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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOGATHON: Redemption by Jack Jordan

Published June 20th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Gay Fiction, Adventure Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for Redemption, the latest bingeable thriller from the king of the moral dilemma. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsvie Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in the Blogathon, and to The Likely Suspects for my copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Aaron Alexander has just been released from jail after serving eleven years for causing the death of Joshua Moore in a hit-and-run. Now a free man, all he wants to do is stay on the straight and narrow and leave his troubled past behind him.

But for Joshua’s mother Evelyn, eleven years in jail isn’t nearly enough. Consumed by grief and rage, she has been waiting for Aaron’s release, counting down the days until she can exact the revenge he deserves. And now that time has come.

But as Evelyn and her husband Tobias embark on a road trip to track Aaron down, they find themselves caught on two different sides of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse. Because Tobias knows what Evelyn is planning, and he will do anything to save her from herself.

Even if it means protecting the man who killed their son.

Locked in a collision course set in motion eleven years ago, Aaron, Evelyn and Tobias are about to find out whether the road they have chosen leads to redemption . . . or to retribution.

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MY REVIEW:

“Maybe I am a monster, but I can’t stop now. Not now I’m so close. I could never live with myself if he walked free.”

Evelyn and Tobias Moore’s world is shattered when their son, Joshua, is killed in a hit and run. Now, Aaron Alexander – the man responsible – is being released after serving 11 years but for Joshua’s mother that isn’t justice. She wants revenge; and she’s been counting down the days until she can make that happen. Now, that time has finally come. But as Evelyn and Tobias embark on their journey, they are on two opposing sides: Evelyn dead set on revenge, while Tobias wants to save his wife from herself. Their road trip towards vengeance and murder quickly becomes a nail-biting game of cat and mouse. Can there be redemption?

“I’ve got to do what I was afraid to do before. I’ve got to try and stop her.” 

He’s done it again! Unbearably tense, twisty, unpredictable and heartfelt, Redemption is another five-star read from the King of dilemma thriller, Jack Jordan. A master-class in thriller writing, this book has it all: action, suspense, foreboding and violence, but also heart, grief, rage, bitterness and hope. The story is told in five parts that begin with flashbacks to Evelyn and Tobias’ life in happier times. These sections were so emotional, emphasising the magnitude of their loss and how much their lives have changed since Joshua’s death. There is such a stark contrast that I’d have believed you if you’d told me I was reading about two different couples. Jordan makes you feel ALL the feelings, expertly conveying the nuances of grief and how that can look different for everyone. I got book whiplash as I would be close to crying one moment and on the edge of my seat the next, holding on tight with the breakneck speed of the chase. 

“I didn’t realise how all-encompassing grief could be. How tyrannical the rage against injustice would be on my thinking…” 

Jordan’s characters are always nuanced, relatable and deeply human. One of the things I love most about his book is his expertise at writing anti-heroes you can’t help but root for. He weaves their anguish, pain, dilemmas and humanity into the narrative, highlighting all the shades of grey and making it possible to see yourself in their shoes. Evelyn and Aaron are perfect examples of this. Evelyn’s every word, thought and action is raw, sizzling with white-hot rage, resentment, hatred, bitterness, pain and grief.  She can’t see straight for the need for vengeance and her need to exact what she determines to be justice overwhelms everything else. And as a mother I could understand it. I’m not a vengeful person but I can’t imagine how I would cope in her position and I had a lot of empathy for her, even if I was rooting for Tobias to stop her before she went too far. Meanwhile, Aaron seems like the obvious villain of the story, yet Jordan makes him human with his tragic backstory and deep remorse. I ended up really liking him and rooting for him to survive. Then there is Tobias. Tobias is a broken man who not only lost his only child, but also his wife the night Joshua died. Jordan really makes you feel his heartache and loneliness. His dilemma is palpable as he is torn between helping Evelyn and saving her from herself, even if it means helping the man who killed his child. It was an impossible situation and I felt for him even more as he is thrown into becoming someone he doesn’t recognise in his quest to stop Evelyn. 

Intense, heart-rending and bingeable, Redemption is another unmissable thriller from Mr. Jordan. Read it now!

Rating: 🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018) and Night by Night (2019). His thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards. Coined the thriller of the summer for 2022, it was described as “relentlessly tense” by Sunday Times Bestseller Lesley Kara, and “Chilling and perfectly paced” by New York Times Bestseller Sarah Pearse. The idea for Do No Harm came to Jack after undergoing a minor medical procedure where he had to be sedated and trust strangers with his welfare. After the anaesthesia wore off, Jack began scribbling his notes, wondering to himself just how iron-clad a surgeon’s oath is, and what it would take to break it…

Jack’s latest book, Conviction, was published in June 2023 and featured in Cosmopolitan’s ‘best new books out in June’ round-up, it was also chosen as one of the June featured books by Magic Radio’s Book Club and the audiobook was selected for Fingerprint Award at Capital Crime 2024.

His next book, Redemption, publishes this June.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: All I Want For Christmas is You by Karen Swan

Published October 10th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for this cosy winter romance. Thank you to Pan MacMillan for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest reivew.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Three first dates and an art-world mystery – it’s going to be a busy Christmas for Darcy. All I Want for Christmas is the Sunday Times bestselling cosy winter romance from Karen Swan, author of Christmas By Candlelight.

Can she find love this Christmas?

