prdgreads

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Dreamer by Loretta Kendall, thank you to the ladies 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: 230

Synopsis: Luna suffers from an undiagnosed illness causing hallucinations and blackouts that have plagued her for years. The root of her bazaar illness comes to light when she meets her pro-wrestling hero, Gunner Cain, and his wrestling faction friends, The Tribe. Luna discovers her romantic connection to Gunner isn’t just a fangirl crush, he is her eternal soulmate.

Gunner wants Luna to become his Alpha dreamer mate, for as part of a prophecy written in the Lycan Oracle, Luna must choose to bond to the Alpha of the Tribe, or all will be stuck in wolf form, forgetting their humanity forever. Luna learns the steps they must take to complete the bonding ritual could also end a centuries-old curse, saving lone wolves abandoned by their packs and plagued with the dreaded Lycan fever. Gunner’s connection to Luna is more than prophecy fulfilled; it is hope for Lycan kind in this steamy shifter tale of prophecy and romanc

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: I’m going to be completely honest, I didn’t read the synopsis for this book before agreeing to the tour, I did what we always say not to do and totally judged the book by its cover. It drew me in straight away and I just knew it would be something I’d enjoy.

That being said, it meant I was completely oblivious to the whole Lycan aspect to it, luckily for me I love anything fantasy, urban fantasy’s being one of my favourite genres! – this gave me vibes of the mortal instruments, which just so happens to be my favourite series of all time so I was totally here for it.

What I did expect from the cover was a lot of smut and steamy scenes & once this got going there was plenty of that! – I appreciated that there was more of a story line too it though rather than it just being about sex.

I was totally invested in the characters, although I have to say some of the side characters were my favourites!

The story starts as a slow burn, but once the action starts it just DOES NOT STOP. I read this book in one sitting in just a few hours because I just couldn’t put it down.

I highly recommend you pick this up, whilst I’ll be say here secretly hoping there will be a sequel at some point, I need more of the tribe!

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Winters Fail by Sara Madderson, thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 303

Synopsis: It’s all a huge mess. Emmy is back from years of aid work in India when she gets knocked up by her boss. She fleas to her sister Rosa in Surrey and there she meets Jack, who offers her a dream job and a taste of happiness. But there’s one major problem: how to tell him she’s pregnant? Rosa is a mega-influencer obsessed by portraying the perfect image to millions of followers. For her, perception is reality. So when someone close to her sabotages the brand she’s worked so hard to build, can she find anything in her real life worth fighting for? Stacey has walked away from the perfect guy after four kids and fourteen years of marriage. She’s intent on making up for lost time in the dating world, before some bad news shocks her into reassessing what she wants from life. Is it possible she’s got it all upside-down? The Winter’s Fail is the story of three women navigating love, friendship and careers with all the highs and headaches they bring. Enjoy being reunited with some of your favourite characters from Sara’s previous books too: Evelyn, Angus, Astrid and others!

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this isn’t my first dive into Sara’s work, I read and loved Parents and Teachers last year so I had very high hopes for this one… it did not disappoint!!

We’re following Emmy, who has been having an affair with her boss, it’s recently come out that he has been doing the same with a lot of young girls within the company, the problem is, it wasn’t always consensual with the others, and just to throw an extra spanner into the works she’s just discovered she’s pregnant!

At a complete loss at what to do Emmy escapes to her sisters, where she finds a rather good looking new guy, a new job and somewhere new to live meaning she can leave her old live behind, everything’s perfect right?

Emmys sister Rosa is what is known these days as a social media influencer, she had lots of followers and some rather lucrative sponsors, but she also has a family that seems to have fallen on to the back burner, ok for the husband who has his own career and stuff to focus on and ok for the 4 year old who doesn’t really know any different, but the teenager who feels like she’s been left behind is determined to do something about it.

Throw in a bunch of other characters all with their own issues and stuff then what you have is a book that is laugh out loud funny in some parts but utterly heart breaking in others, the story really gripped me and I can’t wait to see what Sara comes up with next!

Although what I can say is that whatever it may be I will be here for it!

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Two Fathers by Keith Dixon, thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 334

Synopsis: Why does Jessica Hastings come home late several times a week?

Her husband asks Private Investigator Sam Dyke this simple question. Dyke doesn’t want the case: he doesn’t do divorce work … but Brian Hastings doesn’t want a divorce, he wants an explanation.

When Sam finds out what Jessica is doing, it opens up more questions. And when Brian Hastings goes missing, they’re questions he feels compelled to answer.

