REVIEW: I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp

I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp

Genre: Biography, Memoir

Read: 30th July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st September 2011 (original)

21st January 2013 (second edition)

11th February 2020 (latest edition)

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Newly revised and available in trade paper! I Still Believe shares Jeremy Camp's journey of finding hope and healing through life's toughest moments and the songs that came from his journey that have inspired a generation.

When Jeremy Camp lost his beloved wife Melissa just three months after their wedding, the last thing he wanted to do was sing praise to God. But even as he struggled through unimaginable grief and fought to hold on to his faith, God had other plans: Pick up your guitar. I have something for you to write.

Jeremy obeyed, pouring out his heart, writing about the hope that God was still there, even in his deepest grief. The song he wrote that day, "I Still Believe," has gone on to inspire millions around the world.

This is the story behind that song and the movie that was inspired by it. It is an inside look at Jeremy's life--from his difficult childhood and teenage years to the tragic passing of Melissa at age 21 and the spiritual journey that followed. Searching for hope and healing inspired some of Jeremy's best-loved songs and led him, eventually, to find love again.

This revised edition of I Still Believe includes:

- 3 new chapters with updates on Jeremy's family and the film release

- 8-page color insert with photos from Jeremy's life

- Foreword by Bart Millard, singer/songwriter for MercyMe

I Still Believe is a powerful, heart-wrenching memoir about the strength of undying love and the power of faith--a must-read for Jeremy Camp fans and an inspiring, encouraging read for anyone who has experienced loss.

MY THOUGHTS:

"Scattered words and empty thoughts

Seem to pour from my heart

I've never felt so torn before

Seems I don't know where to start

But it's now that I feel Your grace fall like rain

From every fingertip, washing away my pain

'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness

'Cause I still believe in Your truth

'Cause I still believe in Your holy word

Even when I don't see, I still believe..."

Words so powerful and yet inspiring when you read the story behind them. Jeremy Camp is probably my favourite Christian artist. Ok, so I have a few but I have an entire Spotify playlist devoted to his music that has a playing time of something like 16 hours. And I can listen to it every day and not get sick of it. His music, his message and his words are inspiring...not to mention the catchy tunes of many of my favourite tracks. "I Still Believe" is one them and yet I can now appreciate it so much more now that I have read Jeremy's (and Melissa's) story. It's heartbreaking yet beautiful and inspirational at the same time.

I bought the DVD and the book at the same time, though they both arrived two weeks apart. I wanted to read the book first so the DVD still sits on my shelf. It took me a day to read his inspiring testimony. A story that is testimony to his faith and love for God. The pain he endured at losing his wife of just three months could be felt on the pages of this book. I admit I bawled my eyes out reading it. And yet, in the midst of his pain, his grief, he wrote these lyrics in just ten minutes. But for the grace of God.

Jeremy's story begins with his parents who were loosely characterised as hippies. Given as it was still the mid-seventies, I guess that probably wasn't far from the truth. His dad stumbled to an altar call stinking of booze but together they changed their lives and created a loving family out of nothing but the little they had. Jeremy characterised his family as not just being poor but super-poor. But then in the seventies and eighties there weren't the benefits and services available to assist young families then as there are today. And despite having so little, the Camps had so much. Jeremy and his siblings never wanted for nothing because they had the love of their parents and their faith in God to provide their every need. And provide He did...at every turn when they needed it.

Despite growing up in a Christian family, Jeremy still had a bit of a wild streak in him. As a teenager, when kids think they know it all and don't need anyone or anything else, he strayed on his own path for a time...partying and drinking...but then he went away to camp and realised the path he was on was not the chosen path for him. He rededicated his life to Christ and upon returning, changed schools although his family couldn't afford a Christian school, Jeremy worked for his tuition there and it changed his life.

It wasn't until he moved to California for Bible college and after that he met Melissa Henning, the girl who would change his life forever. And although she featured in just few chapters, she was an inspiration. You could see her love, her light and her inspiration shine through each and every page. To lose her so soon after their wedding and so young must have been soul destroying. But for the grace of God, Jeremy made it through. He relives that grief, that pain every time he shares his story, and it must be incredibly painful. But oh, what an inspiration it it. Melissa's words "If just one person comes to know Jesus through my cancer, then my suffering would be worth it." What a woman! What faith! What inspiration.

