REVIEW: Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church by Tracy Rees

Hidden Secrets at the Little Village Church (Hopley Village #1) by Tracy Rees
(previously titled "The Little Book of Secrets")

Genre: Contemporary fiction, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction

Read: 7th May 2021

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Published: 7th May 2021

★★★★ 4.5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

‘This may just have saved my life…’ The hurried scribble in the dusty church visitors’ book catches Gwen’s eye. Just like that, she is drawn into a mystery at the heart of the pretty village of Hopley, but nothing is what is seems…

When tragedy strikes, twenty-six-year-old Gwen Stanley finds herself suddenly jobless and heartbroken. With nowhere to turn, she retreats to Hopley, a crumbling little village deep in the heart of the English countryside. Wandering the winding lanes and daydreaming about what could have been, Gwen feels lost for the first time in her life.

Until one day she pushes through the creaking doors of a tiny stone church at the edge of the village, empty and forgotten by nearly everyone. There she stumbles on a book full of local secrets and is instantly drawn into the mystery of who could have left them there, and why.

When she’s unexpectedly joined by handsome local artist Jarvis, Gwen is caught off-guard. He seems just as fascinated by what’s in the book as she is… but why? Can she trust Jarvis’s motives really are what he says they are? And are the butterfly flutters she feels whenever they’re together because she’s one step closer to learning the book’s secrets… or might the little village church actually hold the key to healing Gwen’s poor, trampled heart?

An utterly unputdownable story – pure joy from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Heidi Swain, and anybody longing for the ultimate feel-good escapist read!

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Tracy Rees' delightful tale HIDDEN SECRETS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE CHURCH (previously titled "The Little Book of Secrets").

This is my second book by Tracy Rees, the first being an historical fiction "The House at Silvermoor" which totally loved. So I was excited by the prospect of another foray into her world, albeit somewhat different, not really knowing what to expect. Women's fiction is generally not my genre of choice but there has been the odd one that I have enjoyed...this being one of them. Although I did find the title somewhat of a mouthful and as it conjured up images of secrets being unearthed and maybe a little gossiping going on, what it actually entailed was something vastly different. Misleading descriptions are a bit of a pet hate of mine, so while I didn't know what to expect entirely, I guess I was kind of expecting something different. Having said that, HIDDEN SECRETS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE CHURCH was a thoroughly delightful journey into Hopley and its residents...but especially Gwen and Jarvis.

The setting for this story begins in a picturesque little village I envisioned to be something you would see in an episode of Midsomer Murders...but without the murder. It is adorably quaint filled with a mix of characters to charm and delight the reader and the beautiful historic church that is at the heart of the story.

Having lost her parents two years previously, Gwen Stanley moved in with her aunt Mary who had offered her a home more than likely out of obligation rather than any desire to help the grieving young woman. Aunt Mary was positively awful bringing a depressing air of doom over everything she touched and every word she uttered. She did nothing to help Gwen get over the loss of her beloved parents instead belittling her at every turn, complaining whenever Gwen did a good turn and basically sucked the life out of her niece...and not to mention the reader. I honestly dreaded Gwen going home every evening to Aunt Mary's bitter unhappiness and doom and gloom view of the world.

It was one Sunday during the church service that the Vicar Dave shared his idea with the sleepy congregation to raise funds for the much needed roof repairs to keep St Domneva's going and to remain at the heart of the village. But unless he raise a substantial amount then nothing can save the little church. That's when he comes up with his rather extraordinary idea that brings two unlikely people together to help raise the much needed funds.

Gwen was immediately enamoured with the idea of trawling through the church's visitor's book, taking in its history and its secrets, in a bid to seek out donors to help save their little church. However, Gwen is terminally shy and hadn't thought much beyond the thought of losing herself to the little book's secrets...like phoning other people. Jarvis Millwood, a twenty seven year old art school dropout, has done nothing with his life since returning from a prestigious art school in London. But when he heard Vicar Dave put his unusual call out for volunteers, a seed was planted in Jarvis' head that began to form as he harboured his own reasons for wanting to peruse the visitor's book. Vicar Dave was apprehensive about leaving these two misfits in charge thinking he may have just made a huge error of judgement concerning St Dom's future.

