REVIEW: When the World Stood Still by Kate Eastham

When the World Stood Still by Kate Eastham

Genre: Historical fiction, WW1

Read: 19th February 2021

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Published: 22nd February 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The nurses were putting in twelve-hour shifts now, day and night. Emily felt broken inside, dried out, not even capable of tears. They were short-staffed after a softly spoken Irish nurse, who’d only been with them for four days, had died from the deadly flu and two more had fallen ill. And more patients were coming in every hour, though the hospital beds were already full…

1918. Twenty-year-old Emily Burdon has been training as a nurse in London, learning on the job as she tends to patients from the crowded poorhouses that ring the hospital as well as wounded soldiers returning from the war. She pours her heart into her nursing while she waits for happier times – peace in Europe and the return of her childhood sweetheart Lewis from the Western Front.

But when the deadly Spanish Flu arrives in London on the heels of the war, Emily’s faith and courage are put to the test. All around her men and women in the prime of their lives are wasting away, and until a cure is found there is nothing for Emily and her colleagues to do except make them comfortable, treat them as best they can… and, eventually, ease the pain of their passing.

But then Lewis catches the deadly flu himself on his way back home, just as a new doctor is transferred to head up Emily’s ward. From the distant land of Prince Edward Island in Canada, Dr James Cantor is the first of a generations-old farming family to have left the island, and wartime London feels a long way away from the rugged beauty of his homeland. But despite their differences, he and Emily find common ground in their passion for helping patients and stopping the spread of the disease. But with life forever changed around her and Lewis’ future hanging by a thread, can Emily survive the most terrible epidemic in the history with her life – and heart – intact?

A heartbreaking historical novel based on true history – emotional and unforgettable. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, The Beantown Girls and Diney Costeloe.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kate Eastham's heartbreaking tale set during the Spanish flu WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL.

How ironic that an historical fiction should take readers back a hundred years to another pandemic that crippled the world over at the end of the Great War. But it wasn't a coincidence that this story was told. In the midst of our own current pandemic, author Kate Eastham (a retired nurse herself) was approached by her editor to write an historical tale set during the Spanish flu. It would be something readers could well identify with some similarities drawn between the two pandemics, a hundred years apart. 

The Spanish flu is something I had heard of and was well aware of, but not of just how crippling and deadly the disease was. You could fall ill with a headache and fever in the morning and be dead by tea time. Without the advances of medicine today or a vaccine, the Spanish flu pandemic was far deadlier than COVID and all medical staff could do was nurse them the best they could. Some lived, some didn't. It is estimated that about 500 million people, or one-third of the world's population, became infected with the Spanish flu and the number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide. It was a time WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL.

“I’ve never seen anything like this pandemic...Whatever it is, it’s filling patients’ lungs with so much fluid that they’re drowning. We need more time to study but it’s ripping through every city in the world….”

September 1918: As the Great War nears its end, probationary nurse Emily Burdon has just about completed her training at London's St Marylebone Infirmary alongside her best friend Lucy. While her friend was on the Female Surgical ward, Emily was on the Military ward treating injured soldiers who have returned with war wounds before being fit for discharge. 

From Lancashire, Emily left her family behind and moved to London to train as a nurse. Her fiance and childhood sweetheart Lewis Dupree went off to war in 1914 and has survived it thus far. He writes regularly and visits her when he has leave although he never returns to their village, which has become a bone of contention between them, as Emily misses her family dreadfully and yearns to visit them. Despite this, Emily loves her work and cannot wait to become a fully qualified nurse.

When the hospital is overwhelmed by an incredible number of deadly flu cases, so sudden and so powerful that it can kill in a matter or days or even hours, the nurses face their biggest and deadliest challenge treating the sick as the flu sweeps not only the country but the world. Emily must draw on all her training to help her patients as best she can wearing only a cloth mask for protection herself. But the flu spreads rapidly, discriminating against no one, leaving the hospital short staffed and ill equipped. However, the hospital has always heeded Florence Nightingale's philosophy regarding the importance of strict hygiene and ventilation, as staff wash their hands after every patient and keep the windows open allowing fresh air to sweep through the wards. And now it is more important than ever to heed the late nurse's wisdom. But when Emily's best friend Lucy is taken ill suddenly, she puts all her training to use to nurse her in the hope that she can save her.

Then Emily receives word that Lewis has contracted the flu, having already watched many soldiers on the front die from it. He writes from a Dunkirk hospital asking for a bed at St Marylebone where she can nurse him. But Lewis is a changed man. Having survived the entire war and watching his best friend die on the battlefront, will the flu be the death of him? Just days beyond the war's end? And if he survives, will he be the same man Emily fell in love with that went to war four years ago?

Emily enlists the help of newly arrived Dr James Cantor, from Prince Edward Island in Canada, to arrange Lewis' transport from Dunkirk to St Marylebone. The two have worked well together since his arrival but the news that Lewis is Emily's fiance comes as something of a shock to James, who is clearly attracted to Emily. She has sworn him to secrecy as nurses are encouraged to give their whole lives to the profession with no room for marriage or motherhood to distract them. So when Lewis arrives on the ward, no one but James knows her secret.

