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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean Chronicles 2) by TJ Klune

Published September 12th, 2024 by Tor UK
Fantasy Fiction, Romance Novel, Contemporary Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Gay Fiction, Fantasy Series

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this gorgeous and uplitfting cosy fantasy. Thank you to Stephen at Black Crow PR 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:

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

This is the hugely-anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, a cosy-fantasy triumph and a New York Times bestseller.

Arthur Parnassus has built a good life on the ashes of a bad one. He’s headmaster at an orphanage for magical children, on a peculiar island, assisted by love-of-his-life Linus Baker. And together, they’ll do anything to protect their extraordinary and powerful charges.

However, when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself fighting for those under his care. It’s also a fight for the better future that all magical people deserve. Then when a new magical child joins their island home, Arthur knows they’ve reached breaking point. The child finds power in calling himself a monster, a name Arthur has tried so hard to banish to protect his children. Challenged from within and without, their volatile family might grow stronger. Or everything Arthur loves could fall apart.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

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MY REVIEW:

“There is magic in the ordinary. Magic that has the power to change the world “

We’re back on  Marsyas Island with Linus, Arthur and their motley crew of magical children for the second book in the Cerulean Chronicles. This time the story is told from Arthur’s point of view, opening with a glimpse at the dark past he has risen from before picking up where the first book left off as him and Linus are settling into life as a family with their children, even adding to their brood when David, a young Yeti, moves into their home. But when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his past, he and Linus find themselves fighting to protect the family they’ve created.

Heartwarming, uplifting, powerful and inspiring, once again TJ Klune has created a balm for the soul with this extraordinary tale. It was such a joy to be back in this captivating magical world with these wonderful characters. The real world around me disappeared as I lost myself in the one Klune has created, brought to life by his colourful, evocative storytelling. A story about love, inclusion, tolerance, self-worth and found family, Klune explores the topic of prejudice even further this time around and adds in the monsters that live inside all of us, asking whether it is ever okay to  proudly claim that side of us  or if it should be hidden. It’s powerful and thought-provoking, but wrapped up in a cosy and whimsical package that stops it from ever feeling heavy. 

But it is the richly drawn and compelling characters that shine brightest for me. These characters may be magical beings and considered dangerous, particularly anti-christ, Lucy, but they are relatable and feel deeply  human. I love how Klune has used magical creatures as a metaphor for the LGBTQ community or anyone else who is different from the ‘norm’. Like Arthur and Linus, I feel protective of them and my heart was pounding as their future came under threat from the Department in Charge of Magical Youth – aka DICOMY. I was raging at the things their representatives said and the things they tried to do, but was cheering as Arthur, Linus, the children, and others on the island all stood against them. 

This series has become one of my favourites, so I am really hoping this isn’t the last we hear from these characters. And don’t miss reading the author’s note at the end. If the book doesn’t break you, then that will 😭😭 

Soulful, spellbinding and full of heart, Somewhere Beyond the Sea is uplit at its finest. A must-read for anyone who wants their day made brighter, add this, and the previous book, to your TBR now. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.

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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

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: The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries, Volume 2) by Michael J. Malone

Published September 12th, 2024 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Gothic Fiction, Horror Fiction, Contemporary Horror, Hardboiled, Book Series

Happy publication day to this chilling gothic thriller and welcome to my stop on the blog tour. Thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and Orenda for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A tense, creepy page-turner’ Ian Rankin, New Statesman
 
`Malone is the master of twists, turns and the unexpected´ Herald Scotland
 
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Annie surged forward, but she was too slow, too late.
A hand came over and down, and she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck.
Then all became smoke, and silence.
 
Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch, Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs, a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries.
 
While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths.
 
Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for Annie’s help. Mandy’s nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping off his four-year old son at his mother’s home.
 
Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis’ life may be changed forever…
 
The second book in the critically acclaimed Annie Jackson Mysteries series, The Torments is both a contemporary gothic thriller and a spellbinding mystery that deeps deep into a past that should, perhaps, remain undisturbed…
 

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MY REVIEW:

He’s done it again. The second book in Michael J. Malone’s Annie Jackson mysteries is another eerie, haunting and compulsive journey into the unknown. This time Annie and her twin brother, Lewis, are drawn into investigating the disappearance of a family friend, leading them to a darker mystery and long-held secrets that are better left undisturbed….

This is a stay up all night and feel knackered the next day, but it’s totally worth it kind of a book. Malone is a masterful gothic storyteller and this one is deliciously dark, merging folklore and mystery with an unsettling but hypnotic atmosphere that kept me glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, intricately woven and cleverly choreographed, Malone toys with the reader, taking us down a road of misdirection and shocking twists. Other than a theme of the characters being tormented by forces that feel beyond their control, I had no idea how the two timelines or characters were connected or what would happen next and I devoured the book in one sitting, forcing myself to stay awake long into the early hours in my desperate need for answers.

