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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Blackwater by Sarah Sultoon

Published December 4th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Noir Fiction, Hardboiled, Political Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The world is counting down to the millennium – and to disaster. When a child’s body is found on a remote island east of London, journalist Jonny Murphy is sent to investigate. What he uncovers is more than a tragedy. It’s a warning. Something catastrophic is coming … and Jonny might be the only one who can stop it.

‘A propulsive, atmospheric thriller that ratchets up the tension with every page’ TM Logan

‘A powerhouse writer’ Jo Spain

‘Cleverly layered and beautifully atmospheric … Sarah Sultoon has become an auto-buy author for me’ Kia Abdullah

‘The clock ticks down towards a fantastic payoff … Abandoned islands, thrilling chases, investigative journalists – what more could you want?’ Holly Watt

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They feared the machines. 

They should have feared the people…

London, Christmas 1999. The world is on edge. With the new millennium just days away, fears of the Millennium Bug are spiralling – warnings of computer failures, market crashes, even global catastrophe. But fifty miles east, on the frozen Blackwater Island, a different kind of mystery unfolds. A child’s body is discovered on the bracken, untouched by footprints, with no sign of how he died. And no one has come forward to claim him.

At the International Tribune, reporter Jonny Murphy senses something is off. Police are appealing for relatives, not suspects. An anonymous call led officers to the scene, but no one knows who made it. While the world fixates on a digital apocalypse, Jonny sees the real disaster unfolding closer to home. With just twenty-hour hours before the century turns, he heads to Blackwater – driven by curiosity, desperation, and the sting of rejection from his colleague Paloma.

But Blackwater has secrets buried deep in the frozen ground. More victims – some dead, others still paying for past sins. And when Paloma catches up to him, they stumble onto something far bigger than either of them imagined. Something that could change everything. The millennium is coming. The clock is ticking. Can Jonny stop it? Should he?

And what if Y2K wasn’t a hoax, but a warning…?

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Christmas, 1999. A young child’s body is discovered  in the black mud on Blackwater Island. The island is a protected nature reserve and is supposedly uninhabited. So how did the child get here? How did he die? And, most strangely, why has no one come forward to claim him? Suspicious of why the police are appealing for relatives but not suspects, journalist Jonny Murphy travels to Blackwater, a place mired in myth and legend, to investigate. He meets DC Gillian Peters, the only permanently placed officer in the area, who is overworked and understaffed. Residents talk about a ghost who haunts the island, which is a place mired in myth and legend. But Jonny’s investigations soon lead him to evidence of a much more human crime and to decades-old secrets that threaten to be exposed.

Suspenseful, sharp, intelligent and totally addictive, I flew through this heart-pounding thriller in just two sittings. It was impossible to put down as Sarah Sultoon once again delivered a skilfully written story of secrets, mystery and cover-ups. It jumps straight in with both feet and never misses a beat, taking you on a fast-paced rollercoaster ride full of crazy twists and surprising revelations. I loved that I never knew where it would go next and how Ms. Sultoon kept me on my toes until the last page.

The dawn of a new century and the millennium bug are as important to this story as the mystery of the little boy’s death. The two storylines are intricately interwoven, all the enigma of who the boy is and what happened to him merging with the chaos and fear that surrounds the impending turn of the millennium. Do you remember where you were on New Year’s Eve 1999 and the Y2K/millenium bug hysteria? I remember it all vividly. So, this was nostalgic for me, transporting me back to the craziness and uncertainty of what would happen when the clock struck midnight. Sultoon perfectly captures those feelings, creating a sense of foreboding that is palpable.

Sense of place is important to this story and Ms. Sultoon has created a place that is dark, mythical, mysterious, claustrophobic and vibrates with the secrets it’s keeping. It gave me chills and its strange and secretive residents only added to the eerie atmosphere it exuded. I’d not want to be there at night and my heart raced as Jonny and his colleague, Paloma, investigated. I was rooting for them, and Gillian, to solve the mystery and enjoyed reading them. I also enjoyed the background characters and loved that we were never sure who the villain was right up until the very end. 

A clever and gripping thriller that will have you hooked, I highly recommend this one.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog tour and to Orenda for sending me a copy of the book in exchnage for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sarah Sultoon is an award-winning journalist and writer, whose work as an international news executive with CNN and for Channel 4 News has taken her all over the world, from the seats of power in both Westminster and Washington to the frontlines of Iraq and Afghanistan. Her debut thriller, The Source, was a Capital Crime Book Club pick, won the Crime Fiction Lover Best Debut Award, was nominated for the CWA’s New Blood Dagger, was a number one bestseller on Kindle and is currently in production with Lime Pictures. It was followed by the critically acclaimed The Shot, Dirt and Death Flight.

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Thanks for reaading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG BLAST: Night By Night by Jack Jordan

Published December 4th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

If you’re reading this, I’m dead . . . A heart-stopping thriller from the master of the moral dilemma and Sunday Times bestselling author.

