prdgreads

Today I’m on the tour for Oscar Of The Bismarck by Frances Y Evan, 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: Oscar the cat served on the German warship, Bismarck, as well as several British ships during World War II.
When the new battleship Bismarck is built, launched and commissioned, Oscar is there to witness it all. He is soon accepted by the crew and becomes the ship’s mascot as they embark on their mission.

Narrated from Oscar the cat’s point of view, he describes life at sea, the battles and the fate of his shipmates, as well as his own personal challenge to outwit, hunt and capture an elusive, sneaky, grey cat with little black ears!

A wonderfully emotional and uplifting story, told from a very different perspective!

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this one was a lot of fun, as a cat owner myself I found myself reading Oscar’s story and looking at Bella 🤣 I weirdly enjoyed being in the mind of a cat!

Experiencing the war from the perspective of a cat was quite unsettling at times so to learn this was based on a real story was incredible and eye opening. And seeing the way having Oscar on the boat seemed to lift everyone’s spirits was heartwarming.

A short read but one that I thoroughly enjoyed and would urge everyone to pick it up ☺️ 🐈‍⬛

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Today I’m on the tour for Reprobation by Catherine Fearns, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 211

Synopsis: Are you one of the elect?

Dr. Helen Hope is a lecturer in eschatology – the study of death, judgement, and the destiny of humankind. She is also a Calvinist nun, her life devoted to atoning for a secret crime.

When a body is found crucified on a Liverpool beach, she forms an unlikely alliance with suspect Mikko Kristensen, lead guitarist in death metal band Total Depravity. Together, they go on the trail of a rogue geneticist who they believe holds the key – not just to the murder, but to something much darker.

Also on the trail is cynical Scouse detective Darren Swift. In his first murder case, he must confront his own lack of faith as a series of horrific crimes drag the city of two cathedrals to the gates of hell.

Science meets religious belief in this gripping murder mystery.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: 2023 is obviously the year for me to discover brilliant new authors, who would have thought a nun and the star of a death metal band would work as a duo trying to get to the bottom of some weird goings on.

This really was bloody brilliant and another one that was impossible to put down.

I’m struggling to get my thoughts together because I don’t want to spoil anything, but this is more than just a crime story, it’s also about a woman figuring out her path in life & being torn for wanting different things than what’s expected of her.

There were moments where my heart was in my throat and I wanted to stop reading incase something awful happened to the characters I had grown to love.

I can’t wait to carry on with the series, look out for my reviews later in the week ☺️

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I was on the tour for this book earlier in January, but there was a delay in my review for personal reasons, thank you so much to Hannah ah Hygge book Tours and Brendan James for their understanding.

Synopsis: ‘Could there be a world of interest and adventure beyond the Midlands? A world of confidence and excitement? A better life – a better me?’ These are the questions Gerard Philey grapples with over New Year, 1995. Sitting in his rented Black Country room, reflecting on his thankless teaching job and miserable love life, he courageously decides to abandon his humdrum existence and embark on a quest for Euro-fulfilment, fun and fitness on the Continent.

After a shaky start in Brussels, events manoeuvre him to Amsterdam where chance encounters shift his world well and truly into fifth gear. He samples the trials and tribulations of new relationships, alongside managing an adult store in the city’s Red Light Area – on top of the challenges of fat-free living and international travel!

Through his bittersweet diary, we see how Gerard steers a laugh-out-loud course through farcical episodes and fanciful characters…and how entanglements from past and present draw him unwittingly into an underworld where events ultimately take their toll.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I’m not sure what I expected from this, I think I thought it was more of a memoir, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I realised it was a work of fiction.

Written in diary entries this was a like a blast from the past and took me right back to my teenage years of reading Adrian Mole books!

Gerard finds himself in some right predicaments, I found myself laughing, cringing and shaking my head at him multiple times.

A thoroughly enjoyable read that almost gave me the travelling bug.

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Today I’m on the tour for To Hel In A Houndcart by Jacqueline Lambert, thank you to Anne at Ranekm Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 340

Synopsis: “Go to Hel.”

The Polish local wasn’t being rude. She was describing Hel, Poland, well known for its fine beaches and windsurfing.

Ever since Jackie and Mark packed themselves and their four Cavapoo pups into their ‘hound cart’ (RV trailer) to tour Europe, they’ve learned lessons about overcoming obstacles – much more than they ever imagined.

Soon after they left, everything they knew about travelling changed.

COVID-19 stranded them in Italy, where they were forbidden to set foot outside their garden. Finally released from Italian lockdown, with borders closed and their own home rented out, they could not return to the UK. With only a rough idea where their wanderlust might take them, their adventures soon start stacking up. If you ever wanted to learn what full-time RV life is really like, this is the book for you.

From Italy to France, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland, travel alongside our intrepid explorers as they navigate precipitous cliff-side roads, geopolitical unrest, and borders closing, with the spectre of COVID continually looming over them.

