REVIEW: The Missing Mother by Casey Kelleher

The Missing Mother by Casey Kelleher

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 30th January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 5th February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I place my tiny, newborn baby in the box. A ‘safe haven’, they call it, for unwanted babies. She’ll be warm, someone will find her soon. She’ll be cared for. But not by me. I will always want her, but I can never be her mother. And she can never know why.

Jenna has never truly known who she is or where she came from. Abandoned as a baby, she grew up with a caring adopted family, and never felt the need to know more about her birth parents. Until one night, nearly thirty years later, when she sees a desperate young woman tearfully kiss her little baby, put it gently down in a safe haven box, and walk away.

In that moment, Jenna’s mind starts to race. Who could abandon their child like that, and why? She may never find her own parents, but Jenna is determined to uncover the truth behind this baby’s missing mother. Because Jenna has a terrible feeling that she knows who the mother is, and what happened…

As Jenna digs deeper she uncovers something – someone – far more dangerous than she ever feared. And the secrets they’re hiding are much bigger than just one night, just one woman, just one baby. But what Jenna hasn’t realised is that they know what she’s doing and they are watching her. Whatever the cost, they’ll do anything to keep Jenna from revealing the truth…

This utterly addictive psychological thriller will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Claire McGowan.

MY THOUGHTS:

The only way to stay safe...is to stay hidden...

Well that wasn't what I expected. I mean that in a good way. I thought this would be another missing baby/mother thriller but oh no, this was so much more. The only let down was the main character and the fact she was a journalist. I find them parasitic scourges of society feeding off the misfortune of others and had it not been for that aspect I may have enjoyed it more. BUT...it is a key element of the story, so all is forgiven.

They call is "safely surrendered". A safe box provided by a charity which women who find themselves in impossible situations where they find themselves unable to care for their babies, can safely surrender them in these boxes where they are quickly collected and in the care of social services. The mother has a right to anonymity and will not be sought or vilified for her decision.

Journalist Jenna receives a tip off that a baby has been left at the local fire station, the first locality in the UK to trial the safe box. Eager for a scoop, Jenna is quick to gather as much information and a photograph of the hours old baby before social services swoop in. She calls her boss with the news and he is eager to publish the story highlighting the trial without treading on the charity's toes by going public with it. After all, it's a human interest story...isn't it?

But deep down, Jenna fears for the mother. That she may need help and feel she cannot reach out. She's hoping her story will encourage the woman to come forward. But she has no idea of the rabbit warren she is going down...or what she will uncover.

Scared and alone, Evie can't believe it when she sees her baby girl's photo in the paper the following morning. After everything she went through, the hiding, the secrecy, the torment...all to keep her little girl safe and this journalist bandies her photo around in the local paper which is soon picked up by the nationals. Fearing for her safety, she is terrified what this means for her now that this has become public knowledge. Despite the assurances that her anonymity is guaranteed, the nation is soon searching for "the missing mother". What will happen to her and her baby girl when they catch up with her? Or worst still...if "he" does?

This was an intriguing read from start to finish despite the irritating journalist aspect. I kept turning the pages wanting to know if I was right in my assumptions. My first guess was too obvious but my second was spot on!

The story unfolds through both Jenna and Evie's eyes and the two threads are carefully interwoven leading to a thrilling nail-biting finish.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Casey Kelleher was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex, and she grew up as an avid reader.

Whilst working as a beauty therapist and bringing up their three children together with my husband, she penned her debut novel Rotten to the Core. Its success meant that Casey could give up her day job and concentrate on writing full time. 

If you click the yellow 'follow' button, Amazon will send you an email when she has a new release, or if there's a special deal you might be interested in. It's the best way to make sure you never miss a book! Casey loves connecting with her readers, and there are plenty of ways you can get in touch: 

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: A Soul for a Soul by Carol Wyer

A Soul for a Soul (Detective Kate Young #5) by Carol Wyer

Genre: Crime fiction, Crime thriller, Police procedural, Mystery

Read: 24th January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 30th January 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The syndicate have taken everything from her. It’s time to take them down—or die trying.

DCI Kate Young never meant to shoot Superintendent John Dickson at the reservoir that night—even if, as a scheming corrupt cop and head of the shady syndicate, he probably had it coming. But now Kate has photographic evidence that someone else knows her terrible secret…

Tormented by guilt and the voices of the dead, Kate is desperate to unmask the rest of the corrupt officers before her own sins catch up with her. When DI Harriet Khatri, awaiting trial for the murder of Kate’s mentor, claims she was framed by Dickson’s syndicate, Kate reluctantly agrees to help in the hope of finding answers.