I have Melissa's book "Melissa: If One Life...", written by her mum Janette Henning, using Melissa's journals she kept throughout her life, her time with Jeremy and during her cancer battle, and I look forward to reading that too.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jeremy's memoir and thank him for sharing his story with us. Though the book has gone through a couple of revisions, I read his second publication on kindle but picked up the paperback I bought of the latest edition which featured the making of the movie "I Still Believe" to read the additional chapters that featured between the last two in the original edition. I enjoyed reading how some of his songs came about and the meaning behind them, at what point he was in his life when penning them. I love how he wrote "Walk by Faith" on his honeymoon then played it to Melissa and she said it was just beautiful. Then two weeks after losing her, he wrote "I Still Believe". After such tragedy and loss, to not lose hope, to not lose faith, to still believe...that is beautiful and inspiring.

Thank you, Jeremy. And thank you, Melissa. And thank you to God and His son the Lord Jesus Christ for guiding these two individuals to journey their paths - one ending abruptly, the other onward and upward using their story to glorify God and to bring Melissa's dream to fruition. 

"If one life comes to faith in Jesus Christ because of what I go through it will all be worth it!"

 
Jeremy and Melissa on their wedding day   |   Jeremy, Adrienne and their children

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jeremy Camp is a musician with forty number-one radio hits, four RIAA-certified Gold albums, and more than five million albums sold. He has been nominated for a Grammy, three American Music Awards, and four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards.

Between 2002 and 2023, Jeremy has released twelve albums, five of them RIAA- certified as Gold. He has sold over 6 million albums, over 2 Billion streams and with 44 #1 singles across all formats. His music has earned him numerous awards and nominations across the Christian and secular music industries, including five GMA Dove Awards, Grammy nomination, three American Music Award nominations, and four ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Awards. Camp was named Billboard’s #2 Christian artist of the decade as well. 

Outside of music, in 2020 Jeremy had an international theatrical movie release called “I Still Believe” which hit #1 in the box office opening weekend.  The film depicted his life story of love and loss of his first wife after a battle with cancer. Camp has always written songs about his experiences and continues to write from the deep places of his heart. 

Jeremy lives with his wife, Adrienne, and their three children - Bella, Arie and Egan - in Tennessee.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Perfect Nurse by Daniel Hurst

 

The Perfect Nurse (The Perfect Nurse #1) by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 27th July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st July 2024

★★★ 2.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

‘My name is Darcy, I’m your nurse and I’m here to help you.’ I repeat the words I’ve said so many times. Except this time, I don’t mean it…

If you saw me walking down the street, you’d think I was pretty ordinary – I wear the typical crisp, white nursing uniform, my hands are scrubbed clean and you’d have no reason to believe I was anything other than a good citizen. A good nurse.

But looks can be deceiving. You shouldn’t trust me – because I don’t even know if I can trust myself.

Now I stare at the reflection in the mirror – dark smudges under my eyes and blood on my hands – listening for the sound of police sirens.

Because the truth is I had to do something terrible. I broke all the rules a nurse should follow. I wanted someone gone so badly. And now they’re dead because of me.

I’m looking over my shoulder everywhere I go because I’m sure someone knows my secret. Then when my home is broken into I know one simple truth: this isn’t over yet…

It’s only the beginning.

The police are the least of my worries now. But to save myself, am I going to have to kill again?

MY THOUGHTS:

A nurse who isn't as she appears...do you trust her?

It's no secret that I am a huge Daniel Hurst fan. I've devoured everything I've read of his in record time and loved (mostly) them all. And then along comes the perfect nurse...which is anything but. 

Now I've been in a reading slump for months so I wasn't surprised when I found myself struggling to get into the storyline and connect with the characters. But I pushed on through. Because I know what Daniel Hurst is capable of and that I wouldn't be sorry if I just ploughed on. But then I come across another couple of reviews which highlight the same concerns I had.

1. that it was waaaaay too slow from the start when Hurst's thrillers have been non-stop thrill rides from the first page!

2. a bit too repetitious (I get it, she wears a uniform) but it seems to spend more time on the floor if this story is anything to go by.

