November Book Round-Up

If a book is marked * I very kindly received it from the publisher directly or via Netgalley. Here's what I've been reading in November:

*Fall by West Camel - I'm taking part in the Blog Tour next week so I'll share my review then of this cracking read.

*Stolen Ones - DI Kim Stone Book #15 by Angela Marsons - how I adore this series and Kim! 

Steven Harte comes to the station claiming to know what happened to a girl who went missing without a trace 25 years ago. He wants to help Kim but on his terms only. Kim and the Team are investigating a similar crime where a young child has been snatched from the local nursery.

Alex is due to be released from prison and is hoping that Kim will help with her parole in exchange for news about her father. She really shouldn't underestimate her... 

It was great to catch up with well loved characters and it made me smile to recognise some well kent names as new characters!
It's a twisty tale which had me on the edge of my seat throughout. Highly recommend it.

*A Man of Honor - the prequel to A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. Having adore A Woman of Substance back in the day I was delighted to drop back into the past and read Blackie's story which didn't disappoint. 

Orphaned and alone 13 year old Blackie O'Neill leaves Ireland to go and live with his mother's brother in Leeds. It's here he will become a skilled carpenter and dreams of building houses including a very large and grand one of his own. 

He meets Emma Harte on the desolate Yorkshire moors and learns she works for the Fairleys, who she hates with a vengeance. It's a great read and so richly drawn. I now want to re-read A Woman of Substance!

*The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill by C S Robertson - I simply loved this sometimes dark and disturbing read & Grace! It's not published until January so I'll share my review then.

*Before my Actual Heart Breaks by Tish Delaney - I simply loved Mary, the lead character in the story. I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE. It's one of my favourite books this year.

Awaiting publication:

*The Lost Girls by Heather Young - I absolutely loved this story which is told then and 60 years later. Then is 1935 and the summer that the Evans family's lives were changed forever. They spent every summer at the family holiday home at the remote Minnesota lake. On the day they are going home and back to their lives, little sister, Emily goes missing. She's searched for far and wide but there's no trace and it rips the family apart. Emily's sisters and mother spend the rest of their lives at the lake house forever hoping that Emily will return..

In the present day, middle sister Lucy is the only one left alive and lives there alone with her memories. She knows she doesn't have long and writes down all which happened that summer in the hope that her grandniece, Justine might care. 

The story is laced with secrets, lies, untruths, family history along with some quite shocking reveals which are done subtly and sympathetically. When Justine hears she's inherited the lake house it means she and her daughters can escape her controlling boyfriend and start again. Her only neighbour at the lake is an old man who appears to know more about that summer than he's letting on. When her mother gets wind of perhaps loosing her inheritance she too is drawn to the Lake House.  
Never one to give up the controlling ex appears and tries to take control of Justine and her destiny. I enjoyed both parts of the story and especially the characters of Lucy and Justine. Would recommend.

What have you been reading this month?

October Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in October. If a book is marked * I've very kindly received it complimentary from the publisher via Netgalley or directly. 

Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books by Cathy Rentzenbrink - this is the book you need to read - it's an absolute gem. The author tells us her life story and her love of books. I found myself nodding in agreement at a lot of her book memories and have now added a whole bunch of books to my TBR pile! Cathy has always had her nose in a book and books kept her going when she tragically lost her brother. We read about her fascinating life as a bookseller and later a writer and also as a wife and mother. A must read.

Cut Off:Quick Reads by Mark Billingham - ooh this was a creepy short read. Louise looses her phone in the local cafe and is beside herself with worry. Her whole life is on that phone. So when a stranger gets in touch offering to give it back to her she jumps at the chance. Is meeting a stranger on a quiet stretch of the beach really a good idea... A great little memorable if sometimes scary read.

Darkness Rising (Harry Virdee #0.5) by A A Dhand - is a great short read and introduction to the Harry Virdee series. DI Virdee doesn't play by the rules but he always gets the results. It looks like East/West Bradford drugs wars are escalating and who is the ex-con dealer trying to make his mark? We also meet Harry's bubbly pregnant wife Saima, a character I'm looking forward to reading more about. They broke the rules and married for love. Saima is Muslim and Harry, Sikh. Their families sadly have disowned them. Would recommend as a taster to the series.

*Burnt Out - The exhausted person's six-step guide to thriving in a fast-paced world by Selina Barker - I took part in the Blog Tour Celebration in connection with the Cheltenham Literary Festival. See my review HERE. A great read!