Meanwhile, DI Emma Donaldson finds herself on the hunt for a double murderer—a man who incapacitates his victims with a powerful narcotic called Devil’s Breath. Desperate to measure up to her role-model boss, Emma finds herself hurled into the deep end in more ways than one…

While Kate’s grip on reality wavers and the syndicate closes in, and with the mystery killer taking a special interest in Emma, could this be the case that defeats both detectives?

MY THOUGHTS:

Where to even begin?

I have followed this series from the start so I'm familiar with Kate's flaws and foibles. Does she get on my nerves? A little. Especially with the constant monologuing with the dead William and Dickson. Chris' dialogue was enough but now we have her mentor and her nemesis to battle it out in her head!

OK, so if you haven't read any of the previous books, don't start this one until you have done so as the culmination of events and everything that went beforehand will make absolutely no sense. Some series you can pick up here and there and read without missing out on anything else. But this series is not one of them. In fact, the entire series hinges on Kate's relentless investigating into a corrupt syndicate involved in sex trafficking, drugs and murder - and that of the murder of her husband Chris. A syndicate compromised of corrupt police officers, some of whom were at senior level. It's like a series of "Line of Duty"...lol

Since the previous book, Kate has been promoted to DCI and taking the place of her mentor and friend William Chase who was brutally murdered by one of the syndicate, DI Harriet Khatri. Harriet, however, is protesting her innocence loudly though no one is listening. Least of all Kate who was not her biggest fan in the first place. But Harriet calls on Kate with a special request...but how will Kate react?

Since Kate's promotion, it has left room for her previous position as DI open as well as Harriet's also, since she now sits under house arrest with strict bail conditions awaiting trial for William's murder. And so Kate handpicks her two DS's, Emma and Morgan, to step into the Acting DI role until they can take their Inspector's exams.

Emma's first big case comes along investigating a killer who maims his victims with a psychoactive drug, leaving no trace in their systems. Or so he thought. It seems he is cockier than he is clever. But will he outsmart Emma before she can uncover the truth?

Meanwhile, Morgan has been tasked to Operation Moonbeam who are investigating the people trafficking and with a mole in their midst, Morgan is feeling frustrated with the slow progress, despite months of work. And it's affecting his home life with Emma.

On top of it all, Kate must maintain a professional integrity in overseeing her teams but she misses being in the thick of the investigation. But under the mantle of DCI she is also able to continue looking further into the syndicate and its remaining members, and attempt to bring it all down once and for all.

Then just when you think that's the end of it...Wyer delivers those final lines. Is this the end? Or is it not?

I admit to having further suspicions but in hindsight, I'd like this to be the end for Kate. To sit back and relax and just let it all go. To remain and continue digging would just be tempting fate. 

The twists are delivered with fervour in this story but alas, I could not be hoodwinked. I correctly figured two out of three. That last one had me surprised. But the identity of the killer nor the first of the remaining syndicate members revealed were not. Sorry (not sorry!).

This series is so different from Carol Wyer's others and I could see how it could be so all-encompassing, when she locks herself away in her office for hours on end leaving Mr Grumpy to fend for himself. I think I'd be exhausted with navigating all this!

Overall, an entertaining taut crime thriller that will have you turning the pages until the very end, and then leaving you scratching your head.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #ASoulForASoul in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

The much-anticipated new series, featuring DI Kate Young, was published on 1st February 2021 with the first novel, An Eye For An Eye,  a second, A Cut for a Cut, published on 24th June 2021 and a third A Life for a Life to be published 15th March 2022. An Eye for an Eye was chosen as a Kindle First Reads and became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Amazon Australia.

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

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

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

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Girl on the News by Elisabeth Carpenter

The Girl on the News by Elisabeth Carpenter

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense, Mystery

Read: 23rd January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 29th January 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

My heart pounds as I take in the headline: ‘Missing girl believed kidnapped’. Underneath is a photo of my beautiful daughter Mia, her gap-toothed grin unmistakable. But Mia is safe beside me, snuggled up on the sofa. Why would someone pretend my child has been taken?

I thought my husband Mark and I had built a perfect new life with our precious daughter Mia. She is everything to us. I thought we were finally safe from my past. But I know Mia’s picture on the news means someone has uncovered who I really am…

They must know about the terrible accusations I faced. Those other missing little girls. I was only a child myself but no-one believed I was innocent. Not even my own family. It still haunts me, every day.

Then my worst nightmares come true. Mia is taken, snatched from the playground, and my world collapses.

