REVIEW: The Fiance by Rona Halsall

The Fiance by Rona Halsall

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 26th January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 2nd August 2024

★★★★ 3.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

He killed my husband. Now I’ve promised to be his wife.

After my first husband died, I thought my heart was completely broken, and that I’d never feel happy again.

Until I met Theo. He’s a doctor. A man who seems good and caring and kind. Soon after we start dating, he says he wants to marry me. And even though his grown-up children are less sure about me, to everyone else it’s the second chance for love and happiness I deserve.

But the truth is maybe his children are right to be suspicious. Because I know something about Theo. That he was there in the operating theatre the day my first husband died. And I think it was his fault.

Am I in exactly the right place for revenge? Or am I living with a killer?

A pulse-pounding cat-and-mouse psychological thriller, full of the most jaw-dropping twists and turns. Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden

MY THOUGHTS:

They say revenge is a dish best served cold but in the end, as it turns out, revenge is a dish that shouldn't be served at all...

I tried reading this book six months ago but I had so much going in my RL that I struggled to get into it and found myself completely exasperated with Anna's way of thinking. So I shelved it. And it sat there, accusingly, for six months until last night I decided to give it another go. And I flew through it until it's final pages.

Anna is devastated when her husband Ollie goes in for surgery only for complications to arise and she to be left a widow. She is certain that someone is to blame. And who best to aim her accusations against than the surgeon responsible for the operation. But no matter what avenue Anna took, no matter who she complained to, no matter how far she took her allegations - the surgeon was clear of any malpractice and Ollie's death was deemed an accident. 

But Anna wasn't going to let it go. Instead she found out everything she could about the surgeon, Theo Heaton. She stalked him and garnered as much information as she could until all her plans were in place. And then she engineers a meet with him. Project Theo. She was going to make him pay.

But then things go awry. Anna never planned on actually liking the man, of falling in love with him. And she enjoyed every moment in his company and found she loved being there. He whisked her away to Paris for her birthday and upon return, he proposed. Anna was speechless. This was what she was leading up to, wasn't it? Everything she had done, all she had planned, it all lead up to this. So why was she hesitating? Could it be she actually was in love with him?

However, like any relationship, there is always another person involved. In this case, Theo's children. Specifically his daughter. Neither of them had warmed to Anna from the moment they met her and now a campaign of hate has been launched against her. Why? To drive a wedge between the happy couple? To break them up? But no matter what hate-fuelled attack was launched at Anna, Luna and Gino (Theo's children) always had an alibi. So it couldn't have been them, could it? Anna is certain they are behind it because no one hates her as much as they appear to. 

But then she has another problem. Theo doesn't believe it's his children either. Neither to do the police, no matter how often they are questioned. Anna is left scared and alone, unsure of what is coming next.

This was certainly different from what I expected. Maybe a little OTT but then what thriller isn't? I still enjoyed it despite wanting to scratch Luna's eyes out and give Anna a slap for making some stupid decisions. But the one person I couldn't get a proper read on was her friend Tanya. This is a tale with so many twists you won't know who to trust. I certainly didn't. And I felt as isolated as Anna did as I turned the pages until the end. I wasn't surprised by the who even if others are.

An entertaining read.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rona was born in Nottingham, grew up near Blackpool and went to college in Leeds. She then moved to Snowdonia, North Wales where she brought up her family while working as a business mentor. 

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she's plotting how to kill off her next victim. She also makes sure she deletes her Google history on a regular basis, because... well, you can't be too careful when you spend your life researching new and ingenious ways for people to die.

She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

Rona had lived on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and three guinea pigs. After losing her husband, Rona moved to Wales where she now lives. She has been a bookworm since she was a child and now she's actually creating stories of her own, which still feels like a dream come true.

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REVIEW: The Married Man by K.L. Slater

The Married Man by K.L. Slater

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller

Read: 26th January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 1st November 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

He was my husband first. Only I know his secret…

Eleven years ago, my husband had to disappear. He told me about the terrible thing he had done, that would put me and our son in danger. We had no choice but to pretend he was dead.

My heart broke for our little son, who missed his father every day. But when you are married you do what you must to protect the people you love.

Every day was a struggle, but I’ve survived because he promised that he would return to us one day. That we would move to a new town and start all over again. But now, I have made a shocking discovery. My husband has a new wife, and a new perfect life. Without us. This was never part of our plan…

After everything I did for him, he’s betrayed me. And now, I have to stop him before it’s too late. Because what he’s done hasn’t just put me in danger, but also our son. I’ll do anything to protect him.

I don’t know why my husband has thrown away everything we’ve worked for. But his secret is no longer safe with me. And he has absolutely no idea just how far I’ll go to get my revenge…

A completely gripping and addictive thriller from the number 1 ebook bestselling author K.L. Slater, The Married Man will have you glued to the pages until the very last twist. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden.

