REVIEW: The Perfect Nanny by Shari J. Ryan

The Perfect Nanny by Shari J. Ryan

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 28th February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 9th February 2024

★★★★ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

“My baby! You stole my baby!” Lara Smith is hysterical, her red lipstick smeared. A teddy lies abandoned in the empty crib. But I wasn't hired to look after a baby. I didn’t even know this nursery existed…

Lara’s husband calls the police and screams: “The nanny has taken our little girl.”

I’m frozen in shock. This is impossible. I was only meant to be looking after the Smiths' nine-year-old twins…

I'm certain that earlier this evening when they left for their fancy event—Lara in high heels and a floor-length gown, Corbin in a tux—they never mentioned a baby. And they definitely didn’t show me this nursery room, up in the eaves of their sprawling, beachfront mansion.

But their angelic blonde twins are now blinking at me in matching horror, and my heart pounds painfully as handcuffs snap shut around my wrists.

As I'm pushed towards the waiting police car, I look back one last time and meet Lara's eyes. Am I imagining the cold calculation in them?

I try to swallow my panic. Why was I really hired for this job?

And then an even more chilling thought races through my mind. Do Lara and Corbin know who I really am? Because if they do, my life is in terrible danger…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will get your heart racing like crazy. Prepare yourself for jaw-dropping, mind-blowing twists! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Family Upstairs.

MY THOUGHTS:

They say I took their baby...but I didn't know she was there...

Well this is a convoluted tale if ever I heard one. What started out as a compelling mystery that flipped everything on its head got just a little bit drawn out into the ridiculous. I could kind of see where the author was going but some of it was just a little out of left field to be believable. I did enjoy the Psychology dissertation case study, as it was a clever touch to the story, but was disappointed with the outcome of that.

Haley Vaughn is a twenty seven year old psychology student on the cusp of a promising career. But first she just needs to complete her degree and get her doctorate and until then, money doesn't grow on trees. She'll be paying off her student loans by the time her own children graduate.

And so she places an ad in the local classifieds seeking a nanny position for the summer while her rich bestie plans on returning home at her parents' expense. When Lara Smith responds to Haley's ad, she's surprised when the mother of 9 year old twins books and pays for her to partake in a first aid certification course...followed by her $40 an hour rate to care for her twins for the evening as a trial run for the summer.

When Haley arrives at their multi-million home on the water, she is introduced to twins Madden and Blakely, before given a brief run-down of things. No entering their parents' bedroom and no hide and seek. Why this is not allowed Haley has no idea. But Corbin Smith was clear. And so Haley settles the twins down in front of a movie about mermaids (Madden's obsession) with two bowls of popcorn.

With the exception of the slight hiccup when the girls "tricked" Haley into a game of hide and seek without her knowledge, the evening goes along smoothly. Until Lara and Corbin return home from their gala event and frantically begin searching the house while asking Haley what the hell has she done with their 15 month old baby daughter Fallon.

Baby? What baby? No one mentioned a baby when she took this job. Lara Smith clearly stated her 9 year old twins. She never ever mentioned a baby.

Haley finds herself arrested and accused of kidnapping the baby she claims she never knew existed. Soon Haley finds herself questioning everyone and everything around her. And she isn't sure who she can trust. But in this game of manipulation, just where does the truth end and the lies begin?

This is a well plotted psychological thriller but it did end up a bit of convoluted tale that lost me a little along the way. I enjoyed it though I could see where it was going and the potential it had. It will have you second guessing everyone and everything too.

So why was Haley the perfect nanny? Where was baby Fallon, if she ever existed? You'll have to read it to find out. But be warned, you will have to suspend belief a little as it stretches the imagination with a little too much elasticity. But an entertaining read all the same.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shari J. Ryan is a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women’s Fiction, WWII Fiction, and 20th Century Historical Fiction with a focus on the Holocaust and Pearl Harbor.

Shortly after graduation from Johnson & Wales with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Shari began her career as a graphic artist and freelance writer. She then found her passion for writing books in 2012 after her second son was born. Shari has been slaying words ever since.

With two Rone Awards and over 125k books sold, Shari has hit the USA Today Bestseller List, the Amazon's Top 100, Barnes & Noble's Top Ten, and iBooks at number one. Some of Shari’s bestselling books include Last Words, The Other Blue Sky, Unspoken Words and A Heart of Time.

Shari, a lifelong Boston girl, is happily married to her personal hero and US Marine and they have two wonderful little boys.

Social media links:

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REVIEW: A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts

A Wartime Welcome from the Foyles Bookshop Girls by Elaine Roberts

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

Read: 23rd February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 21st February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

London, 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop, where there is friendship, there is hope… Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Elaine Everest.

Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father’s shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London’s docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but to defy her father’s rules and seek employment. She finds a position at London’s renowned Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under their wing.

But there are dark times ahead. Ellen’s father is accused of gathering intelligence from the docklands for the enemy, and the police seem determined to see him shot for spying. With the help of her new friends, can Ellen clear her father’s name and save her family from destitution?

MY THOUGHTS:

I have been familiar with the author's Foyles Bookshop series though I have never read it. I have read the first in her West End Girls series which I enjoyed but I'm not sure how I missed the following ones after that.

I am confused by where this book actually stands as Amazon have it advertised as the first in a series though there are already three books previously published in this series. Despite never having read the first three, I can see that this one is a standalone story all of its own and yet it complements the already existing characters in Foyles bookshop.

It's 1918 and war has been raging in Europe for four years. Many are beginning to wonder when will it ever end? So many lives senselessly lost...and for what? But everyone on the home front does their bit to raise the spirits of their boys, supporting them or offering them a free brew as they step off the train at Victoria station. It's not much, but it's something.

Ellen and Mary Beckford have grown these past four years since the sudden death of their beloved mother. Their father Harold continues to work at the docks until the day he is attacked and left with a broken leg. With such an injury and his leg in plaster for the next two months, Harold is unable to work. 

Ellen realises the time has come for her to go out and find work to support her family but her father is a traditionalist. He believes it is his sole responsibility to provide for his family and yet he is unable to do so. He is firmly against Ellen going out and seeking work to support the family as he believes that is his role...regardless of the fact that he can't do so.

So it is with apprehension she approaches Foyles Bookshop on Charing Cross Road in the hope of gaining some work there as it would be a dream come true for her to work amongst all those books. But as luck would have it, one of their full time girls has recently given birth to her second child and while she is toying with the idea of returning on a part time basis, there is a vacancy available for Ellen. She starts off small - dusting and cleaning and getting to know the bookshop even better than she already does. But she also knows that the part time hours are not enough to pay the rent and put food on the table. And so she manages to garner a second job as an office girl for a newspaper. Things are beginning to look up. If only her father would speak to her, since he has given her the silent treatment ever since she defied him and went out to work.

But if Ellen thought things were looking up, she was sadly mistaken as one night police came knocking on their door and asking her father all sorts of questions about his attack and why she was always seen down at the docks so regularly. It seems they found some damning evidence which places her father in the frame for being a spy...and she as his suspected accomplice.

Ellen is horrified and sets out to piece together as much information as she can about her father's attack, his memories of the night and the man he chased down, as well as photos the police inadvertently left behind. Can she find enough proof to uncover the truth and prove her father innocent? Or will he be shot as a spy?

An interesting and absorbing tale that I devoured in a day, this was indeed a quick read that I soon lost myself in. Though I have never read the previous Foyles Bookshop books, I felt the warmth and family atmosphere that was held within the doors of that fine establishment and I must say I look forward to going back and starting from the beginning.

A delightful read that was heartwarming and entertaining.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Elaine Roberts had a dream to write for a living. She completed her first novel in her twenties and received her first very nice rejection. Life then got in the way until circumstances made her re-evaluate her life, and she picked up her dream again in 2010. She joined a creative writing class, The Write Place, in 2012 and shortly afterwards had her first short story published. She was thrilled when many more followed and started to believe in herself. 

As a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Society of Women Writers & Journalists, Elaine attends many conferences, workshops, seminars and wonderful parties. Meeting other writers gives her encouragement, finding most face similar problems. 

Elaine and her patient husband, Dave, have five children who have flown the nest. Home is in Dartford, Kent and is always busy with their children, grandchildren, grand dogs and cats visiting. Without her wonderful family and supportive friends, she knows the dream would never have been realised.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Custody Battle by Ellie Monago

The Custody Battle by Ellie Monago

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Read: 22nd February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 21st February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

“What’s going to happen to me?” my little girl asks, clutching her teddy bear tight. “Daddy and I love you,” I reply. “Nothing is going to change.” But I was so wrong. How far will I have to go to keep my darling daughter?

When Greg and I first decided to separate, we promised to keep it civil for our daughter Lola. So when she stopped wanting to hug me, I thought Lola was just struggling with the divorce. Then she started screaming at me, calling me a liar, and I could hear Greg in her words. I’m certain he’s trying to turn our baby against me.

He’s determined to dig up dirt on me, to make the court think I’m a terrible mother… But two can play that game.