My sweet daughter is in danger. Because whoever took those children years ago must still be out there. Why are they trying to destroy my life again? And if they knew where to find me, how to take my daughter – does that mean they are someone close to home?

I can’t trust anyone. But it’s not like last time. I’m not a child any longer. And I will do anything to get Mia back, before it’s too late…

An utterly shocking and page-turning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, The Housemaid and All Her Fault.

MY THOUGHTS:

Missing girl...believed kidnapped...

My first book I ever read by Elisabeth Carpenter was her debut, also about a missing girl called "99 Red Balloons". That book was phenomenal! I somehow missed her next few but since she has signed with Bookouture I was lucky enough to read "The Family on Smith Street", also five stars. This book is no different. Three out of three five start reads, I think I'm going to have to find some time to devour her earlier ones. I think Carpenter was one of the first authors I read with multiple narratives and timelines, and this has since become one of my favourite formats, with just enough information being drip-fed to the reader with each unfolding chapter.

Rosie McShane is a name that is synonomous with child killers when at 12 years old she was convicted of murdering her best friend Lauren Jones. Rosie had always pleaded her innocence but the police, the jury and everyone involved thought her to be unremorseful, cold and calculating. She was sentenced to seven years in a secure unit for very young offenders, and upon her release was given a whole new identity. But the people of Clayton of Greater Manchester have never forgotten.

For all intents and purposes, Jessie Donovan has the perfect life. The perfect husband, the cute little daughter and a beautiful home. But no one knows the trauma she has suffered or what it has taken to get her where she is today. When her mother calls babbling about news reports online saying that her 4 year old daughter Mia has been kidnapped, Jessie is beside herself with worry.  Who would post such allegations that were clearly untrue? Nevertheless, Jessie is determined not to let Mia out of her sight.

When her husband Mark reveals his business is in trouble and he has taken out a dodgy loan to cover expenses of which they are now demanding payment, Jessie is furious with him for being so careless as to put their lives in danger. She decides then that the best thing for her is to spend a few days with her mum but surely returning to the area in which she grew up is tempting fate. 

Almost from the moment she arrives, Jessie finds herself jumping at shadows. Her mother is acting strangely and her friend back home is sending her weird texts that she dismisses as annoying. But when Liza tells her that she is at her place and hasn't been able to raise Mark's attention, Jessie begins to worry. Where is Mark and why is not answering the door, her text messages or phone calls?

Things get even stranger when faces from the past threaten to throw Jessie's life into turmoil with even more social media posts about her daughter being missing. 

And then Mia really does goes missing.

What is going on and why has Mia been taken? Is someone seeking retribution for a past crime? Or are they just trying to even the odds? Jessie is going out of her mind with worry when she still can't raise Mark on the phone. But is she prepared for what's about to come?

This was a quick and easy read that I started in the wee hours of the night and picked up again as soon as I woke to finish. The suspense kept me turning the pages throughout from start to finish. My only complaint was that the ending was a little ambiguous. Who was the real guilty party? I do prefer my endings to be a little more cut and dried rather than ambiguous, leaving me guessing a little. 

One part I did find a little unbelievable was the fact that after Rosie was given a new identity, no one thought it strange that she continued to associate with faces from her past such as a childhood friend and her family. In these cases, the person is given a new identity and a new life away from the old one so as to protect their new identity. Aren't they? And there is the fact that Rosie was convicted on such little evidence when there was clear evidence refuting that which they convicted her on. Why did they ignore it?

Either way, this is still an absorbing, thrilling and entertaining read as you turn the pages looking for the clues from the past in the interviews transcribed and actions in the present. Who took Mia Donovan? And why did they take her?

Despite my misgivings, they weren't enough to overshadow my enjoyment of this addictive read...although one does have to suspend belief at times, as one is wont to do in the case of an entertaining and addictive story such as this one.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Elisabeth Carpenter lives in Preston with her family. She completed a BA in English Literature and Language with the Open University in 2008.

Elisabeth was awarded a Northern Writers’ New Fiction award, and was longlisted for Yeovil Literary Prize (2015 and 2016) and the MsLexia Women’s Novel award (2015). She loves living in the north of England and sets most of her stories in the area, including the novel she is writing at the moment.

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REVIEW: The Lost Child by Kathleen McGurl

 

The Lost Child by Kathleen McGurl

Genre: Historical fiction, Dual timeline, Contemporary fiction

Read: 22nd January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 30th January 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

All she wanted was a child of her own…

1912. As the steamship Carpathia takes the survivors of the Titanic to New York, Lucy desperately searches the decks for her baby, thrust into the arms of another woman as a lifeboat left, and now nowhere to be found. Madeleine is helping her journalist husband to interview the survivors, and when she meets Lucy, she promises she will do anything she can to help her find her lost child.