Streets of Darkness (Harry Virdee #1) by A A Dhand - after having loved Darkness Rising it was straight into book 1 of the Harry Virdee series! I've since bought the rest (books 2-4). Detective Harry Virdee is suspended when he comes across the body of a prominent local man. He's itching to be part of the team investigating the murder.

His heavily pregnant wife gives him her blessing to work undercover for his boss in tracing ex-con Lucas Dwight, former BNP Leader who incited the riots of 2001. He's always worked a case his way and when he finds Lucas he finds out all is not as it seems.

When he hears that his wife Saima is in danger he'll stop at nothing to make sure that she and their unborn baby are safe. The race is also on to make sure the city he loves doesn't burn...

An absolutely heart-in-the-mouth read which made my heart pound!  I absolutely loved it.

*A Woman made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford - I took part in the blog tour for this captivating read. See my review HERE.

*The Whisting by Rebecca Netley - I found the story gripping as well as eerie. Elspeth Swansome is alone in the world and takes a position as a nanny on Skelthsea, a remote Scottish Island. Her charge, Mary hasn't spoken since her twin brother's tragic death.

All is not well in the crumbling old house with its creaks, whistling noises and ghosts. Elspeth's employer, Miss Gillies who is Mary's aunt is distant and cold. She suffered a sad disfigurement in her youth. 

As Autumn turns to Winter the island turns into a desolate place and Elspeth makes it her mission to find out who is singing the lullabies and where the whistling noises are coming from. Who can she trust and who is desperate that she fails.. 

Super creepy and spooky. A great read.

*Femlandia by Christina Dalcher - I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE.

Awaiting Publication:

*Lying Ways - DI Kelly Porter #9 by Rachel Lynch - Yet another series with a lead character I adore. This time the story revolves around rural Highton Prison and it inmates and those who work there.

Two recently released prisoners are found dead and Kelly and the Team can see they've been tortured over a period of time. Their investigations also take them inside the walls of the prison. An officer and friend of Kelly's gets stuck in the prison during a riot and my heart was in my mouth during these scenes.

Kelly's personal life implodes when she and Johnny, who's been stay at home dad for their baby daughter disagree on something imperative to the case....

A great read (even though it made me slightly sad) and as ever I highly recommend.

*The Midwife's Secret by Emily Gunnis - I absolutely loved the story and devoured it in two sittings, it was always one more chapter!

It's told over different timelines and totally draws the reader in. It opens in 1969, with a New Year's Eve party at Yew Tree Manor. The Hilton family are getting ready for the party of the year. Tempers are frayed and their little daughter Alice disappears after going out to play in the snow. Her brother claims that local farmhand, Bobby James who lives at the Vicarage with his dad and sister is to blame as he was the last person to see her.

In the past we read about Tessa James, the midwife would help anyone in distress, even taking them to the safety of her secret place at home. When she's made the scapegoat for the local doctor's mistake the family realise their lives will never be the same again. This bring true heartache and grief to the family (and to the reader).

In the present day, Willow James is working as an Architect on the new development at Yew Tree. She feels that her boss and Leo Hilton are keeping secrets from her and she decides to delve into the past on the quiet as she feels that some things aren't quite right.. When another child goes missing Willow finds herself instrumental to finding her rather than letting history repeat itself...

I found the interwoven and intertwined stories fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking with plenty of intrigue and mystery. So highly recommend. It's one of my favourite reads this year.

What have you been reading lately?

June Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in June. If a book is marked * I very kindly received it from the publisher directly or via Netgalley.

*The Cursed Girls by Caro Ramsay - I took part in the blog tour for this atmospheric read. See my review HERE.

The Thames Path Killer by Biba Pearse - I came across Biba Pearce and her books while browsing on Amazon. Having liked the sound of them I snapped them up. The Thames Path Killer follows the story of what seems to be a serial killer who is targeting engaged women. A young woman is brutally attacked whilst taking a shortcut home by the river on a dark rainy evening. DI Rob Miller who is leading his first case as SIO and his team believe it could be a personal attack, that is until it happens again....

The race is on to find out the killer. Rob's fiancee, Yvette is very needy and hates his job. When someone close to home goes missing the race is on to find her before it's too late. I found this story gripping, fast paced and twisty.

The West London Murders by Biba Pearse - I went straight onto read the follow up. We meet up with DCI Miller who is now married to Yvette. A married father is stabbed in a frenzied attack and the Team are on the case. When a second man is murdered they know they need to catch the killer pronto. 