The story is told in dual timelines: then and now. Both narratives are dripping with menace, foreboding, disquiet, mystery and intrigue, chilling me to the bone while keeping me on the edge of my seat. Annie narrates the present and follows as she and Lewis begin their hunt for their missing family friend. Annie is still trying to adjust to life with the murmurs, which remain unpredictable. All she can predict is for some reason they leave her alone when she’s home at her cottage, leading her to isolate herself a lot. I loved Annie’s relationship with her twin brother, Lewis, and think they make a great investigative duo. Meanwhile, the past timeline is narrated by Ben and Sylvia, two lost souls tormented by darkness and found by the wrong kind of people. They are children when their story begins, and I felt sorry for them at the start, but they made my skin crawl when they were adults. Malone has witten them cleverly, surprising me many times with their character arc, particularly  when all was finally revealed. 

Nerve-shredding, dark, twisting and unputdownable, this is a must for your spooky-season TBR. So, if like me you enjoy your thrillers with a slice of gothic, then this book and series is for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought upin the heart of Burns’ He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. Other published work includes: Carnegie’s Call; A Taste for Malice; The Guillotine Choice; Beyond the Rage; The Bad Samaritan; and Dog Fight. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines and After He Died soon followed suit. Since then, he’s written two further thought-provoking, exquisitely written psychological thrillers In the Absence of Miracles and A Song of Isolation, cementing his position as a key proponent of Tartan Noir and an undeniable talent. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr.

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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 chcek out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the tour.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Goddess with a Thousand Faces by Jasmine Elmer

Published September 12th, 2024 by Renegade Books
Historical Fiction, Mythology

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this gorgeous exploration of godesses and our ancient past. Thank you to Midas PR for the invitation to take part and Renegade Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘I loved Goddess with a Thousand Faces. Fascinating, fun and thoughtful and enlightening’ JENNIFER SAINT

‘A beautiful weave of history, myth and storytelling by one of our most exciting new classicists’ DAN SNOW

Steeped in ancient magic, dark divinity and wild ways, Goddess with a Thousand Faces takes you on a historical journey like no other…

Blending mythological retellings with historical research, Goddess with a Thousand Faces traverses the world and transports through time to bring ten formidable and inspiring ancient goddesses to life. Meet Artemis, the Greek goddess of the wilderness, never without her bow and arrow; Sedna, Inuit goddess of the ocean, guarding the icy waters and all its creatures; Isis, Egyptian goddess of healing, who dwells by the River Nile, just to name a few…

Jasmine Elmer explores these goddesses of our past, uncovering their truths, their rebellion and their freedom. For too long, they have been written out of history; lost to the sands of time and stamped into silence. Goddess with a Thousand Faces restores these women to their glory.

Pour over this treasure trove of myths, legends and mighty goddesses. Hear the messages echoing through the ages and see yourself in the faces of these icons. For while their stories might ancient, today they are more important – and more powerful – than ever.

A treasure trove of beautiful storytelling and ancient wisdom, perfect for fans of Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola and Storyland by Amy Jeffs.

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MY REVIEW:

“Welcome to the world of the goddess…” 

Goddess with a Thousand Faces is like no other book I’ve read. Beautiful, poetic and ambitious, it tells the story of nine different goddesses from around the world, blending myth with history and exquisite storytelling to go deeper than the average retelling. Jasmine Elmer tells us the goddesses story and then examines the history of the ancient society that created it, allowing us to understand the environment that created the myths, how they viewed women, and giving us a greater comprehension of what the stories are trying to tell us. All of this merges with Elmer’s evocative imagery to completely immerse her reader in these myths and ancient civilisations. And how could I write a review for this book without mentioning that stunning cover. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful books in my collection.

“So, tell the world, femininity can be dark. It can be angry. Embrace it. Honour it. Next time the Rangda within rages, go to her and listen. Tell her that it’s OK to step out of the shadows… Wear her with pride.”

Each of the nine goddesses in this book are carefully chosen by Elmer and blended with her meticulous research where she asks us to think about what we can learn from these myths and how we can relate to them today. One of the things I liked most about this book was how it was about goddesses from all around the world. I’ll admit, I’ve only really read Greek mythology before this, so although I had read about Artemis before and knew a little about Isis, the other goddesses were completely new to me. It was fascinating and sparked a new interest in me to learn more about different mythology. I loved all of the goddesses, but the one that I felt the strongest connection to was Rangda – Balinese Goddess of Evil, Black Magic and Balance. She was such an interesting, powerful and enthralling goddess and I found myself relating to so much of her story. I will definitely be reading more about her in the future.

Atmospheric, detailed and enlightening, Goddess with a Thousand Faces is a must-read. Even if you’ve not read any mythology before, I think you’d enjoy this book. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A straight-talking expert in ancient cultures, Jasmine Elmer is passionate about opening up this knowledge to everyone in an engaging, inspiring way.