2022. When archivist Jackie finds a notebook containing the stories of women saved by the Carpathia amongst an auction lot, she learns the story of the missing baby. Desperate to start a family of her own, she feels compelled to dig further. And her search will lead her to a century-old mystery…

Inspired by true events, bestselling author Kathleen McGurl weaves history and fiction together in this captivating, deeply moving story.

MY THOUGHTS:

A woman, a baby and a secret hidden for a hundred years...

I simply adore Kathleen McGurl's dual timeline tales and although I didn't her previous two quite as much, THE LOST CHILD is the author at her tear-jerkingly best. What I also loved about this story was that she incorporated a couple of previous characters from "The Lost Sister" which also featured Titanic and beyond. I was thrilled to see Violet Jessop (who was a real person an stewardess on Titanic) and Emma Higgins (the main character in "The Lost Sister") searching for her missing sister Ruby, also a stewardess. I recognised them at once and was endeared to see them included, albeit briefly.

1912: Onboard the transatlantic steamship Carpathia, Madeleine and Ralph Meyer are on a three month sojourn after the tragic loss of their baby and any chance of motherhood. Their destination is Gibraltar, a far cry from the freezing climes of New York. Ralph is a journalist but all Madeleine wanted to be was a mother. The couple are finding the crossing somewhat tiresome with little to do other than drink, play cards and watch the ocean pass by and wish for something a little more exciting to fill their days with.

Be careful what you wish for...

In the early hours of 15th April, Madeleine is awoken from her sleep by Ralph shaking her. He tells her the engines are now running at capacity and they appeared to have changed direction, for the pole star which should have been to their left is now ahead of them. Why have they changed course and what's the hurry that all engines are chugging heavily away to get them there? And then they hear whispers on deck that Titanic has hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and has transmitted a mayday call. The crew think that those on Titanic have jumped the gun and they will arrive to find they are not needed after all...after all, the ship was said to be unsinkable.

But when Carpathia arrives at the coordinates given, all they see are lifeboats laden with people with many more in the water crying and calling for help, debris all around them. But there was no sign of Titanic.

Madeleine assists the crew with the survivors as they are brought aboard by giving them blankets and leading them to where a doctor awaits their arrival to check them over. Many are freezing cold, most are in shock. As one woman is brought on board with a swaddled baby in her arms, she thrusts the child at Madeleine but before she could react, another woman exclaims "My baby!" and grabs the bundle, disappearng into the crowd.

Meanwhile, young mother Lucy Watts is brought aboard with her own bundle swaddled in her arms crying for her baby. The other women dismiss her as being doolally as the child is clearly in her arms. But as Lucy searches for baby Norah, her story touches Madeleine who begins to search the ship for her too. But is Lucy confused and in shocks as a result of the trauma she has suffered? Or is there a second baby that no one, except Lucy and Madeleine, is looking for?

2022: Archivist Jackie Summers has worked for an antiques collector for several years. It began as a short term job sorting some of her employer's old books and has morphed into collating his vast collection of antique everything. Having just acquired a box labeled as "Carpathia", Henry is hopeful of finding a medal that was awarded to all crew of the only ship that answered Titanic's distress call. But when Jackie comes across a notebook, what she unearths is a mystery that pulls at her heartstrings so much that she endeavours to uncover the truth behind what happened to Lucy Watts and her baby, and that of Madeleine Meyer.

In her mid-thirties herself and her desire to start a family with long term partner Tim, Jackie feels a kinship with Madeleine despite the years that separate them. Through Lucy's story in the notebook, Madeleine's own pain surfaces. And when Jackie discovers she's pregnant, she's thrilled. But is Tim really as excited as he says he is?

Through both women's stories the reader is drawn into their worlds - both on Carpathia and in the present day. McGurl draws on her research and uses factual details from the pages of history to draw her fictional characters and sweeping tale that spans one hundred and ten years. She has incorporated factual happenings, such as the news blackout as ordered by Carpathia's captain and the rumours that brewed back in New York as to Titanic's fate, into this fictional story and put her own stamp on it. Whilst not losing the emotions, the feeling of devastation and helplessness, the shock and trauma, the reality of the world's most famous maritime tragedy ever seen.

THE LOST CHILD is a tragic yet beautiful story that, while it is heartbreaking and bittersweet, is also an emotional and compelling read. If you enjoyed "The Lost Sister", you will love this one even more.

