prdgreads

Hi hi, this one isn’t a blog tour, just a review for a book I thoroughly enjoyed!

Firstly let me say happy publication day to you Conrad!!

Pages; 242

Synopsis: Cuckoos on the Mersey follows the child protection teams in social services and the PVPU (protecting vulnerable people unit- Merseyside Police) on Merseyside. They are in a constant battle to protect the most vulnerable in society. Leo is a sixteen-year-old in the grip of a violent OCG, struggling to kick his addiction to ketamine. When his neighbour Angela is visited by social services, the social workers can’t get an answer. They persuade her children to open the door for them and Angela is found unconscious on her settee. A police investigation is launched and an evil criminal network is uncovered. A race against time begins as witnesses are silenced or vanish completely.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: Right from the start this book pulled at my heartstrings, such a hard topic to write about but Conrad has really managed to pull it out of the bag making it seem very realistic yet done in a really sensitive way.

So many different elements and characters that all added up to the bigger picture, each characters story was heartbreaking on its own, but you just can’t believe how deep it all goes, just when you think you’ve reached the bottom something else gets dug up.

An book that had me in its clutches throughout and has every aspect of a crime novel you can imagine!

I’ve been purposefully vague so as not to give anything away but I highly recommend you give this one a go!

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Today is my turn on the tour for The Red Admirals Secret by Matthew Ross, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for arranging it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 358

Synopsis: A Premier League bad-boy murdered at his newly refurbished home; a teenage runaway’s corpse uncovered on a construction site; a gunman shoots up the premises of the local gangland boss – all of them projects run by beleaguered builder Mark Poynter. Can he fix it?

The Red Admiral’s Secret is the second of ‘the Poynter + Perry Mysteries’, the darkly comic crime novels following Mark Poynter’s trouble on the tools, aided and hindered in equal measure by his trusted crew of slackers, idlers and gossips, and the lengths they go to just to earn a living.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed being bag with this big bunch of misfits, seemingly ordinary people who trouble just seems to follow 😂

This time Mark is helping to turn an old pub into apartments for his friend and boss, almost instantly they have someone knocking on the door telling them they will offer money for the pub as long as they leave it as is.

Obviously not one to be outdone Danny refuses and tells mark to carry on with the work.. only to later discover a body..

Mark finds himself under police scrutiny yet again whilst still trying to make money and keep his business afloat and keep his girlfriend happy. The only solution he can find to all his problems is Hamlet and we all know that won’t end well 😂

The Red Admirals Secret has everything you need from a book, it’s dark and twisty, full of suspense the perfect crime book, whilst also being full of laughs, moments to make you smile and characters who almost make you feel like you’re coming home.

A one sitting read for me. I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

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Hi 👋🏼

today I have a review for you that isn’t part of a blog tour! – I received an ARC of this book at the back end of last year by the author himself, unfortunately life got in the way and I’ve only just got around to it!

Pages: 154

Synopsis: Hallucinations where I am tortured to death or Emmerdale? Tough call. Ever feel that your life is so empty that all there
is left to do is drink? Life for Lucas hasn’t changed since he was 20, battling an addiction which consumes him and anyone close. Can Lucas break the cycle or is he cursed to have his life stuck on repeat?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: do not let the calming front cover fool you (although this will make sense at the end) what’s contained in these pages is, brutal and dark at times.

This is classed as Horror and Urban fantasy and it was absolutely fantastic. It had me laughing at Luke’s really dry humour and the fact that he just tells it as it is, but I suppose when you’re trying and sometimes failing to against your nature than you have to find the joy and the laughs where you can even if it’s at other people’s expense.

This is a fairly short book which meant the story took off straight away and never really tailed off or slowed down.

Luke is the kind of character that you should hate, he’s the ‘bad guy’ after all, but how can you when he redeems himself so cleverly and more than once in the story you’re praising him for the havoc he caused!

Im not ashamed to admit that this book had me shedding a tear too, and for an author to have me feeling 2 different emotions at opposite ends of the scale within 154 pages is a skill in itself.

Brilliant book that I would definitely recommend to fans of the horror/urban fantasy genre!

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Today I’m on the tour for Lamb of God by Catherine Fearns, 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: 256

Synopsis: Thy Will Be Done…

Detective Inspector Darren Swift can’t seem to give up the ghost. When a woman is discovered living wild in the Blundellsands dunes, followed by a burial of skeletons dating back centuries, he can’t help being drawn into the case.

With the help of Sister Helen Hope and heavy metal musician Mikko Kristensen they delve deeper, uncovering a world of secret societies, private clubs and religious orders.

