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Today is my stop on the Book Tour for Instincts by Catherine Haworth, 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: 244

Synopsis: They say the devil’s in the details… And I say, I most certainly am.

After a near miss with a serial killer on a night out with her best friend Holly, Fae Wright found herself with a starring role in Holly’s subsequent bestselling memoir.

Now Fae has been unexpectedly hired by the Metropolitan Police to help solve the unsolvable. A string of murders across England are linked but what is the common thread?

With bodies piling up and constantly more questions than answers, Fae strives to connect the dots. Holly wrote all about Fae’s psychic instincts, so maybe she really does have the best chance of catching the killer.

But someone is watching Fae very closely, and there may be more to this than Fae could ever have imagined…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: This was a fairly fast paced read, one that gave you just enough information to follow the story easily but not enough to work out who the culprit was! – not only that but it hinted towards it being plenty of others, lots of red herrings in this one and all were equally plausible!

We’re following Fae who is a psychology graduate, but is better known for getting a ‘feeling’ one night and saving her best friend from being murdered!

Because of this success she is drafted in by her local police force to help them solve a string of murders, the only problem is that no one really seems to be happy that she’s there and honestly she’d rather be anywhere else BUT it has her intrigued so she stays & it soon becomes clear that she is thinking the opposite to her peers, they all think it’s a male behind the attacks where as for some reason she is convinced it’s female, and with the victims stacking up can she convince them of that before it’s too late?

Just as she feels she’s getting somewhere the killer throws a spanner into the works and makes it personal, now she really feels that everything is on the line!

I loved this so much it had everything I loved in a thriller and more, I would highly recommend everyone picks this one up!

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Today I’m on the book tour for Dirty Little Secret by Jonathan Peace, 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: 305

Synopsis: Ossett, West Yorkshire. March, 1987.

A town of flower shows, Maypole parades and Sunday football games. But behind all the closed doors and drawn curtains are hidden truths and shameful lies.

Discovering the body of a young girl dumped into a phone box at a local beauty spot, WDC Louise Miller’s first case as detective in her hometown is made harder by the sexism and misogyny of small-town policing. But her four years on the force in Manchester have prepared her for this and along with ally WPC Elizabeth Hines, the pair work the case together.

As their inquiries uncover the town’s hidden secrets, psychologist Karla Hayes offers insights into the troubled psychological problems of the victim, revealing dark truths that could lead to the identity of the killer.

But when a second girl goes missing, Louise realises that some secrets should stay hidden.

Including hers.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: a crime novel with a strong female lead is my favourite type of crime novel, and as far as female leads go Louise Miller is a strong contender for being one of my favourites EVER, she’s comfortable enough in her role to stand up for herself when her male colleagues start to try and assert their dominance and I was definitely here for that!

As far as the crime itself, it was eerie, creepy, something of nightmares but something that you could also see happening in real life which is also a very scary thought!

Louise is enjoying a weekend off before starting her new job on the Monday, unfortunately things don’t quite go to plan because she finds the body of a young girl in a phone box!

What follows is intense fast paced and honestly just doesn’t stop, you’re left feeling like you just don’t know who to trust and like you can’t even trust the people who are supposed to protect you!

Another girl goes missing, Louise is convinced their linked, how can they not be? but all of her colleagues are telling her she’s looking too much into it! – can she convince them she’s right before they have another death on their hands?

I read this so quickly that I was a little disappointed when it was over but I am so, so excited for the next instalment in the series!

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Today I’m on the blog tour for Catch Your Breath by Ed Patrick, 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: 288

Synopsis: A gut punch of a memoir by a doctor – and comedian – whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep.

Ed Patrick is an anaesthetist.

Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him. But it’s not just sleep-giving for this anaesthetist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It’s enough to leave anyone feeling numb.

But don’t worry, there’s plenty of laughing gas to be had.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I have SO MANY feelings about this book!

Long story short, I loved it, so much so that if it could give it more than 5 stars I would!

It made me cry more than once, but there were several moments where it made me laugh, like actually laugh out loud whilst reading (luckily I was on my own so no one thought I was crazy)

It gave me a real insight to behind the scenes in a hospital, a place where I’ve spent a lot of time in my life with having cerebral palsy and Multiple Sclerosis, it gave me new found respect for NHS staff at all levels, we are very lucky to have such a fantastic health care system in the UK!

The last few chapters were a hard read, they were all about Covid-19 and it reminded me how difficult the last 18 months have been and really brought home that we’re still living it, we’re not at the end yet!

Thank you Ed for writing this book, being so honest, but also trying to put a lighthearted spin on it to make it accessible to everyone!