She believes in challenging the traditional approaches, and brings her energy and storytelling skills to use the modern world as a springboard to the ancient one.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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

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BLOG TOUR: I Died At Fallow Hall by Bonnie Burke-Patel

August 29th, 2024 by Bedford Square Publishers
Mystery, Thriller, Political Fiction

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this cosy and mysterious debut. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Bedford Squard Publishers for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Beautifully written, told with empathy and a razor-sharp wit. I couldn’t put it down’. Seth Insua, author of Human, Animal

Anna Deerin moves to a remote Cotswold cottage to become a gardener, trying to strip away everything she’s spent all her life as a woman striving for, craving the anonymity and privacy her new off-grid life provides.

But when she clears the last vegetable bed and digs up not twigs but bones, the outside world is readmitted.

With it comes Detective Inspector Hitesh Mistry, who has his own reasons for a new start in the village of Upper Magna.

Drawn in spite of herself to this unknown woman from another time, Anna is determined to uncover her identity and gain recognition for her, if not justice.

As threats to Anna and her new life grow closer, she and DI Mistry will find that this murder is inextricably bound up with issues of gender, family, community, race and British identity itself – all as relevant in decades past as they are to Anna today.

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MY REVIEW:

I love a good country house mystery so I was excited to read this book. Set in the fictional village of Upper Magna in the Cotswolds, I Died At Fallow Hall follows Anna Deerin, who has recently moved to a remote cottage in the village to become the gardener at Fallow Hall. But one day she digs up more than she anticipated in the vegetable beds: the bones of a young woman that have been hidden there for years. Detective Inspector Hitesh Mistry is sent to investigate, but it seems no one has missed this woman and there are few clues. Anna can’t shake her thoughts of the unknown woman and is determined to give her back her identity and find out what happened, so she begins to make her own enquiries, getting closer to DI Mistry in the process. But it seems there is someone who doesn’t want this mystery to be solved, and Anna and Hitest soon find that their own lives are in danger…

Mysterious, tender, pensive and compelling, this is a wonderful debut. Layered, intricately woven, cleverly plotted and full of surprising twists, Bonnie Burke-Patel crafted an intriguing mystery that kept me guessing up until the final page. The story moves seamlessly between the dual timelines and I really enjoyed the added mystery and tension that arose from the past narrative as we get to know the lady of Fallow Hall and search for clues to her identity and fate as she tells her story. The dual timelines are also used to explore themes such as identity, prejudice, sexism, family, community, and starting again. 

But what shined brightest for me in this book were its characters. Richly drawn and acutely observed, I really cared about them and was invested in their lives. I loved the dynamic between Anna and Hitesh and how they related to each other on so many different levels. I admit that I’d expected a more Christie-esque large cast of characters, but I was pleasantly surprised by the smaller cast. I think this not only helped me feel like I was getting to know the characters better, but it also added to the small, quiet village atmosphere that I loved. 

Gorgeous, alluring and full of heart, this cosy debut is perfect for reading on a cold autumn or winter night. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in South Gloucestershire, Bonnie Burke-Patel studied History at Oxford. After working for half a decade in politics, she changed careers and became a preschool teacher. She lives with her husband, son, and needy cat in southeast London. Her debut novel I Died at Fallow Hall will be published by Bedford Square in 2024.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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 BLAST: The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker

Published June 24th, 2021 by Hutchinson Heinmann
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Fiction

Welcome to my review for this extraordinary debut. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part in the blog blast and to Hutchinson Heinmann for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘So that was all it took,’ I thought. ‘That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn’t so much after all.’

Chrissie knows how to steal sweets from the shop without getting caught, the best hiding place for hide-and-seek, the perfect wall for handstands.

Now she has a new secret. It gives her a fizzing, sherbet feeling in her belly. She doesn’t get to feel power like this at home, where food is scarce and attention scarcer.

Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to mother her five-year-old daughter, Molly. She is always worried – about affording food and school shoes, about what the other mothers think of her. Most of all she worries that the social services are about to take Molly away.

That’s when the phone calls begin, which Julia is too afraid to answer, because it’s clear the caller knows the truth about what happened all those years ago.

And it’s time to face the truth: is forgiveness and redemption ever possible for someone who has killed?

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MY REVIEW:

‘So that was all it took,’ I thought. ‘That was all it took for me to feel like I had all the power in the world. One morning, one moment, one yellow-haired boy. It wasn’t so much after all.’

Eight-year-old Chrissie knows she’s a bad seed. After all, everyone is always telling her so. But now she has a secret no one else knows. Something that makes her feel powerful and gives her a fizzing, sherbert feeling in her belly: she’s the one who killed two-year-old Steven. 
Fifteen years later, Julia is trying to be the best mother she can be to five-year-old Molly. Julia worries about everything. But most of all she worries that her past will return to haunt her and social services will take her daughter away. 

“I killed a little boy today.”