At first Gwen was horrified that she had to share the prized visitor's book with another as she was looking forward to delving into it herself. She wasn't comfortable with other people and as socially inept as she was, Jarvis took her discomfort and her way of doing things in his stride. They are complete opposites, and yet in some ways quite similar, thrown together with their own reasons for wanting to participate in this little venture. Both unsatisfied with their lack lustre lives, the visitor book gives them hope and together they find themselves not only helping the church raise their much-needed funds, but they also find themselves along the way. 

And two of the most unlikely people soon find themselves becoming the best of friends. Their journey becomes one of self discovery as Gwen steps out of her comfort zone in which she's been hiding for the past two years and Jarvis discovers a new appreciation for the love he had and thought he'd lost. Together they hope, dream and encourage one another to be the best version of themselves.

I can't say much more without giving the rest of the story away but it is a delightfully enjoyable read that could easily be read in one sitting if you are a fast reader or savoured by those who like to take their time. Either way, the journey you will find yourself on with Gwen and Jarvis will be one that charms and delights you.

Told in the third person narrative from the alternating perspectives of Gwen and Jarvis (mainly) and Vicar Dave (on occasion), HIDDEN SECRETS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE CHURCH (somewhat of a mouthful) is a feel-good tale that is contemporary with a little romance thrown in. The narration is smooth and light with no melodramatic tension to weigh the reader down. 

My only complaint is really the change in title. It really is a mouthful and the original title of "The Little Book of Secrets" I felt was more apt to the story, though it does allude to secrets being kept within the book when in actual fact it is not the case at all. So a tad misleading on that front. But still, an enjoyable foray into this little English village.

For a light and easy read, HIDDEN SECRETS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE CHURCH is just the ticket to bring a feel-good smile to your day. The perfect weekend read.

I look forward to the second Hopley book in October wondering what Ms Rees has in store for us then.

I would like to thank #TracyRees, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #HiddenSecretsAtTheLittleVillageChurch in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Tracy Rees was the winner of the Richard and Judy 'Search for a Bestseller' Competition and her books are paperback, ebook and audio bestsellers. A Cambridge graduate, she had a successful eight-year career in nonfiction publishing and a second career practising and teaching humanistic counselling before becoming a writer.

She lives in Wales. 

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: If I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin

If I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin

Genre: Psychological thriller, Literary fiction

Read: 10th May 2021

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Published: 9th July 2020

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

What if the problem with your love life is you?

If I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin is an all-consuming novel about loneliness, obsession and how far we go for the ones we love.

Samuel, the day we met I knew I’d finally found what I’ve been waiting for.

You.

Happiness, at last.

Then you left me.

And now I am alone.

Everyone I love leaves in the end.

But not this time.

I’m not giving up on us.

I’m not giving up on you.

When you love someone, you never let them go.

That’s why for me, this is just beginning.

MY REVIEW:

What happens when you fall in love with someone who doesn't love you back? Do you accept it and move on? Or do you become consumed, obsessed and a little batty?

This story is about Constance Little.

This is her love story.

Only...this isn't the way it was supposed to end.

Clad in a meringue of taffeta, tulle and blood, Constance steps onto the underground in somewhat of a daze. As the reader we are instantly drawn into her world and what happened to leave her sandwiched between a hipster and a mother with her child in a bridal gown on a train. The child was in awe of Constance's attire exclaiming "Look at the princess, mummy!" whilst pawing the rustling fabric as other passengers possibly declared her somewhat insane. In that moment, we feel her pain despite not yet knowing what it is. Has she been jilted? Or is she a runaway bride? 

But the truth is much stranger than fiction; far darker and twisted than anyone could possibly imagine. Including Constance herself.

