Tag: Romance Novel

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Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2023 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley

Published June 6th, 2023 by Michael Joseph
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Domestic Fiction, New Adult Ficiton, Coming-of-Age Story

Here’s my bookish thoughts on Talking at Night, the heartwarming debut which was one of our SquadPod Featured Books in July. Thank you to Michael Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE LOVE STORY THAT WILL KEEP YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT


‘A beautiful love story. I devoured it’ JOJO MOYES
Gave me One Day vibes’ LIBBY PAGE
‘Basically impossible to put down’ BOBBY PALMER
‘Deeply romantic’ LAURA BARNETT
‘Beautiful and very clever’ FEARNE COTTON

‘Stunning, tender and true’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING SUMMER READING
INCLUDED IN THE INDEPENDENT’S ‘BEST ROMANTIC SUMMER READS’

—-

Will and Rosie meet as teenagers.

They’re opposites in every way. She overthinks everything; he is her twin brother’s wild and unpredictable friend. But over secret walks home and late-night phone calls, they become closer – destined to be one another’s great love story.

Until, one day, tragedy strikes, and their future together is shattered.

But as the years roll on, Will and Rosie can’t help but find their way back to each other. Time and again, they come close to rekindling what might have been.

What do you do when the one person you should forget is the one you just can’t let go?

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MY REVIEW:

Tender, heartfelt and affecting, Talking at Night is a deeply beautiful love story. It follows Rosie and Will, who meet as teenagers and have an instant connection. The pair are total opposites: Rosie is the stereotypical ‘good girl’ and overthinks everything, and Will is the wild and unpredictable best friend of her twin brother. It is clear from the start that this is more than teenage infatuation, but, before their relationship gets the chance to start, tragedy strikes, destroying any chance of a future together. What follows is a memorable will they/won’t they love story that will make even the most cynical person believe in soulmates.

Oh, my heart. I’d heard that this book was emotional but I was still unprepared for how it wreaked havoc on my emotions. Debut author Claire Daverley’s writing is simple but beautiful, allowing the characters and the story to shine in her exploration of love, friendship, loss and grief. Achingly human, acutely observed, and deeply moving, this character-driven romance has much more depth than your average, lighthearted love story. Real love isn’t all hearts and rainbows, and Daverley isn’t afraid to show that, exploring the flawed, painful side of love alongside the joy and laughter. But those things are still there. After all, this is a story about true love; that  all-consuming, red-hot, soulful love that is impossible to resist. It feels like a very fresh and modern romance, revealing how bittersweet love can be. After all, the path to true love rarely runs smooth, and it’s certainly a bumpy journey for Rosie and Will. But will it be worth it in the end?

Rosie and Will are very real, three-dimensional characters who I found likeable and relatable. Their romance gets off to a rocky start after a tragedy and we wonder if they will ever truly find their way back to one another. They try not to, seeing other people and severing contact on and off over the years, but they can never forget each other or completely let go and always find themselves drawn back together. We go on this journey with them, Daverley opening them up and revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. And I felt every emotion alongside them, leaving me wrung out but heartened when it was all over. 

Passionate, poignant, heartwarming and compelling, Talking at Night is a glorious debut you won’t forget. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Daverley was born in 1991 and has been writing stories ever since she was six years old.

After graduating with a degree in Fine Art from The University of Oxford, she began a career in publishing, writing about books by day, but penning her own by night, on trains and in the light of the early mornings.

She has spent most of her life in Hertfordshire, but now lives in Scotland by the sea with her husband and spaniel.

Her debut novel, Talking at Night, has sold in twenty-four countries to date.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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

SKELF SUMMER: The Great Silence (The Skelfs, 3) by Doug Johnstone

Published August 19th, 2021 by Orenda
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Noir Fiction, Crime Series, Romance Novel, Urban Fiction

Welcome to my review for the witty, riveting and suspenseful, The Great Silence, which is the third book in the Skelfs series and my third Skelf Summer Post. Thank yout to Orenda 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:

The discovery of a human foot in an Edinburgh park, the inexplicable circumstances of a dying woman, and the missing daughter of Jenny’s violent ex-husband present the Skelf women with their most challenging – and deadly – cases yet… Book THREE in the addictive The Skelfs series!