But it seems Lewis has a secret of his own. And when Emily uncovers the truth, her whole world will be shaken to its core. It is then that she draws on her strength and the friendship of those around her as she must decide whether her feelings for the man she once loved have changed. But it also means that Emily must now return home to Lancashire.

Can Emily survive the changes the pandemic has brought to her life with her heart intact? And when a child at the hospital loses her mother, Emily must make a choice - family or career?

It is interesting reading the challenges people faced in WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL as they endured a fast moving and deadly pandemic, much like today. There are certain parallels, to be sure, but without the advancement of medicine at the time, no cure and no vaccine, death rates were high. And how ironic to come out of the Great War alive only to be claimed by a deadly flu, in some cases. With only aspirin, poultices, tepid baths and steam treatments to treat patients, the courage and strength of these nurses at the time is to be commended. Many also lost their lives but they also saved those they were treating.

I was quickly drawn into the compelling story which I just about read in one sitting. Emily's story is a touching one as it takes us through the pandemic and then from London to Lancashire. It is also interesting to note that people then were made of more stoic stuff than today...as we truly are incredibly lucky to have the luxuries of modern medicine and more that we often take for granted and that were not available to the generations before us. It bears thinking about, how would we live through and survive not only such a life-changing war but an even deadlier pandemic? COVID can be deadly, yes, but there was nothing to treat the Spanish flu - nothing but good nursing.

WHEN THE WORLD STOOD STILL is an emotive story of another era, another time, but one not unlike today...despite the some 100 years between us. It is well written, well researched and well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed it and fans of historical fiction will devour it just as I did. My only complaint was that it didn't explore the ending a little further before it concluded. Even so, it was a heartbreaking and heartwarming read with a satisfying end. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I would like to thank #KateEastham, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhenTheWorldStoodStill in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

A change in circumstances meant Kate Eastham made the shift from a career in nursing to being a full time carer for her husband. Determined to make the most of this new role ‘working from home’ and inspired by an in-depth study of the origins of nursing, she wrote her first novel at the kitchen table. Miss Nightingale’s Nurses was published by Penguin in 2018, closely followed by three more in the series. With her passion for history, Kate aims to make visible the lives of ordinary yet extraordinary women from the past. Her current historical fiction is set during the World Wars and will be published by Bookouture. 

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Mother's Day Club by Rosie Hendry

The Mother's Day Club (Mother's Day Club #1) by Rosie Hendry

Genre: Historical fiction, Saga, WW2

Read: 17th February 2021

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Amazon - US

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Published: 18th February 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Meet the women on the home front . . . 

1939. When the residents of Great Plumstead offer to open up their homes to evacuees from London, they’re preparing to care for children. So when a train carrying expectant mothers pulls into the station, the town must come together to accommodate their unexpected new arrivals . . . 

Sisters Prue and Thea welcome the mothers with open arms, while others fear their peaceful community will be disrupted. But all pregnant Marianne seeks is a fresh start for herself and her unborn child. Though she knows that is only possible as long as her new neighbours don’t discover the truth about her situation. 

The women of Great Plumstead, old and new, are fighting their own battles on the home front. Can the community come together in a time of need to do their bit for the war effort?

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Rosie Hendry's heartwarming new saga THE MOTHER'S DAY CLUB.

I love historical fiction particularly sagas set around this era and although Rosie Hendry is a new-to-me author I knew I would thoroughly enjoy THE MOTHER'S DAY CLUB. And I did. I really didn't want it to end and found myself completely immersed within Marianne's story from the beginning.

September 1939, London: With the threat of war looming, women and children are being evacuated to the country in an effort to keep them safe. This time it's the expectant mothers and their infants as they find themselves on a train away from the familiar and into the unknown. One their way to the station, the air raid siren sounds but instead of taking shelter the women are urged to continue by the WVS evacuation officers. It is the 3rd September 1939, the day that changed the course of history for Britain and her people when war was declared on Germany.

Expectant mother Marianne Archer is one of many women from the East End being evacuated but unlike the others, she has a secret. One which she hopes to maintain as she welcomes this relocation to the country as something of a new start for her and her unborn child. Having fallen in love with someone above her class, Marianne found herself pregnant and when her employer discovered her condition promptly sacked her from her prominent position. Marianne had grown up as an illegitimate child herself and she does not want that for her child so fabricates a marriage to a merchant seaman in the Navy. She meets an effervescent woman with auburn hair who introduces herself as Sally Parker and chatters away happily to her throughout their journey.

Great Plumstead, Norfolk: At Rookery House, Thea Thornton prepares one of her spare rooms for an evacuee that was expected later that day. As a child she fell in love with the house she now owns and vowed one day to buy it. When the Great War came in 1914, Thea's betrothed went off to fight while she joined the war effort by driving ambulances at the front line. Sadly the war claimed her fiance, but Thea returned home and set up a business in London where she lived for a number of years before her sister informed her that Rookery House was up for sale. Without another, Thea sold up her business and bought the house she had long been in love with and now lives there with her brother Reuben, who lives in a converted railway carriage on her property, and dear friend Hettie, a retired cook from "the big house". 