A definite five star read I highly recommend.

I would like to thank #KathleenMcGurl, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheLostChild in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kathleen McGurl lives in Christchurch, UK, with her husband. She has two sons who have both now left home.

Kathleen always wanted to write, and for many years was waiting until she had the time. Eventually she came to the bitter realisation that no one would pay her for a year off work to write a book, so she sat down and started to write one anyway. Since then she has published several novels with HQ and self-published another. She has also sold dozens of short stories to women's magazines, and written three How To books for writers.

After a long career in the IT industry she became a full time writer in 2019. When she's not writing, she's often out running, slowly.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The School Reunion by Shalini Boland

The School Reunion by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 20th January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 16th January 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The invitation to her school reunion couldn’t have come at a better time for Chloe Flynn. Divorced, broke and bored at work, she’s living a life her teenage self would hate. Turning the clock back fifteen years might be just what she needs to wipe the slate clean and start again. And then there’s the chance she’ll bump into Nathan Blake, the one she still regrets letting get away…

Back at her elite private school, Chloe sparkles as she reunites with old friends and long-forgotten love interests. And then, just as she’d hoped, there’s Nathan, more handsome than ever before. Even better, he’s single too, and seems to be just as keen to make up for lost time…

But as the evening progresses, Chloe can’t help feeling that something’s not quite right—that she’s not the only one who’s come here for more than just a party. When the secrets of the past start to emerge and the reunion takes a sinister turn, it’s clear that nothing is what it seems—and nothing will be the same again.

MY THOUGHTS:

Secrets can only stay buried for so long...

Have you ever attended a high school reunion? Not me. No thanks. Not ever. And if this tale is any indication of such events then I'm lucky to be missing out.

After her divorce, Chloe is living a somewhat bland life in a job she hates but in a flat she loves on Bath's royal terrace, thanks to her divorce settlement. And currently she is on the receiving end of her mother's endless criticism of everything that has ever gone wrong in her life.

And then an email arrives to distract her from her mother's tirade. An invitation to her school reunion back in Bournemouth. Oh no. Not touching that one, she thinks. But before she can hit delete her mother spies the email and its contents, and reiterates all the good things to come out West Cliff high school and she would do well to reconnect with her old friends...maybe hook up with her ex-boyfriend Chris Tamber who is now stinking rich and she could do a lot worse. Chloe just rolls her eyes. She is not touching that one. No way is she getting involved with her ex again. She has all but decided NOT to go...until she catches up with her old bestie, Harriet Walsh, and decides...why not?!

Of course she does have an ulterior motive for attending. And that is to hopefully hook up with Nathan Blake, the object of her secret crush fifteen years ago. If he's as hot now as he was then...

But then the night of the reunion dawns and Chloe finds herself face to face with the group of girls she'd gladly never set eyes on again. Abigail Matthews and her band of mean girls. And it seems age has not improved Abigail and she is as bitchy and as catty as ever.

And let's not forget the boyfriend she'd rather forget, Chris Tamber. But is he ready to let her go? It seems not as where ever Chloe goes, Chris never seems to be far away.

But there is something else bubbling beneath the surface at this reunion. Something out of all of their control...but will they be too late?

Shalini Boland has gone a touch darker with this psychological thriller about bullying, its effects and the revenge plot at its core. It makes for some uncomfortable reading at times, particularly for those familiar with the cruelty of bullies, despite them now being in their 30s.

As with all of Boland's thrillers, nothing is quite as it seems as the twists start to unravel a plot so tightly wound the reader will get whiplash at the change in the story unfolding before their eyes.

It's not the author's fastest plot but it is just as twisty as her others but a whole lot darker than her run of the m‎ill domestic thrillers. We are given a handful of characters, some of whom we'll love to hate, and through them we will sift through the clues laid out before us to see where it is all headed. You probably won't see it coming but if you do, be sure to enjoy the ride.

Once again, Shalini delivers a powerful punch in the form of revisiting teenage angst and the horrors of those school years. And remember...nothing is at all as it seems.

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPublishing for an ARC of #TheSchoolReunion in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

Shalini has recently signed with Thomas and Mercer publishers with her first publication with them being "The Silent Bride".

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: The Garden of Lost Secrets by Kerry Barrett

The Garden of Lost Secrets by Kerry Barrett

Genre: Dual timeline, Contemporary fiction, Historical fiction, WW2

Read: 17th January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 18th January 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A forgotten past. A garden full of secrets. A mystery to be uncovered.

1943.