‘Simply stunning. Tense, funny and deeply moving’ Mark Billingham

‘If you loved Iain Banks, you’ll devour the Skelfs series’ Erin Kelly

‘Nobody portrays modern Edinburgh better than Doug Johnstone. The Great Silence speaks volumes about the power of story’ Val McDermid

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Keeping on top of the family funeral directors’ and private-investigation businesses is no easy task for the Skelf women, and when matriarch Dorothy discovers a human foot while walking the dog, a perplexing case presents itself … with potentially deadly results.

Daughter Jenny and grand-daughter Hannah have their hands full too: The mysterious circumstances of a dying woman lead them into an unexpected family drama, Hannah’s new astrophysicist colleague claims he’s receiving messages from outer space, and the Skelfs’ teenaged lodger has yet another devastating experience.

Nothing is clear as the women are immersed ever deeper in their most challenging cases yet. But when the daughter of Jenny’s violent and fugitive ex-husband goes missing without trace and a wild animal is spotted roaming Edinburgh’s parks, real danger presents itself, and all three Skelfs are in peril.

Taut, dark, warmly funny and unafraid to ask big questions – of us all – The Great Silence is the much-anticipated third instalment in the addictive, unforgettable Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever.

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MY REVIEW:

“The monsters in our lives don’t look like monsters, horns and slavering fangs. The worst deeds in the world are done by people who look like any of us.”

In the third instalment of the outstanding Skelfs Series, they face their most challenging and unusual cases yet: a human foot is discovered in a park, a dying woman whose children are convinced she’s being poisoned by her lover, alien messages, a wild animal roaming Edinburgh’s parks, and the disappearance of the daughter of Jenny’s violent ex-husband. 

Suspenseful, twisting and completely addictive, The Great Silence is another outstanding return to Edinburgh and the Skefl women. I’ve never read a series back-to-back like this so I was a bit concerned about getting fatigued from reading the same characters, but I needn’t have worried because Doug Johnstone ups his game with each book, creating a novel that is even better than the last with each instalment. I can’t get enough of this series and my new concern is what I’m going to do when I’ve read book six and I’ve got a long wait for the next one!

One of my favourite things about this series is that it has a bit of everything: family drama with a twist of science, a dash of romance, lots of emotion, and an abundance of suspense. Johnstone also explores more serious issues such as prejudice, domestic abuse, alcoholism and climate control, seamlessly weaving them into the narrative alongside the heart-stopping tension and mystery. This time around the cases are a bit more unusual and bizarre, and the tension has been dialled all the way up to ten, keeping me glued to the pages and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I also loved that now I’m three books in, I’ve got to know the Skelf women, so reading these books  is like catching up with old friends – albeit friends with very turbulent lives and unconventional jobs. 

Dark, witty, suspenseful and totally riveting, The Great Silence, and all of the Skelfs Series, are a must-read. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening free with my affiliate link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Beat the Backlist book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine

Published October 17th, 2017 by Harper Collins UK
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Reese Witherspoon book club pick!

Perfect for fans of B. A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Liane Moriarty

How far would you go to make all your dreams come true?

Amber Patterson is tired of being a nobody: an invisible woman who melts into the background. She deserves more. She deserves a life of wealth, luxury and leisure.

Daphne Parrish is the golden girl of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut. With her model looks, her picture-perfect mansion and her millionaire husband, Jackson, she has everything Amber wants.

Amber’s envy could eat her alive—if she didn’t have a plan. Before long, she has become Daphne’s closest friend, and is catching the eye of Jackson. But a skeleton from her past could destroy everything, and if discovered, Amber’s well-laid plan may end in disaster…

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MY REVIEW:

The Last Mrs Parrish has been sitting languishing on my shelf for many years. It’s one of those much-hyped books I loved the sound of but was also scared to read in case it didn’t live up to the hype. But when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read its follow up, The Next Mrs Parrish, as one of our August SquadPod Featured Books, I realised it was time to finally dive in.