MY THOUGHTS:

Everyone thinks my husband is dead. Just like we planned...

Nothing like a good solid fast paced read from a go-to author to keep you entertained on a quiet Sunday afternoon. And Kim packs a punch with a few twists thrown in that will make your head spin! Seriously, you will think you have this one figured out but you don't. For once, Ms Slater has hoodwinked me. Nicely played.

The story begins with a slow build that soon picks up pace as things begin to go awry. Eleven years ago, Liv's husband Rich disappeared while out with their three year old son Maddox, having taken him to nearby Frog Hill to fly his recently acquired kite from his birthday. At first Liv isn't concerned. But then when they still haven't returned after several hours, she tries calling but it goes straight to voicemail. She isn't completely surprised as the area has notoriously bad mobile signal. So she decides to head up there and take a look for them herself. But upon pulling into the deserted car park the only thing she could see is Rich's locked Mercedes and a fog rolling in with the coming storm. Returning home, she calls Rich's mum Shannon who tells her not to worry they'll turn up before calling the police to report them missing. After a brief search, Maddox is located hiding in a cave but Rich is never found.

Over a decade later, Liv awaits the day she and Rich planned for almost twelve years ago. A day when hers and Maddox's lives will change for the better. But when that day comes and goes bringing nothing with it, Liv begins to wonder if her husband has double crossed her. She has been going out of her mind with worry and Maddox has suddenly grown sullen, slamming himself out of the house at all hours and not telling her where he's going. And when the police come knocking asking for Maddox, Liv wonders what has her son gotten himself mixed up in?

Maddox has always accepted the story his mother told him of his father's disappearance all those years ago. But more recently, his snooping and a chance encounter leads him to wonder if his mum only been lying to him all these years. What he discovers rocks his world and puts him on a path to something far more dangerous than he could imagine.

Across town Kait, who has been married to Daniel for the past couple of years, is beginning to suspect her husband is cheating on her. Cryptic notes he dismisses with a wave of his hand, late nights out, snippets of a phone call caught on their doorbell camera all lead Kait to suspect Daniel is being less that truthful with her. Possibly cheating. Pregnant with their first child, Kait thinks only of her unborn child when Daniel begins being secretive. Before Daniel threw the cryptic note she found out she snapped a photo of it on her phone. And now she calls on her sister to help her unravel the string of numbers and abbreviated message. And it leads her right to Liv and Maddox. What exactly is Daniel hiding? And why does Liv pale when she saw a photo of him?

The story unfolds in the past and present through the various narratives of Liv, Maddox, Rich, Kait and the return of the Nottinghamshire police in DI Helena Price and her sidekick DS Kane Brewster.

This book is my umpteenth I've read by the author (I've lost count...lol) and it is full to the brim with a vast array of characters that each play a part in the past and present stories. Slater has penned yet another entertaining and intriguing fast paced read that had me devouring every page in one afternoon. So many secrets, lies and deception and many twists to give you whiplash.

A cracking read that was entertaining from beginning to end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, Kim went back to university at the age of 40 where she gained  a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Kim's first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’,  actually started life as a dissertation on her English & Creative Writing degree in 2010. She says "the creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!"

Kim first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. Her award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for her MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

Kim is now a full-time writer. She has a daughter and two stepsons and live with her husband Mac in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

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REVIEW: The Honeymoon by Gemma Rogers

The Honeymoon by Gemma Rogers

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller

Read: 22nd January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 18th October 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

In a split second, your whole world crashes around you…

My wedding was the perfect whirlwind of a day. The happiest I’d ever been. That was until I discovered my beloved husband, Ryan, tucked away in a compromising summer house clinch with Liza, his best friend’s wife.

Reeling with this ultimate betrayal, my world in freefall, with nowhere to turn, I flee my own wedding unable to face anyone, not even my family. I just want to escape this nightmare.

With our flight, to our luxury honeymoon leaving in a matter of hours, could ten blissful days of Cretan Island life, minus my cheating husband help me figure out my future? It couldn’t be this easy, could it?

After a few blissful days of sunshine, my peace is shattered with the arrival of my husband, denying everything.

It seems he’s got secrets. Big secrets. More than I could ever have imagined.

With my marriage all but dead I just need to get through the honeymoon and then it'll all be over... won't it?

A pacy, heart stopping, page turning thriller for the fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.

MY THOUGHTS:

In a split second, your whole world crashes around you...

It was meant to be the perfect day. Music, flowers, a wedding venue to die for. The bride and groom exchanging vows to love, honour and cherish, forsaking all others...until death do they part. But the ink was barely dry on their nuptials when Kelly caught new hubby Ryan in a compromising yet passionate clinch with his best friend's wife! Can you imagine the feelings of betrayal, not to mention disbelief, at your new hubby cheating on you at your wedding reception?! 