Will they go to Hel in a hound cart, or will that be what happens to their plans?

Although part of a series which is chronological in time, and follows the author since giving up work to travel, each book is a stand-alone adventure.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this book was just as great as the last one!

It’s funny, it’s informative and just a whole lot of fun.

I couldn’t wait to see what everyone got up to in this instalment of their adventure. We get to go on a journey all around Europe with a few furry friends & not have to leave the comfort of our own homes.

There is sarcasm and wit throughout some parts even had me laughing it loud at the book!

I also appreciated the parts that told us all about the various places that we were visiting, done in a way that you take information but it’s never dull or overwhelming.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with us, I can’t wait for the next instalment.

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Today I’m on the tour for Cut and Shut by Jonathan Peace, thank you to Rebecca at Hobeck Books for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pages 377

Synopsis: June, 1989

Tensions are high – tempers short
Following a stupid, drunken car theft, the tragic deaths of three local lads uncovers a powder keg of racial intolerance and bigotry.

A vicious attack
When two Muslim brothers are violently attacked, WDC Louise Miller sees her hometown with jaded eyes, shocked that so many of her colleagues are reluctant to get involved or help in any way those they once called neighbours.

A terrible truth
As she investigates, Louise, accompanied by WDC Hines and psychologist Karla Hayes, discovers links between the car theft and the assault but worse; the racial tensions that now threaten to tear the community apart, have masked an even darker crime – one that has gone long undiscovered, but will have devastating consequences.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this is book 3 in the Louise Miller crime series and this one was just as brilliant as the others. It does read as a stand alone but I would definitely recommend reading the first 2 ☺️

Jonathan has a way of pushing the boundaries of certain subjects to the point that you feel uncomfortable but in the best kind of way… yet again another book I couldn’t bring myself to put down and read it in one sitting.

The writing just draws you in completely, full of moments that will shock you to the core and just as you get used to that one he does it again!

Full of red herrings and twists and turns that at times I didn’t know which way was up!

It was lovely to be back with Miller, Hines and Manby & I’m eagerly awaiting book 4!

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Today I’m on the tour for Dancing With The Devil by Matthew Jones, 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: 350

Synopsis: A wealthy oligarch, a failing business and a man who sacrificed everything for one final shot at freedom.

When Danny accepts a job from wealthy Conrad Szekely to spy on his business partner, Jerry, he finds himself with a world of trouble. Within days of Danny’s arrival, the business is destroyed in a catastrophic fire, which also claims Jerry’s life.

Torn between conflicting interests, Danny starts to suspect that Jerry’s business had been anything but straightforward, and finds himself trapped in a spiral of treachery and lies, which rapidly begins to degenerate into a cat and mouse chase across the fens.

With former allies turning violently against him, Danny tries to solve the mystery that surrounds Jerry’s death. But can Danny find the answers when those answers themselves prove lethal?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: this one took me a while to work out what was going on, it started off very slow paced.

But once it gets going, the action doesn’t stop, it’s fast paced & exciting with a whole host of unreliable characters that provided us with twists and turns galore to keep us guessing and ensuring we kept turning the pages.

The story had hints of supernatural which added an element that you don’t often see in a thriller.

I’ll be honest and say this isn’t a book I would’ve picked up on my own, but it’s one that’s definitely worth the read.

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Today I’m on the tour for The Ideal Man by T.J. Emerson, 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: 364

Synopsis: The Daughter.

My father is innocent. He’s spent almost four years behind bars, but now he’s getting out. I gave up everything to be there for him, just like he was always there for me. It’s all going to be worth it now.

The Girlfriend.

As soon as I opened the paper that day and saw that picture of Sandy, I didn’t care about the story surrounding it. There’s no way he hurt that girl. Now he’s out, we’ll get married and I’ll finally get to meet his daughter. There’ll be no more hiding our love.

The Other Woman.

No one knows what happened all those years ago, and the life I built depends on no one finding out. Now he’s getting out, my secrets may soon see the light. I can’t let that happen.

One Loves Him.

One Needs Him.

One Wants Him DEAD.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this one was brilliant, genuinely didn’t know which way this one was going to go!

Told from the perspective of 3 different women and I wanted to be on the side of all of them, but with them all having differing opinions that just wasn’t possible!

A very difficult subject matter that made it a very difficult read for me personally, but it was dealt with very sensitively.

I’ve never read a book from Tracy before, but I devoured this one, the intrigue was high, the pacing was perfect & I just loved every single one of the characters wholeheartedly which made the twists and turns even harder to interpret.

This is definitely another one that needs to be added to your TBR.

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Today I’m on the tour for No Safe Place by Robin Mahle, 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: 310

Synopsis: What she discovered will be the death of her.

Detective Rebecca Ellis has some big shoes to fill. Her father was the legendary detective, Hank Ellis, now retired from the Bangor Police Department. Emerging from his shadow hasn’t been easy.