At the centre of the mystery is a man who most people in Manchester don’t know—Larry Stone. But those who do know him, know that far from being the simple florist he seems to be, he’s actually the biggest crook in town. He’s powerful, he’s dangerous, and he’s currently working a deal with a Dutchman who’s even worse.

And Sam is now caught in Stone’s sights as he works to find Brian Hastings, to solve a couple of murders, and to prevent Stone corrupting even more members of his own family than he already has.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧.5

My Thoughts: Sam is a private investigator, and one night he is approached by Brian Hastings, his wife Jessica is home late a lot, or out in the middle of the night with seemingly no explanation and he wants to know why. He’s run out of options so has decided to reach for professional help!

Sam is reluctant to take on the case, Divorce matters aren’t his usual thing, but when Brian assures him he’s not after evidence to file for divorce, he’s just worried because his wife has history with someone who is well known in the crime circuit! – so Sam offers to do a little digging.

What he uncovers is not at all what he expected, and seemingly quite small, but then everything gets turned on its head when his client goes missing!

Can Sam solve the case before it’s too late?

The story had a lot of layers and just when you think you’ve got to the bottom of it and worked it out, something else happens to keep you on your toes!

I did work out the conclusion before the big reveal which left me a little deflated, but the build up to it was so good!

I did feel that parts of the story were a little long winded, but that’s more personal choice I like my crime novels to have short snappy chapters!

This is book 11 in the Sam Dyke series, but my first dive into them, it’s definitely left me intrigued enough to pick up the previous novels at some point in the future.

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Today is my stop on the blogtour for sandman by Anna Legat, thank you to Emma at damp pebbles for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages:272

Synopsis: Oscar is taking Tommy fishing – that’s what his grandad would’ve done had he not been killed in the Falklands war. Oscar owes it to Sergeant Butler to take care of his family.
Pippa and Harry are looking forward to being reunited with their son Will. Soon after they were forced out of their farm in Zimbabwe they lost touch with Will. But he’s coming to Bath to see them.
Andrzej is driving the 19:15 train to Bath Spa. It’s his last shift before he returns to his wife and daughter in Poland. He promised them.
Heading to a stag party, DI Marsh’s future son-in-law Charlie and his friends are on that train, as are many other commuters. Amongst them, Haji. Unlike the others, he has lost everybody and everything he ever cared for. He has no plans beyond this train journey.

Will DI Marsh be a match for a seasoned terrorist who has nothing to lose?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this is a book with many layers and many characters, who all at the beginning seem to be irrelevant to each other, for at least the first half of the story maybe a little more I was left feeling like I was reading 2 different stories, both equally as gripping, but there is one pivotal event in the book that links them all seamlessly and then suddenly everything that’s happened just falls into place and makes sense!

It’s a story of terrorism and the fact that it does exist in the UK, just maybe not in the way that you would imagine or expect.

Parts of this story were hard to read, gruesome, bloody and very graphic, but then parts were also lighthearted and happy – I found myself feeling very different ways about all the characters, but wether it was, hatred, love or adoration for the way they acted I found myself caring about what would happen to every single one of them by the end!

A truly gripping police procedural that I devoured in one sitting!

I later discovered that this was the 4th instalment of the series & will be finding time to pick the others up in the future but it works fabulously as a standalone!

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Mother by Laura Jarratt, thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author for my copy

Pages: 352

Synopsis: Two Girls. One Chance.

When Lizzie’s car crashes with her two daughters inside, she faces a terrible choice. And when she recovers from her injuries, she has to deal with the impact of that tragedy as well as the police investigation into it.

As Lizzie and her family struggle to come to terms with the events of that night, things take an even darker turn. Just what did happen on that remote country road? Who is responsible? And can the family get through this together…Or will the truth finally tear them apart?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: Laura’s writing drew me in instantly, it had a way of making you feel like you were there within the story! – when the car crash happened I found myself gripping the arm of the sofa, as if that would save me? 😂

When the car went under the water & Lizzie was struggling to firstly get herself out and then the daughter that she chose, I found myself holding my breath too, it’s crazy when a book effects you physically in that way, but it left me invested in the story.

I loved the fact that the truth about which daughter was saved was kept from us at first, it left me looking for any little clue that the author may have left us and following them like a trail, I have to be honest though I was completely wrong!

As well as having to deal with the fact that she essentially left one of her daughters to die, Lizzie then gets accused of falling asleep at the wheel and causing the accident and although she had no memory of what happened she is 100% sure that that didn’t happen, right?

The rest of the story is the family coming to terms with the loss of a daughter and a sister and the guilt they’re all feeling because of it, all of them in their own way, as well as the police trying to work out what really happened that night.

A thriller with a story that wasn’t obvious in any way and constantly had you thinking about who you could trust.

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Fractured Globe by Angela Fish, thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 281

Synopsis: Nature? Nurture? Or just plain luck?

Single mums, Tia and Kay, meet when their sons are born on the same day.

Tia is a product of the welfare system but wants a better life for her son. Her entrapment by her manipulative and controlling boyfriend in the world of drink, drugs, crime and enforced prostitution suggests otherwise. Is she a ‘born devil’ or can she change and break free?

Kay comes from a stable home but sacrifices it all, initially, to live her own kind of life.

Overshadowed by betrayals, mistakes, regrets, and the mystery of an abandoned child, their paths – and those of their families – run parallel or criss-cross over twenty-five years.

Can determination and the power of the snow globe offer a chance of happiness?

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this story hit me on a whole new emotional level, my mum was very into drugs when is children were small, luckily my dad stepped in when my mum admitted she needed help, but parts of this book had me thinking what if he didn’t? would put lives have been like this?

We follow Tia and Kay, who have babies on the same day, seemingly under very similar circumstances, both single mums, both with no job and no money, with Tia being a little younger and having had no experience with babies Kay takes her under her wing, until she leaves the hospital and assumes that is that.

Until Tia turns up on her doorstep with her baby in her arms telling her she’s run away from the hospital and needs help!

The story follows both women for many years and we learn what becomes of them and the babies.

The story is told in 2 parts, one happy and uplifting and the other one harrowing and absolutely heartbreaking, there were times where I felt I needed to put the book down and gather my thoughts before continuing, but as a reader I felt it was important for me to finish the story & I’m so glad I did.

It will definitely stay with me for a long, long time.

Not for the faint hearted and you will probably need tissues at more than one point in the book, but I definitely think it’s worth giving it a go.

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Islanders by S.V. Leonard, thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 246

Synopsis: Her dream escape is about to become a nightmare…
Kimberley King has spent the last five years trying to outrun the reason she left the police force. Her life is a mess and she’s desperate for change. So when she is randomly selected for the new series of the hit show LoveWrecked, she can’t pass up the chance to win the £100,000 prize. All Kimberley needs to do is couple up with one of her fellow contestants, win the infamous LoveWrecked challenges, and she will have enough cash for a fresh start.

But the island isn’t the paradise she was promised and within hours, one of the contestants is dead. Then the announcement comes: one of the islanders is a murderer and Kimberley must find out who, live on television. For every hour it takes her, one more person will die.

The game is rigged, everyone is hiding secrets, and time is running out…

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this book is like a fictional Love Island, but unlike the programme which I can’t stand this book had me hooked!

Kimberley left the police force for reasons that as yet are unknown to us, she’s just been fired from a job that she didn’t really like he actually really needed, and the bills are starting to stack up!

She’s approached by a stranger and asked if she wants to appear in LoveWrecked, one of her favourite tv shows that is returning for the first time in years! – she’s dubious, there are secrets in her past that she doesn’t want people finding out, but when she finds out there is a £100,000 prize for the winner she realises that it’s an opportunity that she just can’t afford to pass up!

Very quickly we learn that this isn’t the escape that it’s made out to be, people are dying with no apparent reason & then appears the judge!

I could not put this book down, it’s shorter than your average thriller but in all honesty that added to the fast pace of it! – I don’t want to say too much and give the story away but all I can say is DO NOT TRUST ANYONE!

One of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while, definitely own you all need to add to your shelves!

Thank me later 😉

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for How to Save your Own Life by Erica Jong and I’m coming out with an excerpt of the book! – thank you to Agora Books for organising it and inviting me to take part.

Before I show you the excerpt, let me tell you a little about the book!

Synopsis: Three years after the events of Fear of Flying, we catch up with Isadora Wing.
With two marriages and a bestseller in her wake, Isadora finds herself in sunny California and the
hedonistic Hollywood.
From grief and betrayal to jealousy and trust, Jong explores the ways in which a marriage unravels. In the end, Isadora must learn to save herself.