With her best friend having recently joined the Land Army and her mother lost in grief after the death of her father early in the war, Gloria is lonely. When she finds an unlikely kindred spirit in Jerome, an American soldier stationed in her Cotswolds village, Gloria begins to fall in love. But conflict between the soldiers and the villagers lead to an impossible choice with devastating consequences.

Present day.

After their dreams of starting a family are crushed, Philippa and her husband Marco need a fresh start. Focusing on repairing the crumbling walls and leaking roof of the Cotswolds house they impulsively bought seems easier work than repairing their relationship. When Philippa finds a hidden memorial hidden deep in the garden, the discovery only pushes them further apart. But as Philippa determines to uncover the truth behind the memorial, could the secrets it reveals be the key to finally putting their heartbreak to rest?

Don’t miss this sweeping dual-timeline historical novel from the author of The Girl in the Picture and The Book of Last Letters, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Lorna Cook.

MY THOUGHTS:

A forgotten past. A garden full of secrets. A mystery to be uncovered...

It's 1943 and Gloria Henry has just finished school, returning home to Honeyford House in the sleepy Cotswolds, just as the American GIs are flooding their village. Her friend Patty had joined the Land Army but Gloria still didn't know what she wanted to do.

And then she met Corporal Jerome Scott, one of the American GIs. But he wasn't like the GIs that roamed their village. He wasn't even billeted at the nearby Eaton air base. No, Jerome was black so therefore he was not given the same entitlements or privileges as the white GIs. 

But Gloria didn't care. She loved Jerome and he loved her. But it could only end in tears...and it did.

Present day, Honeyford House

After a string of miscarriages, Philippa and Marco have just bought the crumbling ruins that is Honeyford House with dreams of opening a restaurant and a bed and breakfast whilst they lived in the old servant's quarters. It was quite a task they had set themselves but this was to be their new beginning.

As they stood on the terrace overlooking the garden and the woods beyond, Philippa and Marco decided to plant a deluge of bluebells in the woods in memory of their lost babies. And so one day while walking through that very wood, Philippa comes across what appears to be a grave...or a memorial at least.

Suddenly, she is on a mission to uncover the mysteries of Honeyford House and the memorial stone in its garden. But what she finds is a bittersweet tale that was as heartwrenching as it was unexpected.

I love dual timelines, being swept away between the two timelines and following two separate stories until they collide in a cleverly woven tapestry. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale, though maybe not as much as "The Missing Wife" but it was still a wonderful read that moves seamlessly between the two timelines.

Overall, this story is captivating and enthralling and a thoroughly delightful read with a satisfying end.

I would like to thank #KerryBarrett, #Netgalley and #HQDigital for an ARC of #TheGardenOfLostSecrets in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Barrett was a bookworm from a very early age and did a degree in English Literature, then trained as a journalist, writing about everything from pub grub to EastEnders. Her first novel, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, took six years to finish and was mostly written in longhand on her commute to work, giving her a very good reason to buy beautiful notebooks. Kerry lives in London with her husband and two sons, and Noel Streatfeild's Ballet Shoes is still her favourite novel.

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REVIEW: The Housewife's Secret by Anna-Lou Weatherley

The Housewife's Secret (Detective Dan Riley #7) by Anna-Lou Weatherley

Genre: Psychological thriller, Police procedural

Read: 7th January 2024

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Published: 12th January 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I cast my eyes over the impressive meal I’ve cooked and the half-empty crystal wine glasses. As our guests smile graciously, I squeeze my husband’s shoulder. It’s vital I get his friends to like me. To believe this version of me. Because I’ll do anything to stop them learning the truth…

Ever since I met my handsome husband Dr Gabe Bonneville, I started playing the role of the perfect housewife. He works hard as a surgeon, so I look after our home, and throw elaborate dinner parties with champagne cocktails for his best friends Hugh and Anita. He’s my safe place and my chance to have the family I’ve always wanted.

I’ve managed to hide the mornings when I wake up and see a face in the shadows. I haven’t told Gabe the truth about the woman who raised me, or told him about the therapy I’ve been getting so my secrets stay hidden in the dark. I haven’t questioned his past so he doesn’t ask about mine. I see the way Anita looks at him sometimes, but I’ll never say a word.

Until the letter arrives at the front door. The beautiful, expensive card shakes in my hand as I read the neat black handwriting.

Someone knows I’m not just a housewife. And the lies I’ve told will be all that’s left when I disappear…

Fans of Lisa Jewell, Gillian Flynn and The Housemaid will be gripped by this unputdownable thriller and its non-stop twists and turns! A breathtaking ride from the very first chapter to the explosive ending.

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect woman...the deadliest past...