Not one for confrontation, Kelly cries off the celebrations with a headache and heads to the honeymoon suite where they were to spend the night. But instead of crawling into bed and pulling the covers over herself, Kelly decides to lick her woulds by embarking on their honeymoon alone, using the ten day break to figure out where to go from here. Packing her things, grabbing her passport and booking a cab, she sneaks out the fire exit and hightails it to Gatwick where she awaits her early morning flight to Crete.

And what a destination to run to to lick one's wounds! Normally I'm not a fan of books set on the continent but I found myself totally immersed in the sun by the pool or at the beach, lapping up the luxury and beauty of the Mediterranean island. She switched off her mobile before boarding the plane only to discover a barrage of messages and voicemails from her errant husband and worried sister upon turning it back on again. She responded to her sister but ignored (then deleted) Ryan's pleas and finally demands as to where she is and what she has done to his passport. 

And so Kelly laid back and set herself in for a relaxing ten days. What she didn't envision was Ryan turning up a couple of days later with their best friends Bobby and Liza in tow, apparently having found his passport. She really should have taken it with her; then he wouldn't have been able to follow her out there. And when he did arrive, he acted as if nothing had happened and puzzled as to why she left without him. When she enlightened him he denied everything, saying "it wasn't what you think". No? His tongue down Liza's throat and unzipping his trousers for a quickie in the summer house at their wedding reception was just a figment of her imagination, was it? Kelly was having none of it and told them their short lived marriage was over. And why Ryan thought bringing his best friend and mistress along on their honeymoon was a good idea, she'll never know.

Like Kelly, I wanted to stay on the beautiful island of Crete (and not to mention, in the arms of the delectable Nico, no less) but like all good things, they must come to an end and unfortunately for Kelly, they ended a bit sooner than anticipated when things back home got a little bit stranger. I guess the author had to paint an even worse picture of Ryan than the one we had already. Another nail in his coffin, so to speak. It was a little out of left field and not entirely expected. Was it possible to dislike Ryan even more? Suddenly there were heavies enforcing their authority, throwing their weight and intimidation about as Kelly struggled to piece together just how much mess Ryan had created. This is where the story shifted and dropped off a little, in my opinion.

The beginning of this book was a five star read, for sure, as I devoured every word of every page long into the night. But when things took a turn upon Kelly's arrival back in the UK, it felt like a different book at first and I had to find my equilibrium once again. It wasn't entirely unpleasant (although it was for Kelly) but it was a shift that didn't seem to match the first three quarters of the book. Still, it was a turn of events that knocked the stuffing out of me and kept me guessing until the end.

The drama, the tension, the emotion and the oh so bitchy snarky comments between Kelly and Liza were off the scale. My blood was boiling as much as the Cretan temperatures as I navigated the warzone that had been created. It was a rollercoaster ride that was as anxiety-inducing as it was thrilling and despite the dip at the the last quarter, I could not put it down.

A wholly engaging and thrilling read, lapping up the Cretan sunshine.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Gemma Rogers was inspired to write gritty thrillers by a traumatic event in her own life nearly twenty years ago. Her debut novel Stalker was published in September 2019 and marked the beginning of a new writing career. Gemma lives in West Sussex with her husband and two daughters.

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REVIEW: The Talented Mrs Greenway by Tea Cooper

The Talented Mrs Greenway by Tea Cooper

Genre: Historical, Colonial History, Fact with Fiction, Australia

Read: 21st January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 1st November 2023

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

From a bestselling Australian author, this compellingly realised novel brings to life the story of an enigmatic figure, wife to feted colonial architect Francis Greenway, and asks, whose hand really shaped Sydney? Who is the talented Mrs Greenway?

1814 Sydney:When Mary Greenway, freshly arrived from the old country, steps into the maelstrom of Sydney Town with three children at her skirts, she has high hopes of a new beginning, despite having little money and a husband in irons. After all, the sudden death of her sadistic first husband has meant freedom from her gilded cage and Francis Greenway is an architect of some promise, under the protection of Admiral Phillip himself.

Mary herself is a woman of great resources and an even greater creative passion, a passion that will surely burn through anything that the filthy, burgeoning, vitality of colonial Sydney can throw at her. Soon ensconced in a tiny cottage in George Street, Mary sets about moulding a life for her family from the unpromising clay of this new colony, with a determination fired in equal parts by guilt for her disastrous past action that nearly brought ruin to them all and desire to see her true calling realised.

When she is befriended by Elizabeth Macquarie it seems that fate is smiling on them with the promise of a better life in her grasp. But fate is a difficult mistress and with past secrets to keep, and current betrayals on the brink of discovery, the stakes are higher than ever. With Mary's grip on this new life slipping, will her past lies come back to haunt her?