Also… nothing to do with the book or my review, but my phone autocorrected Patrick to Patrice EVERY SINGLE TIME 😂 I’m so used to it being the other way around!

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Today I’m on the blog tour for In The Silence Long Forgotten Almond Trees Blossom by David B P Mayne, 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: 425

Synopsis:

The 1980s. Jack, a geologist in Libya is rescued from jail by Bushra, daughter of wealthy Greek/Libyan parents. Their ten-year affair is fraught with difficulties, her political activism, his loveless marriage. They have twins, born in Athens and separated at birth against their parents’ will; Stavros is taken to Benghazi by Bushra’s parents, Emma to London with Jack.

The 2020s. After Russia sweeps through the Balkans, Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, the UN creates two mandates in Libya; Cyrenaica in the east governed by the Russians, Tripolitania and Fezzan in the west led by the European Defence Alliance (EDA). Tensions in the region are further compounded by an increasingly unstable climate and overwhelming refugee crisis.

2031. Emma’s daughter Isabel joins EDA. After surviving a life-threatening incident on the border, she is forcibly taken into Cyrenaica. Bushra, barely existing in occupied Greece, unexpectedly contacts Jack, who struggles to come to terms with their past. They are shocked to hear from Stavros, long-thought dead, who leads the resistance against the Russians in Cyrenaica and is responsible for Isabel’s abduction.

The effects of history bind family members together as they and Cyrenaica move towards a new future in this thought provoking-novel of love, tragedy and reconciliation.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: let me tell you, when I signed up to this blog tour I wasn’t expecting to love this book, it seemed out of my comfort zone but the synopsis intrigued me and I though the cover was stunning, so I just thought why not, y’know?

I did find some parts very information heavy and a little difficult to understand and sort of glossed over those bits if I’m honest.

But wow this book just came out of nowhere and stole my heart. I loved Jack so much, I admired him for stepping up in a situation where a lot of other men would have walked away!

Bushra was a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it despite what other people thought, she was determined to make it happen and make it work , some of the things she goes through I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy BUT she never let it get to her and always made the best out of a bad situation.

Emma and Isabel were very strong characters in their own right, I did feel that Emma’s role was a small one compared to others but it was an important one, she was kind of the glue that held everyone together! Whereas Isabels role was a big one, arguably the biggest, she took the most risks even putting her life on the line on more than one occasion!

There were so many more characters, too many for me to mention, the story didn’t go the way I expected it to at all, it was heartwarming, heartbreaking, full of secrets that were left to discover and went in directions that I never thought it would!

I know my review hasn’t done it justice at all, but please give it a go, I promise you’ll love it!

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Wolf Tones by JJ Marsh, 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: 238

Synopsis: You escaped the past. Here comes the present.

Fifteen years ago, Rolf was destined for the gutter.

His luck has changed. Now a cellist with the Salzburg City Orchestra, he has his dream job and dizzying prospects.

All because of her.

Smart, sexy, well connected and crazy about him, Leonor is his fantasy woman. She made him and he’ll never forget it.

Neither will she.

She chooses Rolf’s diet, his friends, his decisions and career path. She knows best. When does a champion turn controller?

While he submits to domination at home, he struggles at work. The maestro is determined to break down and rebuild his new cellist. Clash after clash shatter Rolf’s confidence until he doubts everything about himself.

Then a rumour reaches his ear. Has he misjudged his new friends? Is something more sinister pulling the orchestra’s strings?

Regardless of the drama behind the scenes, the show must go on. It’s the only way to escape his past.

A classic artist, Rolf presents the best side of himself, hiding the pain of imperfection. A strategy with devastating results.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: firstly, can I just say how absolutely stunning this cover is, it’s so simple but yet so striking! It drew me in straight away!

This story is a slow burner, but it works perfectly, it means you don’t realise what’s going on and the control that certain characters have until it’s too late and you’re totally invested, you can see it all unfolding but you’re powerless to do anything about it!

It’s creepy, but exciting!

There’s domestic abuse, more metal than physical, coercion, control and gaslighting and that’s all from one character!

Poor Rolf just doesn’t see what’s going on despite everyone (all his friends) telling him and trying their hardest to open his eyes!

I loved the chemistry that Rolf had with a certain character that wasn’t his girlfriend, it was intimate and sexy as well as loving and caring, I definitely wanted things to work out for them.

Leonor was clever, sneaky and just always seemed to get her way, she seemed to be able to wrap everyone around her little finger. But if things didn’t go her way boy did she have a temper!

I would definitely recommend this story to all fans of a psychological thriller where nothing is as it seems on the surface.

