Category: reviews

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Bound – Vanda Symon*

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Read my review of Containment

The passionate, young police officer Sam Shephard returns in a taut, atmospheric and compelling police procedural, which sees her take matters into her own hands when the official investigation into the murder of a local businessman fails to add up…

The New Zealand city of Dunedin is rocked when a wealthy and apparently respectable businessman is murdered in his luxurious home while his wife is bound and gagged, and forced to watch. But when Detective Sam Shephard and her team start investigating the case, they discover that the victim had links with some dubious characters.

The case seems cut and dried, but Sam has other ideas. Weighed down by her dad’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and by complications in her relationship with Paul, she needs a distraction, and launches her own investigation. And when another murder throws the official case into chaos, it’s up to Sam to prove that the killer is someone no one could ever suspect.

Vanda Symon is a crime writer, TV presenter and radio host from Dunedin, New Zealand, and the chair of the Otago Southland branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors.

The Sam Shephard series has climbed to number one on the New Zealand bestseller list, and has also been shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel and for the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger.

She currently lives in Dunedin, with her husband and two sons.

My thoughts:

This was a very clever and highly enjoyable read but I expected nothing less. The Sam Shepherd series has been one I’ve really liked reading, and Bound is the next chapter in a truly excellent series.

Sam is a great protagonist, with strong instincts and a determination to get justice – even if it puts her at loggerheads with her boss and colleagues. There’s more development of her personal life too – her growing relationship with Paul, and the struggles with her family. This makes her more interesting and realistic.

The plot brings the police into conflict with two rather nasty criminals, ones readers of the series may recognise, and throws up complications for the case. As straightforward as it looks, there’s something else going on.


*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Best is Yet to Come – Katy Colins*

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Sometimes it’s the things we don’t say that we need others to hear the loudest . . .

Izzy has always taken everything in her stride but motherhood is proving more difficult than she thought. She keeps telling herself it’s just a phase but the dark clouds are starting to appear.

Neighbour and widower Arthur might be in the winter of his life but he’s not ready to be packed off to a care home. He’s determined to do things his way.

When Izzy hears about Arthur’s big move, she offers to help. But Arthur isn’t telling her the whole story. It takes courage to admit you need a friend and when you feel invisible, all you need is a ray of hope. After all, what if the best is yet to come?

My thoughts:

This was a sweet, moving story about friendship and life. Arthur thinks he’s ready to join his beloved Pearl, but then he meets neighbour Izzy and her newborn daughter Evie, who help him see that life doesn’t have to be over.

Both Izzy and Arthur need help, and their bond provides so much to them both. Their intergenerational friendship is lovely and genuine. It made me think of my grandparents who I miss a lot as I haven’t seen them in such a long time. Older people have so many interesting stories and knowledge to share, a wealth of experience. We all should tap into that if we can.

This was a perfect book to curl up and read, some chocolate and tissues at hand.


*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Project Kaitlyn – Grayson Avery*

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Meet Kaitlyn Colby, a clumsy, inappropriate blurter with self-esteem issues, but also quite handy with an axe. She’s certainly no superhero, but she fights the battles of a single mom with sweet snarkasm. Between work and pining for and co-parenting with her man-child ex (is there any other kind?), Kaitlyn has no time to find that special someone. And if she did, would he really want her
anyway?

Kaitlyn’s sister and friends (The Sweet Water Circle) say yes, so following a typical Kaitlyn slip up, The Circle intervenes to force her out of the funk that she fell into following her unwanted divorce.

When Kaitlyn makes a decision to pursue her advertising career over love, she tumbles (like no tumble you’ve ever seen…or heard) into the life of hunky, bay breeze-drinking Hunter Dixon, an ad exec who is intrigued enough by Kaitlyn that he hires her firm to revive a struggling project, much like herself.
Can Kaitlyn become the woman she needs to be to land the man of her dreams? Maybe. Maybe not.

But you’ll laugh out loud as she tries. There’s no doubt you’ll be rooting for the lovable, hilarious, and relatable Kaitlyn. And you’ll probably love her friends, too, which is good, because their stories are ready to be told in the Sweet Water Circle series!
Project Kaitlyn could be the funniest book you ever read. It’s a hilarious romantic comedy that speaks the truth (well, most of the time) about life and love, and…hiking thongs? What the heck is that? Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out!

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Grayson Avery is the author of The Sweet Water Circle Series, a romantic comedy series that focuses on childhood friends in their 30’s and 40’s as they help each other navigate the stormy waters of dating, marriage, divorce, and a whole lot of inappropriate, naughty, and downright hysterical situations.

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My thoughts:

This was a fun and funny book, with quite a few rude jokes and lots of innuendo. Kaitlyn and her friends have sex on the brain, mostly because they’re not getting any, and are determined that Kaitlyn at least will get her love life back on track with the handsome Hunter.

However her ex-husband is still hanging around, her kids aren’t impressed and she’s got to deal with evil Sasha and her gravity defying boobs too.

Tremendous fun, very silly but with heart, this is an enjoyable, light-hearted book about love and friendship.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse – Katie Ginger*

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Amelia loves her life in Paris. But with the surprise inheritance of her childhood home, she has no choice but to return to the small village of Meadowbank to restore her great-aunt’s old farmhouse.

However returning to Meadowbank means she has to confront her past, including old flame Adam – the one person she regrets leaving behind.

When Amelia discovers a locket hidden in the farmhouse, containing the picture of a mysterious World War Two soldier, she starts to uncover the secrets of her great-aunt’s past. With Adam on hand to help restore the farmhouse, she’s shocked by his generosity after so many years apart.

As her feelings for her first love reignite, Amelia is suddenly confused as to where she truly belongs.

Can Amelia finally find where her heart truly calls home?

My thoughts:

This was a charming, cosy read, full of heart and warmth. Amelia inherits her great-aunt’s farm and comes back from Paris to look it over with a view to selling it.

Instead she starts to fall in love with the old place and sets out to solve a mystery, who are the people in a locket her aunt kept hidden away, why was Vera so unhappy?

She also reconnects with an old flame, makes a new friend or two, and realises that the village she grew up in isn’t so bad after all.

Sweet and eminently enjoyable.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Anthrax Island – D.L. Marshall*

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FACT: In 1942, in growing desperation at the progress of the war and fearing invasion by the Nazis, the UK government approved biological weapons tests on British soil. Their aim: to perfect an anthrax weapon destined for Germany. They succeeded.

FACT: Though the attack was never launched, the testing ground, Gruinard Island, was left lethally contaminated. It became known as Anthrax Island.

Now government scientists have returned to the island. They become stranded by an equipment failure and so John Tyler is flown in to fix the problem. He quickly discovers there’s more than research going on. When one of the scientists is found impossibly murdered inside a sealed room, Tyler realises he’s trapped with a killer…

A gripping thriller that will leave you guessing until the final page. Perfect for fans of Terry Hayes, James Swallow and Alistair MacLean.

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D. L. Marshall was born and raised in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Influenced by the dark industrial architecture, steep wooded valleys, and bleak Pennine moors, he writes thrillers tinged with horror, exploring the impact of geography and isolation. In 2016 he pitched at Bloody Scotland. In 2018 he won a Northern Writers’ Award for his thriller novel Anthrax Island.

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My thoughts:

This was a clever, dark and gritty thriller. On a small island off the coast of Scotland, the killer can only be one of the people already there, but who is it?

Tyler is an asset of the government but one they can deny exists, he’s been tasked to find out what’s going on, while avoiding getting exposed to one of the deadly strains of anthrax still present on the island.

I’m a big fan of these sort of stories – Agatha Christie had everyone in a country house but modern versions employ various isolated locations. It’s always interesting to see how people develop their relationships when you can’t trust anyone but need an ally.

Adding in the risk of exposure to a deadly bacteria heightens the tension – what does the killer want and who are they working for?

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Last Goodbye – Fiona Lucas*

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How can you move on if you can’t let go?

Spencer was the love of Anna’s life: her husband, her best friend, her rock. She thought their love would last forever.

But three years ago, Spencer was tragically killed in an accident and Anna’s world was shattered. How can she ever move on, when she’s lost her soulmate?

On New Year’s Eve Anna calls Spencer’s phone number, just to hear his old voicemail greeting. But to her shock, someone answers…

Brody has inherited Spencer’s old number and is the first person who truly understands what Anna’s going through. As her and Brody’s phone calls become lengthier and more frequent, they begin opening up to each other—and slowly rediscover how to smile, how to laugh, even how to hope.

But Brody hasn’t been entirely honest with Anna. Will his secret threaten everything, just as it seems she might find the courage to love again?

My thoughts:

This was a really lovely, moving and sad story of two people struggling with serious grief; needing to move on but unable to fully let go.

Anna rings her late husband’s mobile number, only for someone to answer – the number has been reassigned. So begins a series of conversations with another grief-stricken person, Brody.

As their bond grows stronger, Anna starts to try to move on from her loss, as does Brody. As they heal together, can they find happiness?

Sweet and gentle, this was a lovely book to curl up with and cheer on the two protagonists as they begin the process of finding a new life for themselves.


*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: One By One – Helen Bridgett*

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When practising what you preach is easier said than done…

Professor Maxie Reddick has her reasons for being sceptical of traditional policing methods, but, in between her criminology lecturing job and her Criminal Thoughts podcast, she stays firmly on the sidelines of the crime solving world.

Then a young woman is brutally attacked, and suddenly it’s essential that Maxie turns her words into actions; this is no longer an academic exercise–this is somebody’s life.

But as she delves deeper, the case takes a sickening turn, which leads Maxie to the horrifying realisation that the attack might not have been a one-off. It seems there’s a depraved individual out there seeking revenge, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it… little by little… one by one.

Helen Bridgett lives in the North East of England. Outside of writing feel good fiction, Helen loves the great outdoors and having a good laugh with friends over a glass of wine. Helen lives with her husband and their chocolate Labrador, Angus; all three can often be found walking the Northumberland coastline that inspired her romantic comedy, Summer at Serenity Bay.

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this book, I liked that it took a different angle on crime solving – Maxie is a professor of criminology and knows an awful lot about crime but isn’t a police officer or PI, she’s just very determined. Her methodical stance is at odds with the way the police want to carry out their investigation. She’s looking for the motive; they’re looking for suspects.

Her single mindedness almost costs her everything else though – oblivious to what’s going on with her husband and son, she’s shocked when things take a dark turn for her family.

This was an intelligent, well written and compelling book. I look forward to the next one.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: Atonement Camp for Unrepentant Homophobes – Evan J. Corbin*

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The oldest translation of a Gospel is returned to the world by a secret society long dedicated to its preservation. In it, Jesus explicitly condemns bigotry and homophobia.

In a new world in which LGBTQ passengers receive preferential boarding for flights and the United States has elected its first lesbian President, Pastor Rick Harris is stalwart, closeted preacher who doggedly holds onto his increasingly unpopular convictions.When an incendiary sermon goes too far and offends an influential family, Rick makes a painful choice to keep his job: He attends an atonement camp run by drag queens for society’s most unrepentant and terminally incurable homophobes.

Atonement Camp is immersion therapy for Pastor Harris, and it might be working. An open bar with pedicures, a devastatingly attractive roommate and an endless supply of glitter help him manage to make new friends. Soon, Rick and his cohorts learn the camp may hold its own secrets. Amid the smiling faces and scantily clad pool boys who staff the camp, a clandestine group plots to discredit the New Revelation and everything it stands for.

If Rick has the conviction to confront his own hypocrisy, he might be able to uncover the conspirators with help from his adopted flock-and find new truths within himself.

My thoughts:

This was a blackly comic fantasy about a future where being gay isn’t a sin anymore – in fact the Church has done a complete 360 and now it’s homophobes they abhor.

Rick, whose father was an old school preacher, has kept up with his family’s beliefs, which sees him packed off to a camp to atone. Where he uncovers an entire scam and goes on the run with some drag queens – one of whom is very familiar.

I really enjoyed this, it was campy, and clever and reminded me of some of my favourite books and films – How I Paid for College, But I’m a Cheerleader, Camp, in its tone and ideas. A reminder to be yourself, and be honest whatever society says.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Housewife – Alex Kane*

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Even perfect mothers have secrets…

Leah. She’s the perfect mum to ten-year-old Samuel, wife to loving husband Thomas, head of the PTA. But her closet is full of skeletons – and if the truth gets out, her world could be destroyed.

Annie. She’s the gangster’s moll with a brain. She might be a woman, but she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty to play the men at their own game. But what no one knows is the devastating secret haunting her.

Terry. He’s the king of Glasgow gangland, working his way up from estate to mansion. From drugs to guns, there’s nothing he won’t stop at to grow his dirty money. He might be a hard man, but his weakness is women.

As their three stories collide, the lives of each will never be the same. Because even perfect women hide dark secrets… Don’t they?

Alex Kane is a writer from Glasgow. She has been writing for ten years and in 2018 signed with Hera Books, a digital first publisher.

(2019) No Looking Back
(2019) What She Did
(2020) She Who Lies
(2020) The Angels
(2021) The Housewife

Alex Kane writes gangland crime and psychological thrillers and will read anything she can get her hands on from both genres.

If she is not writing, she can be found relaxing at home reading, or drinking tea and/or gin (sometimes all of the above).
Alex is currently working on future books but can also be found procrastinating on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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My thoughts:

This was a clever, gripping thriller set in Glasgow. Annie works her way into Terry Reid’s affections and business, until one night she disappears. Ten years later Terry’s still looking for her.

Leah lives a quiet life with her husband and son. But a threatening note through the door upsets everything.

Moving back and forth in time and weaving several different lives together The Housewife slowly builds up the events and how Leah will have to set things right in order to protect the ones she loves.

The payoff at the end was very satisfying and tied up all the disparate threads nicely. Setting some people free and punishing the guilty.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.

blog tour, books, reviews

Blog Tour: The Measure of Time – Gianrico Carofiglio*

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The latest in the highly successful Guido Guerrieri series, shortlisted for the 2020 STREGA prize, Italy’s most prestigious literary award. It is a tense courtroom drama set in Southern Italy, but also a tale about passion and the passage of time.

Guerrieri had fallen in love decades earlier with Lorenza, a beautiful older woman who was in his eyes sophisticated and intellectual. She made wonderful love and opened his mind to high literature, but ultimately treated him as a plaything and discarded him.

One spring afternoon Lorenza shows up in Guerrieri’s office. Her son Jacopo, a small-time delinquent, stands convicted of the first-degree murder of a local drug dealer. Her trial lawyer has died, so for the appeal, she turns to Guerrieri. He is not convinced of the innocence of Lorenza’s son, nor does he have fond memories of how their relationship ended two decades earlier.

Nevertheless, he accepts the case; perhaps to pay a melancholy homage to the ghosts of his youth.

Gianrico Carofiglio, now a full time novelist, was a member of the Senate in Italy and an anti-Mafia prosecutor in Bari, a port on the coast of Puglia.

He is a best-selling author of crime novels and literary fiction, translated in 27 languages. This is the sixth Guerrieri novel is in this best-selling series.

Howard Curtis is a well-known translator from the Italian and has translated other titles in this series

My thoughts:

This was a really interesting read, showing the legal profession of Bari, Italy. It was fascinating to see how they conduct trials and I liked the way Guerrieri and his team build up their case.

I also liked the way the plot was interspersed with Guerrieri’s memories of his brief relationship with Lorenza all those years ago. They gave a lot of insight into his character and how his experiences shaped him.

The trial chapters were insightful and the case was laid out for the reader, as though we’re the jury too – it’s not entirely clear whether he’s innocent or not so you can make up your own mind too. The ending then provides the answers, wrapping the case up if not neatly, then enough to release Guerrieri from the feeling of obligation and nostalgia he holds.

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.