So when he reveals the worst thing I have ever done, my heart pounds in my chest. Because I know Greg’s deep dark secrets, too. But the more we each try to win, the harder it is to turn back. Now I’m terrified that we’ve put Lola in terrible danger…

By the time we realise what we’ve done, will it be too late for us to save her, or ourselves?

A completely gripping dark domestic suspense novel about a family tearing themselves apart, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.

MY THOUGHTS:

They want to protect their child...but what if they're the danger...?

OMG! This book was like a car crash from which you couldn't look away! Let me be clear, this is all about a custody battle. From start to finish. And it gets ugly. It's gets dirty. And not the bedhopping kind, either. Both parties pull no punches to get what they want. And boy, is it ugly!

Madeline had it all planned out. She and Greg would divorce with as little disruption to their ten year old daughter Lola as possible. It would be quick, clean and respectful. But soon their amicable divorce would turn into an acrimonious one filled with allegations and accusations hurled at each other from ten paces.

Greg doesn't want a divorce. He adored the very ground on which Madeline walked. And while she said she loved him, she was no longer in love with him. Bu Greg thought that if he could just remind her how good they are together then she would give up the divorce and welcome him home with open arms. 

But Madeline isn't being open and honest with Greg (or her divorce lawyer, for that matter). Waiting at the sidelines of battle is Tarek. The man Madeline has fallen for and he her. She hasn't slept with him or begun an affair - not while she is still married to Greg. No, she is waiting for the divorce which should take six months to be granted.

But Madeline has under-estimated Greg. He wants her back and will stop at nothing to win her back. He has his lawyer stalling her lawyer throughout the entire process at every turn, giving him time to woo her back into his arms. Until he discovers there is another man waiting in the wings. Suddenly, it's all bets are off.

And caught in the middle of their war against each other is Lola. Lola, who has her dad's deep blue eyes and is sense of fun but her mother's looks and analytical mind and stubbornness. She sees all and hears all...and she doesn't like one bit of it. She sides with her dad almost from the first moment that no matter what Madeline does or say, she takes no notice of her. And soon it becomes a clear case of parental alienation. Using their daughter a pawn to score the most points and make the other look bad.

This domestic suspense is an ugly tale. The lengths two people who once loved each other, and claim to have the best interests of their daughter at heart, will go to just to tarnish the other and win sole custody. It's brutal and it's dirty.

Neither parent wins any popularity contests with me as they are both as bad as each other. Madeline wasn't upfront in the first place when she should have been and Greg has blinkers on, the narcissistic personality that he is. It's true, he took Madeline for granted all the years they were married and what he was most missing was her organisational skills and her ability to make his life as smooth as possible. He had the Disneyland dad quality where he would swoop in and do all the fun things with Lola while Madeline did the grunt work - that much is true. But they both played dirty to come out on top. And for what? Where did it leave them in the end?

You'll have to read the book to find out!!

An unputdownable domestic suspense that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Monago is the pen name of an acclaimed novelist and practicing therapist. She’s also a wife and mother, and when you add it all up, she doesn’t wind up with much time for hobbies. But she’s an avid tennis fan, a passionate reader of both fiction and nonfiction—especially memoir (nothing’s as juicy as the truth!)—and she relishes a good craft cocktail.

REVIEW: The Holiday by John Nicholl

The Holiday by John Nicholl

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 22nd February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 21st February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It was meant to be the perfect getaway…

As I board the plane, all I can feel is hope and excitement. One whole week away. Just me and the man I have promised to be with forever.

Time to repair what has been broken. Maybe even try for another baby, and pray that this time it doesn’t end heartbreakingly.

I just need to not think about what George has done. He’s my husband. And this is the holiday where we make things right.

But then I realise he can’t take his eyes off the beautiful woman who’s just boarded the plane in front of me…

In that moment, everything changes.

And nobody is safe.

A gripping, twisty, breathtaking psychological thriller that will keep you reading late into the night. If you loved The Housemaid, The Girl on the Train and The Couple at No.9, you’ll be addicted to The Holiday.

MY THOUGHTS:

It was meant to be the perfect getaway...

...but this holiday is anything BUT a holiday! What I wouldn't give for a week in Tenerife, sipping pina coladas by the pool, walking on the sand at sunset, swimming in the pristine waters. But I haven't even got a passport so the closest I can get is to dream.

Firstly, Suzie and George. Has anyone ever met a more unlikely couple? Suzie is in love with George (more's the pity) but George is too busy being in love with himself (and Suzie's money). Although the sum of which is never disclosed, it is hinted at being a tidy sum that could mean he could chuck in his job at the gym and buy a luxurious home on the coast and never have to worry about money again. But George doesn't have access to Suzie's wealth, which she had won on a premium bond, and he spends the week in Tenerife and then back home trying to convince her to let him have even just a taster. A joint account. Shared assets. Paying off his debts. And new wills leaving all their worldly goods to each other.