‘Grabs you in the gut and doesn’t let go’ Jo Spain, author of The Confession
‘You won’t sleep a wink’ Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour
‘A heart-breaking, heart-stopping read’ Lauren North, author of The Perfect Betrayal

Rejected by her family and plagued by insomnia, Rose Shaw is unravelling day by day.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Rose Shaw has been suffering from crippling insomnia for a decade. She lives her life in a haze of exhaustion that leaves her feeling like a failure as a wife and mother. So, when she decides to drive her daughters to their football match and try to watch from the sidelines, her intention is to make up for all the times she’s stayed at home trying to sleep instead. But, her well intentioned decision turns out to be the biggest mistake of her life, resulting in the death of one of her twin daughters and rejection by her family. Her life has fallen apart and she’s unravelling more each day.

Then, on another seemingly ordinary night, a hooded stranger crashes into her and drops a journal. Unable to resist temptation, Rose reads the diary and is unprepared for what is inside: a detailed account of how author Finn Matthews was stalked and is in fear for his life. Even though Finn is missing, the police refuse to investigate, so Rose takes matters into her own hands. Her search leads her to a string of missing and dead men and police failures and corruption. And it brings back memories of a time she would rather forget. Tarnished with the brush of insanity to try and silence her, Rose worries her investigation will be in vain. Will she finally be able to reveal the truth and stop the stalker before another man is taken?

Jack Jordan has done it again! Gripping, twisted, dark and haunting, this was another unputdownable thriller from the King of the bingeable thriller. Well written, multilayered and emotive, it was brimming with foreboding and suspense but also tugged on my heartstrings. Jack made me feel like I was living the experience alongside Rose and had my heart racing so intensely that I thought I was having a panic attack at one point! I couldn’t put it down, and when I read it in 2019 it solidified Jack’s place on my auto-buy list.

Rose was a great protagonist who I instantly connected with. She is flawed, broken, isolated, lost, and a shell of her former self. She’s also desperate to win back the love and forgiveness of her husband and child, but has run out of ideas to make that happen. I understood why they, and some others, hated her for what she did, but I had a lot of sympathy for her and was rooting for her to succeed.  I found her internal monologue at the start of the book amusing and could relate to a lot of the thoughts she had while plagued with insomnia. When Rose finds Finn’s diary it gives her a purpose and she finally has something to hope and fight for after so many years in the wilderness of her grief. We see another side to her: someone tenacious and determined who won’t be intimidated. Another fantastic character was the mysterious stalker. He felt almost ghostly in his elusiveness and part of the fear he struck in me was not knowing who he was. I loved that Jack disguised his identity so well that I only figured out who he was moments before it was revealed in a heart-stopping and terrifying turn of events that had me holding my breath in anticipation. Bravo, Mr. Jordan. 

Riveting, tense and unforgettable, this is a must-read for thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog blast and to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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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 latest 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.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

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BLOG TOUR: Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash

Published October 31st, 2025 by Boldwood Books
Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Nautical Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Set against the sparkling shores of Cornwall☀️, this BRAND NEW heartwarming, uplifting and gorgeously romantic tale of second chances is perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley. ✨

When life gives you heartbreak 💔, sometimes it also gives you a second chance… 💕

When Tom Sullivan returns to the quiet village of Sandpiper Shore, Emma can hardly believe her eyes. She hasn’t seen him since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play – a lifetime ago, before real heartbreak, and long before she ever imagined life as a widow.

The last thing she wants is to relive the past, especially with someone who once made her teenage heart flutter. But when Emma agrees to put on a charity pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance service that helped her late husband, she’s thrown firmly back into Tom’s path.

As rehearsals begin and the local community rallies around her, Emma finds unexpected joy in bringing people together – and a surprising connection with Tom that feels far too real to ignore. Maybe it’s time for Emma to become the leading lady in her own life, not just for the show, but for herself.

Full of warmth, humour and heart, this is a story about letting go and discovering that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

While this novel is set in the same village as the other books in the Sandpiper Shore series, it can be read as a STANDALONE

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Emma Montgomery is trying to move on with life following the sudden death of her husband, Ben. Along with her friends Jo and Michelle she runs the Lonely Hearts Club, a group for singles wanting to make friends, and has agreed to organise the local pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance. But Emma gets a huge shock when at a meeting about the pantomime who should appear but Tom Sullivan, Emma’s first love who she hasn’t seen since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play. To Emma’s dismay, he still makes her heart flutter just like he did when they were teenagers. But Tom broke her heart and she’s not looking for a man, so Emma is determined they will just be friends. But can she resist what her heart seems to want?

There is nothing better at this time of year than an uplifting romcom. And this book certainly fits that bill. Charming, warm, and witty, this was a joyful festive read and exactly what I didn’t know I needed. Kim Nash writes with heart and humour, expertly immersing you in the lives of her charismatic characters. And while there was laughter from the start, this is also a lot of depth to this story as Kim explores difficult topics such as coercive control, particularly the complex emotions that accompany it, and delivers an an evocative and moving portrait of grief and self discovery that reminds us all to believe in ourselves and take the opportunities life brings our way. 