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TODAY WE’RE CELEBRATING THE PUBLICATION DAY OF THE YOUNGLINGS BY HELENA M. CRAGGS!

Synopsis: Humans have no idea what lurks in the shadows.

Mortals don’t expect to see supernaturals. Their minds rarely consider the possibility, even when it’s staring them right in the face. I was one such person … until I met my estranged father.

Let me introduce myself. The name is Carter. Quinn Carter. A witty, laid-back, regular guy, who just happens to be half-demon.

Finding out Dad is a demon king was like a sucker punch to the gut. Seriously, I’m a total biological freak. Meeting him was the catalyst for my life tail-spinning into a new world—a world where things of legend are real.

The one positive about this whole situation is the friends I have made. Good friends. But they too have secrets … big secrets. They’re not exactly your average individuals. Turns out demons aren’t the only paranormal creatures out there.

I also need to mention a Vampire Ministry, evil stab-worthy demons, and troubled spirits stranded on the spectral plane. As a consequence, life for my friends and me became a tad problematic.

Being heroes in the mortal realm hadn’t been on anybody’s to-do list, but we had no choice in the matter, and things were about to get very interesting.

About the Author: I live with my husband, son, two cats, chickens and three dogs in the beautiful hills of Yorkshire. I love crystals, Reiki and angels. I’m a little bit obsessed with witchcraft too, but please don’t tell anybody.

I’ve always been an avid reader. There’s nothing better than snuggling down with a good book and visiting faraway lands. Of everything I read, and I read a lot, I have a weakness for the freedom that fantasy offers.

The Younglings—Shadows & Magic is my first published book, and it is the result of a promise I made to my sister before she passed: to publish one of my manuscripts. And here we are. I hope you love Quinn and the team as much as I have loved writing about them.

I CANNOT WAOT TO BE PART OF THE BOOK TOUR THIS MONTH! LOOK OUT FOR MY REVIEW ON THR 24TH

If you like the sound of this it can be bought here…. https://amzn.to/3hg0q3O

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Today I’m on the blog tour for The Trapped Wife by Samantha Hayes, Thank you to Sarah at Bookouture for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy.

Pages : 354

Synopsis:I thought I had it all. The perfect job. The perfect house. The perfect family. But everything changed the night my husband disappeared…

I can’t remember what happened that night in the hotel, and now you’re here and I can’t escape.

If I don’t smile, pour your drinks, laugh at your jokes, pretend you’re the only man in our lives, you say you will tell everyone the truth about what happened the night before my husband disappeared; that you will destroy my family.

So I play my part, dance to your tune, bide my time as I quietly put together the pieces of what really happened that night.

Because just when you think you are safe, that you have got everything you ever wanted from me and my precious family, you will finally see.

I am so much more than the perfect wife I seem…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: as far as thrillers go this one kept me guessing all the way through, I didn’t see the conclusion coming at all!

we’re following Jen, who is a grieving widow raising a teenage son, right away I got the feeling there was more to her husbands death than the story that had been out there, where was the body?

Jen soon found herself in a predicament, that was not planned and started causing flashbacks to a conference she attended with work shortly before her husbands death, could there be more to it than what she remembered?!

There were a lot of unsettling scenes in the story towards the end which made me feel uncomfortable but in the best way possible, this book is definitely not for the fainthearted.

A whole bunch of characters, some that are unsettling and others that are not afraid to make themselves heard!

A brilliant psychological thriller that was quite difficult to put down!

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Today I’m on the book tour for The Unknown Man by Natalie Hanson, thank you to Kelly at Love Books TOurs for organising and inviting me to take part.

I have a spotlight for you today where I tell you a little about the book and the author! – but first can we just appreciate the beauty of this cover!

Synopsis: The imbalance between matter and antimatter allowed the big bang to produce the entire universe. Born with a physical abnormality, imbalance is something Zalla Bennbett understands. Her ability to sense out lies gives her an advantage on FBI investigations, but her jaded spirit puts her at odds with most everyone she encounters. The agent’s marriage and career are on the rocks.

Zalla is assigned to work the kidnapping of an FBI informant’s young twins. With no evidence or leads, her suspect is deemed ‘The Unknown Man’. What she discovers makes her question her purpose in the universe. She’ll have to fight against her instincts to find the girls before the kidnapping turns into murder.

About the Author: Natalie Hanson is an author and screenplay writer born and raised in Seattle, WA.

‘The Unknown Man’ is the first of five novels chronicling the hunt for serial killers and criminals by FBI agent Zalla Bennbett. This dark series examines the worst criminals humanity has to offer through the eyes of a jaded agent, struggling to keep optimism alive and fight for the voiceless.