But Suzie has a problem. She can't get past George's wandering eye, convinced that he has been unfaithful though she has yet to prove it. And under her father's guidance, she has cut off all access to her wealth and handing her husband out tidbits like he was a child. In some ways, he is. Like a teenager he thinks with only one part of his anatomy and lets that lead his life. George hates her that her father has so much influence over a grown woman's life. And he kind of has a point. I'm all for respecting your elders but reallty, Suzie's father is a bully who demands obedience and justifies it as God's law. Of course, Suzie is a strict Catholic so divorce was never going to be an option for her. As she says on more than one occasion, George is her cross to bear.

And then while they are on holiday in Tenerife, the holiday that is to be a new start for them both, Suzie strikes up an unlikely friendship with Amelia after the woman witnessed George's drunken tantrum poolside one afternoon. It's a friendship that continues when they return to Wales and one that Suzie is thankful for. But Amelia is stunningly gorgeous and she knows that George would ogle the woman given half the chance.

Howver, once they return to Wales Suzie gives George an ultimatum. Try for another baby and once she gives birth to a healthy child (after suffering two miscarriages) only then will she give him access to her wealth.

But this holiday, that was meant to be the perfect getaway and a new start for them both, turns out to be a nightmare...where nobody is safe...

This psychological thriller is so entertaining like a car crash from which you can't look away, with completely despicable characters who were as hateful as each other, and even with its oh-so predictable plot I had to stick around to see it through. Even to the very last line of the very last page...I was rolling my eyes at the ridiculousness of it and how gullible they all were. 

I love John Nicholl's books and as much as the characters were cringeworthy, it was so skillfully written that it was entertaining from start to finish. And I enjoyed the ride. 

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, social worker and lecturer (and now a "serial chiller") as the award-winning, #1 bestselling author of numerous darkly psychological suspense thrillers. He began writing after leaving his job heading up child protection services.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 19th February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th February 2024

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

I have the life I’ve always dreamed of… but how long will it be until the past catches up with me?

I can’t believe how far my husband, Hayden, and I have come. I never expected that one day I’d be sipping a steaming coffee over our marble countertop or finishing off a humid summer day with a dip in our sparkling pool. But even though we’re living in paradise, I’ve never felt so distant from my husband. I’m certain he’s hiding something from me. Before, I would have confided in my friends and family but in this new life of ours, I’m terrified to trust anyone…

Now, with Hayden out again, my evening is quiet. From our floor-to-ceiling windows, I watch the pool water ripple under the raindrops. But I swear I see movement beyond the garden hedges. I try to shake my fears away, I must be imagining things. That’s what Hayden would say.

But then I find the hand-delivered note and my heart pounds in my chest as I scan the neat words.

You don’t deserve this life.

My blood runs cold. I thought I’d kept all my secrets well hidden, but now as I look out to the still night, I realise it’s only a matter of time until my past catches up with me – a past my husband still has no idea about. I know what I have to do to protect my perfect new life, but those around me have no idea how far I’m willing to go to keep it…

Utterly gripping and full of jaw-dropping twists, fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Daniel Hurst will be completely hooked by The Wife’s Mistake!

MY THOUGHTS:

Even inside your dream house you can't hide from your past...

This book might be about the wife's mistake - of which there are many, she made so many stupid and dumb decisions throughout - but unfortunately in this case this one is my mistake. Try as I might I just couldn't get into the story which bordered on ridiculous, in my opinion. I tried to give Natalie the benefit of one too many doubts but I just felt like banging my head against a brick wall. And I've so enjoyed some of the author's other thrillers too! But this one just wasn't for me.

For a start, I just didn't know what was going on with the first chapter. Some dinner party where an engagement and promotion is announced but what was the point of it? And then we rewound to Natalie's first bad decision which lead to plenty more that swiftly followed. OK, so she's in a job where she is under appreciated by a dragon boss and spends most of her days either bantering with the customers or daydreaming about her own coffee shop she dreams of opening.

So when she absently buys a lottery ticket she never thought in a million years - 12.5 million - that she would ever win! But she did. And soon she began dreaming of how she would spend those millions. Ditch her dead end job, buy premises to open her own cafe, step off the rental treadmill and buy a home for her and hubby Hayden.

And then she discovers a text on his phone. From someone called Vivienne. Seemingly intimate messages. Is Hayden having an affair? So what does Natalie do? Confront Hayden, like any normal wife? No. She stalks him. First she takes a glimpse of Vivienne to grasp her competition, who is a Megan Fox lookalike (whom Hayden has a secret crush on). Then she dresses herself up in dowdy women's wear, wig and glasses and follows Hayden up to Manchester for a business conference. What on earth does she hope to achieve? I'm not sure because she lost me there and I binned the rest of the book. It was ridiculous and made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I really hate leaving negative reviews because I know this is an author's hard work but at the end of the day we can't like every book we read. It's a shame because I have read and enjoyed Lorna's thrillers before but this one just wasn't for me.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lorna Dounaeva is a quirky British crime writer who once challenged a flamenco troupe to a dance-off. She is a politics graduate and worked for the Home Office for a number of years. She loves books and films with strong female characters and her influences include Single White Female and Sleeping with the Enemy. 

Lorna lives in Surrey with her husband and three children, who keep her busy wiping food off the ceiling and removing mints from USB sockets.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Library Murders by Merryn Allingham

The Library Murders (A Flora Steele Mystery #8) by Merryn Allingham

Genre: Cosy Mystery, Historical fiction

Read: 20th February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th February 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Bookshop owner and amateur detective Flora Steele and her fiancé, crime writer Jack Carrington, discover words can kill as they solve their most puzzling case yet…

It’s a sunny morning in Abbeymead as Flora cycles through the village and knocks on the door of the local library, planning to deliver a gift to librarian Maud Frobisher to mark her retirement. But Flora is shocked when she finds Maud slumped in the corner, and even more startled when she recognises the man holding the murder weapon – an enormous hardback book.

Flora’s known Lowell Gracey since her college days, but what is he doing working for Maud and now the main suspect in her murder? Suspicion mounts when Flora and Jack discover that Lowell is heavily in debt, and that a priceless rare first edition has recently gone missing, but Lowell is adamant that he’s innocent, and Flora believes him.

The pair are once more drawn into an investigation, but who would kill a beloved librarian? Perhaps Rose Lawson, a mysterious newcomer to Abbeymead known to be in dire financial straits? Or pompous bestselling author Felix Wingrave, who rumours say would do anything to get his hands on a valuable book for his collection?

Then the village is rocked by the discovery of a second body. Flora and Jack realise a vital clue lies in the pages of a novel – but the plot is thickening and the killer is closing in…

Flora and Jack are determined to solve this fiendish case by the book – but will this be the end of their story?

A completely page-turning and addictive cozy crime mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis will adore this unputdownable series!

MY THOUGHTS:

Abbeymead is once again awash with crime as it hosts it very own crime writing festival to rival Bloody Scotland!

As a bookshop owner, Flora Steele has been asked to host a stall at the event which is sure to garner much publicity and loads of sales for the All's Well. And as a crime writer in situ, Jack Carrington is well placed to help Basil Webb, founder of the Dirk and Dagger society, host the event and introduce its variety of crime writers. 

What no one expects is to find elderly librarian Maud Frobisher dead in her mobile library van on the morning the conference is due to start! And found by none other than amateur sleuth Flora! But then this is Abbeymead...

Inspector Ridley is called in from Brighton and it appears to be an open and shut case in his opinion but Flora is not so sure. Yes, she knows the person who she found standing over the body with a bloodstained copy of "Lord of the Rings" but she finds it difficult to believe that he is the killer. And so with Jack's help, she endeavours to dig deeper to find the real culprit.

It isn't long before another body turns up, this time in the Cross Keys pub, wrapped up tight like a mummy. Significant? Maybe. But what is even more surprising is the identity of the anonymous guest, now body in situ.

Flora and Jack must work doubly hard to prove the police's current suspect's innocence by digging deeper to uncover the real motive and real killer. But can they do so before it's too late? And with their own wedding to plan in their midst?

Another entertaining addition to this delightful cosy series in which Flora and Jack, and even Charlie Teague, endear the reader to become firm favourites that warm the heart. Another wonderful read that was quick to devour and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.

Can't wait for book 9 and the prospect of Flora and Jack's upcoming nuptials. A murder at the wedding I see coming...

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Merryn taught university literature for many years, and it took a while to pluck up the courage to begin writing herself. Bringing the past to life is a passion and her historical fiction includes Regency romances, wartime sagas and timeslip novels, all of which have a mystery at their heart. As the books have grown darker, it was only a matter of time before she plunged into crime with a cosy crime series set in rural Sussex against the fascinating backdrop of the 1950s.

Merryn lives in a beautiful old town in Sussex with her husband. When she’s not writing, she tries to keep fit with adult ballet classes and plenty of walking.

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

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EXTRACT: The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

 

The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 19th February 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 19th February 2024

DESCRIPTION:

I have the life I’ve always dreamed of… but how long will it be until the past catches up with me?

I can’t believe how far my husband, Hayden, and I have come. I never expected that one day I’d be sipping a steaming coffee over our marble countertop or finishing off a humid summer day with a dip in our sparkling pool. But even though we’re living in paradise, I’ve never felt so distant from my husband. I’m certain he’s hiding something from me. Before, I would have confided in my friends and family but in this new life of ours, I’m terrified to trust anyone…

Now, with Hayden out again, my evening is quiet. From our floor-to-ceiling windows, I watch the pool water ripple under the raindrops. But I swear I see movement beyond the garden hedges. I try to shake my fears away, I must be imagining things. That’s what Hayden would say.

But then I find the hand-delivered note and my heart pounds in my chest as I scan the neat words.

You don’t deserve this life.

My blood runs cold. I thought I’d kept all my secrets well hidden, but now as I look out to the still night, I realise it’s only a matter of time until my past catches up with me – a past my husband still has no idea about. I know what I have to do to protect my perfect new life, but those around me have no idea how far I’m willing to go to keep it…

Utterly gripping and full of jaw-dropping twists, fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Daniel Hurst will be completely hooked by The Wife’s Mistake!

EXTRACT:

PROLOGUE 

The wind howled. It sent chills down the police officer’s spine as he approached the pool. A cherry-red Ferrari stuck out of the water like it had been dropped out of the sky. He shone his torch down into the vehicle and was met with a gruesome sight. A pale face, head thrown back against the seat; eyes that bulged with terror and mouth contorted in a silent scream. The woman’s clothes clung to her body, swollen from the force of the impact, and underneath her puffy eyelids he made out faint bruises in the shape of broken blood vessels. 

Her fingers had frozen around her seatbelt in a deathly grip and all around, hundreds of bank notes drifted like snowflakes from the shattered glass house behind. 

An eerie sound carried through the air, like maniacal laughter, perhaps the sound of someone howling in the distance. He glanced over his shoulder. He had the feeling someone was watching from the window, even though he couldn’t see a soul.  

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lorna Dounaeva is a quirky British crime writer who once challenged a flamenco troupe to a dance-off. She is a politics graduate and worked for the Home Office for a number of years. She loves books and films with strong female characters and her influences include Single White Female and Sleeping with the Enemy. 

Lorna lives in Surrey with her husband and three children, who keep her busy wiping food off the ceiling and removing mints from USB sockets.

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REVIEW: Dark Days at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi

Dark Days at the Beach Hotel (Beach Hotel #3) by Francesca Capaldi

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

Read: 17th February 2024

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Amazon

Published: 15th February 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Can she save the hotel... and her reputation?

Helen Bygrove is managing the hotel, now that her husband has been conscripted. Against all expectations, Helen and her team are doing marvellously, despite the shortages brought by war. Even the exacting Lady Blackmore agrees. But then the calm is shattered when poison pen letters are sent to prominent townsfolk and Helen finds herself the target of a police investigation. Is someone trying to ruin Helen, and the Beach Hotel? And can she rely on the handsome but taciturn Inspector Toshack to help her? When her husband, Douglas, is invalided out of the war he is determined to take back control of the hotel and things go from bad to worse.

How can she ever escape his bullying? Is she a fool to hope that she may have a second chance at love?

A captivating, emotional and uplifting saga set in World War One - fans of Elaine Everest and Ginny Bell will love this!

MY THOUGHTS:

Can she save her hotel...and her reputation...?

It's 1916 and war has been raging across the channel in Europe for two years. For Helen Bygrove, she has had a war of her own to battle. Six years ago, five years married and idealistic, Helen and her husband Douglas purchased the Beach Hotel with Helen's inheritance from her mother...wisely invested on the advice of her own mother. However, Douglas had one stipulation - that his name be solely on the deeds as the owner and manager and Helen, in her naivete, agreed. Although women were now allowed to own property Douglas was a little old fashioned like that...or so she thought.

Fast forward six years and the years have not been plain sailing. Douglas has single-handedly undermined everything Helen suggested in their joint venture of running the hotel, isolated her and the children and bullied her at every opportunity. Where was the man she had fallen in love with?

In the first two books we met the bullish Douglas Bygrove and laughed him off as incompetent and useless, always racing off to "important meetings" or the golf club whilst Helen stayed behind to manage the hotel in his absence. Any positive feedback on the hotel, Douglas preened and took credit whilst any bad decisions or publicity he thrust the blame firmly in his wife's direction. we rarely saw much of him and when we did he was issuing orders whilst preening to those he considered to be important.