This was one crazy rollercoaster ride! I now get the hype. Sassy, seductive, tense and unpredictable, I couldn’t put this down and was trying to keep my eyes open with matchsticks so I could keep reading well into the night. I needed answers! There’s deception, secrets, power, envy, greed, and revenge. And a creeping malice that lingers on every page of this deliciously escapist thriller. Liv Constantine have crafted a story that is skilfully written, cleverly plotted, and filled with so many twists, turns and red herrings that I got book whiplash. How on earth is this a debut? I was on the edge of my seat, completely in Constantine’s thrall until the very last page. And that ending! Sheer perfection. 

The story centres around two women: Amber Patterson and Daphne Parrish. Amber is tired of being a nobody. She knows that she deserves a life of fortune, opulence and leisure where others cater to her every whim. Daphne Parrish has that life. She’s beautiful, married to Jackson, a gorgeous millionaire, and lives a life of luxury in a dream house. And Amber is going to take it. She hatches a plan: befriending Daphne and becoming her best friend so that she can get closer to Jackson Parrish and make him fall for her charms. These two protagonists may become best friends, but they are very different. Amber has a chip on her shoulder, feels like the world owes her the kind of life she dreams of, and is ruthless in her pursuit of it. A femme fatale who uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants, doesn’t think twice about lying, and has no regard for who she hurts along the way, Amber is a deeply unlikable but undeniably captivating character. Then we have Daphne. Daphne lives a life of luxury that most of us can only imagine, is one half of a golden couple with the kind of marriage others look up to, and lives in a picture-perfect mansion. She is also genuine and kind, and what matters to her most is the foundation she runs in memory of her sister, Julie, who died of CF. I really liked Daphne but felt so bad for her. She believed Amber was her best friend and was completely unaware she was swimming in shark-infested waters and was about to be devoured. I wanted to jump into the book and warn her. 

Devilishly atmospheric, addictive and outrageous, don’t miss this heart-stopping thriller. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today international bestselling authors with over one and a half million copies sold worldwide. They are Library Reads Hall of Fame authors.  Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film.  Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The House of Fever by Polly Crosby

Published August 15th, 2024 by HQ
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romance Novel, Historical Mystery

Today I’m sharing my review for this haunting gothic hisotrical ficiton. Thank you to HQ for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Simmering with secrets, this beguiling mystery is a dark delight’ Essie Fox, author of The Fascination

‘Builds an uneasy atmosphere that crept under my skin and kept me guessing until the end’ Hester Musson, author of The Beholders

Can she unlock the secrets of The House of Fever?

1935, Hedoné House, a luxurious sanatorium for the creative elite dedicated to the groundbreaking treatment of tuberculosis. As the doctor’s new wife, Agnes Templeton has pledged her life to a house of fever.

But Hedoné is no ordinary hospital. High society rubs shoulders with artists, poets and musicians. No expense is spared on the comfort of the guests, and champagne flows freely. It’s a world away from everything Agnes knows.

Her husband’s methods are unusual. There are whisperings about past patients and even a cure. Hedoné’s secrets draw Agnes in, revealing truths she could never anticipate, and soon she is caught between a past she is desperate to escape and a future she may forever regret.

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MY REVIEW:

“Something is rotten here. Very rotten indeed.” 

1935. Agnes Templeton arrives at Hedone House, a sanatorium that is to be her home after marrying the doctor who runs it. But this is not your average sanatorium. Picturesque and luxurious, there is no expense spared and the champagne flows as freely as the medication. It caters to the creative elite and specialises in groundbreaking treatment for tuberculosis. Before long, Agnes is hearing whispers about past patients, a possible cure and she discovers that the methods Dr Christian uses are as unusual as everything else about this place. And when shocking secrets uncover unforeseen truths, Agnes wonders if she can escape the house of fever before it’s too late…

Atmospheric, eerie, claustrophobic and beguiling, The House of Fever is a gorgeously gothic, Du Maurier-esque tale from storytelling extraordinaire Polly Crosby. Her hauntingly beautiful prose, compelling characters and multi-layered plot held me in her thrall. Ms. Crosby became an auto-buy author for me when I read her sensational debut, The Illustrated Child. She’s got even better with each book and The House of Fever is without a doubt her best yet. It is more complex and twisty than her previous books and I have no idea how she did it. I didn’t see the revelations coming and was blown away at how intricately she had woven the threads. Emotionally resonant, affecting and deeply human, I felt all the feelings while reading this book. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, totally consumed by this book to the point where I couldn’t even put it down while I ate. 

