REVIEW: A Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park by Molly Green

A Winter Wedding at Bletchley Park (The Bletchley Park Girls #2) by Molly Green

Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction, WW2, Sagas, Romance

Read: 29th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th November 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The second inspiring novel in the heartwarming and hopeful Bletchley Park Girls series from historical fiction queen, Molly Green...

When Rosie Frost was jilted on her wedding day, she didn't think life could get any worse. But six years later in the throes of the Second World War, she is unceremoniously dismissed from her job after they discover her illegitimate child.

Thankfully, top secret war office Bletchley Park recognises Rosie's talent and recruits her to decipher their Italian naval signals. Proud to be doing her bit for the war effort, Rosie settles into her new life.

But when she spots a familiar face at the Park, Rosie's world threatens to come crashing down once more. Can she put the past behind her in order to excel at the job she was born to do? And will her hard work help safeguard her nation's future...?

The second in an inspiring wartime series set at Bletchley Park, perfect for fans of The Rose Code and The Girl from Bletchley Park.

MY THOUGHTS:

As with her previous series The Victory Sisters, this series is focusing on a different character with each book. The first followed Dale's story and this time round is her friend Rosie.

Stood up on her wedding day when she was 17, Rosemary Frost (Rosie) longs to join the WRENS however fate would have it, after a friend of hers has word in the right ears, that her war efforts would see her working alongside Dale at Bletchley Park. It seems Rosie is fluent in Italian and is a dab hand at maths - both of which work in her favour with her newfound position.

As luck would have it, just as she is getting used to her new normal and getting comfortable, the new Lieutenant Commander is introduced - Hugo Garfield, aface from Rosie's past. Fighting her feelings for this man she thought she would never see again, Rosie sets to focusing on the job at hand but her skills are questioned and so she tries to move past that by moving to another hut and making new friends. 

But the past has a way of catching up with you...Can Rosie put it behind her without it ruining her job?

A WINTER WEDDING AT BLETCHLEY PARK is naturally predictable but an enjoyable read all the same. I love Molly Green's easy reading style, making the story come alive and immersing the reader into another time and place. She brings fact into fiction without bogging us down with history. I love the steady pace and the heartwarming story that kept me reading until the very last page.

Overall, an enjoyable heartwarming read and I look forward to the next in the series.

I would like to thank #MollyGreen, #Netgalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #AWinterWeddingAtBletchleyPark in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Molly Green is the pseudonym for Denise Barnes.

Denise has travelled the world, unpacking her suitcase in a score of countries and working at more jobs than she cares to remember. Mentionable events include selling lipstick in a Denver department store to top English model of the day, Jean Shrimpton; typing on a French keyboard for the UN Narcotics Director in Geneva; chauffeuring a lonely Swiss multi-millionaire lawyer in Zurich; being the first fashion model in Atlanta to dance to pop music; working as a PA to a film producer and delivering a film script to Richard Harris in Rome and not recognising him (he was not amused); and cooking in a vegetarian sanatorium in Bavaria, which gave rise to her first hilarious memoir.

Back home in England, Denise reluctantly trained as an estate agent - and loved it! Juggling the running of her chain of eight offices in Kent with taking an Honours Degree with Open University, Denise had difficulty finding the time to pursue her life-long passion for writing. 

To give herself the freedom to write she sold her business after 17 years, but unfortunately to the wrong buyers, namely a couple of tricksters, which resulted in a second, more serious, memoir. Buying back the business and after six years selling it once again, she is now able to resume her love of fiction writing, under the pen-names of Fenella Forster and Molly Green.

Having completed two books under her own name, Denise wanted to use a pen name for her historical fiction. She chose Fenella as she felt it was a more romantic name, and Forster after her true, but unknown, maternal grandfather.  When signing with Avon Books, Denise chose the pen name of Molly Green where she has now written at least half a dozen books under the pseudonym, proving to be very successful with two of them reaching #1 on the Amazon Kindle chart.

Denise now lives in Tunbridge Wells in Kent with her husband Edward.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

  

REVIEW: Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park by Molly Green

Summer Secrets at Bletchley Park (The Bletchley Park Girls #1) by Molly Green

Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction, Sagas

Read: 29th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 28th April 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Her code breaking will save lives.

But will it save the man she loves…?

September 1939. London is in blackout, war has been declared, but Dulcie Treadwell can think only of her heartbreak over American broadcaster, Glenn Reeves, who didn’t say goodbye before leaving for Berlin.