Detective Jo Maguire, Rob's ex lover, whom he still has feelings for goes undercover which helps the investigation but puts her in danger... I found the story gripping and my heart was in my mouth. Would recommend. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

*Mrs England by Stacey Halls - I very happily won a copy of Mrs England by Stacey Halls over on twitter. The story is set mainly in West Yorkshire in 1904. Norland Nanny Ruby May leaves her current post in London when her employers embark on a new life in the States. 

She finds herself at remote Hardcastle House looking after the children of Mill Owner, Charles and his vacant wife Lilian. The children are a delight and Ruby easily slots into their lives. 

Ruby finds the other servants cold and finds it odd that Mrs England doesn't concern herself with the day to day wellbeing of her children. Everything has to go through her controlling husband. Things happen which have no explanation and Ruby feels more and more alone. 

She's desperate to hear from her sister Elsie and why doesn't she open the letters from her father? What happened in the past that no-one must know?  I absolutely loved the story which was both chilling and sinister in parts. Highly recommend.

The Missing Husband by Natasha Boydell - Kate & Pete have been together since Uni and seem just as much in love fifteen years on with 2 young daughters and a picture perfect house. They've even got a nanny! 

Pete leaves one morning and doesn't come home. Kate is distraught and as her life, or her life as she knew it unravels she finds she didn't really know Pete at all. She discovers a note and a young lover called Claire whom he's gone to be with.

Trying to get in touch she finds he's disconnected from all his socials and left his mobile phone behind. How is she going to cope?  He's the breadwinner, she's not worked since the children - her skills are rusty but she finds she has to start work in order to survive until he comes back...

There was a massive twist in the tale I never saw coming which I'm still reeling from now. Highly recommend.

*Risk of Harm by Lucie Whitehouse - I'm taking part in the blog tour early next month for this cracking read so catch my review then. I didn't realise it was the 2nd book in the series so I'm currently devouring book 1!

What have you been reading this month?

May Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in May. If a book is marked * I very kindly received it direct from the publisher or via netgalley for review/blog tour.

Tomb with a View by Peter Ross - I always liked visiting graveyards as a child until my sister told me I was weird! It was nice to delve into this book which shares the author's and many other's stories. It's absolutely fascinating. We learn about famous people and normal people's resting places and those who care for the graveyards and tend to the graves. The author takes us all over the world, including to Northern Ireland and The Troubles and I felt at time it was a history lesson, but in a good way! Highly recommend.

*Out in the Cold by Stuart Johnstone - Sergeant Don Colyear finds himself sent away to Highland town, Stratharder after an incident down in Glasgow. He's not happy at being sent away but decides to make the best of it, keeping his head down and getting on with it.

It seems that his new Commander doesn't want him there either and the crimes committed are pretty routine and mundane. He's teamed up with a sparky young Constable who is eager to learn from him.  He stumbles on something big which the Commander and others are eager to keep under wraps.

His "gut feeling", unusual stomach cramps which have helped him out in the past help to uncover the connection to the missing girls and the murder of the local groundsman. A story full of secrets, lies and mystery in a local town setting. I really enjoyed it and hope it's the start of a series. 

*You had it Coming by B M Carroll - I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE.

*Dead Ground - Poe & Bradshaw Thriller by M W Craven - oh how excited was I to receive the latest Tilly and Poe via the publisher from netgalley. I devoured it in 2 sittings. Absolutely brilliant. I'm taking part in the blog tour in early June so catch my review then. Just loved it, so good.

*The Actuality by Paul Braddon - Evie is a near perfect bioengineered human. She lives with her husband in luxury apartment in the sky with it's own lush roof garden which is tended to by Daniels, her husband's servant. Her kind are banned and as her owner never registered her she's kept hidden. 

When her existence is revealed and things take a tragic turn she has to suddenly leave all that she's known for the last 40 years and go outside - where poverty is rife, there's danger on every corner and Britain is battling pollution and crime. It's a scary and terrifying time. Daniels is with her on the first leg of her journey - her dream is to reach Austria. The story takes us through London, Cambridge and Paris and is truly un-put-down-able. There is a twist near the end I didn't see coming! Highly recommend - it's a cracking read.

*Saving the Day by Katie Fforde - Quick Reads celebrated their 15th Anniversary on Thursday and I was very kindly gifted one of the books. Allie is bored with her job at the supermarket, her colleagues who seem to know what's best for her and her lazy boyfriend Ryan.

One day when walking past her favourite cafe on the way home to her dad she sees an advert for an Assistant. She's only able to stack shelves and they want someone who can cook. She speaks with her friendly neighbour who teaches her how to make some basic recipes. There's also a handsome waiter in the cafe who's taken her eye... In turn, she saves the day when the cafe gets into financial trouble. I absolutely loved this short tale. Would recommend. 