But what’s most important in a romcom is the romance. You need characters who seem destined for each other and make you root for their happy-ever-after. This is something Kim delivers perfectly. I loved Emma and Tom. Not only were they great characters in their own right, but they had a compelling and tragic history and an undeniable chemistry that is still there over three decades later. These are people who make you believe in soulmates and I was rooting for them to find happiness again with one another despite the obstacles in their path. 

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage is the perfect romcom to escape with this festive season. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours, Anne at Random Things Tours, Rach at Random Resources and Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for the invitation to take part in this tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Nash is the bestselling author of uplifting, heartwarming, romantic, feel-good fiction. She has wanted to write books since she was a little girl. Her other dream, is to live in a home that has a view of a golden sandy beach and the sea sparkling in the sunlight. Until that dream comes true, she’ll continue to write second chance romances about women who live or move to the seaside on her behalf.

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage, the second book set in Sandpiper Shores, is out on 31st October 2025 and is available to pre-order now.

One of her greatest writing achievements is to be nominated for the Kindle Storyteller Award in 2020, and she was delighted when Claudia Winkleman had read her book and said it was ‘Totally warm and absolutely lovely.’

She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni, is Author Community Director for publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) and, as an avid reader, started her career in the publishing industry as a book blogger.

When she’s not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog at Cannock Chase, reading and binge-watching TV. She’s also quite partial to a spa day, lemon drizzle cake and a gin and tonic (not all at the same time!)

Kim also runs a book club in Staffordshire and organises local and national reader/author events.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Scars of Silence (Lidingo Mysteries, 2) by Johana Gustawsson

Published November 20th, 2025 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical Mystery, Psychological Fiction, Hardboiled, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Crime Series

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When two teenagers are found brutally murdered on the island of Lidingö, dressed in white tunics and wearing crowns of candles, former French police officer Maïa Rehn joins local Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery with a shockingly dark heart. The highly anticipated sequel to the international bestselling gothic mystery, Yule Island.

‘A horrific, baffling crime startles a small Swedish community. This is perfect Scandi Noir, dripping with atmosphere. The writing shines, and the story is impossible to resist. Gustawsson is a master’ Shari Lapena

‘A gripping mystery simmering with social outrage – this is what crime fiction should be’ Alexandra Sokoloff

‘Johana Gustawsson is an extraordinarily talented storyteller, with a beautiful, eloquent writing style. Scars of Silence unfolds at a breathless pace, and the climax is devastating’ Kate Rhodes

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Twenty-three years ago, a young woman was murdered on the Swedish island of Lidingö. 
The island has kept its silence. 


Until now…

As autumn deepens into darkness in Lidingö, on the Stockholm archipelago, the island is plunged into chaos: in the space of a week, two teenaged boys are murdered. Their bodies are left deep in the forest, dressed in white tunics with crowns of candles on their heads, like offerings to Saint Lucia.


Maïa Rehn has fled Paris for Lidingö after a family tragedy. But when the murders shake the island community, the former police commissioner is drawn into the heart of the investigation, joining Commissioner Aleksander Storm to unravel a mystery as chilling as the Nordic winter.

As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that a wind of vengeance is blowing through the archipelago, unearthing secrets that are as scandalous as they are inhuman.

But what if the victims weren’t who they seemed? What if those long silenced have finally found a way to strike back?

How far would they go to make their tormentors pay?

And you – how far would you go?

BUY THE BOOK

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MY REVIEW:

Happy book birthday to this heart-pounding slice of Scandi-Noir!

The small Swedish community of Lidingo is left reeling when the body of a boy who has been brutally murdered is discovered. He is found dressed as St Lucia: wearing a white tunic with a crown of candles on his damaged skull. Parallels are immediately drawn with another brutal murder 24 years earlier. Aleksander Storm and Maia Rehn work together to try and solve the crime and search for links to the historic murder. When another boy is found killed and dressed in the same way, they start to wonder if they have a serial killer on their hands. And, as they dig deeper, they unearth scandalous secrets that point towards a killer out for revenge after being silenced for too long…

Dark, powerful, atmospheric and heart-poundingly tense, the second book in the Lidingo mysteries packs a punch from the start. Johana Gustawsson has become one of my favourite thriller writers in recent years. A sinister storytelling powerhouse, she gets better with each book and has delivered another nerve-shredding whodunnit that simmers with horror whilst also exploring timely and relevant social issues such as consent. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed, fast-paced and filled with surprising twists, Gustawsson had me on the edge of my seat from its shocking opening to its devastating conclusion. And that reveal? I never saw it coming! Bravo, Ms. Gustawsson, bravo. 

One of the things I love about a series is coming back to the characters, and it was great to be back with Aleks and Maia. They are compelling characters who I enjoy reading, and this time around both of them are going through their share of turmoil alongside their search for a killer. Gustawsson strikes the balance between their stories and the plot perfectly, never allowing the pace to drop for even a moment as she also helps us develop an even stronger bond with our protagonists. I can’t wait to return for book three!

