SPOTLIGHT: The Open Marriage by Victoria Jenkins

The Open Marriage by Victoria Jenkins

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 21st June 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

It was supposed to save us. It destroyed us.

My husband, Marcus, and I used to be so in love. But now, after ten years together, we barely talk. I’ve seen so many of our friends’ marriages end in divorce, and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to stop that from happening to us.

And then I meet Erin. She tells me all about her perfect marriage to Kieran, and I’m shocked when she reveals the secret to their marital bliss—they have an open marriage. My heart starts to race as I consider it for me and Marcus. Could we really do this?

When Marcus cautiously agrees, I know it can’t be with strangers, and so I call Erin. She tells me there is only one rule: complete honesty. But when I meet Kieran, it doesn’t take long for me to break that rule. Soon this isn’t an open marriage, but an affair.

As I start to fall for Kieran, Marcus becomes the attentive husband I’ve been craving, and I’m soon full of regret. This was all an awful mistake and I swear to end it. But my blood runs cold when Erin is reported missing. Who is this couple I’ve entangled our life with? And as the police knock on my door, it’s much more than just my marriage that is now at stake…

For fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl and The Housemaid, this is a psychological thriller with a twist you’ll never see coming.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017 and is an Amazon UK top 30 bestseller, and top 5 bestseller in the Amazon US chart., to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.

The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.

Her first psychological thriller, The Divorce, was published in July 2019. The second, The Argument, was published December 10th 2019 and The Accusation was published June 9th 2020, followed by The Playdate, The New Family and The Bridesmaids.

Victoria lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.

 

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

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REVIEW: Guilty by Ruby Speechley

Guilty by Ruby Speechley

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 17th June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 7th June 2024

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

“You’re invited to my farewell party. I’ve got something to tell you before I die…”

Heather wants to leave this world with a clear conscience.

One confession. One secret. Two scores to settle.

Heather accepted the fate of her terminal diagnosis long ago, but now the time is nearing, she arranges a huge farewell party for her nearest and dearest.

She wants to say goodbye to everyone personally, but there’s another reason she wants the people in her life to gather.

She knows who killed young Simon Eyre all those years ago, and she needs to tell. The boy deserves justice.

But she doesn’t realise that by freeing her own inner demons, she’s unleashing much worse secrets, and putting everyone at risk…

MY THOUGHTS:

One secret...one confession...and she knows who it is...

Honestly, I feel a bit GUILTY about writing this review. This was a really hard book for me to get into. I found the main character and her terminal diagnosis of cancer just a little too depressing. And she felt the need to create these gatherings of loved ones, past and present, to make the sad announcement. It just felt a little too contrived and, well, depressing. And if it wasn't that, it was boring.

The characters are all a little irritating and with every turn of the page I was dreading something happening to the dogs she tended to when boarding in the kennels she ran. An author can kill of as many people as they like...but hands off the dogs!

I can't tell you if anything happened to them because I ended up skipping to the final pages where even more people died and seven months later, Heather is still alive and kicking when her announcement at the beginning of the book made it sound as if she was at death's door, about to be taken at any moment.

I wish I could have connected with this book more as I do love Ruby Speechley but a reading slump makes it difficult to enjoy many books and this one was just one of those that didn't cut it with me this time round.

I would like to thank #RubySpeechley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #Guilty in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Ruby Speechley, graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2009, with an MA in Creative Writing. She is a Faber Academy alumna and prolific writer whose work has been longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize, the Exeter Novel Prize, the Caledonian Novel Award, the Bath Novel Award and has won the Retreat West First Chapter Competition.

Ruby is a mum of three was born in Lisbon, Portugal at the time of the first earthquake there in 200 years! She has been a journalist and worked in PR.

Ruby’s debut novel Someone Else’s Baby, a chilling psychological thriller, follows a young woman, Charlotte who has always dreamed of becoming a surrogate. When she and her partner Steve, choose Malcolm and Brenda, a middle-aged couple who they find on a surrogacy forum to become the intended parents, Charlotte believes she is about to fulfil her dream of helping a loving couple finally become a family, only to find that her act of kindness comes with devastating consequences.

Ruby’s debut was published by Hera in ebook in July 2019, and following a fantastic digital run, was published in paperback in January 2020. She now publishes with Boldwood Books.

Ruby’s second novel, Every Little Secret, was published in April 2020. Her next novel, A Mother Like You, published in November 2020. Ruby’s fourth novel, The Face at the Window was published in July 2021! Her most recent book, Gone, was published in February 2023.