But as they approach the truth, do they realise that the danger may be closer than they think?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I have absolutely adored this series and book 4 was no different, like the other 3 this one was a one sitting read for me, it was lovely to be back with my bunch of misfits that seem to work when you put them together even though everything in you tells you they shouldn’t, where else could you get a DI, a sister and a heavy metal musician solving crimes together?!

This one was a little different to the rest as they’re not all together, but a woman found living in the wild and a pile of mismatched bones some dating back centuries brings them all back in and doing what they do best!

As always things aren’t straight forward and they find themselves delving deeper into a part of society that we know exists but isn’t necessarily shouted about.

Full of wit, banter and sarcasm all tied together with the occasional reference to religion, it was creepy yet fun and exciting to read!

Already looking forward (and hoping) to the next instalment! A

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Today I’m on the tour for My Year With The Italian Girl by Linda Leuzzi, 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: 251

Synopsis: It’s 1985. The Bellport Evening Star, a weekly community paper headed by its sassy editor Vivian Allegra, covers both the humorous and serious issues that regularly erupt in this small village. When she agrees to host a teen exchange student from Catania for a year, Francesca, who descriptively discusses her ancient home city and is hilarious in her observations of American life and who teams up with Black student Keisha with her beautiful Broadway dancer aunt for the upcoming Step competition, life starts taking off.

Actually it does for all of them. These are three strong women who in their own voices, fight to achieve their goals, which includes the community that helps them.

Add a burgeoning local environmental issue with alarming threats to Vivian, a bit of magical realism, and a handsome Brit neighbor who has his eye on recently divorced Vivian and things get pretty interesting.

Who’s mysteriously threatening Vivian? Will the Wiley property be saved? Will the Step Squad win the Regional competition? And will Vivian let down her guard with sweet Ian?

This uplifting story about small town life presents the workings of a weekly paper, different cultures, and what happens when belief in one’s self persists.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one, it’s not my usual genre but I thought I’d give it a go and I’m really glad I did!

It tells the story of Vivian who has agreed to take on an Italian girl Francesca for a year and their worlds collide in such a beautiful way.

It’s hard hitting at times and heartwarming at others, there’s humour woven cleverly throughout whilst Vivian and Francesca get used to each other, start to compare their cultural differences and learn a lot from each other.

The book was told from various perspectives which gave us a well rounded view of the story as a whole. By far my favourite parts were Francesca’s letters home to her family.

Overall a really lovely read and one I would definitely recommend.

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Hi hi 👋🏼👋🏼

I’m here today to tell you all about A Scandal Of Secrets by J.F Howard because it’s available for preorder now ☺️

Synopsis: Anthony Crawford is young, rich, and lazy. With aspirations to take the film world by storm, he never quite seems to motivate himself enough to do anything about it – until he meets the beautiful Cecile. Wife to Robert Ford, who is Anthony’s stepfather’s business associate and close confident, Cecile is older, wiser, and wants Anthony to be her next little plaything, but will an affair with her be Anthony’s making or his downfall?

The oncoming Christmas season provides a perfect opportunity for Anthony’s mother and stepfather to throw a party, but what happens to turn a glittering, dreamlike celebration, the pinnacle of the social calendar of the rich and famous, into Anthony’s personal nightmare, and more importantly, will he survive?

A SCANDAL OF SECRETS is a cleverly presented murder mystery set in the environs of 1920’s English high society and is JOHN F HOWARD’S debut novel.

If you like the sound of this it is released on the 19th October and can be preordered here!

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Today I’m on the tour for The Atenisti by Aidan K. Morrissey, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part, today I have a spotlight for you, where I tell you all about the book and the author ☺️

Pages: 243

Synopsis: The Atenisti’ is a global rollercoaster ride of murder, the quest for justice, and retribution through the eyes of a conscience-driven assassin.
Travelling under numerous aliases, Ricci, a member of a secret organisation, finishes a mission in London. Apparently followed, he escapes to Italy. Seeking to avenge the kidnap, rape and murder of a young girl, he is plunged into a battle against a worldwide paedophile ring of extraordinary extent and power. This battle leads Ricci from Italy, through Germany, to India and beyond. Can he take on the might of this criminal network which seems determined to eliminate him?

About The Author: Aidan K. Morrissey, a lawyer, has lived and worked all over the world.

His time in Italy, Germany and India, all of which feature in this, his second novel, has given him a deep insight into their culture and everyday way of life. 

Inspired to write The Atenisti after reading daily newspaper accounts of horrific attacks on young Indian women and children, he has brought to the page, a fictional crime novel, set against the background of true and monstrous stories of abuse and depravity

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

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Today I’m on the tour for Survival Weekend by Robert W Kirby, 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.