Posted to Bletchley Park, Dulcie must concentrate on helping the war effort by cracking the German Enigma codes. The hours are long and the conditions tough, with little recognition from above. Until she breaks her first code…

Dulcie finally settles into something she was born to do. But just as she’s proving her worth, a shocking betrayal leads to Dulcie’s brutal dismissal. Is it too late for Dulcie to prove her innocence and keep helping to save innocent lives?

The new sweeping WW2 historical series from Molly Green, set at top secret Bletchley Park…

MY THOUGHTS:

Having read Molly Green's previous serious of the Victory Sisters, I was excited to dive into The Bletchley Park Girls. However, I went to read the second book before realising I hadn't yet read the first one so I quickly sought out this one to enjoy. And enjoy I did. Though I have tired of many wartime reads, there are still the odd few that I enjoy, particularly those that are more sagas involving stories within with the war as a backdrop. And SUMMER SECRETS AT BLETCHLEY PARK is something of a heartwarming romance amidst wartime.

We meet Dulcie (Dale) Treadwell, a junior reporter on a local newspaper, as she meets American broadcaster Glen Reeves at Westminster Bridge the day war is declared and London is plunged into darkness as blackout begins. It's love at first sight and the couple plan to meet the following day. But Glenn is then posted overseas to Berlin without a word of goodbye and is unable to let her know and so Dale thinks he was a just a chancer and is left heartbroken.

After entering a crossword competition, her unique skills see her recruited to Bletchley Park where she signs the Offical Secrets Act and begins work on the enigma machines. She finds the work exciting and soon hopes to gain a promotion as a cryptographer. But no amount of work stops the nagging questions of why Glenn stood her up. Will they ever be reunited?

There's a lot more I could say about the story but I won't. Let's just say it's an enjoyable and entertaining read, though the market is similarly flooded with similar tales. But Molly Green's style is easy to read making it an enjoyable read. The story did move along at a steady pace and I was pleasantly surprised to find its focus was more on Dale and her romance rather than the wartime regime which many a book has been written so this made a pleasant change and an easy read. Too much factual accounts tend to bog readers down in history rather than a light read.

The ending was a little abrupt but I look forward to catching up the characters in the next book which I intend to read next.

I would like to thank #MollyGreen, #Netgalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #SummerSecretsAtBletchleyPark in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Molly Green is the pseudonym for Denise Barnes.

Denise has travelled the world, unpacking her suitcase in a score of countries and working at more jobs than she cares to remember. Mentionable events include selling lipstick in a Denver department store to top English model of the day, Jean Shrimpton; typing on a French keyboard for the UN Narcotics Director in Geneva; chauffeuring a lonely Swiss multi-millionaire lawyer in Zurich; being the first fashion model in Atlanta to dance to pop music; working as a PA to a film producer and delivering a film script to Richard Harris in Rome and not recognising him (he was not amused); and cooking in a vegetarian sanatorium in Bavaria, which gave rise to her first hilarious memoir.

Back home in England, Denise reluctantly trained as an estate agent - and loved it! Juggling the running of her chain of eight offices in Kent with taking an Honours Degree with Open University, Denise had difficulty finding the time to pursue her life-long passion for writing. 

To give herself the freedom to write she sold her business after 17 years, but unfortunately to the wrong buyers, namely a couple of tricksters, which resulted in a second, more serious, memoir. Buying back the business and after six years selling it once again, she is now able to resume her love of fiction writing, under the pen-names of Fenella Forster and Molly Green.

Having completed two books under her own name, Denise wanted to use a pen name for her historical fiction. She chose Fenella as she felt it was a more romantic name, and Forster after her true, but unknown, maternal grandfather.  When signing with Avon Books, Denise chose the pen name of Molly Green where she has now written at least half a dozen books under the pseudonym, proving to be very successful with two of them reaching #1 on the Amazon Kindle chart.

Denise now lives in Tunbridge Wells in Kent with her husband Edward.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah

Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 28th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th January 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

You can choose your house. Not your neighbours.

WELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME…

Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family is in desperate need of a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the place to make that happen.

MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS…

Not long after they move in, Salma spots her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in their front garden. She chooses not to confront Tom because she wants to fit in. It's a small thing, really. No need to make a fuss. So Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window instead. But the next morning she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.

AND PREPARE FOR THE NIGHTMARE TO BEGIN…

This time she does confront Tom, and the battle lines between the two families are drawn. As things begin to escalate and the stakes become higher, it's clear that a reckoning is coming… And someone is going to get hurt.

A gripping thriller about nightmare neighbours, Those People Next Door explores the loss of innocence and how far we’re prepared to go to defend ourselves and the people we love.