A darkly chilling and addictive Scandi Noir that you don’t want to miss, I highly recommend this book and series.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog tour and Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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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 Her critically acclaimed Roy & Castells series, including 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 nineteen countries. A TV adaptation is currently under way in a French, Swedish and UK co-production. The Bleeding was a number-one bestseller in France and is the first in a new series. Johana lives in Sweden with her Swedish husband and their three sons.

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ABOUT THE TRASLATOR:

David Warriner translates from French and nurtures a healthy passion for Franco, Nordic and British crime fiction. Growing up in deepest Yorkshire, he developed incurable Francophilia at an early age. Emerging from Oxford with a Modern Languages degree he narrowly escaped the graduate rat race by hopping on a plane to Canada – and never looked back. More than a decade into a high-powered commercial translation career, he listened to his heart and turned his hand to the delicate art of literary translation. David has lived in France and Quebec, and now calls beautiful British Columbia home.

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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 BLAST: Before Her Eyes by Jack Jordan

Re-issued June 5th, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

She can’t see the killer. But the killer can see her. An unputdownable thriller from the master of the moral dilemma and Sunday Times bestselling author.

‘A smart, claustrophobic thriller with a twist that left me reeling. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The New Neighbours
‘A first-rate psychological thriller’ John Marrs, bestselling author of When You Disappeared 

Naomi Hannah has been blind since birth, living her life in darkness. Trapped in her claustrophobic hometown, she’s finally reached her breaking point.

But everything changes when she stumbles across the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. Not only that, but Naomi senses she isn’t alone at the scene… Someone is there with her. The killer is watching.

Naomi may not be able to see their face, but she is the only person who can identify them.

As the police begin their hunt and more victims are discovered, Naomi is forced to answer the question on which her fate hangs: why did the killer let her live?

And in a town this small, the murderer may still be close. Perhaps even before her very eyes…

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

She can’t see the killer.  But the killer can see her….

Blind since birth, Naomi Hannah is struggling with living in a small, claustrophobic town and has considered ending her life but everything changes when she stumbles across the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. And Naomi’s heightened senses tell her she’s not alone. There is someone else at the scene who is watching her. She hasn’t seen their face, but she is still a witness and the only person who can identify them. Why did they let her live? And, more importantly, who are they? After all, in a town this small they could be right before her eyes…

Darkly atmospheric, tense and addictive, Before Her Eyes was the book that started my love of Jack Jordan and his edge-of-your-seat thrillers. I read it back in the Autumn of 2018 and it has stayed with me. Jordan’s flair for sinister storytelling is showcased on every page and he had me in his thrall from the first page to the last. He knows how to keep his reader on their toes, and while I had suspicions about who the killer might be,  I was never sure and didn’t know who to trust or what would happen next. And when all was revealed I sat back in a state of amazement and awe at the shocking truth of the culprit’s identity.

The decision to make Naomi blind is something that affects every facet of this story and adds to the sense of ominous tension that lingers on every page. It felt like an inspired but tricky choice, undoubtedly presenting Jordan with extra challenges when he was writing the book. But Jordan rose to the challenge, expertly conveying the trials and tribulations it brings to Naomi’s life and I found it fascinating learning more about how she navigated the world. Her blindness also adds a sense of fear and anxiety into situations where it would be missing for a sighted person, such as the killer being able to recognise Naomi from the scene of the crime and then stalk her without her being able to prove it. It didn’t matter she could sense them watching her as there was no proof. And it was terrifying. Naomi’s loneliness and dread radiated from the pages and my heart broke for her as she slowly found herself unable to trust anyone and became increasingly isolated. The killer taunted this already vulnerable woman, relishing the fact they could stalk her and others would just think she was being paranoid. I was so angry and frustrated, totally glued to the pages as I waited for the killer to be unmasked and justice to be served. I couldn’t wait for Naomi to be safe and vindicated at last.

Sensational and suspenseful, Before Her Eyes is an unforgettable thriller and a must-read for thriller fans. Just make sure to clear your schedule before you start reading.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in this blog blast, and to Simon & Schuster UK for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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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 latest 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.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

*This post contains an affiliate link

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

Vengeful Women (Falcon Bay, 3) by Melanie Blake

Published November 6th, 2025 by Piranha Publishing
Thriller, Crime Fiction, Romantic Suspense

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ABOUT THE BOOK:Ro

Power. Passion. Revenge. Nothing is off-limits in Falcon Bay.

From Sunday Times bestselling author Melanie Blake comes a gripping new chapter in the Falcon Bay series – where showbiz glamour collides with dark secrets, and women who’ve lost everything are ready to fight back.

On a private island off the coast of England, five powerful women sit in jail, awaiting trial for manslaughter: a world-famous soap star, an ambitious talent agent, a ruthless producer, a brilliant screenwriter and a cougar casting director.

