Tag: November 2024

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Support Debuts

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Geneva by Richard Armitage

Published October 12th, 2023 by Faber & Faber
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

Welcome to my review of this sesnational debut. Thank you to Faber & Faber for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier has started to show the same tell-tale signs of Alzheimer’s disease as her father: memory loss, even blackouts. So she is reluctant to accept the invitation to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference – until her husband Daniel, a neuroscientist, persuades her that the publicity storm will be worth it. The technology being unveiled at this conference could revolutionise medicine forever. More than that, it could save Sarah’s life.

In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars – at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah’s symptoms are getting worse. As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can’t be sure who to trust – including herself.

‘SENSATIONAL.’ Clare Mackintosh

‘I RACED THROUGH IT.’ Lucy Foley

‘OUTSTANDING.’ Harlan Coben

‘HEART-POUNDING.’ Lucy Clarke, author of The Hike

‘IMMENSELY READABLE.’ Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile

‘HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.’ Alice Feeney, author of Daisy Darker

‘STUNNING.’ Helen Fields, author of The Institution

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MY REVIEW:

Gripping, intense, suspenseful and surprising, Geneva is a high octane thrill ride where no-one is what they seem and you don’t know who to trust. 

The story follows Sarah Collier, a nobel-prize winning scientist and her husband, Daniel, who is also a neuroscientist. Sarah has been invited to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference but she’s reluctant to accept as she has recently been showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease, the same illness that affected her father. But Daniel persuades her to go, reminding her that the technology being unveiled at the conference could revolutionise medicine and maybe even save her life. So, the couple head to snowy Geneva and are treated to five-star luxury. But while they are there Sarah’s symptoms worsen, events spiral out of control, and a controversial blogger is covering the story, leaving Sarah unsure if she can trust even herself. 

Fast-paced, heart-poundingly tense, and cleverly choreographed, with this sensational debut, Richard Armitage showcases himself as a thriller writer to watch. He drew me into the story from the start, balancing the tension and heavy science with lighter moments perfectly and keeping you on your toes with an electrifying game of cat and mouse and twists I never saw coming. Armitage’s evocative imagery and attention to detail really set the scene, and combined with narration by the author himself, brings the story to life so vividly it feels like you’re there. 

An exhilarating and unpredictable thriller not to be missed, I can’t wait for the TV adaptation and whatever Armitage writes next. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Armitage is a multi-award winning stage and screen actor. Armitage is best known for his role of Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s trilogy of ‘The Hobbit’. On Film Armitage starred in ‘Into the Storm’ ‘Alice Through The Looking Glass’ ‘Captain America, the First Avenger’ ‘Oceans 8’. Independent features include ‘The Lodge’ ‘My Zoe’ ‘Brain on Fire’ and ‘Pilgrimage’. On TV, Guy of Gisborne in ‘Robin Hood’, Daniel Miller in Epix ‘Berlin Station’, ‘John Porter’ in Sky’s Strike Back, Francis Dolerhyde in NBC’s Hannibal, Lucas North in ‘Spooks’ and John Thornton in ‘North and South’ both for the BBC. He also voices Trevor Belmont in the Netflix series ‘Castlevania’, Devereaux in their upcoming animated ‘Tomb Raider’ and Logan in Marvel’s ‘Wolverine’ podcast.

Recent TV adaptations for Netflix include Ray Levine in ‘Stay Close’ and Adam Price in ‘The Stranger’ both written by Harlan Coben. He recently played William Farrow in “Obsession” also for Netflix based on the novel ‘Damage’ by Josephine Hart.

The ‘Jackman and Evans’ crime series by Joy Ellis and ‘The Taking of Annie Thorne’ by CJ Tudor both available on Audible, are currently in development for TV adaptation from his production company White Boar Films alongside The Imaginarium and Sprout Productions/ Night Train.

In 2022 he penned his debut crime thriller ‘Geneva’. It was an instant #1 bestseller for Audible and will be published by Faber&Faber (UK) and Pegasus (US)

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: How To Solve Your Own Murder (The Castle Knoll Files, 1) by Kristen Perrin

Published March 26th, 2024 by Quercus
Mystery, Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Crime Series, Women Sleuths

Welcome to my review of this captivating cosy whodunnit. Thank you to Quercus for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

FRANCES ALWAYS SAID SHE’D BE MURDERED.
SHE WAS RIGHT.

In 1965, Frances Adams was told by a fortune teller that one day she’d be murdered. Frances spent the next sixty years trying to prevent the crime that would be her eventual demise. Of course, no one took her seriously – until she was dead.

