prdgreads

Today I am on the tour for The Makeover by Matt McGregor, 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: 275

Synopsis: Virginia loves her new life in Montana. That’s about to change.

James Devery has fallen in love with his boss’s wife, the glamorous Mrs. Eastman. He dreams about her. He writes about her. He wants to be with her forever.

But that won’t be easy. Because James is just a young builder’s apprentice, hired to work on the Eastmans’ enormous mansion.

On the surface, it seems James doesn’t stand a chance. And yet… he suspects Mrs. Eastman isn’t entirely happy with her handsome, successful husband. The cracks in their marriage are starting to show, and James is determined to make the most of them.

Because he has a dark secret. A secret that means he can’t give Mrs. Eastman up, he absolutely must have her. And he’ll do anything – anything at all – to be with her.

What he doesn’t realise is his single-minded obsession will fuel a spiral of lust and treachery, taking all three to a hell beyond their wildest imaginings.

My Thoughts: I’ll be honest this was a total judge a book but its cover moment for me.. the paintbrush won me over, my dad was a painter and decorator before he died so any reminder of him will instantly draw me in 🤣

Ihis was an easy psychological thriller to get lost in, the writing although pacy and gripping in places, wasn’t overwhelming.

Full of a whole host of characters, all of whom were totally unlikeable if I’m honest, although I have a sneaky suspicion that this was done on purpose to throw the suspicion around.

Short snappy chapters & told from multiple povs this has all of my favourite elements of a thriller, I did work out some of the twists, but not all of them, the story left me intrigued enough to keep turning the pages.

This is the first book of Matts that I have read and I will definitely be looking out for more in the future.

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Today I am on the tour for Looking For Lucie by Amanda Addison, thank you to Write Reads Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy

Pages: 272 

Synopsis: Looking for Lucie is a contemporary YA novel that explores identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship as an 18-year-old girl sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history.

“Where are you really from?”

It’s a question every brown girl in a white-washed town is familiar with, and one that Lucie has never been able to answer. All she knows is that her mother is white, she’s never met her father, and she looks nothing like the rest of her family. She can’t even talk about it because everyone says it shouldn’t matter!

Well, it matters to Lucie and-with her new friend Nav, who knows exactly who he is-she’s determined to find some answers.

What do you do when your entire existence is a question with no answer?

You do a DNA test.

My Thoughts: this was a really heartwarming story of just wanting to feel like you belong and wanting to fill in what you feel are massive gaps in your history.. 

Lucie has grown up thinking her dad was a sperm donor, but as she’s grown up she’s starting to feel different from the rest of her family, so without her mum knowing she orders a DNA test to finally get to the truth.. little does she know that she’s actually closer to the truth than she thinks. 

The story dealt with some really important topics in a really sensitive way, it delves into the world of arranged marriages and interracial relationships and navigating a world that at the time you don’t necessarily understand. 

The writing flows really well which made this a really hard book to put down and I ended up finishing it in one sitting, I found myself totally immersed in the story and rooting for Lucie to get answers that she would be happy with. 

If you’re looking for a nice contemporary story that will really make you think about your family history then this is the one for you, it’s full of characters that you just want to be friends with! 

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Today I am on the tour for Blowback by Cameron Curtis, 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: 250

Synopsis: One man can destroy a city. One man can save it.

Antonovka-15 is a Russian nuclear weapons storage facility 15 miles from the Ukraine border. When an Alt-Right Ukrainian Special Forces unit – the Vampir Brigade – breaks in and steals an H-Bomb, Breed is tasked with finding it before it can be detonated.

Breed and the CIA’s Anya Stein follow the bomb on a journey through war-torn Ukraine and on to Brussels. Are the Vampirs planning to destroy NATO HQ and the European Commission?

Negative on that – their real plan is even more horrifying.

After surviving multiple attacks by the Vampirs, Breed and Stein find the bomb has been shipped to New York. The Vampirs threaten to incinerate the city if the United States does not commit ground troops to fight Russia.

With the help of Ellie, a young homeless girl, Breed and Stein fight the Vampirs through black 19th century tunnels 30 stories below the streets of modern Manhattan. Ellie leads Breed to the bomb – and a terrifying climax with the lives of eight million innocents hanging in the balance.

My Thoughts: now if you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that I love a Breed thriller and I might even go as far to say that this one may just be my favourite one yet!

Its action packed as always, but this one just felt like it had more of an impact, I’m not sure if that’s because I actually knew about the events the book was based on or wether the writing just packed more of a punch in general but I couldn’t put it down.

Stein and Breed are working together with their teams to stop a Ukrainian special forces team from detonating a bomb and killing so many people, they really are against the clock!

They find Ellie underground who ends up being a bigger help than they ever expected.

This is a real edge of your seat, heart palpitation inducing story and I was here for it!

This one will be hard to top.

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Today I am on the tour for The Fall Of Selvandrea by T J McKay and I have a spotlight for you, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 542

Synopsis:

Villains rise where nations fall.
And the Fall is coming.

Valdaris was a middling artillery captain before his people fell to a conquering rival.