3. I'm all for popcorn thrillers with somewhat far fetched tales (after all, it is just fiction) but this one just pushed the limits of believability a little too far. I guess the fact that nothing happened until around chapter 25 didn't help either!

4. the setting. I read British authors because I prefer British set thrillers. I'm not keen on when they take their stories to foreign climes. If I wanted to read a book set in America then I would read an American author. But that's just a preference and not a major issue here.

Now...that's out of the way, let's get down to the rest of it. On the surface, it's an OK thriller. Not one of his best by any means but by the time the reveal came and the action began, waking me from my coma, things did start to pick up. Of course by then it was too little too late for this book but hey, it had potential.

Seriously, I liked the concept behind the bigger picture and I feel it would have played out so much better presented differently and with a far more likeable main character. Darcy was irritating and I couldn't care less about what happened to her in all honesty. The prologue shows her burning her uniform (yes, the same one that seemed to have permanent residence on her floor) no longer wanting to be a nurse. The question is, why? And so we go down the rabbit hole in pursuit of the answer. What made her so disillusioned by her chosen profession that she wanted nothing more to do with it? Well, we've a long way to find out because none of the first half sheds any light nor is it very enlightening about much at all.

Darcy and her friend Pippa have been charged wit the care of middle aged Scarlett who had an accident at home in which has caused her to lose her memory or memories, though she does have some lucid moments from time to time. But it isn't long before Darcy gets a weird vibe from husband Adrian and begins to think that all is not as it seems with the couple. And so she sets about determined to prove their nefarious subterfuge despite Pippa's best efforts to dissuade her. But Darcy is determined...though nothing will prepare her for the shocks she is about to uncover.

So true to Hurst fashion, there are the usual twist upon twists but sadly not of the same calibre as his other offerings. I admit, I did enjoy it once the pace picked up and the thrills got better but like I said it was too little too late for this one. 

I intend reading the second book shortly so I hope that one is faster paced and more exciting. And hopefully, Darcy is more likeable this time round.

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePerfectNurse 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.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton

The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton

Genre: Dual timeline, Historical fiction

Read: 21st July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 28th June 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A gripping and beautiful tale of love, loss and secrets. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Lorna Cook and Kathryn Hughes.

1963: When Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage, she knows the scandal she’ll cause. A single woman buying property is not the ‘done thing’, especially not in a village like Carybrook. But Clara has been in love with Butterfly Cottage, and its garden, since she used to play there before the War. And when she reconnects with her childhood friend James, her decision feels serendipitous. But the true scandal is yet to come, because within six months, Clara will leave England under mysterious circumstances, and Butterfly Cottage will stand empty for more than 50 years.

2018: No one is more surprised than Meredith when she’s bequeathed a cottage by a great aunt she’d never heard of. She hopes, briefly, that the inheritance could be the answer to her financial problems. But when she arrives in Suffolk, she is shocked to discover a man is already living there. A young gardener, who claims he was also bequeathed half of Butterfly Cottage.

As the pair try to unravel their complicated situation, they unearth a decades old mystery involving Clara, the garden, and a stack of letters left unread for over 50 years…

MY THOUGHTS:

Can a secret from the past change hr future...?

It was the stunning cover that initially drew me to this book. That and the whimsical title which conjured up thoughts of a delightful tale hidden therein. Therefore I simply HAD to read it. And boy, am I glad I did!

I have struggled to find any connection or interest in many books the last couple of months but this one just blew me away that I didn't want to put it down and I devoured it in one sitting!

London 2018: Meredith thought she had everything she wanted. Her dream job as a hairdresser running her own salon, a nice flat in Clapham and a fiance she couldn't wait to marry. But then a grenade was set off in the midst, blowing it all to smithereens. Suddenly she had no fiance, struggling to pay the rent alone on their shared flat and her business was falling apart as the debts mounted.

Then she gets a call from a solicitor. She has inherited a cottage in Suffolk from her great-aunt Clara. A great-aunt she never knew existed until now. But with this windfall, Meredith could see a light at the end of her tunnel in which the sale of this cottage could be the answer to her troubles. But the solicitor told her to wait until she saw the cottage before she made any decisions. And with that, Meredith believed he was keeping something from her. The question was, what exactly?

