush for years. 

But of course the best laid plans often go awry, and when Ingrid and Cory meet at the end of the month to resume next steps in their relationship, it’s clear neither of them is ready to get back together…

About the Author:

Stephanie Perkins is the New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author and anthology editor of multiple books, including Overdue, Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, Isla and the Happily Ever After, and My True Love Gave to Me, as well as There’s Someone Inside Your House, which was adapted into a major motion picture for Netflix. She has always worked with books―first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband. Every room of their house is painted a different color of the rainbow.

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here!

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Today I am on the tour for Before You Say I Love You by Sarah Gate, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 344

Synopsis: Grief taught her how to survive.

Love could teach her how to live again.

Maddie Whittle’s life has been shaped by loss. In an attempt to move past her grief, she’s dedicating herself to transforming her family’s estate into a wellness retreat.

The work is hard, and Maddie has no time for distractions.

Until a runaway piglet from the local farm leads her straight into the path of James Byron — an infuriating blast from her past.

Maddie needs help. James needs a job. What neither of them want is the slow-burning tension that could turn their bickering partnership into something far more dangerous: hope.

As winter sets in and renovations bring them closer, Maddie must confront the one thing she’s avoided for years. The possibility of a future defined not by loss, but by love.

My Thoughts: this is book 2 in a series & yes it can be read as a standalone and appreciated for the beautiful book it is but I would highly recommend reading Before You Say Goodbye first to really be able to experience the character growth.

The first book broke me into 6 million pieces, and this book very slowly put me back together, it’s everything I didn’t know I needed and more.

The Whittles are just the most wholesome family, they all have their issues, they’re all flawed but when it matters they pull together.

In this one we’re following Maddie, she carries a lot on her shoulders after the events of book 1, there’s a lot of guilt, a lot of pressure & I just wanted her to see the positive side of life again, I wanted her to realise that she deserves happiness, that she is allowed to see the good & that that’s what Bowie would want for her.

In walks James, chasing a piglet who has escaped from the farm he’s just started working at, I can’t say they hit it off instantly, but as the reader we could see the attraction, it was there bubbling under the surface & I couldn’t wait for them both to realise it.

Sarah just has a way with words, the writing flows so easily & you’re swept up in the story & hooked completely before you’re even aware of it.

It’s beautiful & almost poetic, I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

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