MY THOUGHTS:

I came across this book at the nursing home my father is in and thought it sounded interesting with a story based on fact and real people woven into the fabric of our colonial history. I've not read Tea Cooper before but after enjoying this tale I am certainly interested in reading more by her.

Mary Greenway was the little known wife of convict architect Francis Greenway, whose many structures still stand today over 200 years later. So little was known about his wife that the author was fascinated by her and the role she played as Mrs Greenway. But of course, she didn't begin as Mary Greenway. Her story begins in an arranged married to a brute of a man, Captain James Fripp, who viewed his wife's sole purpose in life was to produce him with an heir and a spare and yet after several years of marriage she hadn't even managed that. He spent more time away from the stunning home in Bath her father had built for his daughter in memory of her mother, squandering her father's wealth with his lavish lifestyle.

She first met young Francis Greenway when he came to the house to discuss some plans for extension with her husband, who had forgotten the appointment and was not there to meet him. Mary, however, spent an entertaining time with Mr Greenway discussing their shared interests in architecture and design. But her husband disagreed with Greenway's vision and thus tore up their handshake agreement and refused to pay him for the designs he had already made. When Mary finally produced an heir in young George, Fripp soon lost interest and it was when she was pregnant with her second child that Fripp suddenly dies in a tragic (but rather fortuitous) accident.

Upon hearing of Fripp's demise, Greenway pays Mary a condolence visit and thus hears of the difficulties he had with her husband. Mary shares Greenway's vision and offers to sponsor him but then she learns of the dire financial straits Fripp had left them in, squandering her inheritance and requiring the sale of her beloved home her father had loving built her. Greenway's business falls into bankruptcy and upon declaring his love for Mary, the couple marry but their financial woes are far from over.

Francis adores Mary but he can be arrogant and stubborn, so when a client also refuses to honour their contract, Francis tears the place apart searching for his copy to produce as evidence of their agreement. When he does so, he is then arrested for and convicted for forgery of the said document. As forgery is a hanging offence, he is sentenced to death but only through the social influence of certain people saves him from the gallows and he is transported for a term of 14 years to the Colony of New South Wales where he will be given the position of government architect under Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

Devastated by the sentence but relieved he will not hang, Mary determines that she and her sons will follow Francis out to the colony to make a life there as free settlers. The sea journey is tough and upon arrival at Sydney Town there are yet even more challenges. Mary soon learns to navigate the rough and ready streets of the colony, discovering unwritten rules as well as tensions that arise. But her unexpected friendship with Elizabeth Macquarie, wife of Lachlan Macquarie, soon proves to be an advantage through his designs as the government's architect and his ticket of leave as a convict. Sharing her love of architecture with Elizabeth, Mary finds that her ideas are soon incorporated into many of Francis' designs that become peppered throughout the colony and beyond.

Tea Cooper delivers a wonderful engaging story that weaves fact with fiction in this tale of the little known Mary Greenway with the sights, sounds and smells of colonial Australia. From the affluent cities of Bath and Bristol to the primitive colony of Sydney, Cooper paints a vivid picture of the undeveloped primeval dusty streets littered with sewage and rats to the hot and humid climate so foreign to that which she was familiar with. She also depicts Francis as hot headed and sometimes arrogant, clashing with his superiors in defence of what he terms as "his art" whilst the strength behind the man responsible for so many of Sydney's earliest buildings was that of his wife Mary. The talented Mrs Greenway.

The title comes directly from the words of her husband Francis, published in the Sydney Monitor after her death as "the mild unobtrusive but talented Mrs Greenway".

A light read that is as delightful as it is captivating. I devoured it in a day and I think historical fiction fans will enjoy. The author's historical notes at the end also made for interesting reading as well which helped to make sense of her depiction of Mary Greenway and what endeavoured to be her story.

Map of Sydney Town in 1824 during the Greenway's time

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Téa is an established Australian author of contemporary and historical fiction. In a past life she was a teacher, a journalist and a farmer. These days she haunts museums and indulges her passion for storytelling. She is published by HQ, a division of HarperCollins, in Australia and New Zealand and since 2020 by Harper Muse in North America.

For many years writing remained the stuff of fantasy. Her family, a herd of alpacas, a protea farm and a full time teaching job kept her occupied until one day she decided it was time to do or die. No more procrastination. The characters and plots that had lived in her head for so long were clamouring to escape.

In August 2011 Tea joined Romance Writers of Australia and her debut novel The Horse Thief was published in November 2015. She  she has become enmeshed in twisty historical mysteries that mix fact and fiction. 

Tea is a member of the Historical Novel Society of Australasia, The Australian Society of Authors, and Sisters in Crime. She is currently working on her next historical mystery. 