The man who put them there, their long-term nemesis Jake Monroe, is cashing in – turning the island they once ruled into a twisted theme park crowned by the world’s tallest skyscraper. While the women plot revenge, old secrets that could change everything begin to surface.

The glossy veneer of their showbiz world was shattered when they were incarcerated and the rot beneath the red carpets and studio lights is beginning to show… and meanwhile, a journalist chasing the truth behind an American serial killer is uncovering stories that could destroy everything – and everyone.

As the body count climbs and the women’s trial date looms, Jake’s empire teeters. Because one thing is certain. Hell has no fury… like vengeful women.

If you love the glossy scandals of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins, the fast-paced suspense of Frieda McFadden, and the addictive twists of modern crime thrillers, Vengeful Women will keep you reading late into the night.

BUY THE BOOK

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MY REVIEW:

We’re back on St Augustine for the third instalment in the wonderfully over-the-top Falcon Bay series.

The story picks up a year after the events at the end of book two. Sheena, Helen, Catherine, Amanda and Farrah are all sitting in jail awaiting their trial for manslaughter after the death of their co-worker, Madeline Kane during a live episode of their show, Falcon Bay. Meanwhile, their nemesis, Jake Monroe, who is busy cashing in on the tragedy and turning St Augustine into a theme park where the world’s tallest skyscraper will be his crowning glory. The women plot revenge, but old secrets soon threaten to derail their plans. And someone else is exacting revenge; a serial killer in LA has a hit list of targets who wronged former Falcon Bay star Honey Hunter. A journalist is hot on the case and on the cusp on uncovering stories that could destroy all their lives. 

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And this book has them in abundance.  I loved the first two books in this series so I was very excited when I was offered the chance to step back into Falcon Bay. I had been wondering what was next after that cliffhanger at the end of book two and was thrilled to finally find out. It’s another story of love, lust, power, money, secrets and revenge. And it was totally worth the wait!

Tense, surprising and sexy, this enthralling story had me totally hooked. The book begins with a cast of the characters and a short blurb that tells us their story so far, which was really helpful for catching up on events. Melanie Blake once again showcases why she’s the heir to Jilly Cooper’s crown with this fun, sexy, fast-paced thriller that has tons of surprising twists, blood, backstabbing and blackmail along the way. And don’t think that the women being in jail will mean a lack of glamour and glitz, because there is still plenty on these pages. I loved being back in St Augustine and with these characters, especially the quintet of so-called ‘vengeful vipers’. They may be morally grey, but I love them and was rooting for them at *almost* every step. I also really enjoyed Tabitha’s character this time around, and Jake was as slimy and sleazy a villain as ever. 

An outrageous and entertaining bonkbuster that feels as campy and dramatic as Dynasty, Vengeful Women is pure escapism. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Tiger Team Creative for my invitation to take part in this blog tour and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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Q&A WITH MELANIE:

What’s your favourite place to sit and read?

I love to read in bed, with my dog on one side and a load of snacks on the other. My snack pile is made up of cans of ice-cold Coke and a bunch of crappy sweets – thank god I’ve got veneers!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Blake is the international bestselling author behind the sensational trilogy that began with Ruthless Women, the Sunday Times #4 bestseller that sold 250,000 copies in its first month. Along with its sequel, fellow bestseller Guilty Women, and her first novel The Thunder Girls, Melanie’s books have been translated into nine languages, and captivated more than a million readers worldwide.

Melanie’s stories are exhilarating rollercoaster rides packed with all the glamour, passion, and intrigue of her favourite novelist Jackie Collins. When Melanie was dubbed “the new queen of the bonkbuster” by the Sunday Times, and was later asked to write a foreword to a new edition of Jackie Collins, it was a dream come true.

Melanie has always blazed her own path, and last year she launched her own publishing company, Piranha, to ensure that this deluxe limited edition hardback of the thrilling finale to her celebrated trilogy, would meet her exacting standards and deliver an unmatched reading experience for her fans. She hopes you love reading it as much as she loved writing it.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Black As Death (An Arora Investigation, 5) by Lilja Sigurdardottir

Published October 23rd, 2025 by Orenda Books
Mystery, Thriller, Noir Fiction, Hardboiled, Nordic Noir, Translated Ficiton

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A final reckoning…

With the fate of her missing sister, Ísafold, finally uncovered, Áróra feels a fragile relief as the search that consumed her life draws to a close. But when Ísafold’s boyfriend – the prime suspect in her disappearance – is found dead at the same site where Ísafold’s body was discovered, Áróra’s grip on reality starts to unravel … and the mystery remains far from solved.