For Frances, being the village busybody was a form of insurance. She’d spent a lifetime compiling dirt on every person she met, just in case they might turn out to be her killer. In the heart of her sprawling country estate lies an eccentric library of detective work, where the right person could step in and use her findings to solve her murder.

When her great-niece Annie arrives from London and discovers that Frances’ worst fear has come true, Annie is thrust into her great-aunt’s last act of revenge against her sceptical friends and family. Frances’ will stipulates that the person who solves her murder will inherit her millions.

Can Annie unravel the mystery and find justice for Frances, or will digging up the past lead her into the path of the killer?

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MY REVIEW:

Frances always said she’d be murdered.

She was right.

In 1965, Frances Adams is told by a fortune teller that one day she will be murdered. She spends the next sixty years trying to prevent it. No one took her seriously and she spent her life ridiculed by everyone else living in the small village of Castle Knoll. 

Now, Frances is dead. Murdered. And her great-niece, Annie, finds herself pulled into her Aunts’ final act of revenge against the people who refused to believe her; a hunt for her killer that sees the person who solves the crime inherit Frances’ millions. Can she solve the crime? Or will the killer silence her first?

Fun, heartwarming, suspenseful and original, How To Solve Your Own Murder is a superb debut that radiates Christie vibes. I’m a big fan of the amateur sleuth, so a book with two of them sounded right up my street. Skillfully written, sharply observed, cleverly plotted, full of surprising twists, and inhabited by fascinating characters, Kristen Perrin’s first installment in the Castle Knoll series was impossible to put down. The story is told in dual timelines, the flashbacks being revealed through Frances’ diaries, and moves seamlessly between past and present to intricately weave this tangled web of secrets, lies, paranoia and murder. 

Set in the fictional village of Castle Knoll, which is inspired by the real village of Corfe, Dorset, which is one of my favourite places, the village and its fascinating characters are brought to life by Perrin’s evocative imagery and descriptions. Castle Knoll has that charming but claustrophobic vibe that is unique to small towns where everyone knows everyone. France’s place as the village’s crazy lady was set when she received the chilling fortune in her teens. Her obsession with solving and preventing the crime, and her habit of seeing clues everywhere, only solidified her strangeness in the minds of the other residents. 

Cosy, clever, witty and totally addictive, How To Solve Your Own Murder is an inventive whodunnit you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to return to these characters in book two. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kristen Perrin is originally from Seattle, Washington, where she spent several years working as a bookseller before immigrating to the UK to do a Masters and PhD.

She loves working on projects that have a mystery at their heart, and splits her time writing cosy crime for adults and working on middle grade books that mix magic and adventure. Her children’s series, Attie and the Worldbreakers, is currently available in Dutch, German, and Polish.

She lives with her family in Surrey, where she can be found stomping in the mud with her two kids, collecting too many plants, and painting and sketching in her spare time.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOKS: To Die For (Travis Devine, 3) by David Baldacci

Published November 7th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Crime Ficiton, Police Procedural, Political Thriller, Adventure Fiction

Welcome to my review for this tense thriller. Thank you Pan Macmillan for my copy.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The bodyguard becomes the hunted in To Die For, the electrifying third Travis Devine thriller from international no. 1 bestselling author David Baldacci, following The Edge and the runaway no. 1 bestseller The 6:20 Man.

* * * * *

Some secrets are too dangerous to keep . . .

TWO SUSPICIOUS DEATHS

When Dwayne and Alice Odom are killed, the police report states clearly that it was a drug overdose. So why is their daughter, who was there when they died, claiming that’s not the truth?

ONE YOUNG SURVIVOR

Betsy Odom doesn’t trust the police but when she finds herself in the FBI’s custody after her parents’ deaths, she knows she has to be careful. Her uncle wants to adopt her and as he is a very rich and powerful man, she wants to let him. His criminal connections, however, mean the authorities aren’t so sure.

ONE MAN ON THE RUN

Enter Travis Devine. Trying to escape a skilled predator who wants him dead, Devine finds himself as Betsy’s bodyguard. But when an informant is found murdered, Devine knows this job is perhaps even more dangerous than the one he’s running from . . . and the true enemy may be on his side.

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MY REVIEW:

Former Marine Travis Devine – now a bodyguard, fixer and investigator – becomes the prey in the third installment in this series. A threatening note in his pocket from the mysterious girl on the train is only the latest in the line of attempts to kill him. And finding out who she is isn’t the only thing on Devine’s mind. The Department of Justice has sent him to the West Coast to protect a young girl whose uncle is the defendant in a federal case. Young Betsy Odom’s parents died of a drug overdose in front of her. But she claims they were murdered. Can Travis keep Betsy safe, discover the truth and stop the woman determined to kill him.