*The Lost Girls by Heather Young - I absolutely adored this story which is set in two timelines. It doesn't publish until November so I'll share my review then.

*Above and Beyond by Saskia Swann & Nicola Stow - I absolutely loved Saskia's story about life as a Private Flight Attendant on rich people's jets. I'm taking part in the blog tour next week so I'll share my review then. It's fabulous! Highly recommend.

Awaiting publication:

*The Beauty of Impossible Things by Rachel Donohue - Having loved The Temple House Vanishing I was delighted to read Rachel's new book. Natasha is looking back at that summer, the one she turned fifteen and everything changed. She and her beautiful and bohemian mother, Elizabeth live in a crumbling house by the sea and keep themselves to themselves mainly away from the idle gossip of the inhabitants of the small seaside town.

Natasha has a gift, she can predict things which are going to happen and has disturbing dreams. She sees the strange lights above the ridge about the same time loner Lewis does. Visitors flock to town to see them anxious not to miss out. Mr Bowen, this summer's lodger seems smitten by her mother something Natasha's isn't happy about as it's always been the two of them against the world.

She has a premonition which, despite warning those involved about it comes true and the town has to deal with the aftermath. I thought the story was beautifully written and kept me interested throughout. Would recommend.

*Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth MacNeal - I was totally drawn into this magical story from the very first page. It's set in 1866 and Nell lives in little costal village with her much loved brother and her drunken father. She works at the flower farm and lives by the sea. She's shunned by the villagers due to her unusual birthmark.

Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders arrives in the village and she's curious to see the acts. She's spotted by Jasper who does a deal with her father and she becomes their Leopard Girl flying through the stars. As her fame grows Jasper is jealous of it. She finds kinship and love with his younger brother, sensitive Toby who is always in the background despite his childhood dreams of co-running a circus with his brother.

Jasper wants the show to get big too quickly and borrows money from a dodgy moneylender who will stop at nothing if he's not paid on time. As things go wrong Nell hopes she and Toby will stay strong... With a bittersweet ending I'm still thinking of now.. I absolutely loved the story and it's characters. So highly recommend.

*Twisted Lies DI Kim Stone Book #14 by Angela Marsons - I can't believe this is book #14! An absolutely stellar series which keeps getting better and better. DI Kim Stone and DS Bryant are joined by journo Tracy Frost for a day of shadowing, much to Kim's disgust. One of their calls is to the family of a woman murdered by her husband. They are hoping for a conviction this time but don't hold out much hope. Tracey who is always looking out for a story thinks there is much more to this.

A man tortured beyond belief is found in a disused warehouse and Kim and the Team are instantly on the case. When they go to tell his wife she doesn't seem that upset. Her sister takes charge which seems alien to Kim. 24hrs later the family have gone.

A second body is found and the Team find something out which seems to link the two cases. It's not long however before another body is found, again brutally tortured. The race is on to find the killer before it's too late..... It's great to catch up with Stacy, Penn and Barney too! Kim and Frost also seem to find more even ground and Kim truly believes she's done a good job. It's fast paced, twisty and very grisly with a few secrets intertwined. Highly recommend as always!

*Devorgilla Days by Katheen Hart - I absolutely devoured this gem of a read in two sittings. Kathleen (aka @PoshPedlar on instagram) decided to change her life after suffering breast cancer and associated illnesses which forced her to learn to walk again. I am in awe at what she went through and came out the other side.

While recuperating she spotted a little cottage for sale in Wigtown, the Scottish Book Town. On a whim and with a feeling of deja vu she drove miles to see it and bought it the very same day! It did need some love and tender care but very soon she has it the way she wants it and names it Devorgilla.

While still having health issues (she has the same rare illness as my dad!) she throws herself into village life and the book is peppered with anecdotes, some of which made me laugh out loud!

She goes swimming to keep her grounded and alive, even though the locals thinks she's nuts, throws herself into various clubs including a bee keeping course. I also loved the sound of The Wigtown Emporium which sells a range of treasures. It's an uplifting and heartwarming read which I really, really enjoyed.

What have you been reading this month?

April Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in April. If a book is marked * I've very kindly received it from the publisher via Netgalley. 

The Beauty of Impossible Things by Rachel Donohue* - I loved this richly drawn tale which isn't published until next month. I'll share my review in my May Book Round-Up.