Prue Wilson, Thea's sister and WI vice-president, thrives on activity. As billeting officer for the community, she has organised billets for each of the evacuees who will meet their hosts at the village hall after their journey from London. Her husband Victor is a prominent businessman and local councillor (and a bully to boot) and while he loathed to take in anyone, Prue reminded him of his duty and standing in the community, and so he reluctantly acquiesced. Now she is standing on the station platform awaiting the arrival of the evacuees.

Upon arrival at Great Plumstead, the expectant mothers and those with young children are met with a flurry of confusion as Prue scurries from WVS officers to the station office. It seems there has been a mix-up. The residents of Great Plumstead are expecting children and their teachers...not expectant mothers and their children. But a phone to HQ and the orders are that the women will remain so they are to make the best of it. But it took a lot of persuading with some people to host children - how will they react to having an expectant mother instead? No woman will welcome sharing their kitchen with another. Not only that, when Prue's husband discovers their billet is to be an expectant mother rather than a teacher he is wild with rage.

Making the best of a bad situation, Prue takes in Sally while Thea immediately befriended Marianne. Thea soon discovers that Marianne is no stranger to the countryside, having grown up in Kent. When her grandmother died, Marianne had moved to London to become a seamstress and trained under a prominent employer in the West End making ball gowns, wedding gowns and clothing for affluent customers. Now a fully qualified seamstress, Marianne soon finds herself making gowns, dresses, suits and clothing for a number of Great Plumstead's residents...including the affluent ones.

As the war beckons, young men are being called up to fight for King and country but before he gets the call, Prue's son Jack signs up for the Army, making his pompous father preen himself with pride. Prue is both worried and fearful for her son as he sets off for training. When the call-up comes a month later, her younger son Edwin receives his papers to register with one of the forces. But Edwin doesn't want to fight. Not because he's a coward but because it goes against all that he believes in - that thou shalt not kill. When he registers as a conscientious objector, his father is furious and tells him he is no longer welcome under his roof. Prue is heartbroken, having felt like she has lost both her sons. With Jack away about to be sent to the front line and Edwin now gone, her house no longer feels like home. But although Edwin has registered as a CO, his status as one is not yet official. He must first go before a tribunal who will then decide, based on letters, references and a barrage of questions that they will put to him, whether his claim will be accepted. What will he do if it's not? And he is forced to fight? What will Prue do?

Meanwhile, after a conversation with one of the expectant mums on a blackberry picking expedition, Thea approaches Prue with an idea for the women to occupy them during the day in Great Plumstead. These women have come from the city where life is constantly busy and there is always something to do and somewhere to go. But in the country, life is vastly different to what they know. So together the sisters come up with a mothers "day club" where the women and their children can gather to chat, where they can learn new skills like sewing or knitting and even make things for the soldiers on the front line. Not only that, it's a place where they feel welcome as many of them don't feel that with their hosts. The only problem is, Prue must get permission from Victor who is the local Councillor. With his say-so, all will be well...but will he give it?

As Marianne continues to keep her secret to herself, she feels bad about lying to Thea and Hettie who have done nothing but made her feel welcome. But she knows that if word gets out she will be shunned, will lose the business she has built and her child will then have the stigma of being illegitimate. But when someone discovers her secret and comes calling with an offer and a threat of blackmail, what will Marianne do? Will she risk everything she has built up and her child's future or will she give in?

There is so much going on in this wonderful story that it is easy to get caught up in the lives of Marianne, Thea, Sally, Prue and everyone else. You wonder will there ever be a happy ending for Marianne whose secret risks coming out? What will happen for Prue and her loveless marriage to a pompous bully? Will Edwin's registration be accepted or will he be forced to fight? So much happens and yet there is so much more to come!

THE MOTHER'S DAY CLUB captured the feeling of wartime Britain and those caught in the crossfire at home, as they prepare for rationing by the "Dig for Victory" campaign to encourage growing your own produce where possible to help the nation as well as keeping themselves fed. It was a refreshing aspect to take by focusing on the evacuation of expectant mothers rather then the children we usually hear about. It made for intriguing reading with some emotional moments as well as some laugh out loud ones too.

A beautiful uplifting story told in the third person narrative from the perspectives of both hostesses and evacuees, namely Thea, Prue and Marianne. The bonds formed in this installment serve as a preface to the rest of the story to come. I really didn't want it to end and the only negative thing about thing was that I had to finish it! I look forward to the next installment "The Mother's Day Victory".

I thoroughly enjoyed THE MOTHER'S DAY CLUB and recommend it to fans of wartime sagas, Lynn Johnson, Elaine Roberts, Pam Howes, Lizzie Lane and Ellie Dean.

I would like to thank #RosieHendry, #RachelsRandomResources, #Netgalley and #SphereBooks for an ARC of #TheMothersDayClub in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Hendry lives by the sea in Norfolk with her husband and children. A former teacher and research scientist, she's always loving reading and writing. She started off writing short stories for magazines, her stories gradually becoming longer as her children grew bigger.

Listening to her father's tales of life during the Second World War sparked Rosie's interest in this period and she's especially intrigued by how women's lives changed during the war years. She loves researching further, searching out gems of real life events which inspire her writing.