In this book, however, we see a little more into Douglas' behaviour and it soon proves to be no laughing matter. Although I admit to inwardly chuckling when the tribunal laughed him out of court when he tried to be exempt from service due to his important position as hotel proprietor and manager. Thus he was conscripted much to his annoyance and obvious frustration. However, in his absence Beach Hotel could be run smoothly under the deft hands of Helen Bygrove and her hugely competent staff...regardless of whatever notion Douglas tried to portray.

But it seems someone else isn't happy with Helen's smooth running of the establishment either as libelous letters begin to pop up around Littlehampton, slandering many person with unfounded allegations whilst some may have bordered the truth. At any rate, the missives were insulting and seemed to originate from the Beach Hotel. Helen couldn't believe that any of her staff would do anything so underhand. But the new Detective Inspector, who appeared abrasive as first impressions go, requested handwriting samples from all the staff for the process of elimination. And then Miss Isabella Harvey, who has often shown an inappropriate interest in Douglas, arrives at the hotel with accusations directed at Helen as the writer of the abusive letters.

Soon, trade at the hotel begins to dwindle as news about Helen's possible involvement spreads and bookings are cancelled, leaving Miss Harvey crowing triumphantly.

And then Helen gets even more bad news. Douglas has been injured in France and will be returning home where he will surely stake his claim once again...undoing all of Helen's hard work. But can she save the hotel and her reputation before it's too late?

It was wonderful to be back in the company at the Beach Hotel once again with all the wonderful friendly staff and regulars who we've come to regard as a kind of family. I admit to Douglas frustrating me on more than one occasion in previous books but in his one he takes the biscuit! I cannot tell you more of my thoughts without giving anything away. But rest assured you will be entertained from start to finish and even come to like the new Inspector Sam Tobrash (I think I spelt his name correctly).

Whilst it is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone as each story surrounds one of the characters on its own. First was Edie's then Lili's and this time it was Helen. And I was thrilled to discover that Helen would have her story told because there was most definitely one lurking there dying to be told.

I have enjoyed all three books but this one did have a different feel to it. Helen not only has to face running the hotel in her incompetent husband's absence (in the knowledge that he will one day come back to stake his claim once again) but she has not one two hugely upsetting and dramatic turns of events that threaten her happiness and her livelihood. I would have liked to see a little more before it ended but it ended on a promise which was a nice touch.

Another fantastic read and addition to this delightful series. I look forward to meeting up with everyone again in the next book.

I would like to thank #FrancescaCapaldi, #Netgalley, #HeraBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #DarkDaysAtTheBeachHotel in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Francesca has enjoyed writing since she was a child. Born in Worthing, Sussex, and brought up in Littlehampton, she was largely influenced by a Welsh mother who was brilliant at improvised story telling.

A history graduate and qualified teacher, she decided to turn her writing hobby into something more in 2006, when she joined a writing class.

​Writing as both Francesca Capaldi and Francesca Burgess, she has had numerous short stories published in magazines in the UK and abroad, as well as in anthologies. Four pocket novels have been published by DC Thomson, one of which, Danger for Daisy, is available as an ebook.

Her Welsh World War 1 sagas were inspired by the discovery of her great grandfather's war record.  They are published by Hera Books

​She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Women Writers and Journalists. 

Francesca currently lives on the North Downs in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrission.

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REVIEW: The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs

The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 11th February 2024

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Amazon

Published: 13th February 2024

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

A stranger has infiltrated your family…and now he’s taking over.

Paul’s just here to help, or so he claims—sent by a charity for vulnerable people to do odd jobs for elderly widow Gwen. But for Gwen’s daughter Connie, there’s just something about Paul that rings alarm bells from day one. He’s a little too kind, a little too involved…Worse still, Gwen seems to have fallen under his spell.

The last thing Connie wants is a stranger meddling in the safe routine she’s built around Gwen. She loves being the one Gwen turns to for cooking, cleaning and company. But the more Paul visits, the more Gwen is relying on him. By the time he conveniently finds himself between homes and has no choice but to move in, Connie is certain he’s trying to push her out completely.

It’s her word against his, though, and as her attempts to unmask him become ever more desperate she’s not the only one left wondering if she’s lost her grip on reality. But when events start spiralling rapidly out of her control, should Connie wage all-out war on Paul and risk losing Gwen forever—or has that been his plan all along?

MY THOUGHTS:

Oh, what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive...