Suspenseful, gripping and intriguing, this my first time reading a David Baldacci book and this series so it took me a bit of time to get to grips with the characters and story, but once I did I was hooked. I particularly enjoyed the parts from the perspective of the woman on the train and was on the edge of my seat until the very last page. A great addition to the TBR of anyone who loves a great thriller.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

David Baldacci has been writing since childhood, when his mother gave him a lined notebook in which to write down his stories. (Much later, when David thanked her for being the spark that ignited his writing career, she revealed that she’d given him the notebook to keep him quiet, “because every mom needs a break now and then.”)

David published his first novel, ABSOLUTE POWER, in 1996. The feature film adaptation followed, with Clint Eastwood as its director and star. In total, David has published 50 novels for adults; all have been national and international bestsellers and several have been adapted for film and television. His novels have been translated into over 45 languages and sold in more than 80 countries, with 150 million copies sold worldwide. David has also published seven novels for younger readers.

David is also the cofounder, along with his wife, of the Wish You Well Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting literacy programs across the United States.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Mistletoe Mystery (Molly the Maid, 3) by Nita Prose

Published October 10th, 2024 by Harper Fiction
Mystery, Domestic Fiction, Festive Fiction, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

There’s a 5* Christmas mystery unfolding at The Regency Grand Hotel…

Full of charm and feel-good festive cheer, The Mistletoe Mystery short story is the perfect stocking-filler this Christmas!

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It’s the Christmas countdown at the Regency Grand Hotel, and Molly the maid is polishing up her holiday list.

*Deck halls

*Dust off decorations

*Buy Secret Santa gift

*Solve mystery?

A festive plot throws Molly off-kilter. Why does her beau, Juan Manuel, keep disappearing? And why are the hotel corridors filled with whispers?

Someone is keeping a secret. And, as Molly discovers, the answers to the mystery lie in a most unexpected gift…

*Escape into the world of Molly the Maid in this delightful Christmas short story!*

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MY REVIEW:

Molly the maid is one of my favourite characters and I’m a big fan of this series, so I was thrilled when this Christmas novella was announced. The story is set about a year after the events of book two as Molly is gearing up for her fifth Christmas with her hunky boyfriend, Juan. But her plans are thrown awry with a new mystery to solve: what is it that has everyone at the Regency Grand Hotel whispering in the hallways?

Warm, cosy and compelling, The Mistletoe Mystery was a delightful quick festive read. I loved the flashbacks to Molly’s childhood Christmases and seeing more of her memories of her grandmother. The answer to the mystery was obvious to me but I still enjoyed how it unraveled and watching Molly discover the truth for herself.

Charming and heartwarming, it was a joy to spend the festive season with Molly and her friends. This delightful festive novella is perfect for fans of the series.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nita Prose is the author of The Mystery Guest and The Maid, which has sold over 2 million copies worldwide and was published in more than forty countries. A #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club pick, The Maid won the Ned Kelly Award for In­ternational Crime Fiction, the Fingerprint Award for Debut Novel of the Year, the Anthony Award for Best First Novel, and the Barry Award for Best First Mys­tery, and was an Edgar Award finalist for Best Novel. 

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliohpiles xxx

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Mother of All Christmases by Milly Johnson

Published November 7th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, Christmas Story, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction

Welcome to my review for this gorgeous festive read. Thank you to SJV for sending me copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

From the Sunday Times bestselling author, The Mother of All Christmases is a gorgeous read full of love, life, laughter, a few tears – and crackers!

‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson

Eve Glace – co-owner of the theme park Winterworld – is having a baby and her due date is a perfectly timed 25th December. And she’s decided that she and her husband Jacques should renew their wedding vows with all the pomp that was missing the first time. But growing problems at Winterworld keep distracting them … 

Annie Pandoro and her husband Joe own a small Christmas cracker factory, and are well set up and happy together despite life never blessing them with a much-wanted child. But when Annie finds that the changes happening to her body aren’t typical of the menopause but pregnancy, her joy is uncontainable. 

Palma Collins has agreed to act as a surrogate, hoping the money will get her out of the gutter in which she finds herself. But when the couple she is helping split up, is she going to be left carrying a baby she never intended to keep?

Annie, Palma and Eve all meet at the ‘Christmas Pudding Club’, a new directive started by a forward-thinking young doctor to help mums-to-be mingle and share their pregnancy journeys. Will this group help each other to find love, contentment and peace as Christmas approaches?

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MY REVIEW:

Charming, cosy and captivating, The Mother of All Christmases is another winner from the Queen of feel-good fiction. Exquisitely written, this was a delight to read from start to finish, feeling like I’d been wrapped in a warm, soft blanket of festive joy. 