To distract herself, she dives headfirst into a money-laundering case that her friend Daníel is investigating. But she soon finds that there is more than meets the eye and, once again, all leads point towards Engihjalli, the street where Ísafold lived and died, and a series of shocking secrets that could both explain and endanger everything…

Atmospheric, dark and chilling, Black as Death is the breathtaking finale to the twisty, immersive An Áróra Investigation series, as Áróra and her friends search for answers that may take them to places even darker than death…

Perfect for readers of Camilla Läckberg, Karin Slaughter, Eva Björg Ægisdóttir and Jo Nesbø.

buy here

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MY REVIEW:

Breathtaking, emotional, shocking and twisty, Black As Death is the fifth installment and the unforgettable finale in the Árora Investigation series. Set in Iceland, a landscape with a bleak, mournful, sinister and forbidding atmosphere that is echoed in the emotions evoked by this story of love, loss, abuse, fear and murder. 

The book opens with Ísafold hiding in the bathroom after another round of abuse from her drug-dealing husband, Bjorn. She considers calling her sister, Árora, but knows she’ll tell her to leave or that there’s nothing she can do as Ísafold always goes back to him. So despite her desperation and loneliness, she decides it isn’t right to bother her sister. Not even as she whispers to herself that she thinks Bjorn will kill her soon.

We then jump forward, to Árora’s point of view. It’s now four years since Ísafold went missing and suspicion fell on Bjorn, the theory being that he killed her and then fled to Canada. But this past spring Ísafold’s body was found in a suitcase deep within a volcanic fissure in a lava field and Bjorn’s body was also located in another suitcase in that same lava field. If Bjorn didn’t kill her sister then who did? Árora’s partner, Daniel, a detective, and his work colleague, Helena, are investigating the murders, but answers aren’t coming quickly enough for Árora.

Running parallel to this, Daniel has discovered a possible money laundering operation that involves a local coffee chain. The shops aren’t busy enough for the amount of money they are taking and the owners have filed numerous complaints of criminal damage and violent acts against them that they later decline to pursue, making Daniel even more suspicious. This is just the kind of case that would benefit from Á́rora’s skills as an investigator and also prove a good distraction for her, so Daniel asks her to help. Arora happily throws herself into the case, it is soon clear that there is more to this case than first thought. And it is dragging her right back to that same street where her sister lived and died…

Darkly atmospheric, tense and heartrending, this was an addictive piece of Nordic noir. And what a finale! Lilja Sigurðardóttir had me in her thrall from start to finish. The story moves between timelines and narrators, the tension rising and the atmosphere getting tauter as the timelines converged and we raced towards an explosive conclusion. There is a lot going on in this book but it is never confusing, even when like me you’ve fallen behind on the series. Sigurðardóttir catches us up with past events and skillfully makes the different voices easily identifiable so that you never lose track of what’s happening. However, it isn’t always clear what timeline some of the characters and scenes are taking place in, but that felt deliberate and it heightened the mystery and suspense. I listened to this on audiobook, Sigurðardóttir’s expert storytelling and choreography merging with Lorenza Garcia’s fantastic translation and the compelling narration of Colleen Prendergast to create an utterly riveting and emotional thriller. I was on tenterhooks right up until its conclusion, which doesn’t leave you with the usual feeling of satisfaction you get when a killer is unmasked and the truth is finally revealed. Instead, there was a profound sadness at lives lost and other lives changed forever.

Árora, Daniel and Helen are likeable characters who it was easy to support. They each have different characteristics and skills that merge together to create a formidable crime-fighting team. While they, and all of the characters, are fascinating and layered, it is Árora and Ísafold who stood out as the most complex and memorable characters. Árora’s grief is palpable, as is her guilt at not being able to save her sister, her anger at her killer, and her desperation to find answers and justice. I was rooting for her at every step, praying that she would finally get the answers after years of torment. But I think the character who had the biggest emotional impact on me was Ísafold, and not only because I myself have been in an abusive relationship. Ísafold’s vulnerability, fear and turmoil radiate from the pages. We feel her inner conflict as she is torn between love for Bjorn and knowing she needs to leave, made even harder for her as he uses the classic abusive tactic of lovebombing her after each incident so that she forgives him again. Not only that, but having already isolated her from almost everyone, he cleverly manipulates her into giving up the job she loves to take a job as a carer and then coercing her into stealing pills he can then sell on. The biggest villains, Bjorn and his fearsome boss, Stuler, were skillfully written, made my blood boil and chills run down my spine. I spent the whole book longing for them to get their comeuppance and hoping justice would be served.

If you haven’t read this series, then add it to your TBR now. A must-read for all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurðardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written ten crime novels, including Snare, Trap and Cage, making up the Reykjavík Noir trilogy, and her standalone thriller Betrayal, all of which have hit bestseller lists worldwide. Snare was longlisted for the CWA International Dagger, Cage won Best Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year and was a Guardian Book of the Year, and Betrayal was shortlisted for the prestigious Glass Key Award and won Icelandic Crime Novel of the Year. The film rights for the Reykjavík Noir trilogy have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Cold as Hell, the first book in the An Áróra Investigation series, was published in the UK in 2021. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Lorenza Garcia spent her early adulthood living and working in Iceland, Spain and France. She has been a full-time literary translator since 2008 and has translated and co-translated over forty novels and works of non-fiction from French, Spanish and Icelandic. She currently lives in South London with her Tibetan Terrier.