Synopsis:

After a messy split with her partner, Rebecca decides to sign up to an adventure weekend in Scotland, and ropes her reluctant friend, Phoebe, into joining her.

After travelling to an unknown location in the wildness, the pair are grouped with other entrants and given the task of hiking to their first checkpoint—a campsite where they will receive further instructions.

Then one of their team, a brooding man called Luke Vance, drops a bombshell on them. He tells them that a squad of armed people will be pursuing them come daybreak and their game is an altogether different one. They are twisted deviants who desire only to hunt and kill.

The group refuses to believe Luke, but they are prepared to play along, convinced he is an actor that has been planted by the organisers of the event, and the entire thing is all part of the wild experience. But when one of the group vanishes, the participants panic.

But even if there are killers on their tail, first they need to survive the tough terrain, treacherous weather… and perhaps hardest of all, each other.

How far would you go to survive?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: I chose to listen to the audiobook for this one and what a wild ride it was.

I can’t say too much because it’s a short book and I don’t want to give too much away, but what starts as a fun way to get over your ex and let off some steam turns into a an actual fight for your life where you don’t know who you can trust or where to turn.

You know someone is lying but can you work out who before it’s too late?

A whole host of believable characters, lots of different personalities brought together with leaves us with some laugh out loud moments to break up the tension.

The fear contained in the words is very real, this book was giving me heart palpitations and had me on the edge of my seat!

Full of action and dripping with suspense and although the ending was great it came too soon, I devoured this book in one sitting… I could definitely read a full length novel based on survival weekend.

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Hi 👋🏼

I’m here today to tell you all about Salvation by D.A. Schneider, it’s available to preorder today so let me give you a reason to preorder!

Synopsis: John Garvey, known to his family and friends as a biker, mechanic, gun runner, drug dealer,
oh and a killer. Not many know of his secret he’s held onto for centuries. That he is, in truth, a fallen angel.
Banished to Earth and tied to the guitar that he always keeps by his side.
Federal Agent Marion Kern is on the trail of a murderer whose victim is far from ordinary.
With extra organs and strange scars across his back, the seemingly young man was killed
with a golden bullet.
Stranger still, the only thing stolen from the scene of the crime was the victim’s guitar.
Jude is on a mission from Hell. A hitman tasked with killing the fallen angels trapped on
Earth. With the end of his quest is in sight, he must seduce the daughter of his final target to
get close to his victim. He never thought he’d fall in love.
His mission is now complicated and could be compromised.
On the line is the one thing Judas has sought through all his years: salvation.

About The Author: D.A. Schneider is an author of horror and mystery who lives in Indianapolis, IN.

After trying for some time to break into the comic book industry with his artwork, D.A. decided to focus on writing instead. A former NFL and entertainment columnist, D.A.’s most recent books include the cozy murder mystery Death of a Scholar (Holly Reynolds Mysteries Book 1) and the horror/crime novel Salvation.

D.A. signed with KGHH Publishing in May 2017, then co-founded Poe Boy Publishing in 2020, and signed with Editingle Indie House in 2022.

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

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Today I’m on the tour for When I Know Your Name by G.M. Lawrence, 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: 359

Synopsis: They planned the perfect kidnap. Except for one thing – they chose Elena.

Elena Dumont appears to have it all: a charmed life, a handsome boyfriend and wealthy, successful parents.

But when she is kidnapped, she is forced to confront the problems that lurk beneath her perfect facade.

Although she is terrified, Elena digs deep and shows resilience and courage. One of her captors notices her bravery and they develop an unlikely bond.

Elena is faced with a choice: should she trust this man who is supposed to be her enemy?

She embarks on a dark journey to discover who is behind her kidnapping and why they would want her abducted in the first place.

The web of deceit she uncovers has earth shattering consequences. Will Elena make the right choice? And will she find out who is behind the kidnapping before they strike again?

When I Know Your Name, the spellbinding psychological thriller from G.M. Lawrence

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I always hate it when a book cover says something about a book being tense or gripping or in this case nail biting because you can normally guarantee that it lets you down. But this one lives up to it and more, so much so that I felt uncomfortable more than once, but it didn’t stop me from reading, I couldn’t put this one down!!

The awful things l that happened in this story are things that can and do happen in real life and that added a whole new layer to the story, I found myself getting so cross with Elena’s dad and commented out loud to my kindle on more than one occasion!

Throw in a twist in the story in the form of romance with the last person you’d expect and this book had everything you could want and more, it will keep you guessing until the end & keep playing over in your mind long after you’ve finished it!

This is the second book I’ve read and loved l by G.M. Lawrence and I will definitely be looking out for more in the future.

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