As someone with chronic illness I found it very relatable. Ms. Crosby writes with honesty and compassion, reminding us that these characters are more than their illness. They are people with fascinating personalities, with hopes, dreams and entire lives that are being snatched away by this disease. It made me feel seen and heard in a way that is rare for disabled people in the media and there were times it made me quite emotional. Ms. Crosby has talked about how she was inspired to write this book by her own experiences with chronic illness and I feel like that is evident in how well she writes this part of the story. 

“…all those names, all this death, threaded through with glitter and glamour, so intoxicating, so terribly, addictively compelling that you could do nothing but come back again and again.”

One of my favourite things about this book is the atmosphere of the sanatorium. Hedone House is a sanctuary and a place of acceptance where its guests can live some semblance of an ordinary life. Everyone has a body ravaged by the same sickness so there are no uncomfortable stares and they aren’t shunned for fear of infection. It gives them a chance to forget their uncertain futures and a hope that they might actually be cured. But, this utopia is brimming with secrets and has an undercurrent of something sinister that tells us all might not be as it seems at Hedone House. I love a good claustrophobic thriller; how a picturesque home or resort becomes terrifying when people begin to die and the only suspects are those surrounding you. No one is safe and you have no idea who to trust. And in this book the tension and fear are ramped up tenfold with the addition of debilitating chronic illness and people who are desperate for a cure. 

Evocative, dark, unnerving, poignant and totally mesmerising, The House of Fever is an absolute must-read and one of my top books this year. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Polly grew up on the Suffolk coast, and now lives in the heart of Norfolk with her husband and son, and her very loud and much loved rescue Oriental cat, Dali. She is passionate about nature, and her writing is very much inspired by the local landscape.

After a whirlwind of a year which saw Polly receive writing scholarships from both Curtis Brown Creative and The University of East Anglia’s MA in Creative Writing, she went on to be runner up in the Bridport Prize’s Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel.

Polly’s debut novel, The Illustrated Child, was snapped up by HarperCollins HQ in the UK in a 48 hour pre-empt, and a few days later by HarperCollins Park Row Books in North America.

The House of Fever is her fourth novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Published October 28th, 2021 by Tor
Fantasy Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy, Fantasy Comedy, Romance Novel, Gay Fiction, Ghost Story, Horror Fantasy

Thank you Tor and BookBreak for the sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

Witty, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is a gift for troubled times. TJ Klune brings us a warm hug of a story about a man who spent his life at the office – and his afterlife building a home.

From the author of joyous New York Times bestseller The House in the Cerulean Sea.

Welcome to Charon’s Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own sparsely-attended funeral, Wallace is outraged. But he begins to suspect she’s right, and he is in fact dead. Then when Hugo, owner of a most peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace reluctantly accepts the truth.

Yet even in death, he refuses to abandon his life – even though Wallace spent all of it working, correcting colleagues and hectoring employees. He’d had no time for frivolities like fun and friends. But as Wallace drinks tea with Hugo and talks to his customers, he wonders if he was missing something.

The feeling grows as he shares jokes with the resident ghost, manifests embarrassing footwear and notices the stars. So when he’s given one week to pass through the door to the other side, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in just seven days.

Fans of A Man Called Ove and The Good Place will fall for this queer love story by TJ Klune.

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MY REVIEW:

“It’s never enough is it? Time. We always think we have so much of it, but when it really counts we don’t have enough at all.”

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his sparsely-attended funeral he is outraged and refuses to accept that he’s dead. But, he begins to believe her when she takes him to Charon’s Crossing, a quirky tea shop run by Hugo, a man who promises to help him cross over. Despite his life being one of all work and  no play, Wallace is reluctant to leave his life behind and sets out to try and live a lifetime in the week he’s been given to pass through the door to the other side.