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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 TOUR: The Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory

Published October 7th, 2025 by Harper Fiction
Historical Fiction, Biographical Ficiton, Political Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

She ​survives four queens. Will she fall to a tyrant?

Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor court. Where nothing is more powerful than a secret – or more deadly.

As the Boleyns rise, Jane rises with them. But the king’s love is a fickle thing. And when the royal gaze turns elsewhere, Jane uses the only weapon she has: her voice.

To survive in this dazzling, dangerous world she has mastered many masks: loving wife, devoted sister, and obedient spy. Now she must step out of the shadows.

She might outlive her rivals. She might know the court’s darkest secrets. But power rests on the edge of a tyrant king’s sword. Where will it fall next?

Philippa Gregory brings the Boleyn traitor into the light in an explosive story of one woman’s survival in the treacherous heart of the Tudor court.

buy the book

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MY REVIEW:

Historical storyteller extraordinaire Philippa Gregory takes on the life of Jane Boleyn, England’s most hated lady-in-waiting, in her latest epic reimagining. 

Summer, 1534. Jane is lady-in-waiting to Anne, the infamous second wife of Henry VIII. It is a tense and tumultuous time; Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, has been exiled, Henry has broken ties with the Catholic church, and Anne is pregnant for the second time, hopefully with a boy. But Jane is no newcomer to court, she’s served for many years and has learned to wear different masks to survive: wife, sister, servant, witness, liar and spy. And, as Anne’s fortunes fall, Jane’s talent for trading secrets just might be the key to her survival. But as the King becomes increasingly tyrannical, can she escape his wrath?

This is a story of family, ambition, power, tyranny and sexism that exposes the dark side of Tudor court that simmered beneath the jewels, extravagant clothes and lavish balls. Told by Jane Boleyn, this is an evocative portrayal of what life was really like at court. It was a precarious existence where your fortunes could change on the whims of the king and no one – not even his wives – were ever safe. There’s a constant sense of fear and foreboding, of trying to predict Henry’s every mood and desire. People are always trying to stay one step ahead and trade in secrets and betrayal in order to survive. It felt like a lonely existence where you can’t even trust your own spouse or family. And Jane is nothing if she isn’t a survivor. 

I’ve been a fan of Philippa Gregory ever since I first read The Other Boleyn Girl many years ago and have long been fascinated with the Tudor era, so I couldn’t wait to revisit it once again. And what a joy it was! Expertly written, meticulously researched, richly imagined and transportive, this novel is the epitome of a master at work. Ms. Gregory’s love for these characters and the time period is evident in every word and she brings history to life in such vivid detail it bursts from the pages and feels like you’re in the room with them. 

A magnificent piece of historical fiction from a legendary author, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Thank you to Harper Fiction for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned historian and novelist. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature at the University of Edinburgh and is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff, an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London and she was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to literature and to charity. Her novels have been adapted for stage and screen and in 2023 she published her groundbreaking history book, Normal Women – 900 Years of Making History, which was also released as a podcast, a teen edition and a series for young children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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BLOG TOUR: Never Tear Us Apart by Rowan Coleman

Published July 3rd, 2025 by Hodder Books
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Fantasy, War Story, Time Travel Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Historical Fantasy

Welcome to my review of this mesmerising story. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part, and to Hodder Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A spellbinding tale of love, strength and sacrifice from the Sunday Times bestselling author. Based on the gorgeous island of Malta in WWII, this is a story about the power of fate, and how sometimes, in order to find yourself – and to find love – you must first lose everything else. . .

Fate has brought them together. Will time tear them apart?

✨✨✨

2025

Named after a star, war correspondent Maia knows how to find the brightest stories – the tales of survival and strength – hidden amongst the dark realities of combat.

Now, travelling to Malta to visit her estranged father, with one more chance to build a relationship with her last remaining relative, she’s here to find her own story: never having found somewhere – or someone – she can call home, she’s desperate for answers that might show her where she truly belongs.

But when she arrives on the beautiful mediterranean island, she realises her long-lost family is full of more secrets than she could possibly have imagined. . .

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1942

Maia wakes up to find herself on an island under siege, a city in ruins – and knows she must have been sent here for a reason.

Who has she been sent to save? Or is it Maia herself that needs saving? And just when she’s finally found what she’s been seeking . . . will time separate them forever?


Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Dinah Jefferies.