When a book starts with a sentence like that it grabs your attention from the start. And this one never let me go. Profoundly dark, unsettling, harrowing and moving, The First Day of Spring is an extraordinary debut. Based on the real-life crimes of Mary Bell, a child convicted of killing two children in the sixties and was later released from prison with a new identity, Nancy Tucker skillfully explores the disturbing psyche of a child killer, asking if some people are born evil, and if forgiveness and redemption are ever possible for someone who kills. This deeply uncomfortable read is a story of murder, toxic families, neglect, poverty, trauma, and the shades of grey that exist between the black and white of morality. Tucker is an exceptional storyteller whose writing is compelling, perceptive, compassionate and menacing. Every word oozes darkness, malice, suffering, pain, and pent-up rage. But there is also helplessness, fragility, sadness and desperation woven in, creating a jarring contrast of emotions that will simultaneously send shivers down your spine and tug on your heart strings. This book broke me. I haven’t stopped thinking about it and I know it will stay with me forever. 

“I liked it that way. It meant I got to be a killer but I also got days off from being a killer. Because being a killer was quite a tiring thing to be.”

Tucker has created a cast of seriously complex characters for this book. They are damaged people trying to survive their hard lives, often resorting to desperate measures, and remind us that no-one is ever all good or all bad. Chrissie is a character I will never forget. She has never known love or affection, she’s always hungry, her clothes are dirty and tatty, and no-one ever wants her around. She is all-too aware that her life is unfair and she’s seething about it. It makes her vindictive and she lashes out at other children, bullying them in an attempt to seize back some power and control. It was devastating to read and my heart broke for her. But, equally, being immersed inside young Chrissie’s mind was a chilling and disturbing experience, something which was enhanced by the juxtaposition of her angry, sinister thoughts and her childish innocence. To me, it felt obvious that her terrible actions were those of a desperate, lost and mixed-up child crying out for love and attention rather than someone who was evil. Though that doesn’t mean I don’t condemn her actions, because I do.

“Because any kid who stayed with me would grow up a jigsaw of rotted, crumbling parts.”

Julia is a very different character.  Anxious, anguished and emotionally scarred, she’s haunted by guilt and feels undeserving of happiness. But, first and foremost, Julia is a mother who loves her daughter, Molly, so much that she hates being separated from her even while she’s at school. She’s determined to be a good mother even though she has no example from her own mother, who was neglectful, uninterested and abusive. I was proud of Julia for refusing to continue this cycle, as it would have been easy to be a bad mother and make excuses. Julia is a bundle of nerves and worries about everything from how she will afford tonight’s tea to if the school mums like her. But the thing she worries about most is losing custody of her daughter. My heart broke for her and I was rooting for her as she really was remorseful and trying her best.

“People kept forgetting me. It wasn’t good enough.”

Darkly atmospheric, intense, haunting, affecting and thought-provoking, this book left me speechless. I loved it but felt totally hollowed out once it was over. This is an easy five stars from me and I’m sure it will be in my top reads of the year. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Tucker was born and raised in West London. She spent most of her adolescence in and out of hospital suffering from anorexia nervosa. On leaving school, she wrote her first book, THE TIME IN BETWEEN (Icon, 2015) which explored her experience of eating disorders and recovery. Her second book, THAT WAS WHEN PEOPLE STARTED TO WORRY (Icon, 2018), looked more broadly at mental illness in young women.

Nancy recently graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Experimental Psychology. Since then she has worked in an inpatient psychiatric unit for children and adolescents and in adult mental health services. She now works as an assistant psychologist in an adult eating disorders service. The First Day of Spring is her first work of fiction.

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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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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: The Marriage Test by Ellie Monago

Published September 3rd, 2024 by Bookouture
Psychological Thriller

I am thrilled to be opening the blog tour for this heart-pounding thriller on its publication day. Thank you to Bookouture 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:

One tropical island. Four couples. They believe they’re on a TV show to save their marriages. But the people behind the cameras know all their secrets. They’re going to be revealed, one by one. Because everyone has something to hide…

An incredibly successful surgeon and her gorgeous partner enjoy a life of luxury. To get it, one of them had to hide a dark past…

A young couple are expecting their first child. Has one of them been unfaithful?

High school sweethearts, missing their two young children. But the suburban dream is becoming a nightmare…

A husband and wife running a successful business together. But with both their marriage and company failing, what is really happening behind closed doors?

But their secrets aren’t the only thing coming out under the bright lights. Because some of the people on this island have met before.

And one of them has a secret they’d kill to protect…

Who will pass the marriage test? And who will survive?

A completely binge-worthy, utterly twisted thriller that will have you turning the pages all night long! Perfect for fans of The Perfect Marriage, Freida McFaddenand The Girl in Seat 2A.

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MY REVIEW:

Four couples are on a tropical island to take part in a reality TV show and try to save their relationships. Each of the couples are hiding something. Things they don’t know the producers know and plan to reveal one by one. But one of the contestants is willing to do anything to protect their secret. Even kill. Who will survive the marriage test? And at what cost?