Making her way up to Suffolk, a county she had no idea where it was having lived in London all her life, she got lost along the way before finding herself outside Butterfly Cottage in the sleepy village of Carybrook. And there she finally discovers what the solicitor had been keeping from her. Suddenly the answer to getting her out of debt didn't seem so within reach as she had thought. She knew it was too good to be true.

But the question remains, why would a great-aunt she had never met do this? Why even make this bequeath if there was so to be such a condition attached to it? And where has this great-aunt been all her life? She'd never even heard of her before. The only person who could shed any light is her father but she's not seen him since her 18th birthday almost half a lifetime ago, disappearing from her life altogether. And yet she feels he is the only one who could give her the answers she seeks...but how will she go about finding him when? Where would she even start?

Carybrook 1963: Schoolteacher Clara Samuels returns to the village where she grew up when her older sister Esther informs her that Butterfly Cottage, somewhere that held a special place in Clara's childhood, is up for sale. Having inherited a tidy sum from her parents that has been held in trust and gathering interest since, Clara has the means to by the cottage outright...which she does, despite it not being the done thing for an unmarried woman to make such a purchase.

Clara enjoys her independence and she loves Butterfly Cottage, especially the garden which holds many special memories alongside her childhood friend James who lived there at the time. Despite James and his family having moved away soon after war broke out, Clara and James continue to write to each other for the next nine years before his letters disappeared altogether. Clara often wonders what happened to her childhood friend and why he stopped writing.

It's one night at a dance with some friends that a face from the past brings everything back - from the grass stains on her dress to the butterflies and bees in the butterfly garden. Suddenly the years are washed away in a flurry of words, laughter and memories. And Clara, who has prided herself on being driven and independent, will suddenly find her life is about to change in ways she never thought possible.

As the two timelines collide, Meredith does her own soul searching as she finds the answers where she least expects them. And she's also in for one more surprise which will answer all her questions as Meredith begins to unravel the mystery of her great-aunt Clara and the answers surrounding Butterfly Cottage.

A truly delightful tale that I read long into the night simply because I didn't want to leave. I was so immersed within the storyline I wanted to stay there and stay there I did until the final page. I didn't mind that I predicted the direction it almost from the beginning. In fact I rather enjoyed discovering if I was right or not.

I absolutely love dual timeline stories and this one is reminiscent of Lorna Cook and I just loved being in the sleepy Suffolk village and surrounded by all those butterflies and fragrances of the butterfly garden.

A well written unforgettable tale that draws you in from the very first page in such a way you won't want to leave...even after you've turned the last page.

A 5 star read I highly recommend. Especially to those who love dual timeline tales, Lorna Cook and Kathleen McGurl.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels The Secrets of Summer House, The Last Party at Silverton Hall and The Mystery of Haverford House. Her latest book, The Butterfly Garden will be released in July by Boldwood Books.

She has previously written romantic comedies which you can read about here.

Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.

After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.

She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.

She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.

Social Media links:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

SPOTLIGHT: I'm Her Mother by Lauren North

I'm Her Mother by Lauren North

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 18th July 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:

We both say she’s our daughter. But one of us is lying…

My little girl Lola is my whole world. Three years old and so beautiful – all golden curls and dimpled cheeks.

But on our way home from holiday she was stolen, whisked away in the blink of an eye.

I can’t breathe without Lola. I don’t know how to get her back.

The woman who has my daughter is on the run. And she has no intention of bringing Lola home. Because she says she’s her mother.

But that’s impossible, because I’m Lola’s mother.

Though really, I should have known my secrets would come back to haunt me. That this day was always going to come…

Two women claim that Lola belongs to them. Two women with something to hide. Only one is telling the whole truth… Who will you believe?

An absolutely addictive psychological thriller, where no one is who they seem, and you don’t know who to trust until the very last page! Perfect for fans of gripping page-turners like The Housemaid, The Family Across the Street and The Couple at No. 9.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside.

Social media links:

Wesbite | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Garden of Memories by Amanda James

The Garden of Memories by Amanda James

Genre: Contemporary fiction

Read: 20th July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th June 2024

★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

People are like flowers. If you give them the right environment in which to grow, they bloom.