Then he fell further still, snatched from the battlefield by a ruthless cult and cast into the depths of ultimate evil.

Transformed by powers he can’t begin to understand, Valdaris seeks revenge on those who tried to destroy him. Instead, he’ll face monsters beyond his most terrifying nightmares. He joins with allies caught in the chaos of his war with evil, oblivious to his true nature and the darkness closing in on their world.

Full of dragons, monsters, found family, magical weapons, intense duels, and epic battles, The Fall of Selvandrea follows a vigilante’s quest against malice, greed, and the shadow within. Heroes and villains join against the rising dark, and against a tyrant whose schemes may destroy them all.

And from calamity’s ashes, a new power shall rise.

About The Author:

Tim J. McKay is a writer, editor, and marketer from Ottawa, Canada. He used to be a pastor, still cares about good and evil, and still strives to create meaningful experiences for others. He has degrees in history, theology, and public policy, along with a diploma in professional writing, but likes nothing more than hiking in the woods, running along the Rideau Canal, and connecting with the people he loves. Oh, and reading a good book.

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

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Today I am on the tour for Anyone But The Superstar by Sara L Hudson, 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: 338

Synopsis: What happens when a moviestar and an heiress, both traveling incognito, have a one-night stand?

Johnny, aka Felix Jones, is Hollywood’s go-to action star. About to film his first romantic comedy, he’s looking to change his image and show he’s more than just a six pack with pithy one-liners. But off screen, he’s got a reputation for other things too, and not all of them are good.

Anne, aka Elizabeth Moore was, until a year ago, heiress to one of New York’s biggest business dynasties. Blindsided at the discovery that she is not, in fact, the daughter of the man who raised her, Liz has spent the past year on a journey of self-discovery. Her most recent discovery? Southern Texas is hot. The weather, the food and the men.

And temperatures do nothing but rise when ‘Anne’ sits next to ‘Johnny’ at the bar. Add in a trip to the ER, a hairless cat, and a NASA movie set, and things get even spicier.

Never mind that Felix has plenty of complications in his life, and the last thing Liz needs is more drama. In fact, when it comes to one-night stands, anyone but the superstar would be better…

My Thoughts: I now need a Felix in my life 😩😍

This is book 3 in the Anyone But You series and although this can absolutely be read as a stand alone, I would highly recommend reading all 3 to get the most out of the book.

This was by far my favourite book in the series, it had strangers to lovers, forced proximity.. he falls first.. there’s just one big problem, they both gave each other a false name & that kind of thing is hard to erase/explain.

This book really is the epitome of a romcom, u found myself laughing out loud within the first couple of chapters and didn’t really let up at all throughout!

Adding in the spice, the banter between the main characters a hairless cat and an interfering family who mean well in the grand scheme of things and what you end up with actually a really heartfelt story about second chances and not getting caught in the legacy of your family.

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Today I am joining the blogathon for Do No Harm by Jack Jordan, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher.

Pages: 432

Synopsis: MY CHILD HAS BEEN TAKEN.
AND I’VE BEEN GIVEN A CHOICE . . .
KILL A PATIENT ON THE OPERATING TABLE
OR LOSE MY SON FOREVER.

The man lies on the table in front of me.
As a surgeon, it’s my job to save him.
As a mother, I know I must kill him.
You might think that I’m a monster.
But there really is only one choice.
I must get away with murder.
Or I will never see my son again.

I’VE SAVED MANY LIVES.
WOULD YOU TRUST ME WITH YOURS?

My Thoughts: Well after reading this book there is one thing I know for sure I will be having a serious anxiety attack if I ever have to have an operation ever again. The idea of literally putting your life in someone else’s hands is something that doesn’t even bare thinking about. 

That being said, this was amazing. It all felt so incredibly real that at times I was so invested that I forgot I was reading a book. 

All of the little details were cleverly thought out and so we’ll put together that I genuinely had no idea which way the story would go or how it would end. 

The story was told from 3 different perspectives.. 

Anna – the surgeon who has an impossible decision to make 

Margot –the scrub nurse with a past that she scared to reveal

Rachel – the police detective who can’t seem to focus on the right part of the investigation because certain parts are just too close to home for her. 

By the time I’d finished this my heart was in my mouth and I’d cut my lip from biting it repeatedly 😂

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Today I am on the tour for The Night Pixie by Hazel Knox, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Pages: 84

Synopsis: Star, the night pixie, is tired of hiding – from daylight, humans and Granny’s dandelion farts.

She wishes life in the garden was more exciting. So, when she bumps into a human, Star ignores Mum’s warnings and dives into her new friend’s world.

A wild adventure follows as Star discovers chocolate cake, toilets and just how dangerous day can be…

This book is not to be missed. It is a heartwarming and funny children’s story about friendship and being brave, written by Hazel Knox and beautifully illustrated by Chris White.

About The Author:

Hazel is a children’s author, poet and occupational therapist. Her writing is packed with adventure, humour and heart-warming moments. 

She was a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardee in 2021 and has had several poems and short stories published, including in The Toy and Little Thoughts Press.