When she's not working, Rosie enjoys walking along the beach, reading and is grateful for the fact that her husband is a much better cook than her. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Blame by Kerry Wilkinson

The Blame by Kerry Wilkinson

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 14th February 2021

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Published: 19th February 2021

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Paige, Richard and me. We thought we’d be friends forever. But everything changed the day we took the short cut home from school along the old railway line. I wish we’d gone the long way. I wish we hadn’t seen our classmate, pale and still in the undergrowth. And I wish we hadn’t promised to keep one, awful detail a secret just between us…

Twenty years later, I have a brand-new life, and try never to think about my old one. But I’m dragged back when Paige calls out of the blue. Richard has been accused of something terrible. Everyone back home is whispering about the body we found years ago, and saying Richard deserves to be locked up…

Before I know it, I’ve returned to the small town I thought I’d never see again. Paige is almost the same as I remember – jet-black hair, slender frame – but why does she seem so nervous?

Revealing the truth about what we saw that day twenty years ago could clear Richard’s name… but will the blame fall on me? And can I really trust that Paige is on my side – or is she hiding her own dark secret?

When we find a strange note in Richard’s flat, only one thing is for certain: someone else knows the truth too. All three of us are in danger…

A totally addictive read by bestselling author Kerry Wilkinson about how the secrets from our past will always come back to haunt us. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, I Am Watching You and The Girl on the Train.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Kerry Wilkinson's latest psychological thriller THE BLAME.

I've been a Kerry fan since "The Girl Who Came Back" and love his standalones (as I've not really followed the Jessica Daniels series to appreciate it fully), but throughout this book I couldn't decide whether I liked it or not. It certainly kept me engaged throughout and had that suspenseful undertone but I don't think it is one of his best. Having said that, it is still a relatively enjoyable read.

"People change. And then they change again."

No truer words spoken of real life that was most certainly manifested in the main characters in THE BLAME. 

Paige, Richard and Harry were inseparable as teenagers growing up. Now twenty years later, Harry has been living in Canada whilst life went on in Mackleberry back in the UK for both Richard and Paige. Whilst standing in line with the hipsters for a Sunday breakfast, Harry receives a phone call from Paige telling him that Richard has been arrested for the murder of their former head-of-year, Mr Wilson. Twenty three hours later, Harry is back in Mackleberry for the first time in more than a decade. 

Unsure of what he can do to help, he teams up with Paige as they endeavour to find out what really happened on the night Wilson was killed. But the more time he spends with Paige, the more he realises how much she has changed. He discovers she had married Richard's older brother Oliver and is now separated. And the more time they spend together, the more he finds Oliver keeps popping up. Is he there to keep them updated about Richard? Or is he keeping an eye on his estranged wife?

And then there is the gossip on the Mackleberry Facebook page. All anyone seems to be interested in is raking up the the discovery of the body of 15 year old Graham Boyes eighteen years ago. And they all seem intent on blaming Richard for the boy's death, insinuating that as he had found the body he surely must have killed him...and if he had killed Graham then it stands to reason he also killed Keith Wilson. But Harry knows that it was both he and Richard that found Graham's body on their way home from school, despite the fact the two boys were never named at the time. However, the community have it all wrapped up tidily...but what do the police think? They had merely arrested Richard and were holding him for questioning. But it's not until a piece of evidence that has been missing for eighteen years is found in Richard's flat, do the police then charge him for Graham's murder as well as Wilson's.

But Harry and Paige know Richard. He would never kill anyone. But after some digging into Richard's personal affairs, Harry uncovers some secrets that his friend has kept hidden from everyone. But do these secrets mean he is capable of murder?

Harry doesn't remember much about finding Graham's body all those years ago except the nightmares that followed. It all became something of a blur. But there is one thing he clearly remembers about the discovery. Something that the police insisted that he and Richard never disclose to anybody EVER! Something that only they, the police and the killer would know. Harry has never told a soul and neither has Richard. So what does this mean? Graham's murder was never solved...so is Wilson's murder linked to Graham's?

While Keith Wilson's murder is the current investigation the focus shifts more towards Graham's as the community continue to raise their concerns and share their opinions. Admittedly, I had my suspicions which turned out to be correct as I picked up on a subtle clue dropped in passing. Although there is an element of mystery, it seems to surround the past more than the present, as the pieces of the puzzle slowly fit together. 

Narrated solely by Harry, THE BLAME is a slow burn that meanders through a web of secrets, lies and mystery with no more excitement than finding the missing mate of a pair of socks. Don't get me wrong, it is an engaging read but not a thrilling one and not overly exciting. I did, however, like the ending despite the sad nature it resulted in.

I don't think I really liked any of the characters. I certainly didn't warm to Paige and nobody else was much chop either. Harry seemed to just drift along and I really couldn't feel any of his personality come through. I felt as indifferent to him as his sister Evie did.

There are certainly better written books by Kerry than this one but it is still filled with suspense to keep you guessing right up to the end, and ironically, still a page turner. My favourite part was when Paige's mother, Harry and Evie's neighbour, when she helped Harry out of an aggressive situation which made me cackle as much as she did! 

I would like to thank #KerryWilkinson, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheBlame in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.

When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: An Eye for An Eye by Carol Wyer

An Eye for An Eye (DI Kate Young #1) by Carol Wyer

Genre: Crime fiction, Police procedural, Suspense

Read: 13th February 2021

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Amazon

Published: 1st February 2021

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A killer running rings around the police. A detective spiralling out of control.