Ruby lives in Cheshire with her husband and two of her three children and two Springer spaniels. She has an older son and two grandsons.

Social media links:

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SPOTLIGHT: The Woman at my Wedding by L.G. Davis

The Woman at my Wedding (Broken Vows #1) by L.G. Davis

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon
Published: 13th June 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

I’ve dreamed of this day forever. But will it be my last?

My stomach flutters as I try on my shimmering wedding dress with my two closest friends. In just a few weeks I’m going to marry the man of my dreams. I can’t believe the next time Nathan sees me it’ll be when I walk down the aisle. I’ve never told him my real name, and I hate lying to him. But it’s for his own good, and nobody could love him more than me. I’ve been through so much; don’t I deserve this happiness?

As I’m gazing at my reflection in the mirror, there’s a knock on the door and when I open it my heart leaps into my throat. Right in front of me is someone I hoped I’d never see again: my mother-in-law.

Nathan doesn’t speak to her, and the estrangement has been a huge relief to me. Because Debbie knows my secret. And she could ruin everything…

From the moment she sweeps in, it’s clear that if I don’t let my mother-in-law stay, she won’t stay quiet about my dark past. But she has no idea how far I’ll go to stop her destroying everything I’ve worked for.

But when I realise my friends have been lying to me too, I wonder if my mother-in-law is really the person I need to worry about. Is there another woman in my life who is determined not only to ruin my wedding, but to take my life?

An utterly heart-pounding and nail-biting new novel from bestseller L.G. Davis. This twisty, gasp-out-loud thriller is perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Teresa Driscoll and Freida McFadden.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Liz's story began in a refugee camp in Angola, where she spent the first eight years of her life. After that, she spent some years in Namibia (her home country), South Africa, and Germany. Liz wrote her first full-length novel at eighteen and hid it in a box under her bed. Several others soon followed it. Her passion lies in writing edge-of-the-seat psychological thrillers that give readers the same rush they would get on a rollercoaster.

She now lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and two children. 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

REVIEW: You Me Her by Sue Watson

 

You Me Her by Sue Watson

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 15th June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd June 2024

★★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Three people. One marriage. One murder.

YOU: My handsome husband Tom. You’ve given me everything – our beautiful son and our perfect new seaside home. I want to trust you, but I know you haven’t been honest about why you really wanted to move here. I haven’t been honest with you either…

ME: I make a secret promise as Tom kisses me and pours a glass of ice-cold wine to toast the first night in our dream house: I’m going to forget about his past. For the sake of our son, I’ll keep this family together, no matter what.

HER: Chloe is the only friend I’ve made since the move. I love our long lunches, even though she asks prying questions about my marriage. Tom hates me spending time with her, but I ignore his warning to stay away. I’ve seen the way he looks at her. It’s better to keep your enemies close…

You may think you know what’s going on in my marriage, but you’ll be wrong. Only three things are true: Someone is a liar. Someone is in danger. Someone is a killer.

Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train will love this absolutely jaw-dropping psychological thriller. With twist after twist, you won’t be able to put this book down!

MY THOUGHTS:

One marriage...three people...one murder...

YOU ME HER...how do I count the ways?

YOU must read this twisted tale of domestic suspense and delicious deception.

If you ask ME, this has to be one of Sue Watson's best thrillers to date! And I'm in a reading slump and finding it difficult to connect with any book!

But when I read about HER, I didn't know which of them to trust. Which HER is the unreliable one here?

First of all, the setting is the best part of the book. Cornwall, though never having visited except on TV and books (since I'm in Australia...lol) is one of my most favourite settings for any tale - thriller, historical, you name it. So I was thrilled to discover Sue takes us back to the sweeping atmospheric setting although it does play very little part this time round. But I still love it.

So we meet Rachel, who has packed up her life and her four year old son Sam, and is heading from the dirty grimy Manchester (sorry, Mancurians) to the beautiful rugged Cornwall. With her inheritance from her father, she and husband Tom have purchased a sprawling home that was in dire need of fixing up. Whilst she packed up and sold their flat up north, Tom was busy renovating their new home and making it theirs. 

But what Rachel didn't know was the surprise he had in store for her. In the form of a hidden swimming pool in the walled garden. She had envisioned a secret garden for her little boy to play in. Instead she got the stuff of her worst nightmare...But Tom mean well. He wanted to help her overcome her fear of the water and for her to enjoy splashing about with him and Sam.

And then on her first night in her new home, a stranger walks in all smiles and light and laughter. Chloe was their estate agent who sold them the house and helped Tom with the plans for renovating. So why is she just waltzing into her home uninvited? Chloe claims not to know that anyone was there. But still...