With nothing but time on her hands, retired nurse Rose Lanyon finds herself drawn to the garden that had once been her husband’s pride and joy.

It may have started as a means of honouring her husband’s memory, but her little Cornish garden soon becomes so much more – a place where the lost and lonely can find solace, the forgotten can be remembered, and second chances take bloom. Because, as long as new life is growing, there will always be hope and new memories to make…

MY THOUGHTS:

This book is difficult for me to describe. It's a story about friendship, community and self discovery centred around a garden that becomes the centrepiece for this tale...and one of many memories. It is a beautiful story that's happy, sad and bittersweet. But most of all, it is feel-good.

Rose Lanyon prepares for her last day at work - a job she has held for the past 30 years as a nurse in the local GP practice. But now Rose is retiring and losing her identity as a nurse to become...what, exactly?

Her first day of freedom, so to speak, has her pondering her new found freedom and questioning what she's to do with the rest of her life. The old hippy woman down the road dressed in loud garish outfits may well pass judgement on her as she sees Rose pottering uselessly about hr garden, knowing full well she knows nothing about gardening. This was her late husband Glen's domain. 

And just like that, a seed is planted...

Before long, Rose has befriended the hippy woman, Flora, from down the road. And discovers she has a sad story of her own, and her own memories to share. Soon one friend becomes three then four and it isn't long before Rose's seed of an idea begins to bloom as her garden of memories flourishes under the tender loving care of all who visit.

And everyone who does visit comes away feeling rvitalised, refreshed and renewed. The garden has a calming effect, bringing a sense of calm and peace in an otherwise busy world. And together in their garden of memories, Rose finds new purpose and new friendships...and together they bloom. Just like her garden of memories.

I really didn't know what to write about this book. I enjoyed it but I admit I did struggle with it a little too. Maybe because it is not my usual genre and maybe my reading slump isn't helping. But I did enjoy it and found myself wishing I was in that very garden amidst the scents and fragrances and vibrant colours. Especially the honeysuckle...I miss honeysuckle. I loved it in our garden as a child.

A delightful read about the therapeutic power of nature.

I would like to thank #AmandaJames, #Netgalley and #OneMoreChapter for an ARC of #TheGardenOfMemories in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Amanda James has written since she was a child, and as an eight-year-old, she asked her parents for a typewriter for Christmas. She never imagined her words would ever be published. Then in 2010, after many twists and turns, the dream of becoming a writer came true when she had her first short story published. She left teaching in 2013 to pursue her dream full-time.

Originally from Sheffield, Amanda now lives in Cornwall and is inspired every day by the wild and beautiful coastline near her home. She has many suspense novels set there, but her last few books have been uplifting in nature with a twist of magic. She loves writing feel-good reads and has decided the world needs more joy in it right now, and her plan is to write many more novels in that genre.  Amanda can usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

SPOTLIGHT: The House Across the Street by Jill Childs

The House Across the Street by Jill Childs

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon

Audible:

UK

US

Listen to Sample

Published: 15th July 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:

Perfect families have the most to hide…

I feel so lucky to live in a gorgeous house with my precious daughter on Riverside Road, surrounded by green hills and well-tended gardens. I’m just across from the Taylors, who were a second family to me when I was growing up. But late at night, I spot someone in the house across the street. Someone who shouldn’t be there…

Lily Taylor and I are best friends and closer than sisters, but life in our idyllic neighbourhood comes to a shuddering halt when I find Lily’s father murdered in his own bed. As I break the news to Lily, I swear to her that I’ll do everything I can to help her family. Who could possibly have done this?

I tell the police, but while they’re trying to find the killer, I start getting threatening notes that leave me shaking with fear. Then someone throws a brick through my eleven-year-old daughter Cassie’s bedroom window, covering her in shards of broken glass. As I stand in her wrecked bedroom, I make a choice. I am desperate to help Lily get justice, but my daughter’s safety has to come first.

Even when I stop helping with the investigation, the messages keep coming. Someone knows what I saw, and I’m terrified they’ll come for my little girl next. But they’ve underestimated me.