My goodness. Another reviewer had it right. Every single one of these characters were awful and as readers we may have to suspend belief on more than one occasion throughout this whole sorry tale...but gosh, like her, I couldn't put it down! John Marrs has that inane knack for drawing you in and keeping you there, no matter how awful, how despicable his characters. More than once I wanted to hurl my kindle at the wall during Part One. It was so damn frustrating! But then he gives us cause to sit back and pause...

What if someone was slowly working their way into the life of your loved who was vulnerable and blind to their misdeeds? What would you do?

Connie has put her life on hold in the sunny climes of the Amalfi Coast of Italy to return to England and care for her mother Gwen who has dementia. She's rented a little cottage in the village and every morning she arrives at Gwen's modest home she had once shared with her beloved husband Bill to bathe and dress her before setting about her other duties for the day. Some days it's doctors appointments, others it's cleaning the house or maybe laundry or popping into one of the nearby villages via "the hopper" to run some errands for her mother.

And then one day as she arrives at her mother's house, Connie notices a van in the drive. Upon entering the house and exchanging a few confused words with Gwen, Connie discovers that the van belongs to Paul, a volunteer with a charity offering their services for free to those who may need it. But as soon as Connie meets Paul she sees the smirk on his face and the twinkle in his eye and feels sure he is laughing at her. And something about him raises alarm bells. But what, exactly?

On the surface, Paul is a genuine nice guy offering his free time to help those in need. A noble cause, I'm sure. And it isn't long before he has slowly inveigled his way into Gwen's life, cutting Connie out completely. First, it's the doctor's appointment she was meant to take Gwen to, then it's redecorating the house to day trips to the seaside without clearing it with her, supplying Gwen with a mobile phone and failing to give Connie the number to removing her authority completely. Connie feels sure he is up to something. But no matter what she does, Paul is always one step ahead of her and Gwen seems to have fallen completely under his spell.

“I was prepared for the dementia to take away a little bit more of her every day. But I didn’t expect another person to rob me of her.”

Wow. What a cat and mouse game this psychological thriller is! Paul and Connie are both about as despicable as each other could get and yet I still found myself feeling sorry for her. But wait! This is John Marrs and he hasn't finished with you yet! You're bound to get whiplash from all the twists. The cat and mouse game that ensues will have you questioning just who is using who?!

The plot itself is well written and skillfully done but if you're like me and have (or had) a loved one wit dementia then you are bound to find this very triggering, Part One especially, which is a tough read and more than once I wanted to hurl my kindle at the wall in frustration. But Marrs has handled the subject sensitively (as one can with such an awful disease) and if you go on to read his notes at the end, his purpose was to highlight the need for a change in UK legislation that still (in 2024) allows someone with dementia to marry when they have lost all ability to make those kind of lifechanging decisions. There were many instances in which I was shocked at what played out thinking surely no way would that happen under the circumstances. In my country (Australia) I doubt half of what took place would be considered legal which is why I found it so difficult to believe. But if the UK still allow such things to happen regardless of one's obviously ailing cognitive abilities, opening them up to exploitation. It's shocking!

As difficult as the first part is the plot takes an unexpected twist, so out of left field that I think I have whiplash, at the end of Part One. After that, the read gets easier to digest (if not stomach). The story plays out over three parts, all skillfully plotted, and unfolds primarily through Connie's perspective with various others peppered throughout. The final chapter was something of an eye-opening twist leaving the reader with no doubt as to who is checkmate. And then that final little twist thrown in right at the end. Genius.

A tough one for me to rate due to how triggering it was for me throughout on many levels, and for this reason only I drop half a star but round it up to 5.

I love John Marrs' psychological thrillers which are always deliciously dark and ingeniously twisted.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

John Marrs is a former journalist from Northamptonshire, England, who spent 25 years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines. He wrote for publications including The Guardian’s Guide and Guardian Online; OK! Magazine; Total Film; Empire; Q; GT; The Independent; Star; Reveal; Company; Daily Star and News of the World’s Sunday Magazine. 

Now a psychological thriller writer, his debut book 'The Wronged Sons' (also titled 'When You Disappeared') released in 2014 is a tense psychological thriller with over 240 x 5 star reviews on Amazon.  His second book 'Welcome To Wherever You Are' is a suspense thriller and an Amazon #1 best seller, 'The One' (previously 'A Thousand Small Explosions') was relaunched in January 2017, 'The Good Samaritan' published in 2018 with his latest 'What Lies Between Us' published in May 2020.

He recently gave up his job to write novels full time. His first car at the age of seventeen was a three-door, Ford Escort with a Batman sticker in the rear windscreen. He thought the sticker was cool at the time.

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