Christmas in Copenhagen is a magical time of year but Darcy Cotterell isn’t feeling festive. Newly single, again, she’s not even going home for Christmas. Instead she will be spending her holiday finishing her art history PhD. Her best friend, Freja, has other ideas. She signs Darcy up to a dating app, determined that she won’t be lonely this Christmas.

Darcy agrees to three dates – but her mind is on work, not play: an unknown portrait by Denmark’s greatest painter has been found and she is tasked with identifying the woman in the painting. During her research, she encounters sexy, arrogant lawyer Max Lorensen – who happens to be bachelor number one! The attraction is instant but, knowing they must work together, they abandon the match. Or try to. But their feelings are undeniable – until Darcy discovers Max has an agenda . . .

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MY REVIEW:

Christmas in Copenhagen may be magical but Darcy isn’t feeling the festive spirit this year. Newly single and feeling jaded, she isn’t even going home to celebrate Christmas and is staying home to finish her art history PhD. Her best friend, Freja, is determined that won’t happen and signs her up to a dating app, telling her to pick three men to date. But Darcy is distracted. At work an unknown portrait by Denmark’s greatest painter has just been discovered and it’s Darcy’s job to identify the subject. During her research she meets the gorgeous but arrogant lawyer Max, who also happens to be one of the men she met on the app. Though they decide work and romance shouldn’t mix, they find it’s hard to resist each other. Until Darcy discovers Max had a secret agenda all along…

One of my favourite parts of the run up to Christmas is reading festive fiction so I was delighted when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read this book. A cosy winter love story cleverly woven together with a tense and twisty mystery, it was the perfect book to read snuggled up under a blanket while drinking hot chocolate, which is exactly what I did. Funny, layered, heartwarming and escapist, it pulled me in from the first page and held me captive to the last, surprising me at every turn. 

Enemies-to-lovers is my favourite romance trope and this one offers more yearning and sizzling attraction than any I’ve read before. Throughout the book you are wondering if Max and Darcy not only will get together, but if they should. Neither of them are full of pure intentions and Max is a very flawed hero who seemed to throw up a red flag every time you thought he was Mr. Right. Though I admit to rooting for them to be a couple most of the time. I also understood her reservations after being hurt so deeply. But this was a great reminder that our  happy-ever-after could still be out there – maybe even just around the corner. Ultimately, I was rooting for Darcy to have her happy ending, with or without a man. 

So, if you’re looking for a cosy festive romance that’s just a little bit different, this is the book for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter, Christmas at Tiffany’s, The Christmas Secret and Together by Christmas.

Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

Her historical series called The Wild Isle, is based upon the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly

Published November 21st 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Women Sleuths

Welcome to my review for The Ice Retreat, which was the SquadPod November Book Club pick. Thanks to Chloe and Pan MacMillan for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Sinister, atmospheric and deliciously chilling – with a twist that made me gasp.’ – Mark Edwards, author of The Darkest Water

From bestselling author Ruth Kelly, The Ice Retreat is a spine-tingling thriller set in the world of controversial wellness treatments. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pearse.

HEALER?

Meet Hollie Jenson, presenter of the smash-hit docu-series Bad Medicine, which exposes the perils of extreme therapies. Her next target: a new retreat run by wellness guru Ariel Rose, who claims to have discovered the secret to healing pain through her three-day ice rebirth treatment.

LIAR?

Acting on a mother’s plea to find her son, who vanished soon after his stay, Hollie ventures into the Swiss mountains where the retreat occupies a former observatory. There she will search for the boy, and hopes to expose Ariel as the charlatan she believes her to be.

KILLER?

As the isolation of the valley sets in, Hollie finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. There is much more to the retreat than meets the eye, and she must confront explosive secrets from her own past if she is to ever make it out alive . . .

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MY REVIEW:

Hollie Jensen, presenter of the smash-hit docu-series Bad Medicine, is dedicated to exposing the perils of fake science, extreme therapies and wellness trends. Her next target is The Ice Retreat, run by wellness guru Ariel Rose, who claims she can heal pain through a three-day ice rebirth treatment at the centre nestled in the Swiss Alps. The treatment is expensive and shrouded in secrecy. Hot on the trail of Martyn Eves, a teenager who has vanished after going to the retreat for treatment three months ago, Hollie embarks on a trip to the retreat, determined to bring the truth to light and bring down Ariel in the process. But why is she so obsessed with destroying her? And is she prepared for the dangers she’ll face?

Addictive, tense, and unexpected, The Ice Retreat is a chilling thriller perfect for winter. Scalpel sharp, forbidding, gleaming with malice and full of unreliable characters, Ruth Kelly had me on a knife edge from the intriguing prologue to the shocking finale. For me, this was a very emotional read. I have multiple chronic pain conditions, including Fibromyalgia, which is the condition that Martyn, the boy they are looking for, has. I’ll admit, I had to stop reading and wait until I was in the right headspace to carry on, as a book about promises to heal chronic pain is quite triggering for me. And, let’s be honest, some authors get the tone wrong when they write about chronic pain. But Kelly has created a story that is full of empathy for people who live with chronic pain, and is disparaging of the snake oil salesmen touting their miracle cures. She got the tone of desperation we can feel because of our pain just right; so much so that I was moved to tears a few times when Martyn and Florence talked about how they felt living every day in pain. 

