prdgreads

Today I’m on the tour for Ghosted by Mo Fanning, 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: 300

Synopsis:

Professional Santa Silas French fills out the same application as always for his regular stint at a New York department store. Ellen Gitelman hangs her jacket behind the counter at the East Side Diner and smoothes out her waitress uniform, as she waits for the coffee pot to stop percolating.

A double whammy of bad news leaves Silas jobless, with no money to pay for a planned trip to reconcile with his estranged gay son Joey in Florida. Cutbacks at the diner cost Ellen her job.

A chance tip from his local bar gets Silas a job as Santa on a cruise ship that happens to be docking in Florida, where Joey lives with his husband and kids. Ellen heads to a cafe across the street and spots a bulletin board ad selling tickets for a cruise. Her riotous friend Julia volunteers as travel companion.

The MS Viking just happens to be carrying 3000 gay men in the mood to party. What could go wrong?

Silas soon finds himself involved with some unsavoury business and meets a potential new love in the form of Ellen.

Over the course of the Christmas Holiday cruise, the three slowly learn that what they thought they were seeking isn’t really what would make them truly happy, and that they are in control of their own choices.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts:

We’re following Silas he’s got his heart set on playing Santa again at the local department store like he has for the last few years, but when he gets there he realises the application process has changed and already knows deep down he won’t get the job. To save face with his ‘santa buddies‘ he just tells them he missed the deadline.

His friend then tells him that they are looking for someone to play Santa on the MS Viking Cruise ship… what he doesn’t realise is that taking this job will open his eyes to a whole new world & not all of it positive.

There are some strong friendships in this story, Ellen and Julia are two people that will stay in my heart forever.

this book was a lot more serious than I was expecting, it dealt with a lot of important issues in a really sensitive way.

There were parts that made me cry & parts that made me angry (at the characters) , but there was also a lot of laughs too.

I did feel that the ending was abrupt, I feel there could have been more and a lot of things felt unfinished. I feel like I still have a lot of unanswered questions. 😂

Definitely one I would recommend!

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Today I’m on the tour for Death and Mr Fould by Alan Derosby, 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: 313

Synopsis: A stunning gothic historical hybrid genre story perfect for Halloween!

Max Fould, an aristocrat from the Fould banking family, goes off to war under the leadership of Napoleon.

While stranded in Russia, he encounters a creature that sets his life on an unimaginable path based on Russian folklore.

Follow Max Fould from post-revolutionary France to the First World War, where his past and present come full circle.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this one took a while to get into, the writing style was very complex and one that you had to really concentrate on to follow the story.

Max has never wanted for anything, coming from a wealthy family the money has always been there whenever he’s wanted it.

His dad who had been supplying funds to Napoleon had offered up his son to help with the war effort in a last ditch attempt to make him learn the value of money/ life and everything in between… but who would have thought meeting a talking Raven would teach him all of that and so much more?

Once you get used to the writing, you’re definitely swept up in the story, it wraps itself completely around you and makes it impossible to put down.

There were times in this book that I really felt for Max and other times where I felt he got exactly what he deserved.

I had a soft spot for Alice and Molly, their relationship was really something special and it’s something I wish we’d seen more of!

I really appreciated that Death wasn’t the bad guy in this story, he was almost human and that was a side to him we don’t normally see!

Lots of layers, lots of timelines which on their own seem confusing but do all come together really well in the end.

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for Benji and The Gunpowder Plot by Kate Cunningham, 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: 158

Synopsis: Benji hopes that a trip out on Bonfire Night will add excitement to his normally ordinary life.

However, when he accidentally falls down a time hole he has a lot more adventure than he expected. Who are the strange men in the Duck Inn? Who can he trust What is so important about the letter he has been asked to deliver?

Events will take him to the Globe Theatre, down the Thames rapids and into the heart of Parliament.
London in 1605 is darker, dirtier and more dangerous than home, and Benji has no idea how to get back.

Meet Benji Vent in the first adventure of the Time Tumblers series.

Benji is on the biggest adventure of his life, where his decisions will affect the course of history, and he will find out a lot more about the people in his life, including his mysterious father.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: where was this book when I was at school?! – I hated history, one of my worst subjects so none of the information ever stayed with me, this would have been a really fun way to learn all about it and guarantee that I would remember.

I loved Benji, always cautious and aware of what’s around him, but yet constantly pushing himself out of his comfort zone for what he thought was right.

He was thrown into a whole new world when he accidentally fell down a time portal and landed in 1605 and given the chance to change history completely.

Little did he know that he’d learn a lot about himself and his family along the way.

A lot of fun and a story that was hard to put down, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next instalment.

I will definitely be sharing this with the children in my life.

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for The Perfect Husband by Iain Maitland, 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: He was gentle, kind, loving. Until he moved in.