Witty, moving, cosy and unique, Under the Whispering Door is a book that warms you from the inside like a warm drink on a cold day. This was my tenth backlist book of the year and my introduction to T. J. Klune, an author I’ve been meaning to read for a long time. I now completely get the hype surrounding him and his books and will be prioritising reading his other books on my TBR. An exploration of life, love, death, grief and redemption, this broke my heart into a million pieces and then glued them back together. I appreciated how Klune examined the many stages of grief; how the pain of losing those we love never leaves us but leaves a permanent mark on our heart and soul. Beautifully written, richly imagined and evocative, the storytelling merged with the spectacular narration to make the story come to life around me so vividly that I felt like I’d flown through a hurricane and landed in Oz like Dorothy, opening the door to a magical and colourful new world I never imagined. 

Whimsical, escapist, colourful and deeply poignant, this gorgeous fantasy is one that will stay with me long after reading. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Follow this link to get your first 60 days of listening for free.*

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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:

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

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Squadpod Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD REVIEWS: Island in the Sun by Katie Fforde

Published February 15th, 2024 by Century
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance, Adventure Fiction

I’m finally sharing my review for the charming and uplifting Island in the Sun, which was a SquadPod Book Feature in February. Thank you EdPR and Century for the proof copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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SYNOPSIS:

A tale of friendship, courage and romance, the latest novel from bestselling author Katie Fforde is here.

‘The queen of uplifting, feel good romance’ AJ PEARCE
‘Top-drawer romantic escapism’ DAILY MAIL
‘Warm, brilliant and full of love’ HEAT
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When Cass is asked by her father to take on an unusual photography project in the Caribbean Island of Dominica, she really can’t see a reason to say no.

But the remote island has just been hit be a severe hurricane, leaving destruction in its wake. Cass is travelling with Ranulph who is searching for the rare stone carvings her father wants her to photograph.

Their hunt leads Cass down a path of bravery and self-discovery, and she soon falls for Ranulph, who has been by her side every step of the way.

But does he feel the same way about her?

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MY REVIEW:

Twenty-five-year-old Cass is about to enjoy her last summer of freedom before embarking on her teacher training course when her father, a famous wildlife photographer, asks her for a favour. He wants Cass to go to the Caribbean island of Dominica to take a fragile and faded hand-drawn map to help his friend’s son, Bastian, find a rare petroglyph and photograph it. Ranulph, a well-travelled journalist, offers to accompany Cass. She knows she mustn’t fall in love with him but can’t shake her growing feelings for her handsome travel companion even though she knows he can’t possibly feel the same way. Can he?

Uplifting, feel-good fiction and a dose of pure escapism, Island in the Sun was the ideal read to pick up on a cold, rainy March day in England. Katie Fjorde transports us to the sun-drenched shores of Dominica, a mountainous island populated by natural hot springs and rainforests where the Atlantic and the Caribbean meet, for a story filled with friendship, love, adventure and self-discovery.

Cass is a likeable yet sometimes frustrating protagonist and there were moments I wanted to give her a good shake. She’s the youngest in a family of high achievers and has always struggled to voice what she really wants in life rather than allowing her father to decide her path. Throughout the book we see her confidence slowly grow in all areas of her life, but I think her lack of confidence regarding her relationship with Ranulph made it hard to feel invested in their will they/won’t they romance at times. The escapades surrounding the petroglyph provided something a bit different for a romance novel that I really enjoyed. I found myself caught up in the race against the clock to find and document the petroglyph so that Bastian could finish his research paper and submit it for the prize that meant much-needed money for the island. I was rooting for him at every step, particularly as Austin, the loathsome villain of the story, meddled at every step to try and win the prize for himself. I hated this man! He is brilliantly written and my blood would boil every time he was on the page, Fforde expertly using him to raise the tension and keep the reader on guessing.

The island itself plays a key role in this story and Cass’s visit in the wake of a devastating hurricane included a lot of helping the community as they tried to recover from the destruction. Fforde gives the reader a real sense of the way of life on the island and how it feels to see your home torn apart in this way, the hard reality of life after a natural disaster, and the fear that lingers in its wake. But despite all of this the beauty of Dominica and its people shines through and I could understand why Cass fell in love with this place. The people who populated Dominica were some of my favourite characters, with Bastian and Delphine finding a special place in my heart. They played a big part in helping Cass to find her confidence and inner strength, and I found their spirits infectious and inspiring, especially in the face of such hardship.

Charming, fun, adventurous and immersive, Island in the Sun is another winner from Ms. Fforde.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:

Dear readers, thank you for visiting my Amazon Page.