Heart-poundingly tense, twisty and addictive, The Marriage Test had me hooked. Moving between events on the island and police interviews with the producers, we know from the start that one of the contestants doesn’t leave the island alive, providing a sense of inherent danger. And there’s things simmering beneath the surface, dark secrets just waiting to boil over. Compelling, intricate and hard to predict, Ellie Monago has cunningly crafted this fast-paced thriller, barely giving you time to catch your breath from one twist before you’re hit with another one, exposing the truth behind so-called ‘Reality TV’ while asking how far we’re prepared to go to stop our darkest secrets from being revealed.

This is a story filled with flawed characters and unreliable narrators. They may say they’re here to save their relationships, but it is soon clear that all of the contestants have other motivations for appearing on the show, and they all have secrets they want to keep hidden, making it impossible to trust anything they say or that you think you know. I found myself particularly drawn to Lauren and Tatiana but there wasn’t one character I was rooting for and I didn’t really care if the couples stayed together. I was here for the drama and to try and solve a murder. The contestants quickly formed friendships, rivalries and even cross-couple flirtations. Meanwhile the producers and counsellors toy with them and begin revealing their secrets at the behest of Marla, the show’s executive producer. She was like an evil puppeteer pulling all the strings and watching things unravel with glee, seemingly not caring that she is messing with people’s lives. All she cares about is the ratings. But things unravel quickly, it’s the perfect recipe for murder and everyone has a motive. 

After the murder the contestants are not only trapped on an island with a killer, they are also terrified they might be next and have no idea who they can trust, the tension really heating up as speculation about the killer’s identity is rife. At this point they are also faced with discovering how they have been perceived on the show and the social media speculation about which one of them is the killer, leaving them trying to prove their innocence and protect their image whilst also trying to salvage their relationships. I was on tenterhooks and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, desperate to finally know the truth. 

Jaw-dropping, riveting and suspenseful, this is a must-read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Monago is the pen name of an acclaimed novelist and practicing therapist. She’s also a wife and mother, and when you add it all up, she doesn’t wind up with much time for hobbies. But she’s an avid tennis fan, a passionate reader of both fiction and nonfiction—especially memoir (nothing’s as juicy as the truth!)—and she relishes a good craft cocktail.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon*
*this is an affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: Eddie Winston is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin

Published August 15th, 2024 by Doubleday
Romance Novel, Literary Ficiton, Humorous Ficiton

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this heartwarming and unforgettable novel. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Doubleday for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Funny, feelgood, heartlifting story about the power of intergenerational friendship and finding love in unexpected places – perfect for fans of The One Hundred Year-Old Man Who Climbed Through the Windowand The Rosie Project

‘Marianne Cronin creates such complete and lovable characters. Brimming over with kindness and hope. Sublimely enjoyable’ Hazel Prior, author of Away with the Penguins

‘Lives up to the brilliance of The One Hundred Years of Lenni & Margot and, dare I say it… surpasses it. Funny, captivating, faultless‘ Julietta Henderson
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Eddie Winston is ninety years old. He has lived and he has loved, but he has never been kissed.

A true gentleman and incurable romantic, Eddie spends his days volunteering at a charity shop, where he sorts through the donations of the living and the dead, preserving letters and tokens of love along the way. It is here that he meets Bella, a troubled young woman who, aged twenty-four, has just lost the love of her life.

When Bella learns that Eddie is yet to have his first kiss, she resolves to help him finally find love, sparking an adventure that will take them to unexpected places and, they hope, bring Eddie to the moment he has waited for all his life.

As Bella helps Eddie and Eddie helps, well, everyone, a soul-stirring story of friendship and kindness unfolds as we see how those we love are never forgotten and it is never too late to try again.

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MY REVIEW:

“Love is really just two people who can’t keep away from each other.”

Heartwarming, poignant, vibrant and uplifting, Eddie Winston is Looking For Love is sunshine in book form. It follows the eponymous Eddie Winston, a nonagenarian who spends his days volunteering at a charity shop where he sorts through donations. Sometimes Eddie will find an item that is valuable only to the heart, so he puts it  aside and preserves it in his collection of treasures, just in case the owner misses it and comes looking for it. And it is his collection that leads him to Bella, a troubled young woman who is grieving the love of her life. Bella donates some of her late boyfriend’s things only to return later hoping to get some of them back. Thankfully, they are in Eddie’s collection and the two begin an unlikely friendship. When Eddie reveals that he has loved but he has never been kissed, Bella resolves to help him find love, taking them on a journey where they meet new friends and, hopefully, the love Eddie has long waited for. 

Oh, my heart. A charming story of friendship, kindness, love and hope, this book is a balm for the soul. I adored Marianne Cronin’s debut novel, The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot, so I was eagerly anticipating this follow-up. And she shows us that her debut was no fluke. She is a masterful storyteller who creates beautifully written stories and wonderful characters.  I enjoyed how the flashbacks slowly revealed the story of Eddie’s first and only love while he was searching for his last love in the present and was rooting for him at every step.  The joy radiates from the pages of this book and I spent most of my time reading it with a smile on my face. And that ending! It nearly broke me before warming me from the inside once again and I hugged it close when I was finished. 