A small-town barbeque in summer’s dying days. There, gentle, bookish Laura meets a man who makes her laugh, hangs on her every word.

He’s the one. Isn’t he?

But once Laura falls pregnant, Robert’s mask slips. She can never quite keep him happy. He is cold and judgemental with a temper that can flare up at any moment. He goes out for hours and won’t tell her where he’s been, he even locks her own door against her.

Laura realises she has married a total stranger, a man governed by dark impulses and darker secrets who seems determined to gain control of every part of her life. Who is this man she’s living with and what terrible things has he done?

As Laura slowly discovers the truth about Robert, she begins to realise that she and her unborn child are in terrible danger. And finally she understands she will have to answer one terrifying question – how far is she willing to go to protect her baby?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: right from the off I can tell you this isn’t going to be an easy book to review, if I give anything away it will spoil your experience..

The synopsis and the front cover did a pretty good job of drawing me in and piquing my interest in this one, but it was definitely a lot darker in places than I was expecting!

I instantly felt sorry for Laura, no one deserves to live life scared and abused, never knowing if the thing she’s about to say will be the thing that will finally push him over the edge.. especially now she’s pregnant with the baby she’s always wanted she’s walking in eggshells more than ever before.

Robert is very clever, very manipulative & knows exactly how to play everyone so that if Laura does choose to talk to someone they won’t believe her, everything that can be used against him leads back to her.

This book had the potential to be a 4/5 star read, but unfortunately the pacing and the writing style let it down for me, sometimes it would be fast paced but then it would slow right down to speed back up again and sometimes I didn’t know wether I was coming or going.

There times in the story where Laura was thinking of possible consequences to certain actions but I felt that this wasn’t always made clear enough and. I’d confuse it with what was actually happening and have to go back and read it again.

That being said this book was still thoroughly enjoyable, held my attention well and kept me guessing right until the end!

Full of a whole host of characters, some downright creepy and some who you just wanted to invite in for a cup of tea and a chat!

I also loved the fact that the whole Ask for Angela concept was brought up and explained, it shows that the author had really done his research for the book 🙂

Definitely one I would recommend to fans of a psychological thriller.

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for The App by Stuart James, 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: 357

Synopsis: The App…

Once you’re in, they’ll never let you leave. 

Whatever happens, don’t download The App. 

* It will come in the form of a link. Maybe in your DM’s on a social media account, the junk folder of your emails or a WhatsApp message from a friend.

* You’ll be enticed by the chance of winning one hundred thousand pounds on offer every Friday, wired straight into the winner’s bank account.

* It’s not a joke.

* This part is genuine.

* Someone can and will win the money.

* But at what cost?

Marty Benson gets the link sent to him by a friend. So what is the harm in looking?
He clicks it, downloads the app and enters a few basic details.
A message prompts him to wait while he’s loaded onto the system.
An hour later, another message.

• Do not delete the app.

• Do not tell anyone outside of your family about the app.

• Send the link to one person who is close to you.

* Do not throw your phone away. 

* Always narrate while streaming. 

• If you break any of the rules, we’ll kill a member of your family. Then we’ll kill you.

Marty is sent a picture of his wife, who is shopping with her mother in Oxford Street.As Marty struggles to breathe, he clicks the links and watches the most recent streams, realising what happens within the
app.

Every Friday morning, a person is randomly picked from social media.

They now have a bounty on their head—a death warrant. But they don’t know it.

Their profile appears on the app’s main page; all their details are displayed.

Every app member must play the game at least once a month or face the consequences.

Kill the person randomly selected from social media.

Win one hundred thousand pounds.

As Marty watches the terror unfold and everyone streaming the hunt within the app, he realises he has to do something.

But how do you stop a murder, when everyone could be the killer?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I normally use my review to tell you a little about the story too, but the synopsis has done a pretty good job so I won’t bother with that.

This is honestly the creepiest most realistic book I’ve read in ages! – now I’m not saying that this happens in real life but more that it could, it’s definitely possible. 😬

And let’s just say if it does we know to blame Stuart 🤣

I was honestly torn between reading it all in one go or having to put it down because I was just so on edge.

This had me thinking about what I would do in that situation, could I take part in the hunt or would I end up losing someone I loved? Could I follow the rules and send the link to someone close to me? & if I could who would it be?

My favourite character by far was Ethel, she broke up the tense moments by making me laugh meaning I was able to carry on.

This is my first experience with Stuart’s writing but absolutely will not be my last.

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for Blind Dates by Gordon MacMillan, thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pages: 320

Synopsis: Is true love just a few dates away … or even closer than you think?