Despite their first meeting, Rachel and Chloe hit it off and become fast friends. Tom warned Rachel off befriending the young woman citing her gossipy nature and loose relationship with the truth. But Rachel can't help it. Chloe is fun. Until she's not.

Strange things begin happening. Shadows in the garden. Sounds in the night. Sam seeing a stranger swimming in their pool. Odd happenings. Things going missing and then turning up again. Random deliveries of a creepy nature. And then things ramp up a notch when a fire is set in their garden whilst Rachel and Sam were inside. Rachel begins to wonder the lengths to which this woman will go. what does she want? Her life?

There is so much that is intense going on in this twisted tale but despite my slump I was still able to guess the twist long before it came and I turned the final page. A totally brilliant read by Sue!

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels (many involving cake), and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW, FIRST DATE, THE FOREVER HOME, THE NEW WIFE, THE RESORT, THE NURSERY, THE WEDDING DAY, THE LODGE and YOU ME HER.

Sue explored the darker side of life for her latest book 'Our Little Lies,' a dark, psychological thriller completely devoid of cake. She's hoping this change in direction will be reflected on the weighing scales.

Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

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

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SPOTLIGHT: The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid is Watching (The Housemaid #3) by Freida McFadden

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 11th June 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

“You must be our new neighbors!” Mrs. Lowell gushes and waves across the picket fence. I clutch my daughter’s hand and smile back: but the second Mrs. Lowell sees my husband a strange expression crosses her face. In that moment I make a promise. We finally have a family home. My past is far, far behind us. And I’ll do anything to keep it that way…

I used to clean other people’s houses—now, I can’t believe this home is actually mine. The charming kitchen, the quiet cul-de-sac, the huge yard where my kids can play. My husband and I saved for years to give our children the life they deserve.

Even though I’m wary of our new neighbor Mrs. Lowell, when she invites us over for dinner it’s our chance to make friends. Her maid opens the door wearing a white apron, her hair in a tight bun. I know exactly what it’s like to be in her shoes. But her cold stare gives me chills…

The Lowells’ maid isn’t the only strange thing on our street. I’m sure I see a shadowy figure watching us. My husband leaves the house late at night. And when I meet a woman who lives across the way, her words chill me to the bone: Be careful of your neighbors.

Did I make a terrible mistake moving my family here?

I thought I’d left my darkest secrets behind. But could this quiet suburban street be the most dangerous place of all?

From New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Freida McFadden comes the next installment of the unbelievably twisty, tension-packed and globally bestselling Housemaid series. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone read: and once you start, it will have you up all night racing through the pages until the final explosive twist.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

#1 Amazon bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

  

Louise's War (The Trenwith Trilogy #2) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

Read: 12th June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 2nd June 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Caught between enemy lines – can they survive?

1914, Hampshire

Jack Barlow has a dream. For generations his family have been in service at Trenwith Estate. If he can survive the ravages of war, he’ll return home to build his own mechanic business and become master of his own destiny.

Louise Saint-Claire, is battling against the odds to run her family farmhouse in German occupied France after her abusive husband is taken prisoner by the Germans. She is determined to survive this brutal and bloody war.

But fate throws Jack and Louise together when she finds the wounded British soldier and she decides to risk everything to keep him safe

What chance can one woman and one man have when caught between the French Resistance and the German army?

Previously Published as Love and War by Linda Sole

MY THOUGHTS:

Caught between enemy lines...can they survive...?

Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors. I simply devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, and I enjoy every sojourn with them. LOUISE'S WAR is the second in the Trenwith Trilogy and takes us across the Channel and into enemy territory as war continues to rage in Europe.

This tale begins just after war is declared and the men are shipping out to "see the world" as the propaganda posters told them. What they didn't say was the cold and muddy trenches in which they would be serving most of their time whilst the officers were kept warm and dry in better quarters.

It's the men on the ground who do the grunt work and it's here that young Jack Barlow finds himself after joining up, having worked as a groom for the Trenwith estate alongside his sister Rose who was in service as Sarah's lady's maid in the first book. Jack has endured rigorous training and has caught the attention of a drill sergeant who sees fit to make Jack's life as difficult as possible. But when he thought he was sending Jack on a menial task an opportunity arose instead giving him a chance to make a difference. He is employed as a driver for Captain Martin who oftentimes enters enemy territory or takes them close to the Front where both men find themselves dicing with death to make it back alive. When one such mission goes awry, Jack finds himself alone and abandoned in a foreign land with nothing but the clothes on his back and no memory of who he is and what he is doing there.