Working as a receptionist for a doctors surgery in affluent Kensington, Constance falls in love with Dr Samuel Stevens the moment she sets eyes on him. Brought in to fill the gap a deceased doctor has left behind, Samuel arrives with his smiles and self-importance. Despite this Constance sees only attraction and is immediately infatuated with him, finding any excuse she can to be alone with him. Soon her every thought is consumed with him particularly when her advances are reciprocated and Constance believes their stolen moments to be true love.

But when Samuel ends their brief affair in a cruel and insensitive manner, Constance is devastated that what she believed to be genuine was just a bit of fun for him. It is then that the emotional wounds of her past turn her infatuation into a dangerous obsession, as she goes all Glenn Close, stalking him and watching him in an attempt to feel closer to him. But how far will she go to win him back?

However Samuel's sense of entitlement, self-importance and arrogance as well as his inability to see the depth of his treatment of not only Constance, but women in general, speaks volumes as to the type of man he is. Why is it that these are the men who attract the most vulnerable kind of woman? They fall for his charm, his smile, the way he makes them laugh all without seeing that he is really laughing at them not with them. He comes from a world of entitlement and privilege and is used to getting what he wants and then justifying his disgraceful actions by accusing women of being sulky and clingy who dare to mistake sexual intimacy as a relationship when all he is really after is a good time.

But just as Samuel is a master manipulator, so is Constance. She wangles her way into the bereaved and lonely Edward's life purely for her own gain as well as clinging to her creepy flatmate Dale just so he wouldn't leave her...even though she never really wanted him in the first place. Alongside her flashbacks to her childhood memories, it brings to light just how lonely Constance is and how affected she is by the mistakes of the past and/or the sins of her father, or even mother, as the case may be. Granted, she is still grieving after the death of her mother, and grief can sometimes make people do the strangest things. In Constance's case, in her view everyone she loves leaves her...and that appears to be her greatest fear which she tries to control through various unsuccessful attempts.

This psychological thriller is a darkly twisted tale of love and obsession written in the form of a detailed letter from Constance to Samuel, the object of her desire, and is a twisted blend of "Fatal Attraction" and "Gone Girl". I couldn't help but feel sorry for Constance even if she was a tad psycho. It was Samuel and Dale that I loathed the most...and I had to question who was the most twisted one of them all?

On the one hand, you sympathise with Constance while on the other you dislike her intensely. She does come across as needy and clingy but then again, you have the inside scoop as to why she acts the way she does, so does that make it excusable or just understandable? Half the time I couldn't decide whether I liked or hated her but somehow I still found myself rooting for her. I guess I wanted to see Samuel get his comeuppance, because really the man was deplorable. And Dale? He was just uber creepy. I did not like him from the start. How Constance couldn't see through him is beyond me. His pointed comment about those who are so obsessed with who they are watching often are oblivious as to who may be watching them (or words to that effect)...was just super creepy.

My favourite character would have to be the irascible Edward. And his inscription in the copy of "Wuthering Heights" he gave to Constance for her birthday brought tears to my eyes...

IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU is sinister, creepy and, in some ways, addictive. Its tense and compulsive narration gives the reader a sense of claustrophobia. The characters are impulsive, vulnerable and mostly unlikeable. While the plot itself is quite cleverly written as one long detailed letter that provides a slow burn build of tension culminating to an ugly end, it did drag a little in places but the concept itself was genius.

In some ways IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU was too literary for me as I prefer my thrillers to be rollercoaster rides of explosive twists and excitement. I guess a lot of this book missed the mark with me as I felt it was meant to be more of an exploration of sorts...into what, I'm not sure. But I can still appreciate part of the idea if not the entire concept.

Different but relatively enjoyable, IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU is the literary cross of "Fatal Attraction" and "Gone Girl" that is truly imaginative and compelling. Recommended though it may not be for all.

I would like to thank #CharlotteLevin, #Netgalley and #PanMacmillan for an ARC of #IfICantHaveYou in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Charlotte Levin never planned to be a writer.

As a young girl she had set her heart on acting and would write short little plays so that she could give herself the main part. It was something that stuck with her throughout her formative years and it was still with her when, as a twenty-something, she attended an acting course at the Royal Court Theatre in London.

Like many a northerner, Charlotte, who was born in Blackpool but lived in Salford from the age of one, had decided to take the plunge and experience life in the nation’s capital.

Aged nineteen she made the journey south to see what was there. It took her to the Royal Court Theatre where she wrote a scene for the end of the acting course’s showcase. A quiet word from the creative director to Charlotte’s tutor left her in no doubt that she had to carry on with her writing. And she has.

Her first novel, If I Can’t Have You, now adorns the bookshelves worldwide. She is currently working on her second novel.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: A Body at the Tea Rooms by Dee MacDonald

A Body at the Tea Rooms (A Kate Palmer Mystery #3_ by Dee MacDonald

Genre: Cosy mystery

Read: 2nd May 2021

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Published: 10th May 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Meet Kate Palmer! A semi-retired nurse with a sweet tooth for cake and a talent for solving crimes.

Kate Palmer is most disappointed when renovations at her sister Angie’s new tea rooms are derailed after a body is discovered in the cellar. She was looking forward to clotted cream teas with a seaside view. Instead she has another murder mystery to solve…

If the village gossip is to be believed, the unfortunate man was connected to the wealthy Hedgefield family. Kate is reluctant to get caught up in the investigation but a curious card in the victim’s jacket pocket sparks her interest. Not to mention the ridiculous rumour Angie is somehow involved! Keen to clear her sister’s name so she can finally eat cake in the charming tea rooms, Kate teams up with handsome retired Detective ‘Woody’ Forrest to untangle the baffling case.

After quizzing the locals over copious cups of tea, Kate begins to realise the Hedgefields, who live in a grand mansion and own half the village, are not as perfect as they make out. They’re hiding a long-buried family secret and plenty of people have a grudge against them, including a number of their ex-employees.

But who could have murdered a member of Lower Tinworthy’s most enviable family? Was it the old gardener? The seemingly sweet cook? Or the bitter maid?

Just as she inches closer to the truth, Angie goes missing. Does amateur sleuth Kate have what it takes to get to the bottom of this extraordinary puzzle and save her sister at the same time?

If you love murder mysteries with a brilliant cast of characters, twisty plots and plenty of cake, A Body at the Tea Rooms will have you hooked until the very last page! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Dee MacDonald's cosy mystery A BODY AT THE TEA ROOMS.

Although this is the third in the Kate Palmer series, this is my first read by Dee MacDonald. I was in the mood for a cosy mystery and Cornwall always does it for me. Having not read any of the previous books in the series, I didn't feel as though I had missed out on anything nor did it impact my experience at all. As the characters are few, I didn't feel lost coming into the series at Book 3. However what was refreshing was that the main characters are older and not the usual younger type who find themselves caught up in crime and mystery in these books.

Semi-retired nurse Kate Palmer moved to Cornwall a year ago and in that time she has several solved mysteries under her belt. She bought the quaint Lavender Cottage in which she lives with her sister Angie who, although being two years older, appears to be going through a second childhood I doubt she really ever left. And then there is Woody Forrest, recently retired Detective Inspector, who having assisted her on the previous cases is now looking forward to enjoying the quiet life with Kate. Also in the mix is Fergus who is somehow or other attached to Kate's sister Angie, though exactly how she isn't quite sure.

The story begins with Kate and Woody having returned from sunny California where she was introduced to Woody's family. On their return to Heathrow they met Aaron Hedgefield who was driving back to Cornwall and offered them a lift instead of taking the four hour coach trip. Having hit it off with Aaron, he invited them to the Tremarron estate sometime. But no sooner were they in the door when they were assailed by Angie who was in a whirlwind of excitement with what had just taken place in the village.

Having come into a surprise inheritance from her ex-mother-in-law, Angie bought the old Locker cafe intending to gut it out and re-open it as a Tea Rooms by day and a bar by night. But in the process of doing so, discovered an old disused cellar and uncovering skeletal remains behind a bricked up wall. So excited by the prospect that this could be an old pirate or smuggler that had somehow met his fate below the old building, Angie began making plans on how to cash in on the find.

Kate's interest was piqued and she couldn't help putting her recently discovered investigative skills to use to identify whose remains they indeed were. Despite Angie's excitement over it being historically linked to smuggling or the like, Woody received information that the body had more than likely been there between ten and forty years. Added to that was the more modern clothing found with the remains, so it was hardly likely to be one of Angie's smugglers. 

But when it appears that the body may be linked to the Hedgefield family up at Tremarron, Kate and Woody decide to take Aaron up on his offer of dinner with them in the hope they might be able to discover something more about the family. In the meantime, Kate sets out to investigate what she has already discovered to try and prove what she now suspects...before sharing it with Woody.

But will her investigating get her into hot water and put not only hers but her sister's life at risk? Or will Kate uncover the truth once again? Village gossip, DNA, grand country house, gardeners, cook, an old boathouse and two untimely deaths around the time the remains were sealed behind the wall in the cellar...this book has it all!

A BODY AT THE TEA ROOMS is a delightful cosy mystery that is a very easy read. So easy that I read it in one sitting when I went to bed...and didn't stop until I finished it just after 1am. There are no complexities or twisted tales here. Just like an afternoon in Midsomer on the Cornish coast.

Of course, like all good mysteries, there is a twist at the end which I didn't even anticipate I was in such a relaxed state with the book! But it was a good twist and certainly explained a lot bringing everything to a satisfying conclusion.

Although the third book in the series, A BODY AT THE TEA ROOMS can be read perfectly well on its own...as I read it. Kate and Woody are extremely likeable, even if I could've throttled Angie at times, as they bounce ideas off each in an effort to solve the case.

An enjoyable read, A BODY AT THE TEA ROOMS is perfect for fans of cosy reads and Agatha Christie.

I would like to thank #DeeMacDonald, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ABodyAtTheTeaRooms in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.

She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70!

Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: A Daughter's Promise by Lynette Rees

A Daughter's Promise by Lynette Rees

Genre: Historical fiction, Victorian era

Read: 8th May 2021

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Published: 9th July 2020

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A heartwarming saga from the best-selling author of The Workhouse Waif.

Eighteen-year-old seamstress Kathryn Flynn lives in Whitechapel, London, struggling to support her widowed mother and younger siblings. But when her work starts drying up and her mother falls ill, she is forced to consider desperate measures....

Then she meets 'Squire', an older city gentleman, who falls instantly in love with her and offers to take her under his wing. 'Squire' could give Kathryn the life she's always wanted...but is there something darker lurking beneath his kindness

MY REVIEW:

Set in the harsh realities of London's East End during the late 1880's, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE is the first book I have read by historical fiction author Lynette Rees and I quite enjoyed it. Despite it being predictable in part, which is pretty much what readers come to expect with this type of story, it still makes for an easy and enjoyable read. While some of the content may be a little sordid, it was done cleanly and sensitively and in a way that made you want to keep turning the pages.

Whitechapel 1888: After the death of her father, 18 year old Kathryn Flynn helps care for her poorly mother and her younger siblings whilst working sporadically as a seamstress to help keep a roof over her family's heads and food on the table. But when work dries up she soon finds they are dodging the rent man when he comes knocking at the end of the week. With no money coming in, she soon fears they will be out on their ear if she cannot find a way to make ends meet soon.

All too aware of her struggles, friend and neighbour Jimmy Dawton takes Kathryn out to the local The Horse and Harness for pie and mash one evening and offers to care for her and her family by proposing marriage. Incredibly fond of Jimmy as she is, she refuses his offer fearing he only made it out of pity. This is her problem and not Jimmy's to solve though she is touched that he cared enough to offer. But that still doesn't solve her problem of how to keep the money coming in to care for her ailing mother and her younger siblings. Noticing the girls on the darkened streets and out of desperation, Kathryn decides the only to keep a roof over their heads and food in their tummies is to join those girls and sell her wares.

And then she meets "the Squire", a gentleman who offers her a job as a companion in the more affluent West End. The money he promises her is more than she could ever hope to earn and it sounds like the answer to her prayers. He treats her like a lady and lavishes her with new gowns and dresses she could never afford in a million years, setting up an apartment for her to entertain and where they can enjoy each other's company. A gentleman in the truest sense of the word he lays not a finger on her...just the promise of his kiss as Kathryn begins to fall in love with him.

Heartbroken that she has thrown him over for an older man who can obviously offer her more than he possibly could, Jimmy leaves his siblings Dorrie and Nick and embarks on a journey on the high seas to make his fortune. Kathryn is shocked that Jimmy would leave his siblings without a backward glance, given that they are far too young to be left on their own. She'd take them in but she has barely enough room for the six of them in their little rooms, not to mention the dilemma of how to feed them. And when her mother takes a turn for the worse, the doctor advises her she may only have weeks to live. Surely something could be done for her...and there is...if you are wealthy. And then Kathryn remembers the Squire.

Under the guise of Miss Bella Cartwright, Kathryn endeavours to make enough money to pay for her mother's care in a facility by the sea as well as keep her siblings clothed and fed and to keep the lecherous O'Shay, the rent man, at bay. With the promise of her entertaining gentlemen, the Squire organises an event at a country manor where she finds herself being ogled and pawed at before being auctioned off with her virginity being the main prize. Kathryn is appalled. The men were old and disgusting bar for one who was much younger but had a cruel glint in his eyes. Surely the Squire had not meant for this to happen? He cared for her. He loved her as she loved him. Therefore she trusted him to protect her. But would he really?

Kathryn finds herself in a situation for which she only has herself to blame. And yet, it was all for her family. To pay for her mother's expensive care so she will get better and for her younger siblings who rely on the money she brings home. She questions herself, is it worth it? But for her her family, she would do anything.

In her new line of work, life is perilous at the best of times but now more than ever as Jack the Ripper is stalking the streets of Whitechapel and brutally slaying women of the night. Can she keep herself safe from the killer and her family from the Workhouse?

A tale of a different kind of sorts, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE tells the story of Kathryn and her family as well as the Dawtons and her new-found friend Georgina. It highlights the perils of life for the poor and poverty-stricken lower class and the people who corrupt them to do their bidding. But it is also heartwarming and will pull at your heartstrings.

A delightfully heartwarming story of a young girl faced with a perilous situation, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE brings together the love of good friends and family in this tale of survival in London's harsh East End.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

Lynette lives in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

EXTRACT: A Death at Seascape House by Emma Jameson

A Death at Seascape House (Jemima Jago #1) by Emma Jameson

Genre: Mystery

Read: 26th April 2021

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Published: 27th April 2021

DESCRIPTION:

With its sweeping sandy beaches and rolling emerald hills, the island of St. Morwenna is an idyllic escape. But behind the perfectly pruned primroses and neighborly smiles a killer lies in wait…

When librarian Jemima Jago is offered the opportunity to catalogue Cornwall’s largest collection of antique shipwreck records it is a dream come true. The only problem? The collection is housed on the island of St. Morwenna, the childhood home she left years ago and vowed never to return to.

Shortly after Jem arrives back in town, island busybody and notorious grump Edith Reddy is found dead, with duct tape clamped over her mouth and nose. Jem, caught seemingly red-handed at the scene of the crime, mistakenly becomes the police’s number one suspect. The handsome Sergeant Hackman in particular can’t seem to leave Jem alone…

Jem must take matters into her own hands if she wants to clear her name. Snooping around Edith’s once-grand home, she is struck by the mess before her. The bedroom is completely ransacked and in the living room all the photographs have been removed from their frames. Was Edith’s death simply a break-in gone wrong, or is there more to the mystery that the police are missing?

Jem has a sharp eye for a clue and she soon realizes that many of the island’s eccentric residents had reason for wanting Edith out of the way. Could Declan, the curious café owner, or Bart, the fishy ferryman have killed Edith? Jem won’t rest until she uncovers the truth, but doing so will put her right in the killer’s line of sight…

A totally charming cozy mystery from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Emma Jameson. Brimming with intrigue and warm humor, fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands will love A Death at Seascape House.

EXTRACT:

Chapter One - Extract 

“Do You Ever Think About Cam Tremayne?”

 

“You’ve been stood up,” said the bartender, sliding over a second pint. 

 

Jem Jago forced a smile. Bad enough that she felt like a fool. Did she look like one, too? 

 

“What makes you say that?” She drummed her fingers against the mahogany countertop. 

 

“I read auras. Yours is tragic.” The bartender, a tall black woman somewhere between thirty-five and forty, gazed seriously at Jem for a moment, then broke into a grin. “Okay, not really. But every time the door opens, your head comes up. You’re always checking your phone. And you stretched out that first pint to last nearly an hour.”

 

“You got me. Top marks.” Jem took a sip of her second ale, a local brew called Double Drowned. She’d already decided to drink this one quickly, call it an afternoon, and head back to Tregarthen’s Hotel. There was a vintage book in her suitcase, a scholarly debunking of Cornish wrecker mythology, that she wanted to get back to. When people let you down, there were always books. 

 

“Sorry. That came off as a bit rude, didn’t it?” the bartender said. “Only I’m working on something called cold reading, and I couldn’t resist trying it on you. Ever heard of it?”

 

 Apparently, conversation came standard with the two-for-one deal. Jem bit back her annoyance. She wasn’t in London anymore, where people were more likely to assume that a silent person desired solitude. Moreover, she and the bartender were currently the only two women in the pub. 

 

It was past six o’clock on a Friday night and the Kernow Arms, a quayside pub in Hugh Town on St. Mary’s, largest of the Isles of Scilly, belonged mainly to local men. Fishermen in their woolen caps, waders, and braces, were seated galley-style at a long table, eating burgers and chips. A couple of pensioners were perched on stools at the other end of the bar, watching an arcane satellite game—whomever vs. whomever, beamed in from wherever. Among the booths, a few surfer types were draped languidly, playing surf videos for one another and critiquing the wipeouts. If the bartender wanted a chat, small wonder she’d picked Jem. 

 

“I’ve heard of cold readings,” Jem said, deciding to smile and make an effort. “Fortune tellers at fetes do it. They size you up at a glance and make guesses based on what they see. Makes it seem like they have a sixth sense. Are you planning a second career as a psychic?” 

 

“Something like that.” Pulling a dishrag from her apron, the bartender went to work on a long stretch of countertop. It already looked spotless, but she seemed like the type who preferred to keep busy. 

 

“My cousin’s trying to make a go of it on St. Morwenna,” she said. “He bought a bed and breakfast, but business hasn’t taken off like he hoped. So he thought we could do a psychic consultancy on weekends. Not fleecing people. For entertainment purposes, as they say.”

 

“No judgment. People love a tarot card reading or an astrological profile,” Jem said. “There used to be a lady on St. Martin’s who did that. She also sold bits of shell art. And put out jams and jellies in the front garden, in an honesty box, for the emmets to purchase. Everyone in the Scillies runs two or three angles simultaneously to pay the bills. It’s the price of living in paradise.” 

 

“Emmet?” The bartender wagged a finger at Jem. “I figured you for one. But you’re an islander, eh?” 

 

“Ex-islander. Recovering Londoner. Jemima Jago. Call me Jem,” she said, putting out a hand.

 

If you've enjoyed this extract, you can grab your copy of A Death at Seascape House by Emma Jameson here: 

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Emma Jameson is the pseudonym for Stephanie Abbott.