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MY REVIEW:

Breathtaking, moving and unforgettable, Never Tear Us Apart is a truly special book that has stolen a piece of my heart forever.  A dual timeslip novel, it follows war correspondent Maia Borg, who we first meet in 2025 when she is visiting Malta, the place her estranged father, David, was born. It is her first time here but Maia soon finds that she feels like she’s coming home. But one day while visiting a temple, Maia faints and wakes in an unfamiliar place. This place is dark, noisy and airless. And she quickly realises she is in a shelter while bombs fall around them. It is 1942 and Malta is under siege from the Nazis and their allies. At first she thinks it’s a dream or that her PTSD is giving her hallucinations. But over time, as she takes multiple trips between timelines, Maia starts to believe that her presence in both places is real. But why? What has she been sent back for? As she makes friends and begins to fall in love, Maia realises she has finally found a place she truly belongs. But just as that happens, something threatens to take it all away…

Rowan Coleman is an author whose books are on my autoread list and I’ve always had a soft spot for her historical fiction stories most of all. So I couldn’t wait to read this book. I had high hopes but was unprepared for the beauty of this book and the emotional rollercoaster I was about to embark on. This book really should come with a warning! Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed and filled with vivacious characters, you can feel how much of Rowan’s heart and soul has been poured into this story. She made Malta come alive on these pages, transporting me to a place that has been on my bucket list for decades. I felt like I was taking every step and feeling every emotion alongside Maia. As a fan of history and historical fiction, I appreciated Rowan’s meticulous research and loved all of the history in this story. It was fascinating and I love how she allowed us to learn alongside Maia and experience her joy at understanding more about this country and her heritage. It has definitely made me even more eager to pay a visit and see these places for myself.

This book has a bit of everything: history, romance, drama, mystery and sci-fi, all merged together in perfect harmony to create a story I never wanted to end. I also didn’t want to leave these wonderful characters behind. I was so invested in their lives and was rooting for Maia at every step. I was on the edge of my seat, especially as we got to the final third of the book and the stakes got even higher. The sense of apprehension, urgency, tension and foreboding was palpable, leaping from the pages and setting my nerves on edge. I couldn’t have put this book down even if my house had been on fire. 

A mesmerising story that demands to be read, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rowan Coleman is the internationally bestselling and award winning author and screenwriter of sixteen novels including THE MEMORY BOOK, THE SUMMER OF IMPOSSIBLE THINGS and THE GIRL AT THE WINDOW.

A life long Bronte fan, under the Bronte inspired pen name Bella Ellis, Rowan also writes the Bronte Mysteries – a carefully researched series of novels that imagine that before they were were famous the Bronte Sisters were amateur detectives. THE VANISHED BRIDE and THE DIABOLICAL BONES and The RED MONARCH are out now.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These 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 REVIEW: Let the Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson

Published October 23rd, 2025 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Romcom, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this heartwarming festive read. Thank you to SJV and Books and the City 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:

even people, four days and a snowy Christmas on board a luxury sleeper train. This festive season getting away from it all takes on a new meaning…

The Yorkshire Belle is a glamorous steam train all decked out for an escapist festive getaway. It is not supposed to be where a group of people, all trying to get to their destinations for the holidays, will spend their Christmas. 

Seven people, each with their own hopes and dreams, secrets and sorrows, board the train as strangers, but as the snow keeps falling and they realise they are going nowhere fast, they are forced to slow down and embrace the present.

This Christmas on board the Yorkshire Belle, will the friendships they make change their lives forever?

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MY REVIEW:

Seven strangers are stranded during a snowstorm and end up taking refuge on The Yorkshire Belle, a luxury steam train that had been prepped for the ultimate festive getaway. Unable to reach the nearest village – let alone their destinations – the group spend four days on board the train slowly forging bonds of friendship. But will any of them be the same people that stepped on board when the snow melts and they head back to reality?

A quintessential cosy Christmas read that hits all the right notes, this was a marvellous start to my festive reading. Like hot chocolate by the fire on a cold day, it warmed me from the inside out and gave me a warm glow. Told with Ms. Johnson’s signature warmth and wit, delightful characters and a hearty dash or peril, heartache and turmoil, it takes you on an emotional but uplifting journey. After all, this may be a Christmas tale, but it doesn’t mean that  life comes up wrapped neatly in a bow. Life is dark, messy, chaotic, emotional and full of jagged edges and Milly balances these things with humour, warmth, love, hope and friendship.

The ‘trapped in a snowstorm’ trope has been done time and again, but this felt like an original take on a familiar trope that happens to also be one of my favourites. And it’s a stroke of genius. I loved this setting. It’s claustrophobic, precarious and turbulent, but also opulent, cosy, jovial and full of camaraderie. There is also a sense of nostalgia as their phones don’t work and they are cut off from the outside world apart from one radio station that keeps them updated on the storm.

One of the things I love most about Milly’s books is the characters she creates. They are always so relatable, real and recognisable, feeling like she’s plucked your neighbour from their house or someone from the street and put them in a book. These seven characters were some of my favourites she’s created. I loved that they were strangers when they first got on the train – with the exception of married couple Frank and Grace – that they forge strong bonds of friendship over the course of their claustrophobic few days together that last beyond their Christmas on The Yorkshire Belle. I loved this eclectic septet, especially Jane and Elizabeth. And I had a lot  of empathy for Frank and Grace, especially as we learned more about them.

A heartfelt and uplifting story that gave me all the festive feels, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 23 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (‘The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe’) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poet, a professional joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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