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: Hannah by Raymond W. Clarke

Hannah by Raymond W. Clarke

Genre: Historical, Colonial History, Fact with Fiction, Australia

Read: 19th January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 3rd July 2011

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Hannah is based on the life story of Hannah Stanley, a convict woman who is sentenced to death for Grand Theft before her sentence is commuted to transportation for life to New South Wales.

She survives the brutality and filth of English prisons and the long six months in the convict ship Canada before arriving in Sydney Cove in September 1810.

After many adventures in the wilderness of the early colony, she raises a large family and takes a rightful place in the society of the new world.

She never again saw the shores of England but learnt to love the beauty and the uniqueness of the Australian bush.

MY THOUGHTS:

This book has been sitting on my kindle for some years and I finally decided to check it out yesterday. It's a quick read, having devoured it easily in a day. 

The story of Hannah Stanley/Clarke is based on facts on the life of the author's great great grandmother who, ostracised from her own family in Kent, took up a maid's position nearby. Influenced by her fellow maidservant Hannah Porter, the pair attempted to steal some clothing from their employer with the intention of selling it on. But having been caught, the two Hannahs were arrested and convicted for grand theft and up before the visiting justice of the Kent Assizes and thus sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to transportation to New South Wales, Australia for life and thus began their journey.

We follow Hannah's stay in Maidstone Prison and then on the Prison Hulk before boarding the convict transport ship Canada for the long six month sail to Sydney Cove. Upon arrival, the convicts are then subject to a selection process during which each are selected - by age, appearance and ability - as servants to landowners or the like to work out their sentences. The remaining are sent up the river to the Female Factory in Parramatta. Hannah was given the latter due to her "condition", a result from the voyage across the seas.

Hannah, and her partner in crime Hannah P, befriended a young Irish lass on the journey over named Rosie O'Donaghue who was barely 14. She was fortunate enough to be granted a kind landowner to work for whom she later married. Hannah P. continued to be feisty which landed her in a world of trouble. She was selected for work in Sydney Town at the ouset but after an altercation with an officer she was sent to Newcastle. Hannah was sent up river to the Female Factory where she befriended Sarah. After a year in the Factory she was granted a Ticket of Leave supported by the local vicar who became her sponsor and she lived with them at their home in Parramatta for the next three years before returning to Sydney Town to seek out her friends. Having a Ticket of Leave gave the convict some freedom in which they could move around freely and earn a small wage but they had to remain in the area, seeking approval to move to another area. Hannah had to gain approval to return to Sydney Town with a job and lodgings already lined up before it was granted.

In Sydney Town, she met Daniel Clarke who remembered her from the selection process upon her arrival four years before. He had never forgotten her and was thrilled to happen upon her again. A seaman by vocation he was prepared to give it all up for Hannah, marry her and raise a family. But their path to marriage was not an easy one, thwarted by an officer who had his sights on Hannah. a convicts required permission to marry. But with references and a close friend of Macquarie on side, their path to marriage was paved and the couple settled on the Hawkesbury, South Creek near Windsor, where they remained for many years raising their family. 

The story continues following their move to the Southern Highlands where Hannah bore four more children and rasied them until her sudden death. There is a summary of the family with a short description of Hannah, Daniel and each of their children detailing their births, marriages and the ages they lived till. The book ends with an epilogue of the author visiting Hannah's grave in Suttons Forest, where she lived out her remaining days.

Based on fact, the author has given embellishment through detail and dialogue without really knowing what exactly transpired and thus giving Hannah a good life, if not an easy one, here in Australia. I have always been fascinated by Australia's colonial past and how the town and places I know and frequent were once penal colonies, built on the blood, sweat and tears of many many convicts that came to our shores.

There was a discrepancy in the facts of this story (and it is a big one). In the book, Hannah is sent up the river to the Female Factory in Parramatta BUT the Female Factory wasn't built until 1817 and not opened until 1821 by which time Hannah and Daniel were already married and living in South Creek near Windsor with their children. Hannah was said to have been there in 1810 which is impossible as it wasn't built yet and the architect who designed it, Francis Greenway, hadn't yet been transported. All female prisoners were sent to Parramatta Gaol where they were housed until the Female Factory was opened. I feel as though the author should have known this.

I would have loved to have rated this book higher but I feel it could have benefitted from better editing as there were many typos and scenes seemed to change mid-paragraph without any break or warning. It made it hard to follow at first and having just a simple embellishment to break between scenes would have made it much easier to follow. But that aside, it was an easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

An enjoyable journey into Australia's convict past and tribute one of the women who birthed an entire generation and thensome as a result of her petty crime which saw her transported for life.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Raymond W Clarke was born in Sydney and is the author of material for the Australian Government archives, five novels and two non-fiction books. As a lover of early history, his articles have been published in a variety of magazines, journals and newspapers. He served in the Australian Army for nine years and travelled extensively as a Radar Senior Technical Officer with the Australian Government as a Supervisor of major electronic installations.