MY THOUGHTS:

I've not read Kia Abdullah before so I wasn't sure what to expect though the premise certainly sounded intriguing. However it took me a while to get into the story and connect with the characters, some of whom I found a little irritating.

The story focuses on Salma and Bilal who moved to the more affluent area of Blenheim with their 18 year old son Zain. Upon arrival they receive an RSVP for a May Day BBQ with the neighbours and despite not really feeling ready to be thrust into the limelight of being forced to meet them, they go along anyway sporting a homemade potato salad. The whole "meet and greet" proves to be a bit awkward especially meeting their direct neighbour next door Tom and his irritating and outspoken wife Willa. The night couldn't end soon enough and upon walking in their door, the couple felt they could finally relax.

Zain heads up to his bedroom in the attic space where he spends most of his time coding or having a cheeky cigarette out of his bedroom window. He knows his mum would kill him if she caught him. And then he notices movement outside his window where he meets Jamie, the neighbour's son. The pair get talking and Jamie, who's partially deaf, reveals he has been working on marketing an app for the deaf to communicate with the hearing, but he just had to find someone to build it. That's when Zain reveals he codes and offers to create this new app.

It all seems idyllic, right? Wrong. Things start to unravel somewhat quickly when Salma witnesses her neighbour Tom rip out their "Black Lives Matter" banner. And because they are new to the neighbourhood she doesn't want to create a fuss so she moves the banner to the window. But the next day, she discovers the window has been painted over. The battle lines, it seems, have been drawn. And the nightmare begins...

Racism has been at the forefront of our news in recent times, particularly the whole "black lives matter" movement, which to be honest I had grown a little weary of. I don't like racism or agree with it but at the same time I don't like it shoved in my face either. As with most cases, there are wrongs to both sides and no one is completely innocent, as the courtroom scenes reveal. But I must admit that I'd heard enough about the BLM movement at the time and wasn't entirely enamoured to read about it. However, having said that, Kia Abdullah does approach it and handle it well. It was certainly a different aspect for a thriller that I had not come across.

On the whole, the storyline was intense and you could feel the tension in the courtroom scenes that made for a riveting read. We've all had nightmare neighbours at one time or another but I don't think we have experienced it in quite the same way as Salma and Bilal. One thing I didn't like were the endless length in the chapters. There were perfect opportunities to turn "breaks" into chapters and I don't see why they weren't.

THOSE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR is a gripping read about the neighbours from hell in this toxic tale of bigotry and prejudice of family drama.

I would like to thank #KiaAbdullah, #Netgalley and #HQStories for an ARC of #ThosePeopleNextDoor in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kia Abdullah is a bestselling author and travel writer. Her novels include Take It Back, a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year, Truth Be Told which was shortlisted for a Diverse Book Award, and Next of Kin which was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award and won the Adult Fiction Diverse Book Award 2022. Her new novel, Those People Next Door, is out now.

Kia has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and the BBC, and has received a JB Priestley Award for Writers of Promise (2020). She is also the founder of Asian Booklist, a nonprofit that advocates for diversity in publishing.

Born in Tower Hamlets in East London, Kia was raised in a family of eight children. As the most stubborn of six daughters, she constantly found herself in trouble for making choices that clashed with her parents’, a habit they came to accept when she became their first and only child to graduate from university – with a first in Computer Science.

In 2007, Kia left her job in tech to pursue the one thing she had always wanted: a career as a writer, taking a 50% pay cut in the process. She worked as sub-editor and later features editor at Asian Woman Magazine where she interviewed British-Asian luminaries including Riz Ahmed, Meera Syal, Nitin Sawnhey and Anoushka Shankar. 

Kia went on to join global publisher Penguin Random House where she helped grow digital readership at Rough Guides to over a million users per month. In 2014, she quit her day job to found Atlas & Boots, an outdoor travel blog now read by 150,000 people a month.

Kia loves to travel, hates to cook and periodically highlights that, in actual fact, she is one of nine children (one passed away), making her number Seven of Nine… which is cool but only if you’re a Star Trek fan… which she is.

Today, she spends her time writing, hiking, mentoring pupils from Tower Hamlets and visiting far-flung destinations for Atlas & Boots.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Cottage by the Loch by Kennedy Kerr

The Cottage by the Loch by Kennedy Kerr

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Women's fiction

Read: 20th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th January 2023

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

The cottage stood alone on a rocky outcropping at the edge of the loch. Standing in the garden amongst the wildflowers, she felt the weight of the tattered envelope in her hands. Maybe there was something keeping her here in Scotland, a secret waiting to be uncovered…

New Yorker Zelda Hicks has just lost her mother, and the only thing she knows about her father is that he was from Scotland. So a work trip to the Scottish village of Loch Cameron couldn’t be better timed. Maybe a break in the beautiful rolling hills of heather will help her reconnect with her roots and recover from her grief.

Then, on a walk around the loch one bright morning, she comes across a tiny, tumbledown cottage, nestled on the edge of the forest. The elderly owner, Gretchen Ross, invites her in for buttery shortbread, and after learning that Gretchen might lose the cottage that has been in her family forever, Zelda vows to help her. She didn’t bargain on butting heads with the handsome, blue-eyed laird Hal Cameron in the process. Zelda can’t seem to forget Hal’s shy smile and she soon learns they might have more in common than she first thought.

But when Zelda discovers a bundle of old letters hidden in the back of an antique wardrobe at the cottage, they lead her back to the mysterious Hal. Pushing Zelda to examine her own family history, the letters reveal a secret that the community has kept hidden for over a generation. Hal says he wants to help Zelda, but just as she begins to open up, she learns he isn’t being entirely honest either… Can Zelda trust him, and finally come to terms with her own past, or will uncovering this secret force her to leave Loch Cameron for good?

Fans of Susanne O’Leary, Debbie Macomber and Pamela Kelley will adore this page-turning read set in the Scottish Highlands about family secrets and starting over, from USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Kerr.

MY THOUGHTS:

I am going to be in the minority here but I found this book not to be funny or uplifting but boring. The description promised a bunch of letters being unearthed leading to a journey of discoveries. But at over 40% in and the flipping letters are still MIA...no sight of them and all that seems to be happening is Zelda going all gooey at the gruff but hunky Scottish laird, Hal Cameron, to denying an attraction to the affable bookshop store owner Ryan. I came her for the mystery into Zelda's family not a will she/won't she romance.

The story starts off in New York, which was something of a surprise as the description didn't mention anything about that, and I was expecting to dive straight into the Scottish countryside and lochs. It was only for one chapter which didn't endear me to the tale from the beginning in the busy world of magazine features editing and the uncompromising boss who demanded nothing but perfection from her staff yet was fickle about what she chose to publish at the last minute. Never mind her writers and editors worked tirelessly on their features.

We meet Zelda who is still grieving the loss of her mother and losing herself in her work. Her uncompromising boss relented to give her one weeks compassionate leave but didn't show any understanding for her loss. Zelda grew up wit only her mother as her father had left when she was just 3 years old and she has very few memories of him.

Then her boss lands her and her colleague Emery with an impromptu visit to Scotland for some feature she was wants to highlight in the next issue featuring Scottish castles in all their atmosphere. Zelda is reluctant and reveals to Emery that her father is Scottish and that presumably it is where he no lives since it was from where he hailed when he met her mother. The last thing Zelda wants is to be anywhere near where her father may be...even the same continent!

So they arrive in Scotland, photograph their feature and are preparing to leave when Zelda has an unfortunate accident which thus keeps her there far longer than planned. So while her colleague returns to New York, Zelda remains behind to enjoy some well earned time off...the first she's had in over two years. She makes friends with the locals, even the laird of the castle where they photographed their feature. But then she manages to offend him with her opinions on the castle's outdated decor and lack of online presence which could thrust the castle into the 21st century and bring in more money for the estate that obviously takes a fortune to run.

She befriends her landlady Dotty and her husband as well as Fiona from the local fashion store in Loch Cameron to Myrtle who has the most quirky little teashop she has ever seen. And then of course is Ryan from the bookshop. 

And then there is Gretchen. She meets Gretchen on a walk by the loch one morning, who lives in a delightful little cottage on the banks of the loch. And this is where I expected it to start to get interesting...but those promised letters still haven't come to light and by now, I don't really care what they entail or secrets they hold or how it ties into Zelda's family history. I'm guessing it is something to do with her father...but I've no idea what and by this stage, I don't particularly care. She's too busy making eyes at, or having fantasies about, Hal Cameron or bookish Ryan. Honestly the only thing I found interesting was the beautiful Scottish scenery with it's charming character buildings, loch and atmosphere.

Needless to say, it's at this stage I gave up. But please, don't take my word for it for I am in the minority here. Plenty of other readers have enjoyed it as it is probably more their genre. I'm not a women's fiction fan which this leans more towards. So I gave up around 45%. If by that stage it fails to hold my interest, then I move on.

As I always says...life is too short to read (or endure) books you don't enjoy. Reading is subjective and what may be one's cup of tea may not be another's.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kennedy Kerr is a USA Today Bestselling fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle's nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she's not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she'd eat it, anyway.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn

The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn

Genre: Regency Romance, Historical fiction

Read: 21st January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 26th January 2023

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘It’s not a fair world I’m afraid. Beauty or fortune carries the day. You have the beauty and I the fortune, so there’s every chance we’ll succeed’

In Regency England, marriage is everything. For young widow Sybella Lovatt, the time has come to find a suitable husband for her sister and ward Lucie. Male suitors are scarce near their Wiltshire estate, so the sisters resolve to head to London in time for The Season to begin.

Once ensconced at the Mayfair home of Lady Godley, Lucie’s godmother, the whirl of balls, parties and promenades can begin. But the job of finding a husband is fraught with rules and tradition. Jostling for attention are the two lords – the charming and irresistible Freddie Lynwood and the preternaturally handsome Valentine Ravenell, their enigmatic neighbour from Shotten Hall, Mr Brabazon, and the dangerous libertine Lord Rockliffe, with whom the brooding Brabazon is locked in deadly rivalry.

Against the backdrop of glamorous Regency England, Sybella must settle Lucie’s future, protect her own reputation, and resist the disreputable rakes determined to seduce the beautiful widow. As the Season ends, will the sisters have found the rarest of things – a suitable marriage with a love story to match? 

MY THOUGHTS:

I do so love a Regency Romance (despite romance not being my usual genre) and THE MARRIAGE SEASON was a delightfully easy read that is likened to that of Georgette Heyer (whose name I know but have not actually read). This is the first I have read by this author and I chose it simply for it's era. It did take quite a while before things got interesting with a somewhat slow build that almost made me give up and move on. I do hate slow starts as much as I hate long chapters...which this book also had.

Sybella (Bella) Lovatt is a young widow, having lost her husband in the Pensinsula war against Napoleon after two months of marriage, and now the time has come for her to find a suitable husband for her younger sister and charge Lucie Carey. Suitors are scarce around their Wiltshire estate and so the sisters plan on converging on London for the season, taking up residence with Lucie's godmother Lady Godley for the duration.

Prior to the London season, Lucie happens upon a young man laying unconscious in the road under a fall tree branch. She sets her horse agallop back to their Manor to bring help which soon arrives in the form of their stablehand George. They transport the still unconscious young man back to their estate and await the doctor who diagnoses a broken leg and with George's help sets it. But as he is unable to move he is to remain at the manor for the time being. When he awakes, he introduces himself as Lord Lynwood...or Freddie, as their butler Beamish informs them. Freddie, it seems, is the ward of their neighbour Mr Brabazon who is intent on finding him a young bride.

OK, so it's a little predictable but it is a satirical romp with witty young men and disparaging rakes set between the sprawling Wiltshire countryside and busyness of Mayfair and the London Season. In a whirl of balls and parties, Bella must find the most appropriate husband for Lucie...but can she do so without opening her own heart for more heartbreak?

A delightful romp, it has to be said, but not the best I have read. As I outlined at the beginning, it was a slow build before it got interesting and the chapters were long...both of which are reflected in my rating. But there is plenty of scandal and drama and lot of descriptive scenes. 

Likened to that of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, I'm sure THE MARRIAGE SEASON will appeal to those fans. However, as much as I enjoy Jane Austen's tales on screen I do find her writing a little difficult to wade through...perhaps that is the difficulty I had here also? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story...it was too slow to start and some things I found a little drawn out. Too much description maybe? I'm not sure. I can't quite put my finger on it. I just know that although I did enjoy the the story, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as other Regency Romances.

Overall, a fairly decent read with satirical wit and a few dashing as well as disparaging characters for the women of the story to fall in love with. Perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen.

I would like to thank #JaneDunn, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheMarriageSeason in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jane Dunn is an historian and biographer and the author of seven acclaimed biographies, including Daphne du Maurier and her Sisters and the Sunday Times and NYT bestseller, Elizabeth & Mary: Cousins, Rivals, Queens. She comes to Boldwood with her first fiction outing – a trilogy of novels set in the Regency period, the first of which  is to be published in January 2023. She lives in Berkshire with her husband, the linguist Nicholas Ostler.

Social media links:

Twitter | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads

SPOTLIGHT: The Cottage by the Loch by Kennedy Kerr

 

The Cottage by the Loch by Kennedy Kerr

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Women's fiction

Read: 20th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 24th January 2023

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

The cottage stood alone on a rocky outcropping at the edge of the loch. Standing in the garden amongst the wildflowers, she felt the weight of the tattered envelope in her hands. Maybe there was something keeping her here in Scotland, a secret waiting to be uncovered…

New Yorker Zelda Hicks has just lost her mother, and the only thing she knows about her father is that he was from Scotland. So a work trip to the Scottish village of Loch Cameron couldn’t be better timed. Maybe a break in the beautiful rolling hills of heather will help her reconnect with her roots and recover from her grief.

Then, on a walk around the loch one bright morning, she comes across a tiny, tumbledown cottage, nestled on the edge of the forest. The elderly owner, Gretchen Ross, invites her in for buttery shortbread, and after learning that Gretchen might lose the cottage that has been in her family forever, Zelda vows to help her. She didn’t bargain on butting heads with the handsome, blue-eyed laird Hal Cameron in the process. Zelda can’t seem to forget Hal’s shy smile and she soon learns they might have more in common than she first thought.

But when Zelda discovers a bundle of old letters hidden in the back of an antique wardrobe at the cottage, they lead her back to the mysterious Hal. Pushing Zelda to examine her own family history, the letters reveal a secret that the community has kept hidden for over a generation. Hal says he wants to help Zelda, but just as she begins to open up, she learns he isn’t being entirely honest either… Can Zelda trust him, and finally come to terms with her own past, or will uncovering this secret force her to leave Loch Cameron for good?

Fans of Susanne O’Leary, Debbie Macomber and Pamela Kelley will adore this page-turning read set in the Scottish Highlands about family secrets and starting over, from USA Today bestselling author Kennedy Kerr.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kennedy Kerr is a USA Today Bestselling fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle's nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she's not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she'd eat it, anyway.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

REVIEW: Her Lover by Nicole Trope

Her Lover by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic suspense, Short story

Read: 25th January 2023

Goodreads

Free Download via Newsletter

Published: January 2023

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

HER LOVER is a short story available to download for free when you sign up to Nicole's newsletter from Bookouture (link above).

MY THOUGHTS:

Well, that was an unexpected delight! And it left me wanting just that little bit more.

HER LOVER is a short story quickie read by the wonderfully talented Nicole Trope that is easily devoured in half an hour. There's not much I can say about this little quickie without spoiling its deliciousness.

Emily meets Jackson. And then she meets Mia. And then amidst all the desire, all the accolades and all the promises, a light bulb moment...and things begin to get a little interesting.

Delightful and delicious, HER LOVER is just a little bit...

...you'll have to read it to find out!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

Social Media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: In the Dark by Claire Allan

In the Dark by Claire Allan

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 25th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th January 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I don't know what happened to my daughter. Only that she's missing – and I was the last person to see her…

My name is Nora Logue. You’ve probably heard of me – most people have.

I am the mother of Daisy Logue. Seven years ago, I took her for a walk in the woods. Only I came out.

I have no memory of what happened that day.

I have tried to rebuild my life. Met a man, had another child – Luca. But I can’t let go of Daisy, or give up hope of seeing her again.

And now, I have the chance to find out what happened to her.

But what if pursuing the truth about my daughter risks my son’s life?

A whiplash-inducing, unputdownable crime thriller from the author of The Nurse, perfect for fans of CLARE MACKINTOSH and LISA JEWELL.

MY THOUGHTS:

Ok...so a true crime documentary in the making I wondered which angle this tale would tell. I'm not a fan of journalists and the media frenzy that leeches off other people's misfortune all to get the biggest and best scoop. Sensationalism at its best. But IN THE DARK is different and not what I expected. I should have known...it's Claire Allan and nothing is ever what it seems under her pen.

Everyone knows Nora Logue. She was the mother of four year old Daisy who went into the woods one day and never came out. Nora, on the other hand, did. And to this day, seven years later, she has no recollection of what happened there or to that of her little girl who just simply vanished. But as with all cases such as this, everyone has an opinion and most have no problem airing them. And as a result, Nora has been plagued by hate and vitriol from the public at large because really, how could she not remember what happened in those woods? Or what happened to Daisy? Surely she knows exactly what happened and is playing at the whole disassociative amnesia thing.

Did she see where Daisy went? Did she kill her little girl and try to cover it up? But if that were the case, surely the police would have found her body by now? After all, where else would Daisy's body be but in those woods? Which was painstakingly searched at the time. So what happened to Daisy? And what, or did, Nora have to do with it?