“It is so fragile, the notion that there might be someone out there for everyone.”

What makes this book so exceptional is the unforgettable characters. I adored Eddie. He’s one of those characters everyone will love and wins you over from the first pages. Kindhearted, compassionate, vibrant and witty, he’s the consummate gentleman, a hopeless romantic and impossible not to like. I loved his eye for snazzy clothing how he saw the value in seemingly mundane items that others would have thrown away.  I love a multi-generational friendship, and the bond between Eddie and Bella was one of the most wholesome I’ve ever read. I loved the ways they helped and encouraged one another, bringing out the best in each other. I loved joining them on their adventures and meeting all the different characters along the way, with Bridie and Emmeline standing out as two of my favourites. 

Warm, heartfelt, funny and irresistible, Eddie Winston is Looking For Love reminds us it is never too late to start again and that no matter our age, some of our greatest moments are still to come. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hello, I’m Marianne Cronin, author of ‘The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot’.

My second novel, ‘Eddie Winston is Looking for Love’ will be released in 2024 and I can’t wait to share Eddie’s story with you.

When I’m not writing, I can be found trying to be funny in various improv groups and taking way too many photos of my cat, Puffin.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | 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.

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BLOG TOUR: The Examiner by Janice Hallett

Published August 29th, 2024 by Viper Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this innovative, perplexing and addictive whodunnit. Thank you to Viper Books 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 THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE APPEAL, THE TWYFORD CODE, THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS AND THE CHRISTMAS APPEAL ***

‘An absolute original’ – MICK HERRON
‘Hallett at her very best’ – ELLY GRIFFITHS
‘A slice of genius’ – LOUISE CANDLISH

Six Students. One Murder. Your Time Starts Now…

The mature students of Royal Hastings University’s new art course have been trouble from day one. From acclaimed artist Alyson who seems oddly overqualified, to hapless Patrick who can barely operate design software, and city boy Cameron who blusters his way through assignments. Not to mention Jem, who’s a gifted young sculptor… but cross her at your peril.

The year-long course is blighted by students setting fire to one another’s artwork, a rumoured extra-marital affair and a disastrous road trip. But finally they are given their last assignment: to build an art installation for a local manufacturer. With six students who have nothing in common except their clashing personal agendas, what could possibly go wrong?

The answer is: murder. When the external examiner arrives to assess the students’ coursework, he becomes convinced that a student was killed on the course and that the others covered it up. But is he right? Only a close examination of the evidence will reveal the truth. Your time starts now…

‘Witty, creepy and oh-so-clever’ – TOM HINDLE
‘Fresh and infinitely intriguing’ – J.M. HALL
‘Witty, devious and outrageously brilliant’ – IAN MOORE

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MY REVIEW:

“What could have possibly gone wrong on an art course”

Original, ambitious, devilishly clever and addictive, the Queen of the epistolary novel is back with her twistiest and most perplexing whodunnit yet. 

The new art course at Royal Hastings University has been plagued with problems since day one. The six mature students on the course have clashed from the beginning, there’s rumours of an extra-marital affair, students setting fire to each other’s artwork, and a disastrous road trip. But they must somehow work together to create their final assignment: building an art installation for a local manufacturer. Surely they can overcome their differences and personal agendas to get the job done. After all, what could go wrong on an art course? The external examiner is convinced the answer is murder. He believes that one of the students was killed on the course and the others have covered it up. Surely he must be wrong? It’s time to examine the evidence and find out the truth…

A new Janice Hallet book always feels like an event so I was very excited to be invited on the blog tour and start reading. Expertly written, intricately plotted and acutely observed, this isn’t a book you read, but one you step into, inviting you to be part of it from the beginning by challenging the reader to solve the mystery alongside the examiner. The characters are richly drawn and fascinating, drawing you into the drama and conflict of the art course. I was completely immersed, living and breathing every moment alongside these characters and losing myself in the story so much that the world around me ceased to exist. I was ready to find a killer. Or so I thought…

Hallett is a master storyteller. When you pick up one of her books you know you are about to read an innovative, complex and sophisticated page-turner that will keep you guessing. She takes her readers on a labyrinthian journey that is impossible to predict, teasing us with misdirection and embedding clues into the story like breadcrumbs to follow. But they are hidden and we don’t see them until later when she hits us with a shocking twist, revealing the truth so that those little, innocuous things now suddenly have a greater meaning and things make sense. The puzzle begins to come together. I was in her thrall, on the edge of my seat from start to finish and so transfixed that I inhaled it in just two sittings. How on earth does she do it? I’d love to peek inside her brain and get a glimpse of her genius because I have no idea how she even begins creating something so clever and convoluted. I’m in awe. This is without a doubt my favourite of her books I’ve read so far and one of my top books this year. 

Creative, unique and immersive, The Examiner is an outstanding mystery that will make your head spin. Definitely one not to be missed. 