I live in the beautiful Cotswold countryside with my family, and I’m a country girl at heart.

I first started writing when my mother gave me a writing kit for Christmas, and once I started I just couldn’t stop. Living Dangerously was my first novel and since then, I haven’t looked back.

Ideas for books are everywhere, and I’m constantly inspired by the people and places around me. From watching TV (yes, it is research) to overhearing conversations, I love how my writing gives me the chance to taste other people’s lives and try all the jobs I’ve never had.

Each of my books explores a different profession or background and my research has helped me bring these to life. I’ve been a porter in an auction house, tried my hand at pottery, refurbished furniture, delved behind the scenes of a dating website, and I’ve even been on a Ray Mears survival course.

I love being a writer; to me there isn’t a more satisfying and pleasing thing to do. I particularly enjoy writing love stories. I believe falling in love is the best thing in the world, and I want all my characters to experience it, and my readers to share their stories.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*

*these are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

*These links are affiliate links

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: The Saturday Place by Alice Peterson

Published March 14th, 2024 by Bedford Square Publishers
Romance Novel, Contemporary Romance

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the delightful The Saturday Place. Thank you Bedford Square Publishers for the invitation to take part in the blog tour and the gifted copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘Uplifting, heartwarming and mouth-watering, The Saturday Place is the kind of book we all need now. A tale of friendship and food, it’s bursting with optimism and love. Charming.’ Veronica Henry, author of The Secret Beach

‘A tender story of hope, friendship and the power of community.’ – Emily Houghton, author of Before I Saw You

‘A warm, wise and really special book… I absolutely loved it.’ – Katy Regan, author of Little Big Love

Three perfect strangers who help each other to believe in love again

Holly’s husband died, and she’s lonely. She needs to do something to save herself, quickly. Next thing she knows she’s interviewing for a voluntary cooking job, surprised to be ambushed by a scruffy man who looks like he has a past.

Angus has messed up. He’s lost the respect of his family and has none for himself. If it weren’t for his brother and friend who run the café, he’d be sleeping on the streets. Angus is about ready to give up – until he meets Holly, who sparks something in him.

Then Lauren arrives from the homeless shelter. She came to London with nothing but an old train ticket, a teddy bear, and the clothes on her back. With no family, no home, no friends, she doesn’t know what love is. People scare her. She’s terrified of Angus and Holly. At first.

Each of them finds themselves in the Saturday café at a time when they need something to grab hold of. It might have to be each other…

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MY REVIEW:

“I didn’t appreciate fully, back then, that we can make plans, we can map out our lives, but often fate has other ideas.”

Holly has been adrift ever since the death of her beloved husband, Jamie. She is lonely and needs to find herself again, so she volunteers at Soul Food, a Saturday cafe that caters to those in need. It is there that she meets Angus and Lauren, two other lost souls looking to rebuild their lives again. The three of them become close and form an unlikely trio, helping each other learn to live and believe in love again. 

The Saturday Place is a gorgeous slice of life book full of heart, hope and healing. A story about how we may make plans but life has plans of its own that we can’t control. A story that reminds us of the importance of purpose, belonging, community and friendship. Alice Peterson explores topics such as grief, trauma and mental health with sensitivity and there’s a tender and compelling atmosphere that lingers over the pages. I lost myself in the story and didn’t want to put it down. 

“Sometimes it’s important to remind myself how lucky I am”

I think a big part of what makes this book so special is the characters. Peterson has created a cast of realistic and relatable characters who it is impossible not to love. You will cry, laugh and rage with them. But most of all you will be rooting for them as they rebuild themselves and their lives among their heartache. It was inspiring and really makes you appreciate the things you have in life. 

Uplifting, emotional, endearing and delightful, The Saturday Place is a comforting story that will stay with me. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Amazon:
I have published two non-fiction books, and ten novels, including the critically acclaimed A Song for Tomorrow, and my bestselling title, Monday to Friday Man. My latest novel, The Saturday Place, will be published by Bedford Square Publishers in March, 2024.

My writing is romantic, powerful and emotional, and my storylines always include hard-hitting and thought-provoking themes, such as addiction and disability. My next novel touches on homelessness. My protagonists often have to overcome adversity, based on my own experience of a professional tennis career cut short at the age of 18 when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I have never played tennis again, a sadness that will always be with me, but I have very much filled that void with writing. I am drawn to true stories and aim to write with deep compassion, empathy and humour about issues that resonate with my growing readership and that I believe have the potential of reaching and touching millions more.

I live in west London where I am currently training to be a psychotherapist. My most favourite thing is walking my best buddy, my handsome Lucas Terrier, Mr Darcy, in the park.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*All 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.

Categories
Blog Tours Book Features

BLOG TOUR FEATURE: Secrets of Malta by Cecily Blench

Published February 29th, 2024 by Zaffre
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Historical Romance, Saga, War Story

Today I’m featuring Secrets of Malta by Cecily Blench. Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for the invitation to take part.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Malta, 1943. The war in the air above Malta is over, but the battle for Europe is about to begin.

Margarita, a young singer in a Valletta nightclub, has seen her former lover Henry Dunn only once since breaking off their affair. His wife Vera, an enigmatic archaeologist, arrives at the club to tell her that Henry has disappeared, presumed dead. While investigating, Margarita stumbles upon the hunt for a notorious and dangerous spy: Nero.

As an unlikely bond develops between the two women, and strange secrets emerge, an urgent quest to unmask Nero starts – before he can enact a deadly plan that may threaten the course of the war.

‘An atmospheric tale of adventure and espionage’ Sunday Times of Malta

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Cecily Blench grew up in Herefordshire and studied at the University of York. She worked for an independent publisher before her debut novel The Long Journey Home was published in 2021. She now lives in Bristol and is a freelance writer and editor.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | 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.

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: The Memory of Us by Dani Atkins

Published February 15th, 2024 by Head of Zeus
Romance Novel

Today I’m delighted to be sharing my review for The Memory of Us as part of the blog tour. Thank you to Poppy from Head of Zeus for the invitation to take part and finished copy of the book.

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SYNOPSIS:

‘A beautifully written, gripping and moving novel about the lengths we will go to for the people who mean the most to us… I was utterly captivated, from start to finish.’ – Holly Miller

If you can’t trust your head, can you trust your heart?

If she had been found moments later, Amelia’s heart would have stopped and never recovered. Instead she was taken from the desolate beach to the nearest hospital just in time to save her life. When her sister Lexi arrives from New York, Amelia’s heart is beating, but the accident has implanted a series of false memories. These memories revolve around a man named Sam, and a perfect love story that never existed.

Determined to help her sister, Lexi enlists the help of Nick, a local vet who bears a striking resemblance to Sam. Together, Lexi and Nick recreate and photograph Amelia’s dream dates in the hopes of triggering her true memories.

But as love starts to stir between Lexi and Nick, they must navigate a complex web of emotions. How can Lexi fall for Amelia’s dream man without hurting her sister?

Filled with breathtaking romance, heart-wrenching emotion, the magic of destiny and the power of sisterhood, The Memory of Us is a must-read for fans of Holly Miller and Colleen Hoover.

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MY REVIEW:

Amelia is found on a desolate beach on a frigid January night wearing nothing but her nightgown. She’s unconscious, not breathing and verging on hypothermia. If the men had found her just a few moments later she’d never have recovered. But they were able to get her heart beating again and she’s rushed to the nearest hospital.
In New York Lexi is woken by the call no-one wants to receive and quickly packs before racing to the airport to get on a plane and fly to her sister’s side. When she arrives, Amelia is conscious but not acting like herself and asking for her husband, Sam. Only Sam doesn’t exist. 

I knew The Memory of Us was going to be a book I loved within the first few pages. A story about memories, true love, and unbreakable bonds, it didn’t start out how I expected and adrenaline coursed through my veins as I read the gripping prologue. That tension was only compounded by fear and foreboding as Lexi flew to be by her sister’s side, and while that high level of apprehension did ease, the book continued to hold my attention and I was totally immersed and invested. The sisters share a strong and unique bond, which is a central part of the storyline, and you can feel it keenly as Lexi desperately tries to help her sister even at the cost of her own happiness. 