Tom has always been a hopeless romantic: but now he’s just hopeless. After lockdown in particular made the millennial a reclusive introvert, it was finally time to get back ‘out there’ – at least according to his best friends Adam, Allison, Josh and sister Sarah.

As the group sets up ten miracle dates to rejuvenate Tom’s love life, he soon realises how difficult the dating scene has become, along with juggling his Shakespearean-themed café on the side and a hobby of romantic mixtape making.

As the dates continue to turn into disasters, an old flame keeps reappearing in Tom’s sight – along with bittersweet memories. Fearing it may be too little too late, Tom must decide whether he can date his way to happiness, or find his true match was under his nose the whole time…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this fun, easy read was exactly what I needed at the time. An escape from real life, but yet still relatable!

Dating under normal circumstances is hard enough but dating post pandemic knowing you choked when you had the chance to tell the love of your life how you felt is even worse so poor Tom is at a complete loss when his friends and twin sister turn up at his place to host a ‘dating intervention’

They have all found their one and feel like Tom is being left behind, they just want to help.. but in doing so they have to push him waaay out of his comfort zone!

A challenge is set for him by Adam, 10 blind dates (chosen by his friends) to hopefully reignite a spark in Tom and help him find happiness along the way, but if not they would just be happy for him to realise there is more to life than going to work and then sitting at home on your own.

There are laugh out loud moments that made me look crazy, moments where you were cheering him on and moments where all you could do was roll your eyes with your head in your hands.

There is a reveal near the end of this book that I didn’t see coming and honestly made me well up and want to just give Tom a big cuddle.

Thoroughly enjoyable read that I will be recommending to all my friends and has made me want to pick up Gordon’s previous book!

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for Coming Home to Mistletoe Cottage by Celia Anderson, thank you to Susanna at Harper Collins for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 384

Synopsis: Could a sprinkling of magic save Christmas this year?

Amid the salt marshes and rolling fields of Periwinkle Bay, Magda Conway is enjoying her retirement in ivy-clad Mistletoe Cottage.

Yet with three weeks to go until Christmas, as the fairy lights twinkle and the trees go up around the village, her peace is disrupted when she’s left in sole charge of her two mischievous grandchildren.

Before long, she’s at her wit’s end – but high on a kitchen shelf lies her mother’s handwritten recipe book. And as she turns to it for advice, she finds more than just recipes between its tattered covers: there’s a pinch of magic too, and maybe even a sprinkling of love

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: as far as Christmas stories go this one has everything. It was like a hug in a book, one that I didn’t want to let me go.

Magda is enjoying her retirement and looking forward to Christmas when her son tells her that he and his wife has been offered major roles in a broadway show and they need her to look after the children for a month… she tried her hardest to talk him out of it, but in the end she agreed.. there goes her nice relaxing plans 🤣

Although she knew it would be difficult she wasn’t expecting her grandson to blame her for their parents going away or her granddaughter to stop talking completely. She would normally turn to her best friend Fliss, but recent attempts to make contact have appeared fruitless..

It’s not until Magda finds her mums old recipe books on the shelf full of hints and tips and little notes that she starts to realise that this may be a way to pull everyone back together.

This was a bit of a difficult read for me in some ways, Magda is dealing with the recent death of her mum and coming to terms with all the changes as well as worrying about how to cope with the first Christmas without her, something I’m currently going through myself having lost my dad 3 months ago.. I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears whilst reading this.

Not only that there was also an MS diagnosis in this story too so although I was worried about how this would be dealt with I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised, I won’t give the character away, but they were still able to live a normal life but just with a few changes and having to learn their limits and accepting that it’s ok to need/ask for help sometimes.

Full of characters that will give you the warm and fuzzies and make you realise the true meaning of Christmas!

Throw in some baked goods, a four legged friend, a rather dashing gentleman and a community that pulls together when it matters and that you have is the perfect Christmas story.

Definitely recommend this one (in fact I’ve already passed it on to my grandads partner 😂)

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for Wild Shadow by Martha Dunlop, thank you to Zoé from 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: 318

Synopsis: Only Dylan can see the tiger. Is it real? His muse? Or something else entirely?

Dylan wants to launch a solo music career and move out of the flat he shares with his old school friends, but he feels trapped by his life in Wildley Forest Village. When a mysterious artist catches his eye and a white tiger starts appearing only to him, Dylan finally feels things changing. But is this apparition all in his imagination, or is something more magical happening?

Tabitha moved to Wildley Forest to paint the tigers at the zoo. A reclusive young artist with a big reputation, she protects her privacy fiercely. Nobody knows her biggest secret: When she paints, she astral projects and her awareness walks as a white tiger. People don’t usually see her tiger form, but then she encounters Dylan and her defences begin to crumble.

Dylan’s friends aren’t keen on the new girl and the tiger keeper at the zoo wants Tabitha’s attention for himself. But as the tiger walks, change becomes inevitable for everyone. Can Dylan and Tabitha find their way to love? And will the truth unite them or will it tear them apart?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this read was brilliant, not as romance heavy as I was expecting, I’d say the main focuses of this book were friendship and following your dreams.

Dylan has lived in Wildley Forest his whole life, he’s been in a band with his 2 best friends since high school and works in the local coffee shop. He wants more for himself, he wants a solo music career, but daren’t rock the boat and upset his friends, he feels like he owes it to them to stay.

Tabitha is a local artist who has a fascination with tigers so has moved to Wildley Forest so she can get closer to the tigers whilst she paints.

The two haven’t met yet and have no idea that when they do they will change each others life’s for good.

The writing was strangely addictive, it isn’t the most gripping of stories or the fastest pace but something in the writing style kept me turning the pages and wanting to know more I kept saying “just one more chapter” and before I knew it I’d finished the book 🤣

There were a whole host so different characters my favourites besides Dylan and Tabitha were definitely Linden, (trust me on this one) and Rachel!

I felt the disability representation in this story was perfect too, as a wheelchair user I didn’t find myself thinking “well that’s not how it is” I appreciated the author showing that disabled people can lead normal lives too.

The added element of astral projection gave me Charmed vibes and added an element of fun and magic.

This is definitely a book o would recommend & although this is my first venture into Martha’s work I can guarantee it won’t be my last!

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for 7 Parallels by Jessica Lorenzi Conti, 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: 272

Synopsis:

A TIME TRAVEL adventure through history and a multiverse
2121, the world in which the populations of the five continents evolve has become chaotic and unlivable. Since G20 countries leaders have been condemned for genocide, New Vision established a new world order in 2080 and masters time travel since 2105. One of its most brilliant members, Kazuhiko Ken has developed a blank page project, a rewrite from scratch of the world as we know it by choosing to annihilate from the history of humanity, some events which would have, if they had not existed, avoided humanity’s decline. Members of New Vision are therefore recruited across continents and eras to return to the past and annihilate Six distinct events in the history of humanity and ensure that Seven parallel worlds, six alternate realities are created.

A science fiction novel mixing history and adventure full of twists through space and time.

My Thoughts: the premise of this story was brilliant, the idea of being able to go back in time and create a parallel universe to try and make the world better is something I’m sure we all want deep down!

With appearances from big names throughout history like Stephen Hawking, Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln, this story was full of adventure and intrigue!

The writing style took a little bit of getting used to, it was repetitive and confusing in places, but once you get used to it you can see past it and enjoy the story.

Science fiction isn’t really a genre I reach for often because I can find the language and topic’s overwhelming.

Overall I enjoyed this story and loved the way the new visions team pulled together to try and achieve their goals.

🐧❤️

Today I’m on the tour for Inglestone Manor by S S Saywack, thank you to Zoé at Zooloos Book Toirs for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages: 219

Synopsis: It seems the war will never end. When Lizzy and her brother and sister are evacuated to the village of Inglestone, they find their new home strange. Under the shadow of the ruined Inglestone Manor, they meet Dorothy Inglestone, the last of her line, and the ever-watchful Mr and Mrs Gains.

When they are told of a treasure hidden in a ruin manor, they can’t resist trying to find it. In their hunt, they come across a strange boy roaming the ruins. Not only is he wanted by the police, but he is also wanted by the Gains.

Can the Allens keep a secret and not betray the boy? Before long, their loyalties will be tested.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this book was a whole lot of fun, I know that sounds weird to say with it being a book about 3 siblings having to be evacuated from their home and moved to a small village to live with a woman who has requested them by name.. a woman no one seems to know, not let me tell you, as a woman of nearly 32 and I am definitely not the target audience but I found myself unable to put it down!

Lizzy is a very protective older sister, although when she is thrown into the role of ‘mum’ she initially feels out of her depth, but very quickly finds her feet and helps the other two feel safe.

May or munch as she is affectionately known seems quiet as a mouse but definitely knows her own mind and doesn’t stop talking once you get to know her.

Charlie, is just your typical little boy, always wants to explore and be on the move, so when they find out from Mrs Inglestone that there is an abandoned Manor with hidden treasure the 3 of them can’t help but try and find it.

They soon learn that the housekeeper and the groundsman Mr and Mrs Gains know more than they let on and are full of their own secrets. They’re definitely not a pair to be trusted…

Along with the help of a little boy who they find amongst the ruins of Inglestone Manor can they help Mrs Inglestone find out what really happened to her fathers diamonds before it’s too late?

Parts of this book were a lot darker than I would expect from a children’s book so I would say it is aimed towards the older children, but I would 100% recommend this one, especially at this time of year!

🐧❤️