DI Kate Young is on leave. She’s the force’s best detective, but her bosses know she’s under pressure, on medication and overcoming trauma. So after her bad judgement call leads to a narrowly averted public disaster, they’re sure all she needs is a rest.

But when Staffordshire Police summon her back to work on a murder case, it’s a harder, more suspicious Kate Young who returns. With a new ruthlessness, she sets about tracking down a clinical, calculating serial killer who is torturing victims and leaving clues to taunt the police. Spurred on by her reporter husband, Young begins to suspect that the murderer might be closer than she ever imagined.

As she works to uncover the truth, Young unravels a network of secrets and lies, with even those closest to her having something to hide. But with her own competence—and her grip on reality—called into question, can she unmask the killer before they strike again?

MY REVIEW:

An apple a day keeps the doctor away...but in this case...not the killer! I will never look at an apple in the same way again.

I am huge fan of Carol's crime novels so when she tweeted that a new detective was in our midst, I kept my eyes peeled for its release...or an ARC. As luck would have it, I purchased it as one of Amazon's First Reads last month but then also got it via Netgalley so as to leave a review there. Carol is one of my favourite writers. She keeps readers on their toes from start to finish...and she's a lot of fun to chat to as well!

When I came to the end of this book last night, two words entered my mind...OMG!! WOW!! And then I tweeted Carol to find out when the follow up was due out so I could continue the journey. AN EYE FOR AN EYE starts off with a bang in more ways than one before petering out to build the bigger picture...which incidentally, doesn't become clear till towards the end. But it still makes for gripping reading that I couldn't put down and read long into the night.

We meet DI Kate Young on the brink after suffering a massively traumatic incident. She is then given enforced leave on compassionate grounds despite wanting to continue to work. A determined, tough but broken woman, Kate is feisty when she needs to be but at the present time is still piecing her life back together. She introduces us to her husband Chris, a journalist, whom she met after a car accident. And it is apparent through their conversations that he is the glue that holds her together when she needs it.

Then just three months after being given leave, Kate's friend and mentor DCI William Chase knocks on her door to tell her that she has been specifically requested to head up a murder investigation by the Superintendent, with a team of her choosing. Accompanied by DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson, Kate and her team are tasked with investigating the murder of prominent businessman Alex Corby, who incidentally happens to be well acquainted with the Super. Leaving no stone unturned, and trusting no one but Chris and her team, Kate sets out to uncover the truth behind the grisly murder.

And then another body is discovered. This time by Kate herself! Ian Wentworth was a eminent ENT surgeon and friend of Alex Corby, and therefore Superintendent John Dickson by default. When he discovered a glass jar containing an eye at his holiday cottage in the Peak District he called the police. But it wasn't until he returned to home to his penthouse back in Staffordshire that he realised its significance...too late.

Enquiries lead Kate to the Maddox Club, an exclusive men's club, where Ian Wentworth and Alex Corby were members. But what secrets does this club hold? Or more importantly, the manager who has been with the club since it began in 2008? Kate is sure he is lying to her but has nothing but her gut instinct to prove it. As both men were known to her Super, she knew she must question him but DCI Chase was keeping him well away from the spotlight. Why is that? 

Her trusted team of two, DS' Meredith and Donaldson, were tasked with tracking down a missing witness and searching Wentworth's holiday cottage respectively. But it was what they would find out from the witness and discover at the cottage that would blow everything wide open. But...they had to find a way to tell Kate.

Despite respecting their superior, Morgan and Emma were worried about Kate's mental state. She was often seen mumbling to herself and popping pills on the sly. Was Kate up to seeing this investigation through? And not only that, was she up to facing the truth that it would reveal?

WOW! The thrill ride Carol takes the reader on throughout AN EYE FOR AN EYE is adrenaline-pumping and addictive as you swipe the pages faster and faster in an attempt to get to the truth. All the while, playing detective and picking up on the subtle clues she has peppered throughout the story. I get a real satisfaction when my theory/theories are proved right and I have unmasked the killer before the team has. In this case, I'd even linked the events and certain people to prove my theory. I even tweeted Carol privately whilst reading and working it all out, detailing my entire thought process and theories to her, knowing full well she wouldn't tell me if I was right or wrong...but I was bursting with the knowledge so I told her anyway. It wasn't until I had finished that she congratulated me on picking up on all the subtle clues.

But I digress...

While AN EYE FOR AN EYE starts off with a bang, it does slow down a little as Kate wrestles with her past trauma. Excerpts from that trauma are played out throughout the story and at first I pondered their relevance, but through them it does serve as a background to Kate's story and to understand her mental state. I did find the build a little slow after the bang of the prologue, but then it all started to come together and I began playing detective to see if I couldn't get to the truth before Kate did.

I love how we're not told what really happened to Kate, allowing us as readers to form our own theories, as the pieces were slowly put together. There were times even I questioned Kate's competence! But I knew Carol would have something up her sleeve to pull out on us midway and turn everything on its head. And she did. But I'd already figured that part out long before it was presented to us.

And then when the investigation came to an end, when all was said and done, Kate had one more task left to do. And in doing so, she opens up something that she cannot unsee or believe. Carol has left readers hanging for the follow up "A Cut for a Cut" (to be published 24th June) and I cannot wait to delve into. The question is, will Kate be strong enough to face this next challenge? Because it will force her to question everything she has ever known.

I wasn't sure if I liked Kate in the beginning, probably because I loved DI Natalie Ward so much in Carol's previous series. But Kate is a lot different to Natalie, who was resolutely tough. Kate is tough too but she is also incredibly fragile. And I think her mental health issues helped make her a more sympathetic character. She could have been an obnoxious bitch alienating her colleagues, but despite her problems she was always professional and treated everyone - colleagues and witnesses, even suspects - with respect. I think I am going to like Kate and look forward to getting to know her and her team better.

A fast paced story once it got going, AN EYE FOR AN EYE is compelling, addictive and will keep you glued to the pages until you have it figured out. A fantastic start to what promised to be an exciting new series.

I don't generally like cliffhangers, but the one we are given at the end this book promises more intriguing tales to come for Kate and her team.

A well worth 5 star read. Recommended for fans of crime fiction with an edge.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #NetGalley, #AmazonPub and #ThomasAndMercer for an ARC of #AnEyeForAnEye in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Carol Wyer writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and demonstrated that stand-up comedian Carol, had found her true niche.

To date, her crime novels have sold over 800,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets.

The much-anticipated new series, featuring DI Kate Young, was published on 1st February 2021 with the first novel, An Eye For An Eye, and a second, A Cut for a Cut, to be  published on 24th June 2021.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ''Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy... who is very, very grumpy.

When she is not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: Beneath the Fear by Sheila Rawlings

Beneath the Fear by Sheila Rawlings

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 10th February 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

UK

US

Australia

Published: 6th October 2020

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Spoilt and indulged since childhood, Samantha Copeland believes bad things only happen to other people. However, after witnessing her husband’s murder during a bank robbery in Oxford, that illusion is cruelly shattered.

Traumatised by the experience, Sam eventually retreats to the Cornish coast, where she hopes to heal her fragile state of mind. Unfortunately, instead of the peace she so desperately craves, she soon finds her vulnerability tested to breaking point by a series of unnerving and unexplained incidents. 

However, after meeting her enigmatic neighbour, Tony Walker, and local handyman, Nathan Scott, Sam soon discovers the worst is yet to come.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Sheila Rawlings' gripping thriller BENEATH THE FEAR.

So what initially drew me to this book was its Cornwall setting. I love books set in what must be the most beautiful and rugged county in Britain. It adds to that sense of foreboding in thrillers as its landscape can be largely unforgiving, particularly in the grip of fog and blustery weather. With no guard rails on the picturesque clifftops, at least in these books ('cause let's face it, it detracts from the breathtaking landscape), one wrong move could see you tumble over the cliff edge to the rocks below. Despite not knowing what to expect, having never read this author before, I knew I would be in for a treat simply because it was set in Cornwall.

Opening with a Prologue that promises something sinister is afoot, BENEATH THE FEAR then takes us to Oxford and a date in time that our protagonist, Samantha Copeland, will never forget. It was a chilly November afternoon in 2018 when Sam, used to getting her own way, coerced hubby Stephen into a walk to blow to cobwebs away before he needed to complete a couple of paintings for his exhibition for the coming week. Sam was bored and wanted to get out of the flat so she used all her womanly charms that she knew Stephen was powerless to resist. Naturally he succumbed as she knew he would and after a few minutes of fresh air Stephen admitted to Sam that she was right - the walk was just what he needed. 

Neither of them paid too much attention to the van that was parked outside Lloyds Bank as they crossed the street. Neither did they give heed to the car that pulled up across the road. It was only when the masked men began shouting at the security guard of the van, aiming a gun at him, did they notice what was happening. Stephen pulled Sam to the ground as bullets were fired and the rest became a blur. 

In that moment, Sam's life changed forever.

Four months later, Sam was still blaming herself for Stephen's tragic death. If she hadn't coerced him, pleaded with him and wanted her own selfish way...then her husband, her soul mate, the love of her life would still be here. Instead, she was alone and despite her parents' best efforts to help her, Sam spiraled into a deep depression. Traumatised by her experience, she made a decision to retreat to a holiday cottage owned by her godmother on the Cornish coast, against her parents' fervent wishes. But Sam felt she needed this time alone to heal and come to terms with her loss.

Upon moving into the cottage, she reconnects with childhood friend Suzy - her godmother's daughter who manages the two holiday cottages - and who lives in nearby St Austell. And Sam discovers it is nice to have a friendly face around so far from home. Before long, Sam settles in to life in her remote cottage, enjoying walks on the beach and on the clifftops, and even a visit to the local village.

But then strange things start to happen, unnerving Sam in her new and relaxed environment. She begins to get the feeling of being watched. She notices a car following her. A figure watches her from a distance that looks startlingly like Stephen. And then there is the rose left on her pillow...just the way Stephen used to. And the smell of his cologne envelops the cottage. Added to that, Sam is plagued by dreams of drowning and her husband reaching out to her. But it's not until the shed door wakes her one night in the fierce winds, banging on its hinges, that she decides to confide in Suzy. But if she had thought her friend would be supportive, she was mistaken. Suzy immediately dismissed her claims as hallucinations although she did promise to get the shed door fixed.

And that is when Sam first meets local handyman Nathan Scott, who is tasked with not only fixing the shed door, but weeding the garden, clearing the yard and painting the cottage. So as Nathan becomes a fixture, Sam soon finds his presence comforting. The two often share a coffee together and Nathan's boyish smile soon relaxes her.

And then Tony Walker moves into the other cottage across the lane. A political journalist, he has escaped to the Cornish climes for peace and inspiration for the book he intends to write. But his attentions soon become more firmly fixed on Sam rather than writing. He soon takes it upon himself to take Sam under his wing and protect her from harm...to the point of controlling. Nathan and Tony hate each other at first sight, although Sam grows used to both men's company...albeit separately. Tony doesn't trust Nathan and Nathan doesn't trust Tony. So what is it each man is hiding?

Sam, on the other hand, just wants peace and quiet to heal her fragile mind and from losing her husband. But when the unnerving incidents continue, Sam is sure something - or someone - sinister is behind them...but no one seems to believe her. Suzy dismisses her thoughts, Tony disregards them and Nathan placates her. 

Can Sam trust any of them? Or is she truly losing her mind?

With the appropriate sense of foreboding, BENEATH THE FEAR is an addictive read from start to finish. It is engaging, gripping and thoroughly enjoyable. There are some good twists that make for compelling reading. I did sort of work out what was happening...but not to its full extent. That's what made it even more delicious.

And the Cornish accent!! I love the Cornish accent! It's such a delight! I felt like I was watching Poldark every time Nathan spoke. You could feel the warmth in his words. The characters were well developed and made for interesting reading. And I love the short snappy chapters, which is always a big plus for me!

Overall, BENEATH THE FEAR is a well written addictive read that had me flipping pages into the night. An easy style to read, I look forward to more of Sheila Rawlings in the future.

Recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

I would like to thank #SheilaRawlings and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #BeneathTheFear in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sheila Rawlings is an author of adult crime and psychological thrillers, and her debut novel, ‘Truth and Revenge’ was chosen as a finalist for the Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards 2014. ‘Beneath the Fear’ is her second novel.

Born in Bexleyheath, Kent and educated at the prestigious Bexley Technical High School for Girls, Sheila originally trained as a graphic designer at Medway College of Art and Design (now the University of Creative Arts – part of Kent University). After graduating from college with a diploma in visual communication, she worked as a graphic designer for two mail order companies, designing and producing their catalogues. Wanting something more challenging, she then worked for several years as a graphic designer and production manager for a magazine publisher. During that time, she also assisted their PR and marketing department, designing exhibition stands for various clients.

It was while working with journalists she eventually rekindled her childhood love of reading and storytelling, prompting her to write her own novels. Sheila now lives in South London with her husband, Martin.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Dog Sitter by Zara Stoneley

The Dog Sitter by Zara Stoneley

Genre: Chick lit, Women's fiction, Contemporary fiction, Romance

Read: 8th February 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th February 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

One dog. Two strangers. An unfurgettable romance.

Wanted: someone nice, normal and trustworthy to housesit a beautiful cottage in the Lake District while the owner is away on a business trip. Must like dogs.

Wanting to escape from crap bosses and useless boyfriends, Becky jumps at the chance of being a dog sitter and the perfect escape – rest, relaxation and a very cute pooch called Bella.

But looking after Bella comes with a catch, namely gorgeous, brooding, Chris Hemsworth-worthy Ash James, who claims Bella is his dog and will stop at nothing to get her back!

Becky’s not about to hand over lovely Bella to any Tom, Dick or Ash.  She’s determined to watch every move Ash James makes…even if it gets her very hot under the collar.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Zara Stoneley's delightfully romantic THE DOG SITTER.

Ok, I admit, it was the title that first drew me to this book without having read anything of the premise because being a dog lover it was surely a given that I would therefore enjoy it...wouldn't I? Strangely enough, I did. Thoroughly. Although romance chick lit is not my usual genre it was a little of the beaten path of the historical fiction and psychological thrillers I generally devour. But there was something completely endearing about being a dog sitter...in the beautiful Lakes District. Handsome musclebound SAS/gardener/woodchopper was indeed a bonus. But at the mention of Poldark, that's it, all I could see then was Aidan Turner and those gorgeous locks and sensuous eyes strapped out in his Poldark coat...shirtless, of course!

But...I digress...back to the THE DOG SITTER!

What a delightful opening chapter! We delve headlong into Becky's journey to the Lakes from the more civilised London to which she's accustomed, and here she battles lorries leaking liquid cow-dung, tractors flinging straw and she was daft enough to leave her window open letting it all in! Haha...granted her air con was on the blink so I can understand that...but oh, what an amusing monologue it was. Added to that, she had an irate self-obsessed Georgina on the phone demanding where she was, all the while dealing with the sights, smells and goo of the country coming through her window. I found myself chuckling from the first few pages. 

But it didn't stop there...no. Becky's rants to herself were amusing to read as she talks herself in and out of amusing and embarrassing situations. 