He lives in Brisbane, Australia and welcomes reviews and feedback on all his work. 

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REVIEW: The Pick-Pocket's Plight by Lindsey Hutchinson

The Pick-Pocket's Plight (The Pick-Pocket Series #2) by Lindsey Hutchinson

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 19th January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 25th October 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

They only had each other – now they’re being torn apart.

When thirteen-year-old Bertram Jordan is arrested and sent to a penal colony in Australia, his biggest regret is leaving behind his friend Alice Truelove. The children were each other’s comfort when they had to live rough on Wednesbury heath, surviving on whatever meagre funds they could pilfer from passing market-goers. Now they must face their futures alone.

While BJ is learning to survive and then thrive on a cattle ranch in Fremantle, surrounded by the hundreds of other men and boys who have been shipped from England, Alice is making her own way in the poverty-stricken Black Country. When a stroke of good fortune means that Alice can start her own business, she cunningly disguises her young age, and before long has established a thriving bakery. As her business grows, so do her responsibilities, and Alice relishes the opportunity to help those who helped her when she was down.

But every night as Alice and BJ rest their heads on opposite sides of the world, both go to sleep with the same last thought. Will they ever see each other again?

The Queen of Black Country sagas is back with a fascinating tale of bravery, forever friendship, heartbreak and joy. Perfect for all fans of Katie Flynn, Val Wood and Lyn Andrews.

MY THOUGHTS:

Will she ever see the boy who saved her again?

When BJ, Bertram Jordan, is sentenced to seven years transportation to Australia, his biggest regret (and worry) is leaving behind his friend Alice. An adept pick pocket, BJ took Alice under his wing when the pair lived rough on the Wednesbury streets, setting up camp on the heath ans surviving on the meagre funds they could pilfer and scavenging in the market.

But now, BJ was gone. And Alice must face the near future without him. At first, taken in by the Greens who always took pity on the pair, giving them leftovers from their bakery so that they wouldn't go hungry, Alice came to look at them as the parents she didn't have. They picked up where BJ left off and began teaching her how to bake. Until one night a fire tragically destroyed their bakery and claimed the lives of Alice's new found mentors. Alice went back to what she knew - pilfering and pick-pocketing. Until a surprising find offers her new hope.

Now Alice runs a small bakery on Russell Street, employing a family as sale assistants and cleaner as well as a couple of bakers. So successful does her business become that she finds herself having the means to buy new premises to open a second bakery, thanks to her "savings" found from her pick-pocketing days. Going from strength to strength, Alice can barely keep up the demand and begins looking for a third larger premises. But is she biting off more than she can chew? Would it be the success her other two are?

Meanwhile in Australia, BJ is well into his seven year sentence serving on a cattle station out of Fremantle. The owner of the station, Mac, is a fair man and sees a potential in BJ taking him under his wing and training him up for bigger things. Soon the uneducated boy from the Black Country finds himself getting an education, learning to read and write and overseeing the hundreds of convicts on Mac's land. The boy is whip-smart, coming up with some good ideas which bode well for not only Mac, but the rest of the convicts under his watch.

Though it's been four years since he left England, neither BJ nor Alice have forgotten the other. Both continually write full of news of their plights while each are secretly counting down to when BJ gets his Certificate of Freedom. But what then? BJ has made a life for himself in Australia. He enjoys the work and Mac is like a father to him. He longs to return to Alice but what will that mean for him?

Another heartwarming easy read from Lindsey Hutchinson. I loved it from beginning to end. I found I slipped back into BJ and Alice's story with such ease and though I didn't want to leave, it ended all too soon. I look forward to the third book which I'm sure will be equally endearing.

As this is the second book and follows on from the first, I recommend you read "The Pick Pocket Orphans" first. BJ and Alice are to warm your hearts.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Lindsey Hutchinson was born and raised in Wednesbury, West Midlands and is a bestselling saga author whose novels include The Workhouse Children. Tying up the manuscripts for her her mother, the multi-million selling Meg Hutchinson, rekindled her love for storytelling and it seems she was always destined to follow in her footsteps.

Lindsey lives in Shropshire with her husband and Labrador, loves to read and enjoys photography.

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

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SPOTLIGHT: The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria Scott

 

The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria Scott

Genre: Historical fiction, Dual timeline

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Amazon

Published: 15th January 2025

DESCRIPTION:

A secret buried for decades… A story that will change everything.