One of my favourite things about this book is the setting. Kelly has created an evocative sense of place, using the remoteness of the Swiss Alps to create a nerve-shredding atmosphere from the moment Hollie arrives. This is merged with the mystery, hints of secrets and flawed characters to create an overwhelming tension and increasing sense of danger that had me on tenterhooks. I needed to know what had happened to Martyn, if Ariel really was the charlatan that Hollie believes she is, and just what happened to make Hollie so obsessed with bringing Ariel down? Kelly tells the story from the perspective of Hollie, Florence and Martyn; moving between timelines and narrators; the secrets they are hiding are brought to the surface; the tension rising to a crescendo that sees the shocking truth of the retreat finally revealed. 

Suspenseful, pacy and full of twists, this is one of those books where you think you know what’s going to happen, but you really have no idea. So prepare yourself for a heart-stopping thrill-ride you won’t forget. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ruth Kelly is an award-winning journalist who has ghosted a string of Sunday Times top ten bestsellers – most recently THE PRISON DOCTOR, which sold over 250,000 copies, and THE GOVERNOR, which went straight in at number one on the Amazon charts and number five in the Sunday Times bestseller list.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson

Published November 21st, 2024 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Noir Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Fairy Tale, Historical Mystery

Today is my stop on the blog tour to celebrate the paperback publication of this mesmerising gothic fiction. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda for the proof copy of the book.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An art expert joins a detective to investigate a horrific murder on a Swedish island, leading them to a mystery rooted in Viking rites and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest winter. The Queen of French Noir returns with a chilling, utterly captivating gothic thriller, based on a true story. FIRST in the The Lidingö Mysteries series.
 
‘Scarier than anything … a dark, dark slice of atmospheric Scandi Noir’ Heat
Heat magazine *Book of the Month*
 
‘The pace steadily accelerates as Gustawsson orchestrates her plot with breathless ingenuity. A successful page-turner from a rising star’ Financial Times

‘Gustawsson’s writing is so vivid, it’s electrifying’ Peter James
  
** Winner of the Livre de Poche Readers Crime of the Year and Cultura Ligue de l’Imaginaire Award**

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Don’t
 
Art expert Emma Lindahl is anxious when she’s asked to appraise the antiques and artefacts in the infamous manor house of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, on the island of Storholmen, where a young woman was murdered nine years earlier, her killer never found. 
 
Emma must work alone, and with the Gussman family apparently avoiding her, she sees virtually no one in the house. Do they have something to hide?
 
Trust
 
As she goes about her painstaking work and one shocking discovery yields clues that lead to another, Emma becomes determined to uncover the secrets of the house and its occupants.
 
When the lifeless body of another young woman is found in the icy waters surrounding the island, Detective Karl Rosén arrives to investigate, and memories of his failure to solve the first case come rushing back. Could this young woman’s tragic death somehow hold the key?
 
Anyone
 
Battling her own demons, Emma joins forces with Karl to embark upon a chilling investigation, plunging them into horrifying secrets from the past – Viking rites and tainted love – and Scandinavia’s deepest, darkest winter…

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MY REVIEW:

OMG. My mind is completely blown and I’m still trying to pick my jaw up from the floor after reading this mesmerising gothic thriller. Darkly atmospheric, unsettling and original, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Art expert Emma Lindahl has come to the manor house on the island of Storholmen to appraise the artwork belonging to the Gussman family. But that isn’t all this house is famous for. It is also the place where the infamous hanging girl was found nine years ago. A brutal murder that remains unsolved. And when the body of another young woman is found in the icy waters that surround the island, it looks like Detective Karl Rosen might have found a connection between the crimes. What follows is a breathtaking story of murder, dark secrets and Norse mythology that you won’t be able to put down.

You know when you pick up one of Johana Gustawsson’s books that you should expect the unexpected; a heart-stopping thrill-ride that you can’t put down. Yule Island is all that and more. From the moment I read the author’s note at the start I was in Gustawsson’s thrall, feeling like I’d actually stepped inside the book as I read in breathless anticipation. Expertly written and cleverly plotted, this is a masterclass in storytelling. I was blindsided as she pulled the rug from under me again and again, not giving me time to catch my breath before delivering yet another shocking revelation. As tension builds, Gustawsson intricately interweaves meticulously researched Norse mythology and Swedish history to keep you on the edge of your seat. ‘The Queen of French Noir’ is living up to her title and it’s easy to see why this book has already received so much acclaim.

Gothic fiction is one of my favourite genres and Gustawsson absolutely nailed the dark, gothic vibes of this story from the start: the cold weather, an isolated island shrouded in silence, an old, echoing manor house filled with mysterious residents and the trappings of faded opulence, the screams that can be heard randomly, and the haunting history of the hanging tree. Knowing that Storholmen is a real island and this is all based on a true story adds to the unease that permeates every page. This is one of those books that will have you looking for the monsters that lurk in the shadows and I loved every second.

Told from multiple points of view, the characters are fascinating, relatable and richly drawn. The two protagonists, Emma and Karl, are very different in terms of age, circumstance and perspective. I enjoyed their distinct voices and seeing the investigation from both a professional and lay perspective. But they have similarities too: both are intelligent, determined and have a sober air that surrounds them. I enjoyed how Gustawsson slowly teased their backstories, allowing us to feel invested in their lives and root for them before making us question everything as we wonder if they are unreliable after all. There was a third narrator, Viktoria, who was a housekeeper at the manor. Her chapters gave us a glimpse of life behind the closed doors of the manor and added to the mystery that surrounds it. The background characters are just as well written and I loved the sense of community that existed on the island and how they welcomed Emma into their midst when a lot of small communities will make outsiders feel like just that. But it did make me wonder about the killer as it surely had to be one of the three hundred residents on Storholmen. Could one of them really commit vicious crimes like these while looking their neighbours in the eye? Or was there another explanation?

Claustrophobic, eerie, sinister and unnerving, Yule Island is an absolute must-read. An outstanding Gothic thriller that is perfect for this time of year, I have no hesitation in highly recommending it.

Rating: ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born in Marseille, France, and with a degree in Political Science, Johana Gustawsson has worked as a journalist for the French and Spanish press and television. Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series (Block 46, Keeper and Blood Song) has won the Plume d’Argent, Balai de la découverte, Balai d’Or and Prix Marseillais du Polar awards, and is now published in twenty-three countries. The third in the series, Blood Song, was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger. A TV adaptation is currently underway in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. Johana lives in London with her Swedish husband, and three young sons, and is currently working on the book four in the Roy & Castells series. 

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

Published November 14th, 2024 by Tor
Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Fantasy Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this gripping romantasy. Thank you to Bookbreak and Tor for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From internationally bestselling author Mary E. Pearson, The Courting of Bristol Keats is the first book in her debut adult fantasy series, filled with forbidden romance, deadly faerie curses and pulse-pounding action.

‘Mary E. Pearson is the new queen of Faerie‘ – Stephanie Garber, bestselling author of Once Upon a Broken Heart

After losing both their parents, Bristol Keats and her sisters struggle to stay afloat in their small, quiet town of Bowskeep. When Bristol begins to receive letters from an ‘aunt’ she has never heard of, who promises to help, Bristol reluctantly agrees to meet her – and discovers that everything she thought she knew about her family is a lie. Her father might even still be alive. Not killed but kidnapped by terrifying creatures and taken to another realm – the one he is from.

Desperate to save her father and find the truth, Bristol journeys to a land of gods, fae and monsters. Pulled into a dangerous world of magic and intrigue, she makes a deadly bargain with the fae king, Tyghan. But what she does not know is that he is the one who drove her parents to live a life on the run. And he is just as determined as she is to find her father – dead or alive . . .

A heart-wrenching love story that spans worlds and decades, The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson explores second chances – the ones we are denied and the ones we refuse to give – and the lines we cross that may never be forgiven.

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MY REVIEW:

Bristol Keats and her two sisters live in the smalltown of Bowskeep and are struggling to keep afloat following the death of their parents. She may be the middle sister, but Bristol is undeniably the alpha sister, protecting them and taking charge. So when she receives a letter from  someone claiming to be her father’s aunt who is offering to help them, she feels it her responsibility to meet her. But the meeting isn’t what she expected and Bristol discovers that everything she’s believed about herself and her family is a lie. Her parents were actually from another realm called the Danu Nation. A magical realm inhabited by otherworldly creatures that terrify Bristol at first. Not only that, but she also learns that her father’s death may have been faked. Suddenly, it seems like all the years that Bristol and her family have been running from a mysterious force is beginning to make sense. Wanting to know more, find out the truth and hoping to save her father, Bristol agrees to a pact. She will travel to Danu Nation and carry out a task in exchange for a financial reward. After arriving in this dangerous and unfamiliar world, Bristol agrees to another, even deadlier bargain. This time with Tyghan, the fae king. The two slowly get closer but unbeknownst to Bristol, Tyghan is the reason her parents fled Danu Nation and have been running all these years.  And he is just as determined as she is to find her father, but has more sinister motives…

Layered, complex, fantastical and compelling, The Courting of Bristol Keats is a dazzling romatasy told on an epic scale. With evocative imagery, wonderful storytelling and richly drawn characters, Mary E. Pearson transported me into the magnificent world she created. It’s a world of magic, fae, gods and monsters. A dangerous but intriguing world that you will get lost in. This is a pretty chonky book so it takes a while for the story to get going as Ms. Pearson builds the world and introduces us to the huge cast of characters. But it soon picks up pace and I found myself completely enthralled by the story and characters. I love a good forbidden romance, and Ms. Pearson has written this one brilliantly. There’s a strong sense of tension, longing and desire as the will-they-won’t-they romance between Bristol and Tyghan plays out. I was totally #TeamBrighan (can we make that a thing?). And that ending! It left me full of questions, desperate for more, and I can’t wait for book two. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary E. Pearson is the International and NYT bestselling and award-winning author of multiple novels including her adult debut novel, The Courting of Bristol Keats, about a woman from a small town who is unexpectedly plunged into a world of gods, fae, and monsters.

Her other books include, The Remnant Chronicles—The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, and The Beauty of Darkness—and its spin-off duology Dance of Thieves and Vow of Thieves. Mary’s awards and honors include the Golden Kite for fiction, ALA Best Books, NYPL Best Books, IRA Choice Books, YALSA Teens Top Ten, Arkansas and South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards, and her science-fiction novel, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, was an Andre Norton Award Finalist. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages world-wide.

As a child she loved reading about and living in fantasy worlds. They were a portal to possibility that provided both escape and power. These days she loves writing about those worlds for the same reasons. She totally believes in magic, because, as one of her characters once whispered to her, “What is magic, but what we don’t yet understand?”

When she is not creating dangerous fantasy worlds, she enjoys the relatively safe pleasures of travel, gardening, friends, and family.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Beat the Backlist Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict

Published October 24th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Festive Fiction, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Lesbian Literature, LGBTQ Literature

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this cosy Christmas crime read. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and Simon and Schuster for the gifted proof.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THIS CHRISTMAS, A KILLER TAKES FAMILY GAMES TO A MURDEROUS NEW LEVEL.

On 19th of December, renowned puzzle setter, loner and Christmas sceptic Edie O’Sullivan finds a hand-delivered present on her doorstep. Unwrapping it, she finds a jigsaw box and, inside, six jigsaw pieces. When fitted together, the pieces show part of a crime scene – blood-spattered black and white tiles and part of an outlined body. Included in the parcel is a message: ‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ It’s signed, Rest In Pieces.

Edie contacts her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan, and together they work to solve the clues. But when a man is found near death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean fears that Edie might be in danger and shuts her out of the investigation. As the body count rises, however, Edie knows that only she has the knowledge to put together the killer’s murderous puzzle.

Only by fitting all the pieces together will Edie be able to stop a killer – and finally lay her past to rest.

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MY REVIEW:

Renowned puzzle setter Edie O’Sullivan is surprised by a hand-delivered present six days before Christmas. When she unwraps it, Edie is even more surprised by its contents: a jigsaw box that contains six jigsaw pieces that fit together to show part of a crime scene and the message ‘Four, maybe more, will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.’ It is eerily signed, Rest In Pieces. 

Unable to resist a puzzle, Edie starts to try and solve the clues to stop the killer, working with her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O’Sullivan. But when a man is found close to death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean is concerned that Edie is in danger and shuts her out of his investigation. But Edie won’t be stopped, and secretly continues to investigate with the help of her neighbour, Rega. As more clues arrive at Edie’s door, clues point to a secret in her past holding the key to everything. Can Edie solve the macabre mystery before it’s too late?

Mysterious, witty, dark and compelling, The Christmas Jigsaw Mystery is brilliant festive friction wrapped up in a bow of cosy crime.  With a mix of nostalgia and modern vibes, this has a gorgeous atmosphere that feels reminiscent of reading an Agatha Christie novel, this is perfect for reading snuggled under a blanket with a hot drink on a cold day. It is also the ideal Christmas read for anyone who enjoys solving puzzles. And, as one of them myself, I loved the inclusion of the different kinds of puzzles and enjoyed trying to solve them alongside Edie and Sean. Skillfully written and cleverly plotted, there are so many threads to this story that you could knit a Christmas jumper. I loved unwrapping them layer by layer and trying to predict what would happen next. But Ms. Benedict wove them together with such expertise that it kept me guessing until the big reveal. 

Eccentric, prickly and compelling, octogenarian Edie was a great protagonist. A loner whose only friend is her neighbour, Riva, we learn that Edie has a mysterious past filled with regrets. It’s a past she doesn’t want to revisit but the killer seems to know what she’s trying to keep hidden and forces her to face what she’s trying to avoid. Edie and Riva were a fun pair to read and their scenes were some of my favourite parts of the book. I also really enjoyed Edie’s relationship with her nephew, Sean, who she raised like a son after his parents’ death. Sean is a DI, which only complicates matters as he tries to juggle investigating the case with trying to keep Edie’s amateur sleuthing in check. We also see the story from the killer’s point of view, which is much darker than the rest of the book, adding an extra layer of tension that kept me on the edge of my seat. 

A gloriously cosy Christmas crime that I couldn’t put down, I highly recommend adding this to your festive reading list.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alexandra Benedict has been a composer, singer-songwriter, actor, and lecturer in crime fiction, and is now an award-winning writer of novels, short stories and scripts. As AK Benedict, she writes high-concept novels, speculative short stories and scripts. Her first novel, the critically-acclaimed THE BEAUTY OF MURDER, was nominated for the eDunnit Award; her short stories have featured in many anthologies; and her audio drama has been shortlisted for multiple awards including the BBC Audio Drama Award 2020, and, twice, for the Scribe Award, winning it in 2019. As Alexandra Benedict, she writes contemporary tributes and takes on Golden Age crime fiction. THE CHRISTMAS MURDER GAME was an Amazon Fiction Bestseller and was long-listed for the CWA Gold Dagger Award. Her latest novel, MURDER ON THE CHRISTMAS EXPRESS, arrives on November 10th. She lives on the south coast of England with her fiancé, writer Guy Adams, their daughter, and their dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

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BOOK REVIEW: Weyward by Emilia Hart

Published February 2nd, 2023 by The Borough Press
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Horror Fiction,

Today I’m sharing my thoughts on this powerful and beguiling debut.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

*As seen on BBC’s BETWEEN THE COVERS

* A #2 Times bestseller

* A New York Times bestseller

OVER 500,000 COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

‘Humming with a sly, exhilarating magic’ BRIDGET COLLINS
‘A much-heralded epic’ OBSERVER
‘Empowering’ GLAMOUR

Three women, five centuries, one spellbinding story

In the present day, Kate flees a traumatic relationship to the Cumbrian cottage she inherited from her great-aunt; but the cottage hides secrets of its own.

In 1942, Violet rebels against her father’s ideas of a ‘proper young lady’ . . . until he takes matters into his own hands.

In 1619, Altha is on trial for witchcraft, implicated in the gruesome death of a local man.

Three women they tried to cage – but Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…

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MY REVIEW:

“Witch. The word slithers from the mouth like a serpent. Drips from the tongue as thick and black as tar. We never thought of ourselves as witches, my mother and I. For this was a word invented by men. And with that brings power to those who speak it not those it describes. A word that builds gallows and pyres, turns breathing women into corpses. No, it was not a word we ever used.” 

Spellbinding, haunting, moving, fierce and empowering, Weyward is an outstanding debut that explores the threads that reach across time to connect women. 

The story is told from the perspective of three women: Altha, Violet and Kate. In 1619 Altha, who is a healer, is on trial for witchcraft after being implicated in the gruesome death of a local man. In 1942 Violet lives a suffocating life with her father and brother and rebels against what a ‘proper young lady’ should be. But her rebellion will spark a chain of events that have devastating results. And in 2019 Kate flees an abusive relationship and takes refuge in the Cumbrian cottage she inherited from her great-aunt. But as she will discover, the cottage – and her aunt – hide long-buried secrets of their own. 

Emilia Hart showcases herself as an author to watch with this incredible debut. Beautifully written, expertly crafted and intricately woven, it moves between the three narrators and timelines to slowly unveils their stories and ultimately reveals how their paths are connected. The three women at the centre of the book are strong, fierce, relatable and compelling characters. My heart went out to each of them and the terrible situations they faced but I ultimately found myself in awe of their strength and resilience. Interwoven into each woman’s story is a hint of the supernatural as Hart explores the way that women who are healers or have a deeper connection to nature have found themselves accused of witchcraft. While this is explored in each timeline, Altha’s storyline focuses most on this as she lived at the time of the witch trials and is on trial for witchcraft. 

Hart explores themes such as oppression, male violence and domestic abuse, which each woman experiences despite living centuries apart. It was a sad reminder of how so much may change, yet some things seem to stay the same and women are still battling against the same things as their ancestors centuries ago. And while this is undoubtedly a feminist book, it isn’t man-hating or a book that calls women to take revenge against men. It is simply telling the truth of what women have experienced and encouraging us to find our strength. After all, we women all have a little bit of witch in us. Thank you, Ms Hart, for the reminder.  

Powerful, witchy, bold and beguiling, Weyward is an astonishing debut not to be missed. 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Emilia Hart is a British-Australian writer. She was born in Sydney and studied English Literature and Law at the University of New South Wales before working as a lawyer in Sydney and London. Emilia is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative’s Three Month Online Novel Writing Course and was Highly Commended in the 2021 Caledonia Novel Award. Her short fiction has been published in Australia and the UK. She lives in London.​

The award-winning WEYWARD was published in 2023, and Emilia’s latest novel, THE SIRENS, will publish in 2025.

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BOOK REVIEW: My Lady’s Secrets by Katy Moran

Published July 4th, 2024 by Aria
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Regency Romance

Welcome to my review for this bingeable regency romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Regency England

When rebellious aristocrat Cressida and Lord Greville parted ways, they swore never to meet again. Their short marriage had already descended into bitter estrangement, destroyed by scandal and betrayal.

Years later, Greville is a soldier in the Peninsular War and Cressida is following the drum as another man’s lover. Scorned by society, she has learned to survive as a spy – until the day she is caught behind enemy lines, by none other than Greville himself.

Threatened with paying the ultimate price, Cressida is offered a deal: she must entrap and betray the most famous man in England. And Greville, unforgiving, angry and still shockingly attractive, must ensure she complies.

Catapulted to the heights of fame, Lord Byron is just as chaotic, charming and ruthless as he was when he, Greville and Cressida were teenagers. As the three old friends gather for a summer house party in the Scottish Highlands, Cressida is forced to confront her past and ask herself a terrifying question: is it too late for she and Greville to fight for one another at last?

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MY REVIEW:

Cressida, a rebellious and disgraced aristocrat turned spy is forced back to the high society world she thought she’d left behind when she’s arrested by her estranged husband on suspicion of treason. There is only one way for her to regain her freedom: betray her friend, Lord Byron. But despite their acrimonious divorce, the old lovers soon discover that their spark still burns bright. Is it too late for them to reunite?

Sexy, smart and suspenseful, this book was regency heaven. But there’s something for every reader in this crazy and chaotic rollercoaster ride of mystery, intrigue, deception, lust, lies, secrets, history, scandal and romance. It’s action-packed and compelling, Katy Moran’s evocative storytelling, meticulous research and captivating characters transporting me to the world of politics and society she’d created. It was so vivid that I felt like I’d been picked up and placed in the halls of regency aristocracy with all the gossip, games and calculated manoeuvring. This was a treacherous place where every word and move must be carefully calculated and you’re never sure who might be secretly scheming to betray you. Convoluted and intricate, everyone has their hand in multiple pies and people you’d never suspect are caught up in plots to betray those close to them. The stakes are sky-high and you feel that radiating from the pages and keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

In a regency romance you obviously need great chemistry, and you can feel the desire between Cressida and Greville sizzling from the pages. You can feel their regret over giving up on their marriage and how they both still want each other. I couldn’t help but root for them despite all the odds that were stacked against them. I also really liked Cressida. She was a compelling character that was easy to root for and I loved that she was so feisty, determined and different to what was the norm for women in her era. 

Atmospheric, clever, witty and tense, My Lady’s Secret is a bingeable historical romance with a sassy heroine you’ll love rooting for. 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Wayward Duke (Private Arrangements) by Katrina Kendrick

Published October 10th, 2024 by Aria
Historical Romance, Regency Romance, New Adult Fiction

Welcome to my thoughts on this sexy and suspenseful historical romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:
‘Perfectly balancing romance and intrigue, this is a true page-turner’ Publishers Weekly

HE IS THE ICE-COLD DUKE

Julian, the Duke of Hastings, is known for being aloof and utterly in control. For nine years, he’s kept his distance from the only woman who ever cracked his icy exterior, burying himself in work as a top-secret government code-breaker. But when his latest assignment ensnares him in a lethal aristocratic plot, Julian has no choice but to enlist the help of his estranged wife.

SHE IS THE PRIM DUCHESS

To all of society, Caroline Hastings is the perfect duchess. For years she’s masked her pain over her husband’s abandonment behind a poised facade. But when Julian unexpectedly returns and sweeps them into a dangerous, covert mission, Caroline discovers her frozen duke isn’t quite so indifferent in the bedroom after all.

Now, locked in a dangerous chase through London’s glittering ballrooms and dark back alleys, Julian and Caroline must catch a killer-before he catches them first.

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MY REVIEW:

Steamy, tense, twisty and engaging, The Wayward Duke is a gripping amalgamation of romance, sex, danger, angst and intrigue. 

London, Julian, Duke of Hastings, and his wife, Caroline, have been estranged for eight years when he surprisingly returns, sparking a flame of desire in them that they thought long-dead. Society is ablaze with talk of their reunion, but can they overcome the hurt they’ve caused each other to really reunite? Meanwhile, Julian’s work for the home office embroils them in a dangerous hunt for a terrorist. Can they learn to work together to catch them before he kills them first?

Though this book is the fifth in the series, it was actually my introduction to both the series and author. Despite this, I never felt confused about what was happening and think this was easy to read as a standalone. I was very much in the mood to read a romance when I started this book, but I was unprepared for the turns it would take and was surprised by how steamy it was from the start. The sexual tension is evident and I was relieved not to be reading this in public. But this is more than just a spicy book. Katrina Kendrick expertly moved between the shifts in tone of this book, making me blush with the sex scenes, almost cry with the emotional ones, and keeping me on the edge of my seat as they are caught up in espionage. We don’t initially know why they have been estranged, but their heartbreak and grief is palpable, and you can feel their fear of again trusting the person who broke them to pieces from the inside. As we learned more about the reasons their relationship broke down, Kendrick’s writing flourished, expertly conveying their loss, devastation, and Caroline’s mental health struggles in a real and relatable way. 

I liked that this couple weren’t your average Duke and Duchess and that there was more to them than meets the eye. Caroline is a linguist and Julian a code-breaker, the latter working with the home office to secretly decipher codes and hunt terrorists. I loved this aspect of the book. The danger escalated, adding an extra layer of tension to the story that had me on the edge of my seat. I have to admit that although I enjoyed both characters, I did favour Caroline a little. I felt like I really understood her and loved that she was someone who didn’t need a man to rescue her. And very different from what you’d expect of a woman in her position in society at that time.

So if you’re looking for a historical romance that will make your heart race, your cheeks blush, and keep you guessing, then this steamy and suspenseful book is the one for you. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katrina Kendrick is the pseudonym for Sunday Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy author Elizabeth May. She is Californian by birth and Scottish by choice, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews. She currently resides on an 18th-century farm in the Scottish countryside with her husband, three cats, and a lively hive of honeybees that live in the wall of her old farmhouse.

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SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: The Unfinished Life of Eadie Browne by Freya North

Published September 12th, 2024 by Mountain Leopard Press
Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Story

Welcome to my review for this magnificent and unforgettable story, which was one of our recent SquadPod Featured Books. Thanks to Mountain Leopard Press for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘You really must read this book. A rare and phenomenal life affirming read’ DINAH JEFFERIES

‘Get ready to fall in love with Eadie Browne, the eponymous and eccentric heroine of this tender-hearted, steeped-in-nostalgia story about chosen family’ RED

When your present meets your past, what do you take with you – and what do you leave behind?

Eadie Browne is a quirky kid living in a small town where nothing much happens. Bullied at school, she muddles her way through the teenage years with best friends Celeste and Josh until University takes them their separate ways.

Arriving in Manchester as a student in the late 1980s, Eadie experiences a novel freedom and it’s intoxicating. As the city embraces the dizzying euphoria of Rave counterculture, Eadie is swept along, ignoring danger and reality. Until, one night, her past comes hurtling at her with consequences she could never have imagined.

Now, as the new millennium approaches, Eadie is thirty with a marriage in tatters, travelling back to the town of her birth for a funeral she can’t quite comprehend. As she journeys from the North to the South, from the present to the past, Eadie contemplates all that was then and all that is now – and the loose ends that must be tied before her future can unfold.

‘A delightful dose of nostalgia’ HEAT

‘A beautifully written tale about growing up, letting go and moving on’ SUN

‘A gorgeous, heartfelt, atmospheric novel by a wonderful storyteller’ LUCY ATKINS

‘A beautifully moving portrait of youth, friendship and love . . . I loved it’ MIKE GAYLE

‘Beautifully written, funny and wise . . . heart-breaking and heart-warming’ ALEXANDRA POTTER

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MY REVIEW:

Heartfelt, enthralling and unforgettable, The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne is a gorgeous slice-of-life story that packs a strong emotional punch. Brimming with kindness, joy, friendship and self-discovery, it explores the defining moments in one young girl’s life and how they echo in her adult years, as well as the many ways we leave indelible imprints on each other’s lives. 

Some books arrive in your life at exactly the right time and change you forever. That is what this book did for me. Freya North had me in the palm of her hand from start to finish, immediately enthralling me with her beautiful, descriptive prose of this exquisitely written and insightful story. It resonated with me on a visceral level and in a way few books have done before. I make notes in my phone as I read to help me write my reviews and I found myself so lost in this story that I barely made any. I couldn’t put it down and devoured it in two sittings, staying up until the early hours until I’d finished and left me with one hell of a book hangover. 

I fell totally in love with the eponymous Eadie Browne, a quirky and eccentric child who seemed quite sad when we first met her. Eadie lives in a small town and spends her time with her only friends, who just happen to be the residents of the cemetery neighbouring her home. She’s teased mercilessly for this and other things at school and it was impossible not to feel for her. But Eadie also radiates an undeniable charm that makes you like her from the start. I felt like I really connected with young Eadie and I loved that the author has filled this book with not only a heroine who is recognisable, relatable and real, but a whole varied cast of characters who are too. I loved Eadie’s friendships with her best friends, Josh and Celeste. I loved watching them grow together, help each other, and how they were inseparable during their tumultuous teenage years. Other friendships I really enjoyed were Eadie’s friendships with the people who worked in the cemetery. These men were a real source of wisdom and comfort to her when she really needed them and I’m a sucker for a multi-generational friendship. 

The story takes a shift in tone when Eadie moves to Manchester for university. This part felt very emotional to me as my eldest and his girlfriend made the same move to the same city 14 months ago. When Eadie moves to Manchester it is overwhelming and she is back to being all alone and needing to make new connections, but she does settle and make new friends. And with those friends comes her introduction to the Rave scene that was sweeping the city in the late 1980s and they spend their nights dancing in an Ecstasy-induced haze. It is a time of euphoria, brightness and discovery. While it feels innocent to them, we know the danger they are in. A danger that Eadie becomes aware of when her past and present collide in a terrifying way one night, leading to a new exploration of trauma and PTSD, subjects that the author handles with both honesty and sensitivity. She brings that same talent to her writing in the ‘present’ part of the story, which takes place in 1999. Eadie is now thirty and married. But her marriage is strained and as she and her husband  make a pilgrimage back to her home town for a funeral. As she travels home, Eadie reflects on the past, how the events in her life have impacted her over the years and in the present, and asks herself if her marriage can be saved. 

Consuming, funny, heartwarming, moving and uplifting, this magnificent story is one that I will never forget. One of my favourite books this year, I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

 Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I am the author of 16 bestselling novels including my debut Sally (1996), Pillow Talk (2008 – winner of the RNA award) The Turning Point (2016), Richard & Judy Bookclub selection Little Wing (2022) and my newest, The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne (2024) – my love letter to youth, to friendship, to growing up in the 1980s… and to Manchester!

A sense of place is central to my writing and previous novels have featured Derbyshire, Teesside, North Norfolk, the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Vermont, France and British Columbia. A passionate reader, I founded and ran the Hertford Children’s Book Festival, have judged the Costa Book Awards and am a patron of the Society of Women Writers & Journalists. I’m proud to be an Ambassador for Bowel Cancer UK and patron of Pointers In Need. I have degrees in Art History from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute, London and love teaching at writing workshops. Currently, I’m trying to work out which novel to write next… as there are quite a few vying for my attention!

I love books. Books have defined and shaped all the key stages of my life. A A Milne taught me about rhyme – and reason; Barbara Sleigh fired my imagination and my playtimes with the Carbonel stories. Black Beauty was the first book that made me cry, while Ruby Ferguson’s Jill books transported the pony-mad girl in me away from the city.

In my teenage years, I found solace in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Judy Blume’s novels, while To Kill A Mockingbird and Flowers for Algernon opened my eyes to justice, humanity and judging people. At University, I turned to Jilly Cooper for respite during exams and books by Jane Gardam and Barbara Trapido introduced me to characters whose shoes I wanted to step in to. I now host a series on Instagram called Wednesday Writers – a half-hour slot at lunchtime where I chat candidly with another author about how we write, why we write, where we write…and how we cope when we fear we can’t bloody write!

I grew up surrounded by books and loved weekly visits to the library to choose something new – or an outing to the bookshop to spend a book voucher! Whether my childhood home or student digs in Manchester or various flat-shares and then my own home, books have always filled my space. I don’t own an ebook reader – I’m happy to continue to decorate my home with my book collection. Every book I own is a treasured possession of mine, an essential part of my history. Every book I own, quite literally, tells a story.

Since 2009 I have lived on a small farm in East Hertfordshire with my family – my offspring Felix and Georgia, my dogs Milo and Bee, my horses Nathan and Jack and my sheeps Brontë, Emily, Eliza and Lovely. In my spare time, I enjoy ceramics classes (I’ve been going for years and basically make the same bowl over and over again, plus little porcelain sheep) or invariably I can be found in one saddle or other. I’ve ridden horses since I was little but I took up road biking after my back surgery in 2017 – and have become somewhat obsessed…

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