No matter how far I have to go, I’ll always protect the people I love…

An astonishingly gripping psychological thriller with a truly shocking twist from USA Today bestseller Jill Childs! If you love Sally Hepworth, The Woman in the Window or Liane Moriarty, you’ll adore this up-all-night, addictive thriller. 

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jill has always loved writing - real and imaginary - and spent 30 years travelling the world as a journalist, living overseas and reporting wherever the news took her. She's now made her home in London with her husband and twin girls who love stories as much as she does. Although she's covered everything from earthquakes and floods, riots and wars, she's found some of the most extraordinary stories right here at home - in the secrets and lies she imagines behind closed doors on ordinary streets, just like yours.

Social media links:

Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

SPOTLIGHT: The Photo by A.J. McDine

The Photo by A.J. McDine

Genre: Psychological thriller

Goodreads

Amazon

Audible:
UK

US

Listen to Sample

Published: 11th July 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 thought he was dead. Until I saw him staring back at me…

Ten years have passed since my beloved sister was murdered, leaving behind her sweet five-year-old daughter, Lily.

I’m trying my best to care for Lily and salvage what’s left of our shattered family. I promised to keep her safe after all she’s been through, and after a lot of challenges, I hope she might be starting to lead a normal life again.

But then I see a face in a photo I took just yesterday that turns my blood to ice.

I tell myself it can’t be him, but I know in my gut it is. The man my sister married. The man who killed her. The man I thought was dead…

A totally unputdownable psychological thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists. Fans of Freida McFadden, Claire McGowan and Lisa Jewell will be utterly gripped!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

A J McDine was a journalist and police press officer until she realised writing fiction was much more fun.

She lives in Kent in the UK with her husband, fellow thriller writer A J Wills, their two sons and a pair of very demanding cats.

The author of dark, domestic thrillers, she loves to keep her readers guessing till the very last page.

When she’s not writing, playing tennis or attempting to run a 5k, she can generally be found gazing blankly out of the window as she dreams up conflict and tension for her poor characters.

Social Media links:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Newsletter SignUp | Goodreads

REVIEW: The Missing Body by Kerry Wilkinson

The Missing Body by Kerry Wilkinson

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 15th July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 12th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

I ran to get help. But her body disappeared. Will anyone believe me?

Megan is unpacking in the spare room of her sister’s house when she hears the scream.

Racing to the nearby woods, she is shocked to see a young woman’s unconscious body: her pink top bright against the earth, her long, dark hair wet from a nearby stream. But when desperate Megan returns with the police, all they find is empty woodland.

She’s been through so much, her sister whispers, welcoming her home with a kind smile. You can’t blame her for seeing things.

But Megan knows what she saw – and her past shouldn’t come into it. Was the young woman dead, or dying? How can a body just disappear?

Megan left home for a good reason. Now, confronting the past could be the only way to find the truth.But what if Megan is in danger, too? And what price will she have to pay, to find the girl from the woods?

An absolutely gripping mystery thriller that will make you question who to trust and have you racing through the pages. Perfect for fans of Mark Edwards, Claire Douglas and T. M. Logan.

MY THOUGHTS:

I ran to get help...but her body disappeared...will anyone believe me...?

Having just learnt her husband had misplaced the part of their marriage vows which promised to "forsake all others" and "to be faithful", and with her best friend no less, Megan left the remnants of what was her marriage behind and hightailed it to her hometown of Hollicombe Bay where she is now staying in the stifling attic room of her sister's house. It's where she now sits trying to let some air in when she hears a scream. She listens in the stillness. Nothing. Maybe she imagined it. But no, she is sure she heard a woman scream. And so she goes to investigate which thus leads her to the woods behind her sister's house and there in the stream lay the unmoving body of a young woman...maybe nineteen? Twenty at most? Is she dead? Megan isn't sure and so she drags her out of the stream and recalls the adverts on TV that transposed CPR with the Bee Gees "Staylin' Alive"...and so she does that.

"Ah-ah-ah, stayin' alive...stayin' alive..."

1-2-3...breathe...1-2-3...breathe...

And yet the woman remained silent and still. Megan pat her pockets for her mobile phone remembering that it was plugged in on charge in her attic room. She really needs to get help, but she doesn't want to leave the young woman. 