However, I feel I must mention the star of the show here...Bella. What an absolute delight she is, clever, friendly and oh so bloody funny! I could actually see her zooming all over the yard, the house, the furniture... If you've never seen a dog with zoomies, you are seriously missing out! They are hilarious! Of course I am a person who prefers dogs to people so I can therefore appreciate their unique personalities.

So Becky is meant to be house and dog sitting at this gorgeous palatial Lake View Cottage for Insta influencer Georgina and makes the long journey from London to the Lake District. After finding a sitter for her own poky little flat, she sets off early and arrives late...thanks to the snotty satnav woman leading her through country lanes laden with lorries spewing out liquid cow poo and tractors dispelling hay. Becky turned up looking like she'd been dragged through a dirty stinking hedge backwards so was thankful to find Georgina had already left and would therefore not see her in this state. Georgina, though, had left her a load of instructions in the form of lists detailing everything from locking the house up to not letting her ex step foot inside, as well as all the instructions for Bella's social diary.

Becky had mistakenly thought Bella was just a dog that she'd bee looking after. She was wrong. Bella is a cute but cyclonic cockapoo that is the canine face of Georgina's Instagram. So when she opens the door before reading all of the instructions, she did not expect to be met with a whirlwind that flew past her at the speed of knots and zoom around the garden and into the shrubbery till she was out of sight. And then to make matters worse, Georgina video calls from the airport in the midst of the chaos. As she relays her most important instructions once again, she reiterates that Becky MUST NOT under any circumstances let her ex go near Bella, set foot in the house or even speak to him at all! Apparently, he is out to dog-nap her back and will try anything.

And so we come to the ex. The SAS-slash-gardener-slash-woodchopper that Becky has imagined him to be from the sneaky pic of him on Georgina's Insta account. As Becky is frantically trying to find the zooming Bella whilst attempting to appease a slightly flustered Georgina on the phone, the very object of Becky's fantasies stands in the open doorway holding onto a wriggling Bella who is excitedly kissing his face. Georgina takes one look at him and screams at him whilst Becky just stands there covered in cow-dung and a wisp of straw in her hair. The picture painted was somewhat amusing.

The ex is Ash James...a swoon-worthy guy befitting of the delectable Ross Poldark (in the form of Aidan Turner, of course). Georgina might see red at the very thought of him but Becky sees lots of lurid fantasties involving him. Bella is apparently in love with even if her owner is not and soon Ash starts popping up at the oddest moments, attempting to lure Bella into his clutches no doubt. But Becky has been told he's the enemy and to stay away from him. But it's a bit difficult when he keeps finding excuses to turn up!

It isn't long before Becky starts to feel completely relaxed at at ease in the beautiful scenery of the Lake District. She came here in the hope of putting some distance between her and her controlling ex who not only dumped her but sacked her as well. Up until recently she has lived her life trying to please Teddy and letting go of what she really wants. No one in her family, but her father, liked him and saw right through his snobbery from the start. Becky only wished she had too...but now she has. And now she is in the beautiful Lake District ready to reignite her inspiration and paint what she really makes her happy. Animals. Scenery. Nature. Magical ponies. That's what makes her happy. And it's here that she finds it again. In the breathtaking scenery, the waterfalls, the lake, the flora and fauna...and most of all, in Bella. 

But it seems Bella comes as part of a package...with the handsome and somewhat delectable Ash. And what ensues is an entertaining and sometimes hilarious tale as Becky finds her inner inspiration to be who she really wants to be and paint what she really wants to paint.

I have to add, the descriptions of the scenery was simply beautiful. I live on the other side of the world and have never stepped foot in the UK, let alone the Lake District, but I could see it's beauty and natural wonders through Becky's eyes.

There is so much fun and silliness in this book it is difficult not to laugh at Bella's antics, as well as Becky's narration and enjoy the entertaining read that THE DOG SITTER is. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did but Bella really was the star here, hands down. There was a time early on that I started to get a little weary of Becky's sexual obsession of Ash...the woman sounded like a sex starved nymphomaniac at times...lol Although admittedly, the quick witted way she described it all it was quite amusing.

THE DOG SITTER is truly an entertaining read that I enjoyed more than I anticipated. It is fun, amusing and delightful in many ways. Not my usual genre but a definite feel-good read, nonetheless. And as no dogs were harmed or died in this story, it makes it an even better read for me.

Terrific rom-com read that will make you laugh out loud.

I would like to thank #ZaraStoneley, #RachelsRandomResources, #OneMoreChapter and #Netgalley for an ARC of #TheDogSitter in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Zara Stoneley is the USA Today bestselling author of The Wedding Date.

Born in a small village in the UK, she wanted to be a female James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. After many (many) years, and many different jobs, her dream of writing a bestseller came true.

She writes about friendship, dreams, love, and happy ever afters, and hopes that her tales make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and occasionally say 'ahhh'.

Zara now lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a lively cockapoo called Harry, and a very bossy (and slightly evil) cat called Saffron.

Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘The First Date’, 'Bridesmaids', 'No One Cancels Christmas', 'The Wedding Date', 'The Holiday Swap', 'Summer with the Country Village Vet', 'Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage' and the popular Tippermere series - 'Stable Mates', 'Country Affairs' and 'Country Rivals'

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Harry's Instgram | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads

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