So when she’s assigned to work with new hire, Detective Euan McCallister, Ellis is determined to keep their investigation right on track.

The explosive fire in a church parking lot looks straightforward at first. Claire Allen, a volunteer at the church, burned to death in her car. But then Ellis discovers the seatbelt had been rigged, trapping Claire in the inferno. This was no accident. It was murder.

Why was Claire at the church that night? Who would want her dead? In the race to find the truth, Ellis unearths a horrifying secret that takes the investigation into very dangerous territory.

Soon, Ellis will learn that in the search for this particular killer, there is no safe place

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I do love finding a new police procedural/thriller series to get lost in.. but also hate it at the same time.. because you can guarantee it’ll add more books to my never ending tbr 😂

But after the opening book of the Rebecca Ellis series I can’t not keep up with it in future!

Fast paced with lots of moments that threw you off completely.. characters that made you feel like they had it all under control & a setting that makes feel totally uncomfortable.. even though you know it should be the opposite. What more could you want? – I know that’s very vague & I am not sorry, hopefully it’ll make you want to pick it up.

I will warn you this book involves the exploitation of children, or at least the mention of it and the ‘aftermath’ so if this is something you’re uncomfortable with then maybe avoid the book, but it’s dealt with in a very clever, sensitive way.

Thrillers don’t often get 5 stars from me anymore because I do feel they can be very similar.. but this one was different in a way I can’t explain and just threw me completely.

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Today I’m on the tour for The Perfect Match by Dandy Smith, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 308

Synopsis: Best friend or boyfriend, who would you believe?

Zara has always felt a little ordinary next to her spirited best friend Ivy. Even her dreams seem mundane: a boyfriend, marriage, children… Besides, who would pick her when they could choose Ivy?

So when Zara meets Henry and there’s an instant spark, she can’t believe her luck. A wealthy CEO who wants to settle down? He’s perfect. Until Ivy insists he’s too good to be true.

As Henry and Ivy repeatedly clash, doubts creep into Zara’s mind. Could it be that Ivy just doesn’t want to share her best friend with anyone else? Or does Henry have a hidden agenda? Zara is caught in the middle, constantly trying to prove who she loves more.

Then someone winds up dead, and Zara realises there’s more to this than jealousy…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this one took a while for me to get into, but believe me it’s worth the wait!

We’re following Zara and Ivy, they’ve been best friends since uni, they live together and so everything together, Zara can’t wait to fall in love and have everything that traditionally follows.

Ivy couldn’t think of anything worse, she would rather spend her time sleeping with married men, they’re complete opposites but it works.. until Zara meets Henry..

With Zara feeling like she’s found everything she’s ever wanted, she can’t understand why Ivy isn’t happy for her.

Full of secrets, lies and accusations, this one was difficult to put down. I genuinely couldn’t work out where the story was going and who was telling the truth.

The multi time line added a whole new level to the story because you knew something big had happened but you don’t know when or who was involved.

I can highly recommend the audio book, I ended up downloading it because I was so busy that I didn’t have time to sit and read and it made the whole thing just feel edge of your seat intense!

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Hey 👋🏼

Today I have a cover reveal for you! – and believe me it’s a good one. 🥵 but before I do that let me tell you all about the book and the author!!

Who has blood on their hands?
You’ll be on a knife edge…
Don’t Spill the Blood
What’s your number

The latest novel by Mark Simmons
Tense murder thriller that will delve into the mind of a killer. But who exactly is the killer?

About The Author:

Mark Simmons has been writing Horror recreationally since a young age, finding his inspiration from a cavernous backroom full of horror at his local video shop. Renting all manner of features, well before his age legally allowed him to do so.

Born and raised by North East parents on the coastline of Suffolk, England. He also found his creativity stimulated by the rolling countryside and coastal emptiness of East Anglia. He currently lives on the banks of the River Stour with his Epidemiologist wife, The Doctor.

When Mark is not bringing his demons to the page he has worked for the last ten years in various areas of the Television Broadcasting industry. He has helped to provide the world with the top quality viewing that it deserves.

Mark enjoys watching all manner of movies and TV shows, ranging across a number of genres. But his greatest affinity is to horror flicks, although he struggles to find anything that truly scares him these days.

He has a passion for classic and modern literature, and his love of the written word knows no bounds. Horror and sci-fi fantasy are the genres where he feels most at home within the pages, but as long as the storytelling is good he can appreciate all types of writing.

He also has an acute ear for music, particularly the Metal persuasion.

Football plays a small part in his life, playing a bit of 5-A-Side in his spare time and supporting a North East team of the Black and White striped variety.

He has published a trilogy of novels, Of The Night, Purged In Flame, & Raised From Darkness that are all available from Poe Boy Publishing.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE COVER?!

I am excited for this one!!!

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