1940: When twenty-one-year-old Nita Bineham is offered the chance of independence, away from the high walls of her family’s Surrey estate, she grasps it with both hands. But her new role at a local newspaper coincides with the emergence of a sinister rumour in their quiet village: that there is a traitor in their midst. Nita is determined to prove herself by uncovering the truth, but is she prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?

2008: Following the death of her great aunt, Beth flees London for the privacy of rural Surrey. Within the confines of her family’s dilapidated manor house, she hides from the dual wreckage of her career and her marriage. But when her aunt’s dying words lead her to a stack of old newspaper articles, Beth finds herself drawn into a decades old mystery: about a long-buried secret, and an enemy dangerously close to home.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Scott has been a journalist for many media outlets including the BBC and TheTelegraph. She is the author of three novels published by Head of Zeus. Her first book for Boldwood is a Gothic timeslip novel, The House in the Water.

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REVIEW: Her Housekeeper by Samantha Hayes

Her Housekeeper by Samantha Hayes

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 14th January 2025

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Published: 11th November 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘I’m Mary,’ she says, looking up at me expectantly as if I should know exactly who she is. She’s wearing a fitted tunic dress with a starched white collar and short sleeves. But it’s her eyes – piercing, with something dangerous lurking behind the cobalt blue – that send a shiver down my spine.

She told me she was the housekeeper, and who was I to question? Our stay in this perfectly renovated Victorian house on the rich side of Hastings was a favour from an old school friend while the fire damage to our own little place was being fixed. This is not my house, and they are not my rules. So I step aside, and I let her in.

Am I paranoid to think that she’s watching my every move?

What am I supposed to do when she rests her head on my husband’s broad shoulder, a glint in her eye that only I can see?

Should I have packed my bags and left the moment I found her rooting through my belongings?

And when I return one day to find she’s moved into the spare room with her son, do I believe her when she says she has nowhere else to go? Do I trust her here, alone with my two little children?

Each night I lie awake wondering who this strange woman is, and what she wants. I hold my babies close as the lights flicker and songs from the childhood I spent a lifetime trying to forget blast through the speakers.

But when I finally uncover the secrets hidden in this house, my past crashes into my present. I realise I’m in more danger than I could possibly have imagined…

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller from an Amazon No1. bestselling author. Strap yourself in for a totally twisty page-turner that will leave you gasping for breath. Fans of The Housemaid, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will be flipping pages all night long!

MY THOUGHTS:

You let her in...she wants you out...

WOW! Just wow! I love a good psychological thriller and this one hits all the marks and that ending just blew me away. While there was nothing overtly standout about it, it packed a powerful punch at the end. One that leaves you thinking about it long after you've closed the book. I admit, the climax was a tad OTT and requires some suspension of belief but overall it was still a fantastic read and worth every one of its stars.

The opening prologue leaves you wondering where this tale is going to take you while you flip the page and it's an about face as you look at the scrambled pieces of a twenty five year jigsaw and ponder just what is going on. Especially when the housekeeper comes knocking.

Gina and Matt, along with their two children - 3 year old tearaway toddler Tommy and newborn Gracie - find themselves temporarily homeless after Matt's inexpensive installation of a light fixture shorts and burns their house down. Thankfully, they were away with friend Laura for the evening. Not so good for their house or the problem with where they're going to live in the meantime. Their insurance covered a short hotel stay and would also cover a short term rental but they have been unable to find one.

And then they receive a lifeline. In the form of Gina's childhood friend Annie, now a successful singer and actress, who kindly offers them the use of her luxurious renovated home in Hastings while she is out of the country. Annie's kindness and generosity is a dream come true...until it became a nightmare.

No sooner have they arrived and have barely unpacked their bags when they receive an unexpected arrival. Enter Mary, Annie's housekeeper - "just pretend I'm not here". Gina is uncomfortable with having someone unfamiliar in the house with her and her two young children so she texts Annie to verify Mary is indeed who she says she is. She's relieved when Annie confirms this and that she is a godsend, having been with her for over a year. Gina is still a little unsettled, especially as Mary is there almost every day. Until one day Mary turns up with a suitcase and a teenager in tow, having escaped her abusive husband and had nowhere else to go. Knowing Annie wouldn't turn her away, Gina assures her that she's welcome to stay as there is plenty of room. Besides, she's in constant contact with Annie via text for confirmation on anything she is unsure of. Still, she can't escape the unsettling feeling she has around Mary. And her son Tyler just gives her the creeps.

If that wasn't all, Gina is having difficulty being back in Hastings and can't imagine why Annie would return to the place they grew up and escaped some twenty five years before when everything changed. When they were just fifteen and there were four of them. Gina, Annie, Laura and Sara - the GALS, as they called themselves. They all knew Matt from a distance; he was older by a year and was devilishly good-looking. Gina, Annie and even Sara all secretly were crushing for him. But being back here was playing on Gina's mind and she was reminded of what happened twenty five years ago and the missing member of their friendship circle.