If you think this book is something you’ll enjoy it can be bought here!  

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Today I’m on the tour for How To Slay At Work by Sarah Bonner, 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: A sharp, funny and deliciously dark thriller that fans of Katy Brent, Bella Mackie or Killing Eve will love.

When your boss is at a conference in a city where there’s a suspicious death, it’s unlucky.

If it happens twice, it’s odd.

But when she’s in the same city at the same time as a third unexplained death . . .

Could she be a stone-cold killer?

Millie’s always known her boss Freya is a psycho – the demanding and ever-changing coffee orders, the cryptic instructions, the apparently expected mind reading and don’t even start on the insistence that Millie wears heels . . . All. The. Time.

But it only extends as far as exacting office standards. Right?

As Freya’s assistant, Millie has privileged access to her diary and travel history and when a pattern emerges of men (who seem to have no connection to each other) dying in cities where Freya is travelling, Millie is determined to figure out what’s going on.

After all, a stone-cold killer could be exactly what Millie needs . . .

My Thoughts: Not sure if I should say this but this was laugh out loud funny & it was bloody brilliant.

Freya wasn’t my favourite villain, but after a while you start to understand why she is the way she is.. but then you start questioning yourself again, is anything she says true?

Millie also has her own ulterior motive, so imagine her surprise when she suddenly becomes the assistant to Freya.. what happened to Sam? Although her first thought is confusion we soon learn that actually she’s pretty happy with this new arrangement but why?

That is until she starts to suspect that Freya is a serial killer.. & then she gets anonymous messages telling her to connect the dots! How deep does this whole thing go?

So much fun.. lighthearted at times yet completely dark and twisty at others which means you never know what much way the story is going!

Absolutely recommend this one.

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Today I am on the tour for the personal Assistant by Becki Willis, 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: 287

Synopsis: I’m having a really bad day. I lost my phone. My purse was snatched. And I got fired . . . by my best friend.

But now I’ve got a lifeline. I’ve just been offered a new job. PA to the millionaire businesswoman Mrs Lillian Samson. An amazing salary. Impressive benefits package.

I soon realize there’s something not quite right about Lillian and the company she inherited from her late husband. Sometimes, when she thinks I’m not looking, I catch her watching me with a glint in her eye, like a lion stalking its prey.

Some of the things she asks me to do are weird — like volunteer at the local children’s hospital. When I come back, she questions me about the young patients.

She sends me on pointless errands, but won’t give me any responsibility. There’s only so many times I can arrange and re-arrange my desk.

And things are going to get even crazier.

My boss is dangerous. And work is about to get very personal for this personal assistant.

My Thoughts: this one had me all tied up in knots.. poor lexis life falls apart fairly quickly and everything she knows disappears, she loses her job, she drops her phone and is at a bit of a loss of what to do when the seemingly perfect job comes along.. she gets paid a lot and asked to do very little which obviously makes her twitchy and uncomfortable.

She can’t work out why her boss is so lenient and something just doesn’t feel right, she keeps seeing people that she recognises for absolutely no reason, she knows she doesn’t know them, but yet she does!

Add to the mix the return of someone from Lexis past and you have the perfect thriller, everything seems fine, whilst also feeling off at the same time & the two perspectives come together perfectly in the end.

It made me feel uncomfortable and twitchy and I couldn’t read it with the light off when it got dark!

The story is so twisty and darkly compelling that it was just impossible to put down!

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Today I am on the tour for Angels and Stars by Stephanie Wood, thank you to Hannah at Hygge Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 103

Synopsis: You are invited to spend CHRISTMAS ON THE CLOSE where each of the neighbours are celebrating in their own special way.

Denise and Greg are very supportive of their daughter, Charlotte, as she competes in the regular pageants in the local area, but they begin to disagree when an opportunity to attend some larger events abroad becomes a possibility.

Charlotte loves dancing almost as much as she loves her dog, Justin, but is she really interested in taking her hobby any further, or is she simply giving in to her mother’s wishes? More to the point, does she even have the talent to compete at such a high level?

The eighth standalone episode of ‘Christmas on The Close’ reveals how an unfulfilled dream for one member of the family can lead to difficult decisions for the others.

My Thoughts: this is a really hard book for me to review, partly because it’s so short & partly because I really disliked Denise, I found her pushy, she didn’t listen to Charlotte and what she wanted, she was just trying to live her dream through her daughter.. a dream that Charlotte has started to realise that she might not want.

She did start to redeem herself towards the end, but for me it was possibly too little too late.

I loved Charlotte as a character, she was only young but she really seemed to have her head screwed on, she knew what she wanted, although wasn’t always forthcoming with her wishes for fear of upsetting her mum, she’d just throw little bits into conversation about what she was thinking and a new idea she had.

Overall the book was heartwarming, made me smile and really got me in the mood for Christmas 🎅🏽 🎄

This is book 8 in the Christmas On The Close Series & I have read them all so far, it’s a real tight knit community who all help each other out and feature in each others stories.

I will definitely be finishing the series.

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