Book two in the series, ‘The Butcher’, is an upcoming release.

Her novel ‘Every Moment and Not a Second More’ was published on Amazon in 2018.

Currently she is also working on a horror genre comic series based on her screenplay “Dociles.” It tells the story of a teen runaway, kidnapped by a medical examiner who turns the dead into zombies. It’s a fight to not end up as one of the herd!

If the wound or this book intrigues you as much as it does me it can be bought here.

https://amzn.to/3dodT7V

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Today I’m on the book tour for Hope in Liverpool by T N Traynor, thank you to Kelly at Love Books Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author and the publisher for my copy

Pages: 260

Synopsis: A gritty romantic novella ~ where life isn’t always a bed of roses.
Can an alliance of convenience heal two broken hearts?
Liverpool, 1958. Hope Bennett longs to feel safe and wanted. Loyal to an alcoholic mother who gambles away all her hard-earned wages, she’s devastated by the announcement her family is moving and she’s not to follow. But her despondent plan to fling herself off the ferry and succumb to the freezing River Mersey is interrupted by a handsome older man.

John Walker expects to live out the rest of his days drowning in grief, isolated and lonely after the loss of his childhood sweetheart. When he spots a young woman in distress he is immediately drawn to help her.

Can the fragile dream of a better life out of the slums provide the security and companionship they both crave?

Hope in Liverpool is a deeply emotional foray into historical women’s fiction. If you like compellingly complex characters, light humor woven through heart-wrenching drama, and gripping romantic overtones, then you’ll adore T N Traynor’s poignant story.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: This wasn’t a book full of romance and flowers, for quite a short book it was quite a difficult read in places!

Hope is the second youngest child of 4, she had an older brother, an older sister and a younger sister, but with an alcoholic mother who isn’t always around she may as well be the parent of the youngest! – life isn’t easy, but they make it work, she goes to work hut then most of her wages get taken by her mum to fund the lifestyle she’s used to!

Things happen which leave hope on her own and contemplating suicide, along comes John and gets her off the edge and offers her an arrangement that she can’t refuse!

Will it be what they expect? or will one or both of them be left wanting more?

This was such a story, one that was so easy to get lost in, I devoured it in one sitting and it’s left me what if to pickup the rest of the women of courage series!

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Today I’m on the book tour for discerning Grace by Emma Lombard! – thank you to Kelly at Love Books Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part! I have a spotlight for you today where I tell you all about the book and the author and leave links for you so you can go out and buy it!

Synopsis: As the first full-length novel in The White Sails Series, DISCERNING GRACE captures the spirit of an independent woman whose feminine lens blows the ordered patriarchal decks of a 19th century tall ship to smithereens.

Wilful Grace Baxter, will not marry old Lord Silverton with his salivary incontinence and dead-mouse stink. Discovering she is a pawn in an arrangement between slobbery Silverton and her calculating father, Grace is devastated when Silverton reveals his true callous nature.
Refusing this fate, Grace resolves to stow away. Heading to the docks, disguised as a lad to ease her escape, she encounters smooth-talking naval recruiter, Gilly, who lures her aboard HMS Discerning with promises of freedom and exploration in South America.

When Grace’s big mouth lands her bare-bottomed over a cannon for insubordination, her identity is exposed. The captain wants her back in London but his orders, to chart the icy archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, forbid it. Lieutenant Seamus Fitzwilliam gallantly offers to take Grace off the fretting captain’s hands by placing her under his protection.

Grace must now win over the crew she betrayed with her secret, while managing her feelings towards her taciturn protector, whose obstinate chivalry stifles her new-found independence. But when Grace disregards Lieutenant Fitzwilliam’s warnings about the dangers of the unexplored archipelago, it costs a friend his life and she realises she is not as free as she believes.
DISCERNING GRACE is historical women’s fiction that will appeal to fans of Claire Fraser from Outlander and Demelza Poldark from Poldark—in other words, fans of feisty historical

About the author: Emma Lombard was born in Pontefract in the UK. She grew up in Africa—calling Zimbabwe and South Africa home for a few years—before finally settling in Brisbane Australia, and raising four boys. Before she started writing historical fiction, she was a freelance editor in the corporate world, which was definitely not half as exciting as writing rollicking romantic adventures. Her characters are fearless seafarers, even though in real life Emma gets disastrously sea sick. DISCERNING GRACE, is the first book in The White Sails Series.

If you like the sound of the book you can buy it here: https://books2read.com/discerning-grace – simply choose your store and you’re good to go!

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