The Mother of All Christmases follows three women: Eve Glace, Annie Pandoro and Palma Collins, who meet at the ‘Christmas Pudding Club’, a group for local mums that are expecting their babies around Christmas. The women strike up friendships, helping each other through not only the ups and downs of pregnancy, but other aspects of their lives. I loved these women. They may be very different people from unique situations, but they found similarities that bonded them and formed genuine friendships. I was rooting for each of them and hope to see more of them in future books. 

This was a festive delight and I never wanted it to end. Funny warm and moving, there’s a wonderful, cosy vibe that radiates from these pages and a fabulous sense of community and friendship that runs through the story. I think the secret to some of that is the setting. Like myself, Milly Johnson is a Yorkshire lass and sets her stories here in the North. This gives them a feeling of home and comfort that I love. And I don’t think you can beat the warmth and friendliness of Northerners, which really shines through in this and her other stories. This merges with Johnson’s magnificent storytelling and compelling characters to create stories that never miss time and again. 

The perfect Christmas pick-me-up. Add this to your TBR now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 21 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.

Her 21st novel ‘The Happiest Ever After’ is out now and is about Polly Potter who finds herself living at the seaside with no recollection of how she got there, thinking she is the leading character in a book she is writing. But what happens when Polly – or Sabrina as she believes she is – finds out who she is and has to make a decision whether or not to go back to the lesser life she left behind. Full of sea air, sand, seagulls… and scarecrows.

Do check out Milly’s website – it’s easy to find if you search for her name. She has a monthly newsletter with insider info, competitions and even birthday celebrations.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliopiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee

Published November 1st, 2024 by Wildfire
Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism, Humorous Fantasy, Translated Fiction

Welcome to my review for this magical and mesmerising story. Thank you to Ollie at Wildfire for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

|| THE NO.1 KOREAN BESTSELLER WITH OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD ||

It has been a year since Penny first walked through the doors of DallerGut Dream Department Store, and surviving a year at the store means one thing . . . She is now an official employee of the dream industry! She can finally take the express commuter train to the Company District, where all the dream production companies are located and discover how all raw dream materials and testing equipment are produced.

But the Company District is not quite what she expected, it hides the darker underbelly of the magical industry that Penny thought she was a part of.

Penny discovers the Civil Complaint Center, full of people filing complaints about their dreams. She also learns about the regular customers who have stopped coming to the store. As she gets to the bottom of each complaint, she begins to expand her horizons, transforming from just selling dreams to understanding what lies in the hearts of their lost regulars.

Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store delves deeper into the dream industry and its customers. Why do some of them buy a dream and never return? Will Penny and her colleagues be able to bring their regulars back?

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MY REVIEW:

Magical, dreamy, uplifting and original, Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store is a mesmerising sequel that is every bit as breathtaking and imaginative as the first book. Once again Miye Lee once again takes us on a moving and fantastical journey into our dreams. The wonderful cast of characters return but find their roles expanded as we delve even deeper into the world of dream-making. A new side to the dreams is explored in the Civil Complaints Centre and Ms. Lee again examines serious topics such as disability through the dreamworld. As a disabled person myself I found this part of the book very emotional and inspiring. I loved how she was so inclusive and advocated for us in such a creative way while also reminding us that whatever our abilities there is so much left to enjoy in life and we should do exactly that.

As with book one, the best thing to do with this book is discover it for yourself. So I’m not going to say anything more about the plot. However I was saddened to learn this is a duology and therefore our final visit to the DallerGut Dream Department Store. This world is so comforting and a real balm for my soul that I could have read countless books set there. I’m sincerely hoping that Ms. Lee reconsiders and adds to the series.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Miye Lee was born in Busan in 1990. After graduating from the Busan National University School of Materials Science and Engineering, she worked as a semiconductor engineer at Samsung Electronics. Her debut novel Dallergut Dream Department Store published entirely funded through a crowdfunding service in Korea in 2020 and has since drawn many enthusiastic responses and favourable reviews.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Sandy Joosun Lee is a Korean-to-English translator based in Seoul. She studied Literature/Writing in University of California, San Diego. Her translations include Won-pyung Sohn’s Almond (HarperVia, 2020) and Miye Lee’s DallerGut Dream Department Store duology (Wildfire, 2023). She also works in animation, translating and developing animated content, which includes The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021) and Star Wars: Visions (2023). She is a member of the translator collective Smoking Tigers.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

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

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

Can she find love this Christmas?

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Book Club

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

HEALER?

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

LIAR?

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

KILLER?

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

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

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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

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

BLOG TOUR: The Christmas Jigsaw Murders by Alexandra Benedict

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

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

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

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

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

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

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MY REVIEW:

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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

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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.