Making a dash, she races into the house and up the stairs where she retrieves her phone and makes a breathless plea to emergency services who ask her to remain on the line and outside the address from which she's calling so the services get the right place. All the while, Megan is worried about the woman in the stream alone. When the services finally arrive after what seemed like an endless wait but was probably no more than ten minutes, Megan rushes off leading them back to where she found the woman's body. 

But now she's gone.

And now no one believes that she saw a body in the stream, believing instead that she was having some sort of mental breakdown in light of the current status of her marriage. But Megan knows what she saw. And she will stop at nothing to prove she was right. Until she begins to doubt herself too.

Did she really see the body? Or was it just the stress of recent events that she is projecting figments of her imagination into reality? Megan is certain of what she saw...isn't she? And now she must dig for the truth but in doing so uncovers something sinister hidden in the bowels of the sleepy town.

Can she escape this nightmare? And find out the truth behind what is really going on? Before it's too late...

Another gripping read from Kerry Wilkinson. I loved how we returned to the area of Whitecliff for this as he incorporated that are into the neighbouring Hollicombe Bay. And whilst remaining a standalone story.

The characters were all a bit meh. None of them really likeable. Megan was wishy-washy. Nicola was a bossy britches. Ben was blasé about everything. Jessie was a typical moody teenager. Pam was nosey and gossipy. Trevor was creepy. Daniel was probably the most OK one out of the lot...which in itself was highly suspicious. LOL

As always, the tale is peppered with Kerry's trademark dry wit and humnour which is what makes his books so entertaining. I love his humour. And while this was a fairly predictable read (I worked out fairly early one what was going on), it was his witty quips and trademark humour that kept it fresh and interesting. Without it I doubt I would enjoy his books as much. I hope we return to Whitecliff and Hollicombe Bay again.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.

When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

Social Media links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

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

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

REVIEW: The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland

The Honeymoon by Shalini Boland

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 13th July 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 13th July 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It was the perfect romantic honeymoon. Until her husband disappeared.

It was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives. But for newlywed Stella, the dream honeymoon has turned into a nightmare overnight. Her perfect husband, Austin, has vanished without a trace.

Alone in Venice, Stella frantically searches for him. But as fear turns into confusion, she finds herself questioning everything she knows about the man she married. Has Austin really abandoned her, or has someone from his past finally caught up with him—the business partner he threatened to sue? The obsessive ex-girlfriend who refuses to let go? When Stella becomes convinced someone is following her, panic sets in.

As hours turn into days and clues start to unravel dark secrets, a terrified Stella can’t help but ask herself: is her husband who she thought he was at all?

MY THOUGHTS:

The perfect honeymoon...until her husband disappeared...

Stella and Austin are newlyweds just arrived in Venice for the picture perfect honeymoon. After a sumptuous dinner, a little dessert and some rambunctious love-making, Stella awakes to find Austin dressing in the dark. Upon enquiring he tells her the restaurant phoned - he left his credit card there. And so he is just popping out to collect it and a few other things from a nearby supermarket. He kisses her goodbye and leaves their suite...and he never returns.

Frantic with worry, Stella alerts the hotel reception and retraces her steps back to the restaurant to enquire as to whether Austin made it there or not. The fact he had does little to ease her mind because where has he gone from there? And why did he not return?

As hours turn into days, Stella must inform her in-laws, Rob and Vicki, who jump on the first available flight out there to join her in her search for Austin, as the police continue their enquiries also. 

But the longer Austin remains missing, the more Stella begins to question just how well she really knew the man she married. And has she just made a big mistake in doing so?

Told in the NOW and THEN present-and-past-format, this tale is a slow burn for Shalini (I'm used to her fast paced pageturners) and as the story unfolds, we begin to see that all is not as it seems. 

While this was not one of her best, it was still a fairly quick read and I felt the final chapters and Epilogue were its saving grace as Shalini has always been the queen of the last minute twist...and she did not disappoint! She delivered not one but TWO shocking revelations that not even I saw coming. And it was these in the final few chapters and Epilogue that saved what was something of a pedestrian read. I know what Shalini is capable of and I can't wait to see what she delivers us next!

I would like to thank #ShaliniBoland, #Netgalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TheHoneymoon 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:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads