REVIEW: The Girl She Was Before by Jess Kitching

The Girl She Was Before by Jess Kitching

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 25th October 2021

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Published: 31st October 2021

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A crime thriller with a brilliant twist you won’t see coming!!

Powerful, packed full of gruelling details that will linger with you long after the book has finished.

Nat lives a picture-perfect life, but it wasn’t always this way. A victim of horrific bullying when she was a teenager, Nat will do anything to keep distance between the girl she was before and the woman she is now.

But when her best friend is murdered and people begin to point their finger at her, Nat’s new life quickly begins to unravel.

To Nat, it’s no surprise that the crime happened at the same time as the return of her biggest tormentor, Chrissy Summers. A woman with a violent streak who destroyed lives when she was younger and isn’t afraid to do it again.

Face to face with the past she so firmly keeps behind her, Nat’s sanity wavers as her determination to reveal Chrissy as the monster she knows her as rises to dangerous heights.

The question is, can Nat prove Chrissy is a killer, or will Chrissy get to Nat and her family before she has the chance?

You can't outrun the past...

MY REVIEW:

What an absolutely brilliant debut! I loved almost everything about it - the fast pace, the suspense, the twists, the second guessing. I was completely absorbed in the story from the very beginning and read it in almost one sitting. The chapters were relatively short and snappy - just the way I like them - and the alternating between THEN and NOW added another dimension to the story that left us wondering who was doing what and why. Everything was perfectly executed...and then we came to the conclusion. All the tension, all the build up, it was so palpable you could feel it even taste it...and then the shock Epilogue gave us that unexpected ending. I was like...what did I just read? 

Nat lives a perfect life in Coral Bay with her loving husband Lucas and baby daughter Esme. She has a beautiful home and is an online social media influencer with an image she presents to the world as being perfect but behind her smile are the hidden scars from the emotional torment she suffered at the hands of horrific bullying as a teenager. She left Coral Bay as soon as she possibly could but returned some years later, almost unrecognisable as the girl she'd once been. 

Leaving all that hurt behind her, Nat returned to Coral Bay and found herself befriending the very people who bullied her at school...and they become best friends. All of them, except for one. Chrissy Summers - the worst of them all. So imagine her surprise when out running one morning she happens across the not so trim but still stylishly beautiful Chrissy in active wear a tad too tight. At first Chrissy doesn't recognise her, but then it dawns and the evil glint returns behind that smirk she knew so well. With a few well placed taunts, Chrissy leaves Nat standing speechless with the realisation the woman hasn't changed at all.

But Nat is the only one to see that. Because as soon as the others know Chrissy is back in town they all flock to her side as if they had never left. And Nat is left on the outer once again while Chrissy muscles her way back in. Of course, everyone is blind to what Chrissy is doing except Nat. But when she tries to confide in Lucas about it he dismisses her concerns as ludicrous, naturally siding with Chrissy.

Despite having turned her life around from the self-conscious 15 year old she used to be, self-doubt creeps in and invades every aspect of her life. She becomes irrational, often appearing delusional, wondering if she is good enough wife, mother and friend as the painful memories she worked so hard at pushing down return with a vengeance. Even her career as an influencer is being affected as she begins to lose followers when an anonymous account pops up, bad-mouthing her and outing her as a fake. 

And in the midst of her life falling apart, her best friend is killed with another in a coma and soon it becomes clear (to her) that someone is picking them off one by one. But how does she fit in? While her friends were bullies, Nat never was. She was one of their victims. Then suddenly she remembers Chrissy. Why has she come back to town now? She left under a cloud years ago so why is she back? Has she some unfinished business with those who ditched her in her hour of need? And is she setting her biggest adversary up to take the fall for her deeds? 

But no matter how many times Nat says it, no matter how loud she yells it - no one listens to her. She has lost all credibility - who will believe her now? And those noises she hears in the night...she is sure someone is out there, but are they really? No one else can see or hear them. And she's the only one drawing attention to herself...

But she is sure someone is setting her up, even if no one else believes her. Can Nat get to the truth before it's too late? Or is she really as crazy as everyone says?

Moving between the past and the present seamlessly, THE GIRL SHE WAS BEFORE is a well-written tale of the effects that bullying can have on those who suffered it later in life. It's not just a case of "they were just kids". Unless one has been on the receiving end of such cruel torment, one cannot really understand the lasting effects it really has someone. It destroys a person's self-esteem, their self-worth and confidence. While I never suffered the extreme torments as the girl in the THEN chapters describes, it was still traumatic at the time and yes, I believe it has a lasting influence on the person you become. The THEN chapters were incredibly difficult to read at times as you wonder how people could be so cruel...but teenagers can. And girls are the worst.

Horrified at the relentless bullying, I was pulled into the plot instantly as I cheered the poor girl on in the hope she would eventually overcome the bullies. The question constantly at the forefront of my mind as to her identity. At first I thought it was Nat as she is the main character in the present chapters, but then I started to think about other possibilities. Whoever she was, I knew she was coming with a vengeance. And so I put my thinking cap on and began my process of elimination as to the possible suspects. I narrowed it down until finally I was left with my obvious choice...maybe not yours...but it made perfect sense to me, even if I had yet to work out why.