Louise Saint Claire sees the bedraggled soldier loitering on her property, she fears he will bring unwanted attention and so she hurries to help the young man before he is seen. Louise has battled her own war for years married to a brute of a man who had recently been taken prisoner by the Germans and she knows not if he is alive or dead. She nurses Jack back to health but his memory fails to return. But she must keep him hidden, for if anyone gets wind that he is staying there she may find herself in a world of trouble. For she lives in German occupied territory.

There is so much more to this tale of two people who shouldn't be together in wartime. It enhances the story first told in book one "Sarah's Choice" and paves the way for the final in the trilogy "Rose's Fight". We rejoin those we met in the first book, though some do take more of a back seat this time round as it is Jack and Louise's story as well as a little of Rose's.

I look forward to reading the final book in this trilogy in the coming months and what awaits Rose in her time as the focus.

As always, I love Rosie Clarke's storytelling and transporting me back to that era.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #LouisesWar in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

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PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: The Workhouse Girl by Lynette Rees

The Workhouse Girl by Lynette Rees

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Victorian Era

Read: 3rd June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 31st May 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Once a workhouse girl, always a workhouse girl...

Enid Hardcastle has always had a hard life, but when her family can’t make ends meet and are moved to the workhouse, it feels like things can’t get any worse.

But luckily for Enid, her friendship with local boy Jimmy gives her the strength she needs. Also from the cold, hard streets of Merthyr, Jimmy has made his name as an entrepreneur, repairing boots and hand-delivering them to the fine people of the town.

Enid has seen for herself that you can make a better life for yourself, so with Jimmy’s help, she sets about trying to save her family.

But there are even darker places than the workhouse, and as the rumour mill churns, it appears there’s an even more dangerous fate she will need to avoid…

An emotional and nostalgic historical saga that will have you turning pages, engrossed. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Lynn Johnson.

MY THOUGHTS:

This delightful saga takes place alongside the first in this series "The Winter Waif"  and tells the story of Enid Hardcastle, Betsan's friend she encounters when first venturing into the part of town called "China".

Enid and her family are forced into the workhouse and are thus separated, but Enid's story is only just beginning as she is boarded out to work in service with the Clarksons. But alas, circumstances conspired against her and she was sent back to the workhouse and then onto Cardiff, where she confided in the house mistress there who encouraged her to write to her former employer explaining what had happened. 

Henceforth, the letter lead to a meeting which then lead to greater things for Enid in the form of a respectable position in a far welcoming household. She made friends and something of herself as she was promoted to upper housemaid, to whom all the other maids answered and looked to.

But life was no easy by any measure. She was separated from her family and longed for her childhood sweetheart, Jimmy Corcoran. But the one who had ruined her life was to enter it once again but this time Enid was ready for him.

A delightfully easy read, it was lovely to meet up with Enid, Jimmy, Mags and even Betsan again. I knew little of Enid's story from Betsan's in "The Winter Waif" but it was good to see it expanded on so we got to know her better.

A wonderful read.

I would like to thank #LynetteRees, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheWorkhouseGirl 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.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

 

SPOTLIGHT: You Me Her by Sue Watson

You Me Her by Sue Watson

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 3rd June 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

Three people. One marriage. One murder.

YOU: My handsome husband Tom. You’ve given me everything – our beautiful son and our perfect new seaside home. I want to trust you, but I know you haven’t been honest about why you really wanted to move here. I haven’t been honest with you either…

ME: I make a secret promise as Tom kisses me and pours a glass of ice-cold wine to toast the first night in our dream house: I’m going to forget about his past. For the sake of our son, I’ll keep this family together, no matter what.

HER: Chloe is the only friend I’ve made since the move. I love our long lunches, even though she asks prying questions about my marriage. Tom hates me spending time with her, but I ignore his warning to stay away. I’ve seen the way he looks at her. It’s better to keep your enemies close…

You may think you know what’s going on in my marriage, but you’ll be wrong. Only three things are true: Someone is a liar. Someone is in danger. Someone is a killer.

Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train will love this absolutely jaw-dropping psychological thriller. With twist after twist, you won’t be able to put this book down!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written sixteen novels (many involving cake), and many have been translated into several languages. Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her latest thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST, THE SISTER-IN-LAW, FIRST DATE, THE FOREVER HOME, THE NEW WIFE, THE RESORT, THE NURSERY, THE WEDDING DAY, THE LODGE and YOU ME HER.