I just love the Dan Riley series! Although I have yet to read the first couple of books, I've read every other since and have loved them all. I love Anna-Lou's style of incorporating the investigation with the rest of the story so that we're not all bogged down with procedural. She keeps that nice balance of both that keeps you coming back for more. And in doing so, each book can then be read as a standalone.

The reader is drawn in from the very beginning in the prologue leaving us wondering how it factors into the bigger picture...when it fact it is just a small part of the greater tapestry that it is to become. 

Darcie Bonneville has the perfect life married to the perfect man, cardiac consultant Dr Gabe Bonneville, and they live in a beautiful and illustrious apartment in an affluent part of London. One morning she takes her dog for a walk and never returns home. The dog, however, does. And her husband arrives home to find the dog alone on the step but no sign of his wife.

DCI Dan Riley is on leave. Or about to go on leave. His wife Fiona has their bags all packed and the children ready...all they are waiting on is Dan to come home and they can leave for their holiday by the seaside. But then Dan's superior calls him in and alerts him to a missing woman whilst assuring him that they have it all under control. To go, enjoy his holiday and come back refreshed. But something niggles at Dan...and he knows he can't ignore his instinct. That being said, Dan has seven days to solve this case or his wife holds the threat of divorce over him.

Digging deeper into Darcie's life, Dan wonders whether her recent notoriety in saving a toddler's life has something to do with her disappearance now. But the deeper he digs, the more he discovers that no one really knows a lot about Darcie Bonneville...not even her husband. The woman has seemingly no past, no social media presence, no digital footprint. So what secrets does this housewife have that she doesn't want her husband to find out? And what secrets are they to have brought danger to otherwise perfect life? 

This thrilling mystery keeps the reader enthralled from the very first page, immersing you in Darcie's life and what lead to her disappearance. Told in alternating chapters between the past and the present, Darcie's story gradually unfolds and leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew.

I wasn't overly surprised by the direction it took or the outcome because I must have had Dan's instinct telling me something was up from the get-go. But although I had it figured out, even down to the climatic twist that Dan unravelled, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of it at all. Half the fun is figuring it out and spotting the clues. And I kept my eyes peeled throughout.

I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in one sitting. Can't wait to see what's in store next for Riley and his team. Although, I do love that this is a psychological thriller first and police procedural second. My favourite kind.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Anna-Lou Weatherly is well known for her engaging and compelling mystery suspense novels. Instantly grabbing the attention of the reader, she delivers her stories in a straightforward style that really works for her material. Often writing about darker subject matter, too, she doesn’t hold back when it comes to more serious topics, really delivering gripping narratives. Her work is set in a league of its own when it comes to rich and immersive thrillers that allow the reader to escape into them.

Constantly keeping her audience guessing throughout, she’s a writer gifted in the art of compelling narratives with plenty of twists and turns. Pushing the boundaries of what the romance genre can really do, she allows her stories to speak for themselves essentially when it comes to telling them. Her books come alive off of the page, enveloping the reader and holding them there for the complete duration of the novel. Establishing her own style and tone, too, each book of hers is unmistakeably hers, as she really does have her own voice and approach.

When it comes to characters, she really embeds herself in their mindset, providing readers with a clear view of their perspective. This style gives her readers a front-row seat when it comes to the action, really making it engaging on all levels. Winning awards for her work, too, she’s written for many outlets, from Smash Hits to the NME, to Marie Claire, making her one of the most prolific writers within her area. There are plenty more titles planned for the future, too, as her writing career continues building from strength to strength.

Born in Southampton in England, Anna-Lou was raised in London with a passion for reading and writing. Nurturing this interest of her over time, she would hone and refine her skills as an author, discovering her own unique voice in the process. Studying further, she would continue to apply herself to her craft, building a profile for herself within the literary world.

Going on to work as the editor for several different publications, she would get to sharpen her writing skills for a mass audience. Drawing in inspiration from her surrounds, she would proceed to put much of it back into her writing and work. Currently still living in London to this very day, she continues to write regularly, with lots more set for release on the horizon.

Prior to writing fiction full-time, Anna-Lou Weatherly worked as an editor for prestigious publications such as Smash and J-17. Creating a big name for herself as a novelist, she would slowly come to find her own voice before writing her first complete novel. This would be titled ‘Ibiza Summer’ back in 2006, and it would give her an insight into her many writing processes and what she had to offer.

Before long, she would begin writing suspense novels and mystery thrillers, establishing a profile as a writer known for tension. Beginning her ‘Detective Dan Riley’ series with the novel ‘Black Heart’ in 2018, she would soon be on her way to being a hugely successful author. Winning awards for her work, she’s been in the industry for over ten years and counting as her career grows upwards and onwards.