Raven Black - Shetland Island #1 by Ann Cleeves - having loved Quick Read "Too Good to Be True" featuring Detective Jimmy Perez I knew I wanted to pick up the Shetland Island series. Raven Black is the first in the series and Perez is on the scene when the body of a young woman called Catherine Ross is found. All fingers point to local loner, Magnus Tait who lives alone nearby with his caged pet raven. 

Detective Jimmy Perez feels that his colleague from Inverness, DI Roy Taylor is too quick to jump to conclusions and feels there's more to this case than it being an open and shut case. All thoughts go to the missing Catriona Bruce whose body was never found - is there a connection?

I found the characters interesting - especially liking the Detective as well as the Shetland landscape. The story has a twist I didn't see coming. A great read which I would recommend.

Twisted Lies DI Kim Stone #14 by Angela Marsons* - another un-put-downable read. It's not published until next month, so I'll share my review then.

White Nights - Shetland Island #2 by Ann Cleeves - the second book in the Shetland Island series is set near to the Summer Solstice when it never really gets dark on the island. This story is set in the small hamlet of Biddista where all it's residents know each other inside out...

Detective Perez's new friend Fran is showing her art work in an exhibition with renowned artist, Bella Sinclair. Bella has invited her world famous fiddler nephew to lighten the evening with a performance. A stranger appears in their midst and seems to take some sort of fit - what's his connection to the island and why was he encouraging people to believe that the exhibition was cancelled?

When a body is found hanging in the community shed it's believed to be suicide. Detective Jimmy Perez is soon forced to call in the team from Inverness. It's a twisty tale with again, a twist I didn't see coming. Would recommend.

On Hampstead Heath by Marika Cobbold* - I took part in the blog tour for this fab read. See my review HERE.

Watch her Fall by Erin Kelly* - Prima Ballerina, Ava Kirilova is at the top of her career at the London Russian Ballet Company. She's been training her whole life for the coveted roles of Odette and Odile in Swan Lake. Since the age of 12 her father, the great Nikolai Kirilova has guided and moulded her to become the very best...but someone wants what she has and will do almost anything to make it happen...

The story moves to the fate of Juliet, a dancer recovering from a career ending fall. How will she survive? The company has looked after her since she was a child and now she's cast aside. Other characters enter at this point which makes the story deliciously twisty. It's a story of obsession, ambition, control and is truly un-put-downable. I highly recommend it.

The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club by Faith Hogan* - I absolutely loved this book which made me cry - happy as well as sad tears. I'm taking part in the blog tour next week so catch my review then.

Previous reads (which were awaiting publication when I read them):

Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan* - I read this way back in November last year. It published yesterday. The setting is Illmarsh, a sleepy forgotten seaside town. A farmer calls the police when he and his daughter find something unexplained and quite gruesome on his land.  Detective Alec Nicols is first on the scene and what he finds there gets him urgently requesting forensic veterinary help. When Cooper tips up he's surprised as he wasn't expecting a female.

The investigation turns to why someone could do such a thing and if "16" could have meaning to someone. They uncover crimes across the community - unexplained disappearances, arson, mutilations and desperate cruelty. Can they really believe the words of a local hermit who says he saw it all...

The story is twisty and dark but compelling - there's something which urges you to read on. The characters are multi-layered and I felt I never really knew any of them. When I wasn't reading the book I was mulling it over in my mind, which for me is the sign of a good read. Would recommend.

The Rift by Rachel Lynch* - I was very excited to be asked to be an early reader of The Rift. I'm a huge fan of Rachel's DI Kelly Porter series so I couldn't wait to read something new from her. 

Major Helen Scott of the Royal Military Police is sent on a posting to Paris to take charge of the security for the British Ambassador, Sir Conrad Temple-Gray at the forthcoming NATO summit at the Palace of Versailles. She's to work closely with the Americans and she comes across a couple of people from her past - one with whom she shares some precious, if heartbreaking memories.

Before she's had time to bed into the job she's sent to head up an Interpol investigation into the kidnapping of oil magnate, Khalil Dalmani's son. She's got to find out who is behind it and why as well as finding him safe. Could his ex-friend and rival, Fawaz bin Nabil be behind it? And what life changing incident has he never got over from?

The Ambassador of course wants her to do some digging into the pair's background while she's at it  She uncovers more than they expected and she's able to experience closure and new beginnings. Absolutely brilliant with twisty storylines and interesting characters. I especially loved Helen. Thanks so much for the opportunity to be a first reader. - I've got my fingers crossed this is the start of a new series!

What have you been reading this month?