Rating: 🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Janice Hallett is the author of three best-selling novels. Her debut, The Appeal, was awarded the CWA Debut Dagger of 2021 and was a Sunday Times’ Bestseller, Waterstones’ Thriller of the Month and Sunday Times’ Crime Book of the Month. Her second novel The Twyford Code was named Crime & Thriller Book of the Year in the British Book Awards 2023. It was also a Sunday Times’ Bestseller and a Financial Times book of the year. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was an instant Times and Sunday Times bestseller on its launch in January 2023 and a Richard & Judy Book Club pick.

The Christmas Appeal, a fast, fun and festive novella, was launched in October 2023. It was a Times and Sunday Times bestseller.

Her next novel is The Examiner, released on 29 August 2024.

Her first novel for children aged 8-12 is A Box Full of Murders, released in March 2025.

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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.

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Right Place by Sophia Money-Coutts

Published August 15th, 2024 by HQ
Romantic Comedy, Holiday Romance, Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this warmhearted and funny escapist romcom. Thank you HQ 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:
Escape the grey skies with this gorgeous summery beach read romcom set in the South of France!⛅

If Maggie is living her best life, why doesn’t it feel like she’s in the right place?

‘As fun and fizzy as a chilled glass of prosecco…this is the perfect read for your holiday’ The Daily Express

‘A beach cocktail in book form’ Metro

‘A laugh-a-minute page-turner, perfect for poolside reading’ HELLO!

☀️☀️☀️

From the outside, Maggie Lemon has a perfect life. But she and her husband have been trying for a baby for five years and she’s exhausted. She’s seen countless fertility experts and followed dozens of diets and homeopathic recommendations, and even gave up her dream restaurant in London when doctors suggested the stress might be too much. And now her estranged aunt has died, leaving her hotel in Provence to Maggie.

It’s been years since Maggie visited Le Figuier. There’s a lot of work to be done and she knows she should sell it. But when a disgraced Hollywood actor hiding out at the hotel lends a hand, the load feels a lot lighter. Is it just the chemistry with this handsome stranger, or is it starting to feel like Maggie might finally be in the right place?

Perfect for fans of:

💕Grumpy X Sunshine
💕Forced proximity
💕Celebrity romance

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MY REVIEW:

Heartwarming, funny, poignant and entertaining, The Right Place is the perfect summer romcom to escape the disappointing British weather with. A compelling story of self-discovery and finding love in the most unexpected of places, it explores serious topics such as infertility and grief but never loses its humour. I became an instant fan of Sophia Money-Coutts when I read What Happens Now? back in 2019. I know that when I pick up one of her books I am guaranteed an uplifting read that is well-written, witty, and hard to put down. 

The story centres around Maggie Lemon, a former chef whose sole focus for  the last seven years was trying to conceive. Her life has become a constant cycle of doctors, IVF and heartache and she has given up everything she loves to try and make it happen, slowly losing herself in the process and becoming a woman she no longer recognises. When her aunt, Phil, suddenly passes away she leaves her Provincial hotel, Le Figuier, to Maggie. Once known as ‘the party palace’, Le Figiuer had a reputation as a private bolthote for the elite and famous, so Maggie is shocked to find a dilapidated mess in place of the grand chateau she remembers. With so much work to be done, Maggie is overwhelmed and knows she must sell. She begins to prepare the hotel for sale and finds she slowly comes alive, rediscovering her love of cooking, feeling lighter and feeling more herself than she has in years. Could she have finally found the right place for her?

No romcom would be complete without a dashing love interest, and Gray Hudson perfectly fits that bill. Gray is a hunky but disgraced Hollywood actor who is hiding out at the hotel following a scandal. He and Maggie get off to a rocky start but it is soon clear that Gray isn’t the stuck-up celebrity he first appeared to be and he gets stuck in helping to fix up Le Figiuer. I liked that Gray wasn’t who you expected him to be as it made the story more interesting. I enjoyed the banter and sizzling chemistry between him and Maggie and how they helped each other grow in ways they needed. 

The book is filled with a varied and eccentric cast of background characters who help the story leap from the pages. And none of those does this more than Maggie’s aunt, Phil. Phil may have passed away but she is brought to life on these pages and a vital part of the story. We see her in flashbacks, the memories people share, and she is in every corner of Le Figiuer. And the hotel is more than bricks and mortar. It feels like a character in its own right; alive with people’s memories, some of whom we see returning to celebrate special anniversaries and life events. And it feels like the hotel is a metaphor for Maggie herself: broken and a shadow of its former self but reawakened and is shining once more.

Warm, hilarious and with a dash of spice, this grumpy/sunshine romcom is feel-good fiction at its finest. An ideal summer read. Just be prepared to get hungry with all the yummy food Maggie cooks!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sophia is a British journalist and author who spends most of her time writing at her kitchen table in South London, making a cup of tea whenever she gets stuck halfway through a sentence (this happens a LOT). She’s written four novels – The Plus One, What Happens Now?, The Wish List and Did You Miss Me? – and hopes to carry on writing books that make people laugh forever. Because we could all do with more of a laugh, these days, couldn’t we? Sometimes, if Sophia’s not drinking lukewarm tea in her leggings at home, she appears on radio and television talking about important topics such as the Royal family and how to correctly eat a pear (with your fingers, having cut it into quarters first. Sophia didn’t make this rule up, she’s just passing it on).

She also has a website (www.sophiamoneycoutts.com) which she’s been saying she’ll update since the beginning of this year. Seven months later, she has finally sorted this out and a shiny new site should be up and working by September. PROMISE.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOGATHON: Firewatching by Russ Thomas

Published February 20th, 2020 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Police Procedural, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, LGBT Fiction, Gay Fiction, Crime Series

Today I’m delighted to be taking part in the first of four Russ Thomas Blogathon posts and am sharing my review for his outstanding debut thriller, Firewatching, which was one of my favourite reads of 2020. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part and to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

ONE WRONG MOVE
A body is found bricked into the walls of a house. From the state of the hands, it’s clear the dead man was buried alive. Soon, the victim is linked to an old missing person’s case and DS Adam Tyler is called.

WILL IGNITE
As the sole representative of South Yorkshire’s Cold Case Review Unit, Tyler recognises his role for what it is – a means of keeping him out of the way following an ‘incident’. When this case falls in his lap, he grabs the opportunity to fix his stagnating career.

THE CITY
And then Tyler discovers he has a connection to the case that hopelessly compromises him. He makes the snap decision not to tell his superiors, certain that he and only he can solve the crime. But now Tyler must move carefully to find out the truth, without destroying the case or himself.

Meanwhile, someone in the city knows exactly what happened to the body. Someone who is watching Adam closely. Someone with an unhealthy affinity with fire . . .

A taut investigative thriller bursting with character and tension, introducing an enigmatic, fresh lead detective unlike any you have met before – Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler – for fans of Adrian McKinty, Tana French, Steve Cavanagh and Sharon Bolton. 

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MY REVIEW:

DS Adam Tyler is called to the discovery of a body that was buried alive by being bricked into the wall of a house. The house’s owner, Graham Cartwright, had vanished six years ago amid high-profile scandals. Solving this case could be Adam’s way to salvage his career so he’s determined to be on the case. But he doesn’t work well with others, so this also becomes his chance to prove to his boss that he can be a team player. As he investigates alongside old-school copper DI Jim Doggett, the original investigator in the disappearance, and Amina Rabbani, a young police officer who sees the case as her chance to finally make it into CID, it soon becomes clear that there are people who’ve been keeping secrets that they want to remain hidden and that this will be a more complex case than they first thought. And as his professional and private life seep together, Adam finds himself in a fight not only for his career, but also his life. 

Heart-pounding, intense, and addictive, this debut left me trying to catch my breath when I read upon its release in February 2020. I love a good crime series and don’t get to read many books set in my hometown, so seeing that this new series was set in Sheffield was definitely part of the attraction for me. But while reading about familiar places was fun and helped me feel a greater connection to the story, it was Russ Thomas’ magnificent storytelling that made this series become one of my favourites, just as I predicted it would be at the time. I was hooked from the first page and putty in the palm of his hands as he spun his intricate and twisted tale. I read every spare minute, unable to put it down as I tried in vain to predict what would happen next. 

Part of the genius of this book is that everyone is a suspect. I literally had all but about three characters on my suspect list at one point or another, including the protagonist. You don’t know what to think, who to trust and where it is going next, leaving you on the edge of your seat as your mind fizzes with questions and suspicion. The vast array of characters are all fleshed out and vivid, each illuminating the story in their own unique way. I liked that Tyler wasn’t beloved by everyone or a team player. His battle to be treated like the other male officers because of his sexuality and the trauma of his father’s suicide gives him not only the spikiness that was fun to read, but also made me feel warmth towards him for those struggles. I enjoyed his banter with the other officers and how they reluctantly worked together to solve the case. Real life means having to work with people you can’t stand sometimes and the author certainly used that to his advantage in this book. 

One of my favourite parts of this book was the inclusion of the blog posts by the arsonist. They were mysterious, bizarre, creepy and fascinating. You got a real sense of how twisted and traumatised this person was and they increased the foreboding atmosphere that hung in the air. In the beginning they read like stories but slowly the readers see that there is more to them and realise how sick and twisted the writer is. But their identity remains a mystery, known only by the name The Firewatcher, remaining in the shadows until the tense finale. I loved being in the dark as much as the investigating officers and honestly couldn’t pinpoint a clear suspect. I was completely blindsided by the big reveal.

Firewatching is an outstanding, atmospheric, claustrophobic and surprising debut. It has everything you want in a great thriller and leaves you wanting more, just as a good series should. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys this genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

RUSS THOMAS was born in Essex, raised in Berkshire and now lives in Sheffield. After a few ‘proper’ jobs (among them: pot-washer, optician’s receptionist, supermarket warehouse operative, call-centre telephonist, and storage salesman) he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. Firewatching is his debut novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part and keep an eye out for more reviews coming next month.