THE GIRL SHE WAS BEFORE is filled with twists and suspense for one action-packed thrill ride that hoodwinks you at the last possible moment. I really thought the outcome would be different and I admit to being slightly disappointed at the ending we were given. Still it was a major twist that is unexpected that is sure to delight many readers to steer us away from any predictability. Maybe something a little more unsettling to end on would have been a little more satisfying despite my preference for a different outcome altogether. Either way, it's a shocking twist.

THE GIRL SHE WAS BEFORE is such an addictive read that swept me away in its cleverly conceived plot that is sometimes more than a little disturbing. I cannot believe that this is a debut, it is that good. I can't wait to see what Jess Kitching comes up with next!

Perfect for fans of twisted psychological and disturbing domestic thrillers.

I would like to thank #JessKitching, #KingsleyPublishers and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheGirlSheWasBefore in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jess Kitching is an avid reader, writer and binge-watcher. Originally from Bradford, England, she currently lives in Sydney with her fiancé Jack. Her two goals in life were to move to Australia and have a book published. To be able to say she has done both is something she still can’t wrap her head around.

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PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Kingsley Publishers by following them on these social media accounts.

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EXTRACT: The Parents by Claire Seeber

The Parents by Claire Seeber

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 23rd October 2021

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Published: 25th October 2021

DESCRIPTION:

The other parents all seem so perfect. But it’s not long before I realise: I should have never made friends with them…

I knew it wouldn’t be easy for my kids to adjust when we moved to a tiny village where they didn’t know a soul. But after the death of my husband, we needed a fresh start.

Suddenly, we’re outsiders. I know the only way we’ll be accepted is if I throw myself into my new life, so when my son joins a local club, I volunteer to help along with the other parents.

Before moving here, I didn’t know people like this really existed; their lives seem too perfect to be real. Although my own life couldn’t be more different, they welcome me into the fold. For the first time since my husband died, I feel like I made the right decision for my family…

That is until I overhear something that tells me these other parents aren’t as perfect as they seem. Something that turns my world upside down again.

My secret has already ruined my life once. I thought the truth had died with my husband… I should have known that it wouldn’t be buried for long.

A completely addictive page-turner about the secrets and lies hiding beneath seemingly perfect lives. Fans of Big Little Lies, Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish will be absolutely hooked by this pacey read with a jaw-dropping twist you just won’t see coming.

EXTRACT:

PROLOGUE

Sunday 1 November

The thing was, people agreed later, it was almost impossible to see the movement, the camera footage was so dark and grainy. But once you knew it was there, once you knew what you were meant to focus on, it was impossible to stop looking.

It was the object bobbing in the black water, of course, that drew the eye first. An old wooden pallet? 

Or actually, maybe a big sports bag, which would make sense, given the setting. No, it was definitely an old Puffa jacket, arms spread, made puffier and swollen from the weight of the water it had taken on. Only... if you stared hard enough, you could definitely see, there in the left-hand corner, just at the edge of frame, a figure, moving into the trees. 

Yes, definitely a figure. And then, slinking from the shadows of the dense woodland behind, a huge animal – a dog, presumably, fur glinting inthe moonlight, almond eyes flashing white on the grainy film.

Although... no, it couldn’t be a wolf...Could it?

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Seeber is a Londoner who started her professional life as a (bad) actress and went on to become a documentary maker, lucky enough to travel the world meeting amazing people. Also writing features for newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, when she had her first baby in 2004, Claire started writing psychological thrillers. The Observer called her first novel, Lullaby, ‘a disturbing debut’ whilst the Guardian called it ‘powerful’. Her third thriller Never Tell became a bestseller, and she has been published in more than twelve different languages.

Claire has been CWA Dagger-nominated, also writes for stage and screen, and today studies psychotherapy, as well as (trying to) manage a home of slightly feral children and animals. Luckily her very nice partner helps too. 

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

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REVIEW: Every Little Lie by Lesley Sanderson

Every Little Lie by Lesley Sanderson

Genre: Domestic thriller, Suspense

Read: 23rd October 2021

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Published: 27th October 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Lie #1 was to my new friends, about why I moved here.

Lie #2 was to my husband, about who I was before I met him.

Lie #3 was to myself, that I would get away with what I’ve done.

When I met Seb, it was like everything fell into place. My daughter Evie finally had a proper dad, and I had found the husband of my dreams – and what Seb didn’t know about my past wouldn’t hurt him.

But lately he’s been acting strangely. He won’t look me in the eye, he keeps coming home late and the other day at the school fair I saw him arguing with an unknown woman – the same woman I’ve seen hanging around outside our house.

And just as I start wondering whether I’m not the only one with a secret, Evie goes missing…

An edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist, perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, T.M. Logan and Lisa Jewell.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Lesley Sanderson's compelling domestic thriller EVERY LITTLE LIE.

An emotionally charged thriller filled with secrets, lies and deception, EVERY LITTLE LIE is an addictive ride from start to finish and had me turning the pages until I finished the very last page. While the story does feature a missing child at some point, it's not your usual run of the mill missing child story. It is so much more. And as the layers are slowly peeled away all will be revealed.

Anna lives a perfect life with her husband and daughter. She is the local organiser for such events as the school fete, the Neighbourhood Watch committee and everything else that helps keeps their community running safe and secure. Her daughter Evie is the centre of her world and Anna would do anything for her...anything to keep her safe. After all she has been through to have her, she will let nothing harm her. They are a close and happy family.

Evie was two when Anna and Seb met in the park one day, and she knew at once that he was the one for her. Seb adored Evie from the first moment and has always thought of her as his own. And he is all Evie has ever known as a daddy. Just her smile is enough to make his heart melt...and Anna's too as she sees the love between her husband and daughter. Her life is as perfect as she could ever hope to be.

Until the phone calls start...

"You destroyed my life. Now I'm going to destroy yours."

Confused and frightened, Anna dare not think what these threats may mean. She confides in Seb who instantly thinks he know who is behind the calls, believing he is the target of this person's rage. Trying to keep the truth from Anna, he endeavours to get to the truth himself but only ends up digging himself in deeper.

And then Evie starts drawing pictures featuring "a nice lady" who is "following me". Anna looks outside her window and catches a glimpse of a woman with a dark bob sitting in a car outside before driving off. Who is this woman? And what does she want with them? Could her threats be aimed at Seb as he claims? If so, that would indicate he has betrayed her...doesn't it? But then that would be so much better than the real truth, wouldn't it? Surely, this isn't Anna's past catching up with her...is it?

But then when Evie goes missing from their backyard, Anna and Seb are frantic and it is then that both realise that they must come clean about the dark secrets each of them are hiding. But when all is bared, is there any coming back from this? Which of them has the darkest secret of all? And as going to the police isn't an option, the only people Anna and Seb can rely on to fix this and bring Evie home is each other. But...are baring their deepest secrets, are they sure that they can trust each other now?

I thoroughly enjoyed EVERY LITTLE LIE from the very first page till the very last. It was steadily paced and while the plot was predictable and fairly easy to figure out, it is still an addictive and enjoyable read as you race to the conclusion to see how it all ends. It was a quick and easy read, easily devoured in just over five hours.

The story unfolds primarily through Anna and Seb's narratives with a chapter told by Evie with several others devoted to the other player in the story. Told this way, some may find a couple of aspects repetitive but only in the course that it is told from each of the character's perspectives. And slowly but surely, all the secrets and lies come bubbling to the surface and all is finally revealed.

Overall, EVERY LITTLE LIE is a tense and addictive read that is perfect for fans of domestic thrillers.

I would like to thank #LesleySanderson, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #EveryLittleLie in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lesley attended the Curtis Brown Creative 6 month novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 The Orchid Girls (then On The Edge) was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.

'The Orchid Girls' was her first psychological thriller followed by 'The Woman at 46 Heath Street' in 2019, The Leaving Party (2020), The Birthday Weekend (2020) and I Know You Lied (2020).

Lesley spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and works as a librarian. She loves the atmosphere and eclectic mix of people in the area. Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has been hooked on psychological thrillers ever since and is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.

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Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Bookouture by following them on these social media accounts.

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REVIEW: A Village in the Country by Elaine Spires

A Village in the Country by Elaine Spires

Genre: Historical fiction, Post-war, Sagas

Read: 22nd October 2021

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Published: 18th August 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It’s November 1918 and the whole nation comes together to give thanks for the end of a bloody world war that has left few families unscathed.  More than seven hundred thousand men have perished; those fortunate enough to return are mere shadows of the men who left.  Women who have kept the country going by working in munitions factories and picking fruit and vegetables on farms and in market gardens are expected to give up their jobs to the men returning home.  In the peaceful Essex village of Dagenham Milly Brightwell is among the women who are not happy at having to take a step back in peacetime as she dreams and makes plans of becoming her own boss.

But just as life returns to post-war normal, the London County Council announces its plans to build more than twenty-five thousand Homes for Heroes on the farmland and countryside surrounding Dagenham.  Within the space of ten years the population will rocket to a hundred thousand people and the quiet country village will morph into the largest housing estate in Europe.  For the families in Dagenham Village looking forward to better times in the 1920s, life will never be the same again.

MY REVIEW:

A delightful well-written story set in the village of Dagenham after the end of the Great War, A VILLAGE IN THE COUNTRY centres on the lives of three women - Milly, Maudie and Elsie and their respective families. It's a time of great change as village grows from the quiet peaceful place they grew up in to a small bustling town by the thirties. No one could foresee the changes that were coming...and coming they did.

As the story begins, the war is coming to an end though it hasn't left the village or its families unscathed. Maudie's husband Jim died at the Front, leaving her to bring up her five children, while Elsie's husband Clive and son "Viking" were missing in action. 

Milly is in her early 20s and taking care of her father Leonard who has a disabled arm and her younger sister Lou's 15 month old baby daughter Ethel much of the time. But Milly wanted more from life. She wanted to run her own business and become a success. She didn't intend working ina factory all her life, not especially since the menfolk were returning and reclaiming their jobs leaving the women who kept the country running for the past four years out of a job and back in the kitchens. When her time comes and she finds herself out of work, she decides to set herself up in business and approaches Elsie, the local seamstress, with an offer too good to refuse.

Maudie has had to work hard to keep a roof over her children's heads, picking fruit and vegetables at the Williams' market gardens mostly. Godfrey Williams is a kind and gentle man and with the untimely death of his sister Delia on Armistice Day, he needed a housekeeper and someone to keep his books. He offered Maudie the job and with it the cottage on his land for her family which she accepted gladly.

Elsie thrives in her new job as seamstress for Milly's growing business "Brightwell's Bridal Gowns" whilst her daughter Violet has a knack for upcycling old furniture her brother Alfie brings home. When word reaches Elsie that Viking has been found recovering in a hospital in London a year after the war's end, she couldn't be happier. And after a time of convalescence he returns home where he picks up his trade of totting and collecting bits and bobs of furniture for Violet to upcycle.

But changes are coming to Dagenham which will see the once quiet and peaceful village turn into a small thriving town as the councils come together to build several thousands of homes for families escaping London after the war. We watch the lives of these women and their families change with the times as they marry and have families of their own. 

But deep in this little village some secrets are buried...some to never see the light of day. Whilst some are too big to live with...

A VILLAGE IN THE COUNTRY is a compelling story with historical details of the changes that Dagenham saw between the two wars. It was a delightfully easy read which I found to be heartwarming and engrossing. It does take a little to get your head around the characters and their families at first but once you do, you find yourself completely immersed within the story.

I did find it interesting that there are no chapters in this book as such. But each are separated by month and year, some of which were lengthy, but are easily broken up within as the story flips between characters at each particular moment in time. It didn't detract from the story at all, but rather enhanced it. Also included is a little bit of a mystery which threw in a bit of a twist at the end.

If you like historical fiction and post-war sagas, I am sure you will enjoy the easy pace of A VILLAGE IN THE COUNTRY and I have no hesitation in recommending it.

I would like to thank #ElaineSpires, #Netgalley and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #AVillageInTheCountry in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Spires is a novelist, playwright, actress and theatre director.  In spite of travelling intensively and living in several countries - Spain, Greece and Antigua - she remains a proud Dagenham Girl and in 2017 returned to her roots.  Elaine developed an eye for the quirky characteristics of people as she travelled, captivating the humorous observations she now affectionately shares with her readers in all her books.  As well as the books listed below, Elaine has written several one-act plays and also the stage adaptation of her novel Singles’ Holiday which was performed at the Brentwood Theatre by Melabeau Productions.  She wrote the Antiguan TV Series Paradise View for HAMA TV and Films and in 2019 her short film (co-written with Veronique Christie) Only the Lonely won the Gaucho Club Best Short Film Award and two silver awards at WOFFF (Women Over Fifty Film Festival) in the same year.

Elaine hopes you will enjoy looking further back in time with this book, to an era when Dagenham was simply A Village in the Country.  

Also by Elaine Spires and available in paperback and on Kindle from amazon.co.uk

What’s Eating Me

Sweet Lady

Singles’ Holiday

Singles and Spice

Single All The Way

Singles At Sea

Singles, Set and Match

The Single Best Thing

The Banjo Book One

The Banjo Book Two

You Never See Rainbows At Christmas 

Weak At The Knees & The Christmas Queen (novellas)

Holiday Reads & Holiday Reads 2 (short story collections)

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Parents by Claire Seeber

The Parents by Claire Seeber

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense

Read: 23rd October 2021

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Published: 25th October 2021

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

The other parents all seem so perfect. But it’s not long before I realise: I should have never made friends with them…

I knew it wouldn’t be easy for my kids to adjust when we moved to a tiny village where they didn’t know a soul. But after the death of my husband, we needed a fresh start.

Suddenly, we’re outsiders. I know the only way we’ll be accepted is if I throw myself into my new life, so when my son joins a local club, I volunteer to help along with the other parents.

Before moving here, I didn’t know people like this really existed; their lives seem too perfect to be real. Although my own life couldn’t be more different, they welcome me into the fold. For the first time since my husband died, I feel like I made the right decision for my family…

That is until I overhear something that tells me these other parents aren’t as perfect as they seem. Something that turns my world upside down again.

My secret has already ruined my life once. I thought the truth had died with my husband… I should have known that it wouldn’t be buried for long.

A completely addictive page-turner about the secrets and lies hiding beneath seemingly perfect lives. Fans of Big Little Lies, Lisa Jewell and Louise Candlish will be absolutely hooked by this pacey read with a jaw-dropping twist you just won’t see coming.

MY REVIEW:

I admit that I was excited to read THE PARENTS as I'd come across Claire Seeber before and had enjoyed what I had read through samples of her books, though I'd read not an entire book by her before. And I still haven't. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this book as I found it boorishly dull with the quintessential version of "Desperate Housewives" gossiping amongst themselves down to the testoserone levels on the football pitch between the deluge of alpha males present. Added to that was the history of the village steeped in heavily witchcraft complete with new moons in Virgo, or something I can't quite get my head around.

THE PARENTS is supposed to be a domestic thriller mystery novel with lashings of suspense but it felt more like a soap opera to me. And I'd rather sit down to an episode "Corrie" or have my tooth pulled than try and wade through the deluge of gossip mongers that Tenderton appears to be rife with. My goodness, Patti always seems to be supercharged, Neil constantly grumpy, Dez flashing his pearly whites at whatever female graces his presence whilst the rest of them seem to bitch it out amongst themselves. Alex, on the other hand, seems permanently perplexed and wondering what the hell she has gotten herself into.

But I digress...

The story begins with an intriguing prologue which offered promise that seemed to deflate once we rewound a couple of months leading up to what obviously inevitably took place.

And so we meet Alex, newly widowed and having moved back from America with her two children Iris (15) and Harry (13). Her introduction is that of her ancient Land Rover, bequeathed to her by her brother Gray who set her up in Primrose Cottage in Tenderton before rushing back off to Africa, which is precariously parked across Neil Borth's garage driveway thus making him irate and cranky trying to shift the immoveable bulk. Salon-owner Patti witnesses the debacle and upon being told the offending motor belongs to "her in the cottage", they venture up the path to knock on the door. Of course, Alex is intent on hiding away in the cottage but her affable son Harry answers the door and welcomes to irate Neil by presenting his mother who was trying her best to hide behind the curtains, out of sight. Sounds almost comical.

And thus was Alex's introduction to Tenderton.

Patti then invites her son Harry to football practice on Saturday. Of course, having grown up in America, the concept was lost on him and merely known as soccer. However, Harry goes along and soon makes friends with the other boys in the under-14s. The parents, on the other hand, are a different kettle of fish. The non-stop chatter of them all gave me a headache...no wonder Alex made her excuses to escape, despite Patti extracting a promise from her to attend her son Ethan's 13th birthday in a couple of days.

And then there was her daughter Iris, who had been on holiday at her paternal grandmother's place in Inverness in Scotland. Upon joining her mother and brother in Tenderton, Iris promptly wrapped herself in her duvet and remained in bed for several days, hissing at her mother to "go away" and "leave her alone". So while Iris refuses to talk to her, Harry seems to be settling in, but Alex is still struggling. The insurance money from her husband's tragic death still has not arrived, some ten months after the event, and she is struggling to make ends meet.

And then there is the village itself, steeped in seventeenth century witchcraft superstitions and old wives' tales (which is more accurately old men's tales told to keep their wives at home and in line more like). While on the surface it appears to be a perfect little village nestled in the Kent countryside, not everything is as it seems...particularly for the football team and their families. Alerted by a WhatsApp group message, secrets about the villagers are being exposed in a vlog that is changing the dynamics and the villagers themselves. First it's the football coach, then the model...and so it goes...

A picture-perfect village with a lot of secrets...who is next to be exposed?

THE PARENTS is rather aptly named since the entire book is about these squabbling, bed-hopping, irate parents who should know better than to behave worse than the children they are supposed to be parenting. The story is about families that all come with secrets and lies, with deception in ripe abundance. With all the squabbles, I felt like I was watching a soap opera with words with one family drama after another...I just couldn't stick around for anymore. By 30%, I had lost patience and didn't care one way or the other what happened or how the story ended up after such a promising prologue.

There are a lot of characters to keep a track of and it was difficult to keep them in place as to who was who at first. While Alex is still grieving for her husband Fraser, she seemed a bit...what's the word?...standoffish maybe. While the rest of the women appeared to be completely wacky, flaky or just unconventional. The men were all just trying to flex their muscles as to who should take over the managerial position of the footall club in the wake of the scandal surrounding Neil coming to light. It's the boys who are left in the shadows of their completely nutty parents.

Slow moving from the off, THE PARENTS is a tad far fetched in places though some of the historical aspects were interesting in how they disposed of women suspected of being witches in the seventeenth century. It seems there was no coming out of it alive for them. Ultimately, while the story centres around the U14s football, it felt more like a "Footballer's Wives" gathering while the men just flexed their proverbial muscles.

Honestly, this book was a complete fail for me. And to be honest, I'm surprised some of the other reviewers didn't give up sooner. I commend them for lasting 50% or 60%, while I could only just manage 30%. And what's with the term "babs"? I know it's short for Barbara, but it came out of Patti's mouth as some kind of affectionate term for just about everyone! At first I thought it was a typo that was missed during proof-reading...but it appeared again and again and again...

I can't say that would recommend this book but at the same time I won't write off Claire Seeber altogether either. Not every book is going to appeal to everyone. And not every author can wow us with a sensational story. I know Ms Seeber is a brilliant thriller writer and I look forward to immersing myself in something a little more exciting than another version of "Desperate Housewives" meets "Footballer's Wives".

I would like to thank #ClaireSeeber, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheParents in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Seeber is a Londoner who started her professional life as a (bad) actress and went on to become a documentary maker, lucky enough to travel the world meeting amazing people. Also writing features for newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent, when she had her first baby in 2004, Claire started writing psychological thrillers. The Observer called her first novel, Lullaby, ‘a disturbing debut’ whilst the Guardian called it ‘powerful’. Her third thriller Never Tell became a bestseller, and she has been published in more than twelve different languages.

Claire has been CWA Dagger-nominated, also writes for stage and screen, and today studies psychotherapy, as well as (trying to) manage a home of slightly feral children and animals. Luckily her very nice partner helps too. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Guilty Sister by Arianne Richmonde

The Guilty Sister by Arianne Richmonde

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 21st October 2021

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Published: 19th October 2021

★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My sister is missing. And the police think I’m to blame.

We haven’t always seen eye to eye, but I do love my sister Cece. She’s confident and free-spirited in a way I never am. And while she’s living her life to the full and posting it all over social media, I’m having early nights in my tiny New York apartment.

I didn’t mean to keep her a secret from my boyfriend, Bradley. But when he found out about her and I caught him scrolling through her pictures online, I knew I had to act before she ruined my life once again.

When the police come knocking at my door, I instantly regret wishing Cece would leave my life for good.

I didn’t want her to vanish forever, did I?

If you enjoy gripping psychological thrillers like The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us, you will love this totally addictive novel from a USA Today bestselling author.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Arianne Richmonde's psychological thriller THE GUILTY SISTER (previously titled "One Happy Family").

I have to admit, I kept hearing strains of Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind (in New York)" as I was reading this book. It just gave me that vibe.

As I began THE GUILTY SISTER, my first by Arianne Richmonde, I was instantly drawn to Sara who like me her life revolved around her dog, Poppy. I have just recently lost my beloved staffy whom I affectionately nicknamed "Poppy" and even "popsicle" which one of the character, Mrs Scott, refers to little Poppy as. I am also familiar with the whole wheelchair dog thing having had a dog in the past whom I got a wheelchair for. Like Poppy, my girl who I've recently lost saved me too when I rescued her from the shelter, just as Poppy saved Sara and vice versa. Yes, I am a dog mum and proud of it! Just like Sara is. Poppy is her child just as my dogs are my children, though I only have one now. But I could relate to Sara in that sense...however, that was only the beginning.

Sara Keller loves her dog, Poppy, who she considers to be her saviour. She rescued Poppy when she was left for dead and caring for the little dog has given Sara's life purpose and meaning...and she knows she would give her life for Poppy. Having grown up in Africa, Sara now lives in New York and frequents Central Park on her daily walks with Poppy, who scoots along in her wheelchair. It's like a whole other world in Central Park and Sara loves to escape there with Poppy at her side in the fresh air, away from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps.

But little does Sara know that a stranger watches her. Every day he happens upon her daily walk in the hope of catching a glimpse of her, of working up the courage to speak to her. But to her, he remains unseen as she passes him by each time. Until one day...Sara sees Bradley sitting outside one of the Park's cafes and she asks him for a favour. Could he possibly hold onto her dog's leash while she nips in to grab a coffee, as they don't allow dogs in there? Of course, he'd be honoured. And from there, Bradley was determined to keep the conversation going as they walked together through the park and out onto the street. But Sara was hesitant. And despite his invitation for meeting up the next day in the park, she called out "that could work" as she left with Poppy down the street to her apartment.

But Sara didn't meet him. And neither did she call. But Bradley would not be dissuaded. There was something about Sara...

But Sara has a secret. A secret so deep and dark she doesn't want to risk someone as handsome and charismatic as Bradley finding out. And then what would he think of her? And then there was her sister, her twin sister Cece, who always seemed to destroy whatever happiness Sara had...and she couldn't risk that either. She knew that if she went out with Bradley he would naturally want to meet her twin and that couldn't happen.

But despite her reluctance, Bradley's persistence pays off and the two begin dating. His penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park is a sprawling den of luxury. It even boasts a rooftop terrace with a garden, something of an oasis in an otherwise concrete jungle. And then there are the thousand dollar suits, exquisite watches and his success as a Wall Street tycoon...how could something this refined be interested in her, Sara, a graphic artist in a one bedroom apartment? But Sara doesn't realise that she isn't the only one with secrets. Just what is it about Bradley that she can't put her finger on? What is it that he is so intent on hiding?

Then one day Bradley discovers that Sara has an identical twin and he becomes equally obsessed with meeting Cece as he is with pursuing Sara. But Sarah refuses. The two have a tumultuous relationship and rarely speak. Still, Bradley can't resist the pull and seeks out her Instagram page and begs to meet up with her. 

And so marks the beginning of the end as Sara and Bradley scramble to keep their secrets and lies from being uncovered.

THE GUILTY SISTER is a fast paced read with short snappy chapters to keep the pace moving. It alternates between Sara and Bradley's narrative with a chapter from an unknown "watcher" thrown in. Despite the unravelling narrative, it is hard to discern who is telling the truth and who is lying. There are a few twists thrown in, some of which I didn't see coming. The main one, I am kicking myself for NOT seeing it. I mean how could I not? It was so obvious. lol But then there are so many red herrings thrown in along the way, the author deftly hoodwinks her readers with expertise. The final twist was a shock. Nope not see that one either. Basically, everyone is hiding something in this book. They're all a bit crazy, in my opinion. Except for Poppy Delight. It made me miss my girl a little bit more and want to hug her again.

THE GUILTY SISTER is a twisted fast paced ride that will keep you guessing. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with a real twist and a dark side.

I would like to thank #ArianneRichmonde, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGuiltySister in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Arianne Richmonde is a half British, half American, USA TODAY bestselling author, who lives in France with her husband and four-legged family. Surrounded by vineyards and sunflower fields in an old stone farmhouse they restored, she fills her days creating twisty novels full of suspense and intrigue. When she isn’t writing she loves to travel, especially to warm, exotic countries, all in the name of research. She used to be an actress so likes nothing more than to immerse herself in the minds and lives of her characters. 

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Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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REVIEW: When the Nightingale Sings by Suzanne Kelman

When the Nightingale Sings by Suzanne Kelman

Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction, True story, WW2

Read: 20th October 2021

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Published: 21st October 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

1937, Europe and America. Based on a true story, this powerful novel about wartime courage and extraordinary friendship, tells how two women changed the fate of the Second World War and the course of history.

When an impossibly shy young woman named Judy Morgan finishes her studies in Physics at Cambridge University, it is with dreams of changing the world for the better.

Meanwhile, a beautiful, young Jewish woman decides to flee her beloved Austria, changing her name to Hedy Lamarr, and risking everything to get to America, as far away from the Nazi threat as possible.

A powerful friendship is formed when the two women meet in pre-war London—with Judy’s passion for science a perfect match for Hedy’s brilliant talent for invention. So when the world is gripped by a war that nobody could have imagined in their worst nightmares, both Hedy and Judy know they must act now.

As their lives repeatedly collide, in Cambridge, California, Pearl Harbor and beyond—throwing both their lives into danger and tragedy—Judy and Hedy both find themselves seeking ways to end the war.

But neither of them will know that one of them is on a path of tragedy. A path that could change the outcome of the war, but also threaten their friendship forever…

Fans of The Ragged Edge of Night, My Name is Eva and Beneath a Scarlet Sky, will love this unforgettable story about love, courage and devastation set in World War Two Britain, Hollywood and Pearl Harbor. Based on two true stories of amazing ‘hidden women’ who changed the world, this novel shows the power of friendship in the darkest hours of history.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Suzanne Kelman's unforgettable story of friendship and courage WHEN THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS.

This story begins in part in Cambridge where a young Welsh physicist studied for a degree she was not permitted to receive, gaining only a certificate to confirm her completion of studies. She went on to work at the Cavendish Lab in Cambridge, developing the technology to confuse the enemy through radar during WW2. That woman was Joan Curran, who was portrayed in this heartwarming and heartbreaking story as Judy Morgan. A woman of great courage, great spirit and great mind who found a special kinship in someone who loved science as she did. Someone who was known as "the most beautiful woman in the world" but largely unknown for the technology she herself invented.

Hedwig Keisler was an unknown Jewish woman from Austria, escaping not only the approaching Nazi regime but a husband with ties to the Third Reich. She found her way to Hollywood via London where she became known as "the most beautiful woman in the world" but she wanted to be known for than that. She had an analytical mind and an interest in physics and invention. It was her and a fellow inventor who came up with the idea of signal hopping - the very foundation upon which Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular technology is based. However, being a woman made it difficult for such innovations to be taken seriously and her "invention" was shelved until the patent ran out, which therefore meant she was largely unrecognised for the design and received no royalties for which she was entitled. She was finally recognised for it in the 1990s but died in 2000 without any royalties. That technology today is worth billions and billions of USD and it was all down to an idea that a woman came up with based upon a piano that plays itself in the 1940s. That woman was the famous actress Hedy Lamarr.

Both women made significant discoveries which would aid the Allies in the fight against the enemy but struggled to be taken seriously or recognised for their worth. Kelman has written before accounts based on true events and fictionalised them but each story is a powerful tale of courage, strength and resilience. WHEN THE NIGHINGALE SINGS is one such story in which a friendship is forged between two women who fought against the odds to be recognised for who they were and on their own merits.

At the beginning of the story, we meet an elderly woman now in her 80s ruminating over the years since past as she prepares for an honourary award of a degree she earned sixty years ago. Although now frail, Judy Jenkins ponders over what has gone before and longs for a reconciliation with her closest friend with whom she had lost contact just before victory over the Japanese was declared in 1945. So many years, so many memories, so much has already passed...but one thing Judy longest for before she too left this earth was to reconcile with Hedy. Just one more time.

Cambridge 1937: Young and shy student Judy Morgan was feeling excited and nervous about completing her studies. She knew she would not be awarded a degree, although she'd earned it, but her greatest wish now was to get a job at the Cavendish Laboratory as a research scientist. En route home to Wales, she decides to visit the Science Museum in London which she has never seen and there she meets Hedwig. The two women find a kinship in one another over their shared love of science and invention and spend an interesting afternoon in a cafe sharing thoughts and ideas. But as the time ticks on, Judy is aware of the last train home to Cardiff is approaching and bids farewell to Hedwig. Before parting, the women exchange addresses with the firm intention to correspond with one another.

Judy returns to Wales and to a letter awaiting her, offering her a position at the Cavendish Lab. She is ecstatic and upon arriving back in Cambridge to begin her new job she is shocked at the attitude of the man she is to be working under, Professor Finnegan, who believes a woman's place is in the home. He pairs her with Tom Jenkins, a similarly shy and self-confident man, but the two form a working relationship that soon becomes a friendship before Tom stutteringly proposes. Judy, of course, accepts and shares her exciting news with Hedwig in her next letter. But life isn't to be easy for Judy - neither in the professional nor the personal front and her struggles soon pave the way for an even bigger event that will change her life.

Austria 1937: Trapped in a loveless marriage to a cruel man, Hedwig Kiesler escapes its confines one night with the help of her maid. She flees first to Paris where she catches up with best friend Stefan, a journalist, before travelling to London in the hope to become an actress. There she meets Judy at the Science Museum and sees in her a woman with whom she shares more than just an interest. It was with a fleeting thought that she suggested they exchange addresses so as to correspond with someone who appreciated her mind and for who she was - more than just a face.

Using most of her the money she could glean from selling some jewellery her maid had expertly sewn into her coat, she bought a passage on the Normandie for America where she attracted the attention of Louis B. Mayer who immediately signed her up with a seven year contract with MGM Studios upon arriving in Los Angeles. But her name was a bit of a mouthful. And it was then that Hedy Lamarr was born.

Over the years, Hedy made a name for herself filming opposite already established and well-known Hollywood names such as Clark Gable and Jimmy Stewart. But she longed to find someone to love her just for her. She rushed into a second marriage after a whirlwind romance with a scriptwriter lasting only two years. She swore off marriage instead focusing on her career but jumped into another marriage with a British actor she'd worked alongside in her first Hollywood movie Algiers some years before. That too didn't last and Hedy was once again left bereft.

Through it all she had her friendship with Judy and was thrilled when she and husband Tom moved to the US to work outside Berkeley on a top secret project for the US military. But in a cruel twist of fate, the two women came face to face with something that came between them and threatened to destroy their friendship. Both Judy and Hedy were strong and resilient and rose above whatever life threw at them, but each of them continued to struggle with things neither of them could or would share...except with each other. Except they couldn't. And so life went on...

I've been a fan of Suzanne Kelman since her historical WW2 fiction debut "A View Across the Rooftops" and have enjoyed each of them since. Well-researched and in a mix of fact and fiction, she weaves a heartbreaking tale of two women who struggled to be recognised for more than who they were seen as. WHEN THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS is an epic tale of their friendship, their resilience, courage and strength in a time when women were not recognised as individuals. While some of the scientific parts went over my head a little, I was still able to appreciate their contributions in the efforts both women made in the inventions of chaff (Judy aka Joan Curran) and signal hopping (Hedy Lamarr).

Of course, I knew the name Hedy Lamarr but I soon found myself googling several times to learn a little bit more about her since I only knew her as a famous Hollywood actress of the 30s and 40s. But as I was to discover, she certainly was more than just "the most beautiful woman in the world". WHEN THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS brings both women's story to life in a heartbreaking way as they each fought battles of their own.

A story of life-long friendships, love, resilience and courage against the backdrop of war, WHEN THE NIGHTINGALE SINGS is a fascinating re-telling of two women's fight to be more than they are seen as, their friendship and the inventions they developed that changed the world.

Perfect for fans of historical wartime fiction and those interested in reading about the unsung heroes of history.

I would like to thank #SuzanneKelman, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhenTheNightingaleSings in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Suzanne Kelman is an Amazon International Bestselling author in America, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Her WW2 historical fiction books "A View Across the Rooftops" and "When We Were Brave," together have sold over 150,000 copies and are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K. Her third WW2 Book, Under A Sky on Fire, publishes October 13th, 2020. Kelman's books have also been translated into five languages.

She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".

Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.

In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.

As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.

Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.

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