About The Author: Erica Jong is an American writer famously known for her debut novel, Fear of Flying. Published in 1973, it revolutionised conventional beliefs about women, marriage, and sexuality. Erica created an outlet for every woman’s inner voice, and her frank discussions of sex and sexuality has made her one of the the world’s most iconic writers. With her work being published in 45 languages worldwide, Erica Jong is a hero to millions. Since beginning with Fear of Flying, Erica has published over 25 books spanning fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Excerpt:

How to Save Your Own Life
The Wit & Wisdom of Isadora Wing
(Amanuensis to the Zeitgeist)
“Have Pen, will travel”

1. Renounce useless guilt.
2. Don’t make a cult of suffering.
3. Live in the Now (or at least the Soon).
4. Always do the things you fear the most; courage is an acquired taste, like caviar.
5. Trust all joy.
6. If the evil eye fixes you in its gaze, look elsewhere.
7. Get ready to be eighty-seven

If you like the sound of this you can buy yourself a copy here!

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for In a Deep Dark Wood by Tina Pritchard, thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for organising it and inviting me to take part & thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pages:320

Synopsis: What she saw in the wood would change her life forever.

Walking in the wood one day, Fran witnesses the horrifying murder of local teen, Tyler. She tells the police exactly what she saw, but their investigation doesn’t seem to make much headway.

Fran tries to settle back into a normal life, but is tormented by guilt – was there something she could have done to save the boy? Fran can’t let it go and finds herself drawn to Tyler’s grieving mother, Mel, both finding some strange connection through this shared trauma.

Then someone launches a terrifying campaign of intimidation against Fran and her husband, Laurie. Could it be the killers? Are they letting her know she had better be careful what she says? Who she sees? And why is Mel acting so strangely? Does she know more about her son’s death than she is saying?

Fran can’t help herself – she needs to know the truth. But when she begins to dig, she uncovers the terrible secret of the deep, dark wood – a secret that will change her life forever.

My rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My thoughts: this is a debut psychological thriller, and it’s definitely thrilling, it had me turning the pages (theoretically of course, it was a digital copy) quicker than I could read the words 😂 but it quite honestly didn’t feel like a debut novel, I couldn’t find fault in the writing style at all, not that I was looking., but you know what I mean.

Poor Fran witnesses a young teenager being murdered right before her eyes, but it gets worse when one of the culprits spots her watching & gets a good look at her! – he won’t leave it at that will he, he’ll have to come back for her surely? – she was only taking the dog for a walk and now wishes she had never left the house!

after the young lad is identified, Fran finds herself interwoven in the life of his mum and dragged into a situation that she never saw coming.

Full of characters that stay with you for a long time, even after you’ve put the book down and events that aren’t easily forgotten, this one is a book that isn’t for the faint of heart.

I can’t recommend it enough 😍

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Seven Days by Michelle Kidd, thank you to Emma at Damp Pebbles for organising it and inviting me to take part and thank you to the author for my copy.

Pages: 545

Synopsis:One killer. One city. One week.

July 2012 and a serial killer is terrorising the streets of London. With the Opening Ceremony of the London Olympic Games in just seven days time, Detective Inspector Jack MacIntosh and his team at the Metropolitan Police have one week to find him. With the killer’s motives unknown, and a mysterious clue being left at each scene, the case takes on a menacing and personal twist.
Distracted by his own demons, will DI Jack MacIntosh solve the case before it is too late?
The clock is ticking.
Tick.
Tock.

My Rating: 🐧🐧🐧🐧

My Thoughts: this is the second book in the DI Jack MacIntosh series, although I didn’t realise that when I picked it up so I can attest to the fact that it would work brilliantly as a standalone!

It’s 2012 and the Olympics opening ceremony will be happening in just 7 days so there couldn’t possibly be a worst time for a dead body to be found! Poor Jack is given just a few days to solve it before the opening ceremony!

Just as the case is getting underway another body is found. the only thing linking them is a shoe found at the crime scene of the first body!

Before they know it the bodies are building up, they have no leads, nor even the smallest inclination as to who is committing the crimes and the motive behind them, feeling the pressure Jack starts losing his way! So in steps DS Carmichael, but the truth is no one knows where he came from and every time he’s needed he’s off doing his own thing, is he hiding something?

This book was tense and thrilling, one where you never know where it’s going to go next! – there weren’t too many characters to keep track of and we soon learn that they’re all linked somehow! – for a long book it was a page turner that I really struggled to put down at times.

It was action packed and the characters were relatable and loveable, this is definitely one I would recommend to fans of a police procedural and I can’t wait to see what the next instalment holds.

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