But as the days turn into weeks, suspicions around Annie's seemingly competent housekeeper grow and Gina soon discovers some unsettling secrets about the woman, the house and the past...leading to the unsettling realisation of the danger she has unwittingly put herself and her family in.

Unfolding through Gina's, Mary's and "the past" narratives providing a deeper understanding of the characters and the layers of complexity to their stories. The author has peppered a lot of red herrings throughout and it is up to the reader to sift through them all as you begin to piece together the remaining jigsaw pieces for the bigger, clearer picture...leaving you shocked at the final twist, which is truly unexpected.

A fast paced read from start to finish, this is one of the author's best tales to date, despite the OTT climax leading up to the big reveal at the end. I was able to piece together pretty much all of it, even the unexpected twist we are given, but it was the epilogue that will leave you shocked and breathless. For me, that was a genius touch, leaving the reader with so many emotions about it all. It was the twist in THAT that I didn't see coming. The rest I had already figured out. Well done, Ms Hayes. 

Overall, a fast paced suspenseful read that can easily be devoured in a day. But be prepared for the powerful mix of tragedy and happiness...and that jaw-dropping end.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Samantha Hayes grew up in a creative family where her love of writing began as a child. Samantha has written eight thrillers in total, including the bestselling Until You’re Mine. The Independent said “fantastically written and very tense” while Good Housekeeping said “Her believable psychological thrillers are completely gripping.” Samantha’s books are published in 22 languages at the last count.

When not writing, Samantha loves to cook, go to the gym, see friends and drink nice wine. She is also studying for a degree in psychotherapy. She has three grown-up children and lives in Warwickshire.

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REVIEW: The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria Scott

The Storyteller's Daughter by Victoria Scott

Genre: Historical fiction, Dual timeline

Read: 12th January 2025

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 15th January 2025

★★ 2 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A secret buried for decades… A story that will change everything.

1940: When twenty-one-year-old Nita Bineham is offered the chance of independence, away from the high walls of her family’s Surrey estate, she grasps it with both hands. But her new role at a local newspaper coincides with the emergence of a sinister rumour in their quiet village: that there is a traitor in their midst. Nita is determined to prove herself by uncovering the truth, but is she prepared for revelations that could change her life forever?

2008: Following the death of her great aunt, Beth flees London for the privacy of rural Surrey. Within the confines of her family’s dilapidated manor house, she hides from the dual wreckage of her career and her marriage. But when her aunt’s dying words lead her to a stack of old newspaper articles, Beth finds herself drawn into a decades old mystery: about a long-buried secret, and an enemy dangerously close to home.

MY THOUGHTS:

Will a long buried secret change her life...?

1940: Nestled in the Surrey countryside beyond a row of trees lining the drive lay Melham Manor. A vast estate spanning hundreds of acres and a sprawling manor house that has been home to the Binehams for over two hundred years. Twenty one year old Nita Bineham is resisting her mother's attempts to marry her off, grabbing the chance to work at a local newspaper The Bugle. Her mother naturally is horrified as "Bineham women do not work". Her father is just happy to have out from under his feet. Of course the journalists she is working with think of her as a glorified secretary, but for the first time in her life, Nita feels as if she is doing something worthwhile. And soon she is on the hunt for a Nazi spy as reports come in about some unrest in the village. But the deeper she digs, what will she uncover?

2008: With the news that her great aunt Nita is on her deathbed, Beth Bineham dashes to Surrey to visit before she passes away. Beth had always adored her aunt Nita until her parents stopped her visits as a child and she never visited again. Until now. She manages to see her aunt Nita one last time before she passes away. In the wake of Nita's death Beth navigates her own personal crisis, she escapes to Melham Manor away from the wreckage that is her life. Along with her dog Stanley (a Staffordshire bull terrier whom I was thrilled to see portrayed in the loyal loving way that staffies naturally are) and her two children, Raphie and Ella, Beth hides away in the Surrey countryside taking up a part time journalist job at the very paper her aunt Nita had once worked. Her aunt made mention of a box in the attic with many secrets so Beth made that her mission to unravel.

I was drawn to this story by the premise and the fact that it was dual timeline, a genre I love. However, I was sadly disappointed to find it riddled with wicca (which I don't mind mentioned but this book was steeped in it) that wasn't alluded to. I don't have anything against wiccans but I am not interested in books about it. And the title made no sense until the last 15% of the book. It really had so much potential but I found I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped and was disappointed as such.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Victoria Scott has been a journalist for many media outlets including the BBC and TheTelegraph. She is the author of three novels published by Head of Zeus. Her first book for Boldwood is a Gothic timeslip novel, The House in the Water.

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