Seven years later, Nora has married Brendan and has a little boy, Luca. Together they are trying to move forward but stil Nora cannot forget Daisy. And, until she knows what truly happened to her, she never will.

Now Nora is approached by true crime documentary filmmaker Izzy Devine, who wants to feature Daisy's case and speak to Nora about her recollections of that day. Together, can they uncover the truth of what happened that day? And reveal what really happened to Daisy? Or will Izzy discover what everyone already suspects - that Nora killed her little girl?

As soon as word gets out that a true crime documentary is being made about Daisy Logue, true crime fans jump on the case and begin to theorise their own ideas and hypotheses about the cold case. And then newcomers join the forum with their own ideas and begin to point the finger at Nora...with hate and malice. 

Until a photo surfaces that could change everything...

IN THE DARK is a deep dark psychological thriller that really keeps you in the dark right up to the final pages. Unless you are clever enough to piece the jigsaw together beforehand. The story is tightly plotted and keeps you guessing throughout. Just when you think one thing, along comes something to make you second guess your theory.

The story unfolds through Nora and Izzy's perspectives mainly. Though there are a couple of chapters narrated anonymously by "The Four". Nora is a completely unreliable narrator that we can't trust what she thinks or says as she borders upon delusional, so unhinged by not knowing what really happened in those woods seven years before. She certainly sounds like a candidate for the asylum with her dreamlike imaginings and trances, not to mention her behaviour. But then some of the other characters are unreliable also. I didn't trust either Tom or Brendan though I couldn't quite put my finger on why. I just didn't.

I love missing child thrillers, but IN THE DARK puts a completely different spin on it that it is somewhat unique and easily stands out from the rest. The true crime documentary angle was also an original aspect and interesting plot point.

Overall, a pageturning thriller that even the title will keep you guessing until the very end when you'll then appreciate its meaning.

I would like to thank #ClaireAllan, #Netgalley and #AvonBooksUK for an ARC of #InTheDark in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Claire Allan is a bestselling author from Derry.

A former journalist, she published eight contemporary women’s fiction titles with Poolbeg Press in Ireland, establishing herself as a multiple Irish Times Bestselling Author.

Her novel 'The First Time I Said Goodbye' - based on a true story of a love affair between a Derry girl and a US marine became a US Kindle Top Five bestseller.

However in 2016,  Claire decided to change genre and to write domestic noir  - this secured her her a book deal with Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins.

Her debut thriller Her Name Was Rose has sold more than a quarter of a million copies and has achieved bestseller status around the world.  

When not writing thrillers, she can be found penning romantic comedies under her alias of Freya Kennedy.

Claire is currently working on a TV adaptation of her 2020 novel ‘The Liar’s Daughter’ with Hat Trick productions, and as a story consultant for the new BBC cop drama ‘Blue Lights’.

Her sixth thriller ‘The Kindling’ is scheduled for publication in January 2022.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Family Reunion by Karen King

The Family Reunion by Karen King

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Family drama, Suspense

Read: 18th January 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 23rd January 2023

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

She’s the daughter you never knew… But how far will she go to get the life she never had?

Today I’m hosting a family party. One that’s different to every celebration we’ve had before. Because I’ve invited my secret daughter to it.

I’ve never forgiven myself for abandoning her as a baby, with just a scrawled note tucked into her soft yellow blanket, saying her name was Hope.

As soon as she reached out, I knew I had to meet her. My family all seem ready to accept her with open arms, their forgiveness a blessing I barely deserve. And I dare to believe that maybe we are all going to have a happy ending after all.

So I try to put all those small, strange things that have been happening to me in recent weeks out of my mind. The missing money, my lost charm bracelet, the broken window, the fire…

But as the drinks are poured and everyone’s talking animatedly, I hear a knock at the door. And something in my heart tells me this family is about to be torn apart. And there’s nothing I can do to stop it…

An utterly gripping psychological suspense novel with a twist you’ll never see coming. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.

MY THOUGHTS:

The daughter you never knew...wants the life she never had...

Well, that wasn't quite what I expected. THE FAMILY REUNION is my fourth read of Karen King's psychological thrillers and I wasn't disappointed. Although I would class this one as more in the domestic thriller genre, as it was specifically centred around the family and its extending tendrils. Throughout the entire story there is an undercurrent of something not quite right and it seems the answer is just staring us in the face...why can't anyone else see it? Or maybe they have...or maybe they haven't. But one thing is for sure...nothing is as it seems.

Mary hasn't always had the charmed life she's known with husband Paul of thirty eight years, having then been blessed with two children - Joanne and Jason respectively. Her childhood was one she lived in fear and shame, and grieving the loss of her own mother some years before. Maybe that is what drew her into the arms of 18 year old rebel-without-a-cause Robbie. He claimed to love her and that is exactly what she yearned for and thought she found in his arms and his bed. But when she realised she was pregnant and when she went to tell Robbie the news, she discovered something far worse. How utterly alone she found herself at just 15 years old forced to keep her secret (and the one she had witnessed) for forty five years.

And now her beloved husband Paul was gone. Joanne and Jason were grown with families, children and lives of her own. For forty five years, Mary had kept her shameful secret to herself. For fear of losing her husband's respect, she'd never told him or her children. But now, what did she have to lose? The time had come to find Hope, her first born.

As soon as Mary meets Cathy (as she is now called), she feels an instant bonding with her. She can see she has Robbie's dark looks and after a DNA test, Mary knows that she is without a doubt her long lost daughter. But how to make up for forty five years? This is where things get a little sticky.

At first Cathy wants to get to know Mary before meeting the rest of the family. Understandable, as meeting your mother for the first time would be a daunting experience...meeting the rest of her family even more so. But Mary is convinced that Joanne and Jason will love Cathy just has much as she does. But is Mary blinded by her guilt for abandoning her baby all those years ago that she is ready to believe anything? Because as soon as the siblings meet, it is clear that tensions are high. Are Joanne and Jason jealous with Cathy's arrival on the scene that she will now get a slice of what they believe is coming to them?

And then strange things begin to happen. Or had they always been there and no one really noticed because Mary lived alone in a sprawling six bedroom home she had no need for? It seems Mary has been somewhat forgetful lately - leaving keys in the fridge, turning the router off, leaving windows open - what is Mary was developing what she had always feared? What her mother had before she took her own life? Early onset dementia?

But it seems, though, that Mary isn't the only one who's been keeping secrets.

THE FAMILY REUNION begins off slowly with a gradual build as we get to know Mary and what has brought her to where she is now. It's not until about 25% into the story that things begin to get a little interesting, especially when the narrative changes, switching things up a little. The story unfolds through Mary, Alison and Cathy's perspectives throughout and it's interesting to get the insight into each of their minds and lives. It is interesting to note that we don't get Joanne's perspective - I wonder why that is? But each woman has a pivotal part to play in the unfolding of events. And despite its slow start, the story does pick up pace bringing everything to a stunning conclusion in the shocking epilogue.

Filled with secrets, lies and deceit throughout, THE FAMILY REUNION is one reunion you want to stay well away from...whilst sneakily turning the pages to find out what happens anyway. You just wouldn't want to be in their shoes! It has sibling rivalry abound! All three of them, I could have slapped them. They all behaved appallingly. Joanne and Jason were entitled and spoilt and, while they very probably were concerned for their mother's welfare, they were also looking at the bigger picture with themselves having a starring role.

So who is Cathy really? And what does she want?

What is Joanne and Jason's real problem with Cathy?

Is Mary truly blinkered by her own guilt that she can see no wrong in Cathy?

Which of them have secrets? Or do they all have them?

Do any of them know how to speak the truth?

Do any of them truly have Mary's best interests at heart?

And is Mary truly in danger?

There are so many questions...so many secrets...so many lies...who to believe? This is a story about family dynamics at its core and how they each behave in the face of change. First with the death of their husband and father, and then with the new arrival of a long lost daughter and sibling. There were plenty of twists and plenty of red herrings but nothing will prepare you for the shocking twist that you won't see coming at the end. Nicely played, Ms King.

Overall, THE FAMILY REUNION is a gripping tale of family drama and suspense that will keep you guessing as well as entertained until the brilliant end. There were a few questions I felt left unanswered (about who did what) in the end but overall still a great read.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Karen King is a multi-published author of both adult and children’s books. Currently published by Bookouture and Headline, Karen writes about the light and dark of relationships. Her eleventh romantic novel, The Spanish Wedding Disaster, has recently been published and her third psychological thriller The Mother In Law is out in July, with a fourth one in February 2023.

Karen has also had 120 children’s books, two young adult novels, and several short stories for women’s magazines published. Her thrillers The Perfect Stepmother and The Stranger in my Bed and her romantic novel The Cornish Hotel by the Sea became International Amazon bestsellers.

Karen is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors, the Crime Writers’ Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. She now lives in Spain where she loves to spend her non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with her husband, Dave, when she isn’t sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.

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