Dani Atkins is an author I’ve been aware of for a long time and I’ve got a number of her books on my kindle. But, shamefully, this is the first time I’ve read one of them. Why did I wait so long? This book is beautifully written, evocative and moving with very real and relatable characters that I found easy to root for. Their emotions leapt from the pages and I felt like I lived every moment alongside the characters, particularly Lexi who I formed the strongest bond with. I loved her relationship with Amelia and could feel how torn she was in so many of the decisions she was having to make. I also really believed in the love between Lexi and Nick. He was a dreamy love interest and it would have been a surprise if Lexi hadn’t fallen for him. Yes, it was predictable they would fall in love, but it was also well written and I wanted them to have their happy ever after. 

Heartrending, hopeful and uplifting, The Memory of Us is a wonderful story that warms you from the inside like hot chocolate on a cold day. Highly recommended.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Dani Atkins was born in London in 1958, and grew up in North London. She moved to rural Hertfordshire in 1985, where she has lived in a small village ever since with her family. Although Dani has been writing for fun all her life, Fractured was her first novel. She has since written The Story of Us.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org*| Amazon*

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: Token by Beverlery Kendall

Published February 15th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Romance Novel, Contemporary Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this sizzling second-chance romance. Thank you to Sara at Simon & Schuster UK for the invitation to take part and the gifted proof.

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SYNOPSIS:

A sexy, whip-smart, enemies to lovers romcom that’s fresh and topical, tackling racism and tokenism as experienced by a young Black woman in the cutthroat world of Publicity.

‘A funny, satisfying read full of sparkling banter and thoughtful social commentary’ Shauna Robinson, author of Must Love Books

‘The most delicious blend of a *very* heated novel, the dynamics of an age old and rock-solid friendship, the complexities that come with being a Black woman in any workspace and a romance that could melt any heart. Token had me rapt from the very first page with it’s humour and intelligence – I absolutely adored it’  Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of The Three of Us

‘Brimming with angst, banter, and a fiery chemistry’ Taj McCoy, author of Zora Books Her Happy Ever After

Kennedy Mitchell is brilliant, beautiful and tired of being the only Black woman in the room.

Two years ago, she was plucked from reception for a seat at the boardroom table in the name of “representation”. Rather than play along, she and her best friend founded Token, a boutique PR agency that helps diversity-challenged companies and celebrities. With famous people getting into reputation-damaging controversies, Token is in high demand and business is booming, but when her ex shows up needing help repairing his reputation, things get even more complicated and soon Kennedy finds herself drawn into a PR scandal of her own.

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MY REVIEW:

Though New York might be known as a melting pot, Kennedy Mitchell is used to being the only Black woman in the room. And she’s had enough. So she and her best friend Aurora create Token, a PR firm that helps diversity-challenged companies and celebrities. But when her ex reaches out for help after becoming embroiled in a scandal, things take a personal turn and Kennedy soon finds herself fighting to save her own reputation.

Sizzling, sexy, funny, and entertaining, Token is a second-chance romance brimming with chemistry, banter, humour, drama, angst, and thought-provoking social commentary. Set against the backdrop of the ruthless world of PR, Beverley Kendall explores topical issues such as racism, sexism, and diversity in the workplace.

Kennedy and Nate are great protagonists. Kennedy is a gorgeous, smart, fierce and independent Black woman who is passionate about what her company does. While she might despair of the attitudes of some of their clients, she truly believes that they are helping make a difference in the world and I loved her scenes at work because of this. I loved her friendships with Aurora and Sahara, who were also brilliant characters in their own right. I had initially thought Nate was going to be seen only through Kennedy’s lens, so I was surprised when I discovered he was also a narrator. But I enjoyed getting a greater insight into his mind and motivations. It would have been easy for a rich, white man who has famous parents to feel like a vapid and one-dimensional character that no one would like, but Kendall managed to make Nate someone who is compelling. You can see why Kennedy is drawn to him as a person and the spark between them is red hot, making it easy to root for them as a couple.

So if you like your romances loaded with tension, wit, intelligence, and spice, then this is for you.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

BEVERLEY KENDALL has published over ten contemporary and historical romance novels. She also manages the romance review blog, Smitten by Books (smittenbybooks.com). Bev writes full-time while raising her son as a single mother. Both dual citizens of the US and Canada, they currently call Atlanta home.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx

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