When she's not writing, which isn't often, she likes to hang upside down on a pole - she's a qualified pole fitness instructor, and drink fancy wine (though not necessarily at the same time, that would be dangerous). She adores creating exciting, three dimensional, glamorous and flawed characters against a backdrop of exotic locations. Revenge, sex, sin, glamour, excess, crime and intrigue is her speciality. Her next novel, title to come, promises all the above and more!

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REVIEW: The Winter Waif by Lynette Rees

The Winter Waif by Lynette Rees

Genre: Historical fiction, Victorian era

Read: 6th January 2024

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Amazon

Published: 8th January 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

1884 - When Betsan Morgan’s mother succumbs to a devastating illness, she doesn't think her life could get much worse. But then her father moves in his new beau, an unserious flitty woman and coincidentally also the bargirl in the pub he works in, and she soon learns her house is no longer a home.

All she can do is sit in the attic and stare at the portrait of her mother. Her new stepmother, Elinor, couldn’t even let them have the grace of keeping it in the hallway.

When Elinor takes things too far – selling her dear mother’s beloved sewing machine – Betsan decides to flee, leaving in search of her estranged aunt, who she last heard was living in the working district of Merthyr Tydfil.

But the dank and dark place is not somewhere a twelve-year-old girl should stray alone, and lest she want to end up in a workhouse, she’ll have to watch her step…

MY THOUGHTS:

Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales 1884

Betsan Morgan loved to sit and watch her mother sew gowns as she sketched what they will look like once finished. Her mother Gwendolyn worked as a seamstress taking in orders for new gowns, shirts and even hemming and repair jobs to make one's clothing last longer. Her father worked as a barman at the Starr Inn. And her three year old twin brother and sister Aled and Alys played obliviously on the floor of their cottage.

But then one day Gwendolyn became ill. The cough she tried to hide got worse until she took to her bed and never got up again. When her mother died, Betsan was beside herself with grief. She found solace in their next door neighbour, Bronwen Jenkins, until the day her father brought home Elinor Evans.

A year after her mother's passing, David Morgan took Betsan aside and explained to her that Elinor was going to have a baby and they were going to be married the following Saturday. Betsan was happy if her father was happy. But as soon as the wedding was over, Elinor became the wicked stepmother and found fault in everything Betsan said or did, ordering her about to do her bidding.

When one day Betsan returned home from school, excited about the prize she had received, she stopped short when she saw the Welsh dresser in their living room. Her mother always wanted one and her dad had always promised to buy her one. But that wasn't the only change in the room. In the corner where her mother's sewing machine used to be, it was no longer. Where could it have possibly gone? Betsan searched the house for it until she heard Elinor return home with her friend crowing about the good deal she got at the market stall and flogging the old machine for the Welsh dresser. Betsan was furious. That sewing machine was the last remaining thing of her mother's and she was meant to inherit it. She raged at Elinor who slapped her for her outburst, after which Betsan packed a few things and left the house in search of her mother's sister Aunt Maggie.

But it's not all smooth sailing ahead for Betsan in her quest for answers, and first she must swallow her pride before she can put things right.

A touch of Dilly Court with a load of Lindsey Hutchinson thrown in, this delightful tale is an easy read that I devoured in one sitting. It is quick and easy to read and I enjoyed my time in Wales...even if I couldn't pronounce half the names.

The story is moving and emotive at times as Betsan is faced with many struggles and hardships. But with the help of good friends and overcoming a few obstacles, she manages to fulfill her dreams and achieve happiness in the end.

A nice quick read that was both heartwarming and satisfying.

I would like to thank #LynetteRees, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheWinterWaif in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lynette Rees, is a former writing therapist, tutor and mentor. Lynette has spoken locally about her books at various events and book launches in her home town of Merthyr Tydfil.

Lynette's historical fiction novel, 'The Workhouse Waif', hit the number one spot on the Amazon Kindle bestseller list in 'Victorian Historical Romance' during October of 2016, it remains one of her most popular books to date. Much to her delight, she was contacted by the commissioning editor of Quercus Books who had downloaded the book and loved the story so much, she offered her a traditional publishing deal for that book and three others in the series which were published during 2018 and 2019.

"The Winter Waif" is her first book published by Boldwood in early January 2024.

Lynette enjoys writing in a variety of genres including crime fiction and [contemporary romance where she writes under the name of 'Crystal Carter'.]

Lynette lives in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

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