Sue explored the darker side of life for her latest book 'Our Little Lies,' a dark, psychological thriller completely devoid of cake. She's hoping this change in direction will be reflected on the weighing scales.

Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

SPOTLIGHT: The Workhouse Girl by Lynette Rees

The Workhouse Girl by Lynette Rees

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Victorian Era

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 31st May 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

Once a workhouse girl, always a workhouse girl...

Enid Hardcastle has always had a hard life, but when her family can’t make ends meet and are moved to the workhouse, it feels like things can’t get any worse.

But luckily for Enid, her friendship with local boy Jimmy gives her the strength she needs. Also from the cold, hard streets of Merthyr, Jimmy has made his name as an entrepreneur, repairing boots and hand-delivering them to the fine people of the town.

Enid has seen for herself that you can make a better life for yourself, so with Jimmy’s help, she sets about trying to save her family.

But there are even darker places than the workhouse, and as the rumour mill churns, it appears there’s an even more dangerous fate she will need to avoid…

An emotional and nostalgic historical saga that will have you turning pages, engrossed. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Lynn Johnson.

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.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Family Trip by Daniel Hurst

 

The Family Trip by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller

Read: 1st June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 31st May 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I planned the perfect vacation. But now my son is missing…

Everyone believes my husband Donovan and I have it all – a loving marriage, two adorable children and the dream house. But beneath the surface of our enviable American lifestyle lies a secret that binds us tighter than our vows.

I thought we could keep the truth buried forever, but I was wrong. To protect the secrets of my past, we have to go to Ireland to find the woman who has the power to shatter my perfect family. And I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to stop her…

Except my plan for revenge has gone horribly wrong. And now my eight-year-old son Barnaby is missing.

My body trembles as I scan the sunny spot where I last saw him. But there’s no sign of Barnaby’s blue t-shirt and sandy blonde hair.

Who has taken my son? I thought I was in control but now I fear this whole vacation was a trap… Can I save my family, or will our lives be destroyed forever?

From the number one bestselling author of The Doctor’s Wife, this completely addictive psychological thriller will have you glued to the pages until the very last twist! Perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Freida McFadden and John Marrs.

MY THOUGHTS:

Another twisty psychological thriller from the master himself, Daniel Hurst. This time we meet Shannon, a young woman who works as a tour guide in Ireland and is subsquently hired by wealthy American couple Donavon and Rosalind Conway to give them a tour of Ireland's rich and remote sights and a holiday to remember. 

It will certainly be that...for everyone involved.

Shannon is a struggling single woman trying to make ends meet after a disastrous relationship that left her both bereft and broke, after her boyfriend took everything she had. She works for a thankless employer doing (thankfully) what she loves - showing tourists the sights of her beloved Ireland. Although she would much rather show them the hidden gems rather than the usual trope people just come to tick off their bucket list.

And then she receives an email from Rosalind Conway, asking her to give them a personalised bespoke tour of the places Shannon has longed to show tourists - Ireland's hidden gems. It seems to be an easy ideal way to build her coffers again when Rosalind offers her an eye watering $20,000 for the privilege. All she needs to do is take a leave of absence from her current employer, telling no one and offer them the sights unseen by others who flock to Ireland's shores. Easy, right? 

However this is Daniel Hurst and nothing is ever what it seems. Least of all, everyone involved. As usual, the cast of characters is but a handful and each of them are hiding secrets - some known to the reader, others not. But like all Hurst thrillers, he has but one more twist to throw in...after another and another.

As usual, a pleasure to read. I love Daniel Hurst and soak up everything he offers. Prolific as he is, though, I can't keep up...lol But I enjoy the journey nonetheless and this one is no different.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather.

He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021. The Doctor's Wife is his first publication with Bookouture.

A prolific writer, Daniel likes to keep readers on their toes by self publishing even more books in between those released through his publisher.

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SPOTLIGHT: Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

 

Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

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Amazon

Published: 2nd June 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

Caught between enemy lines – can they survive?

1914, Hampshire

Jack Barlow has a dream. For generations his family have been in service at Trenwith Estate. If he can survive the ravages of war, he’ll return home to build his own mechanic business and become master of his own destiny.

Louise Saint-Claire, is battling against the odds to run her family farmhouse in German occupied France after her abusive husband is taken prisoner by the Germans. She is determined to survive this brutal and bloody war.

But fate throws Jack and Louise together when she finds the wounded British soldier and she decides to risk everything to keep him safe

What chance can one woman and one man have when caught between the French Resistance and the German army?

Previously Published as Love and War by Linda Sole

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

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