Emma Jameson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Lord & Lady Hetheridge cozy mystery series. Book #1, ICE BLUE, Book #2, BLUE MURDER, Book #3, SOMETHING BLUE, Book #4, BLACK & BLUE, Book #5, BLUE BLOODED, and Book #6, BLUE CHRISTMAS are available now.

Her newest venture with digital publisher extraordinaire Bookouture is the Jem Jago cozy mystery series.

Ms. Jameson is also the creator of amateur sleuth Dr. Benjamin Bones. Set in Cornwall during the Second World War, book #1 is MARRIAGE CAN BE MURDER; book #2 is DIVORCE CAN BE DEADLY. Dr. Bones fans will also want to read the companion series, Magic of Cornwall. This includes DR. BONES AND THE CHRISTMAS WISH and DR. BONES AND THE LOST LOVE LETTER, two charming novellas set in untamed, romantic Cornwall

Social Media links:

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REVIEW: A Woman Alone by Nina Laurin

A Woman Alone by Nina Laurin

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 1st May 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 9th July 2020

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A family running from danger.

A house with the darkest of secrets.

The compulsive new thriller from the acclaimed Nina Laurin.

Cecelia, her husband and their three-year-old daughter have just moved into a new house: a fresh start after a horrific burglary the year before. This house comes with a complex security system that is supposed to make them all feel safe.

Except, strange things keep happening. The security system reveals that the house had a prior occupant: Lydia. Where is she now?

Cecelia is determined to discover the fate of this mysterious woman. But in doing so, she beings to realise the danger her family is in.

As twist after twist catches the reader off guard, Lydia's past and Cecilia's present become inexorably entwined in this tense, page-turning novel.

MY REVIEW:

"Only one thing I know for sure. I’m not spending another second in that house.”

Talk about Big Brother watching you and then plotting against you! Why would anyone want to live like that? Signing away your privacy, having a microchip implanted and then proceeding to live in a house that knows your every desire - from how you like your coffee to the ambient temperature of your shower. But what would you do when the home that is meant to keep you safe starts to make you feel anything but?

Following a home invasion that left her traumatised, Cecelia and husband Scott move into a high-security, high-tech Smart Home...called SmartBlock. Everything is automated and pre-programmed to their every specific need. The microchips they had implanted organises everything from their personal needs to identification. They don't need keys, cards or even money. They even have an electric car that is completely incorporated with Saya, their home's personal assistant. Everything is integrated within the SmartBlock system.

On the outside, it appears perfect. But reality proves to be very different when the house that does everything you could dream of, from running your perfect bath to magically cleaning everything up, suddenly turns against you. Strange things begin to happen when it starts to make random coffees you didn't ask for, plays jazz music at a deafening level and heats your 3 year old daughter's breakfast to piping hot. You know things have reached a new level of madness when you begin arguing with the house's AI system... 

And then the system begins malfunctioning revealing that the house, in which they are apparently the first to live, had a prior occupant...Lydia. Who is Lydia? And what happened to her? And why does no one in this community want to talk about her?

In a house that is meant to keep them safe Cecelia feels anything but and has the sense that someone is constantly watching her. But no one believes her. Not her husband and certainly not IntelTech. In fact, Scott's answer is for her to see a psychiatrist...based right here in SmartBlock. But Cece knows the problem is not her, it's the house. And when she catches a glimpse of a lense trained on her daughter Taryn's bedroom window one night, she begins to feel unnerved. How much do they really know about their neighbours? Who even are their neighbours? And why is the system calling her Lydia?

In her quest to discover more about the mysterious Lydia, Cece uncovers a few lurking skeletons and begins to realise that no one's secrets are safe...including her own. 

Whoa! This book serves as a perfect reminder NOT to have a smart house. The things that went wrong and what is known about you is pretty scary. Big Brother is definitely watching here. 

Upon starting this book and discovering AI featured rather heavily, I wasn't sure I would like it as all that is a bit too Sci-Fi for me. But the way in which Nina Laurin delivers the whole concept had me gripped from the beginning. I know it has been tried before and the two books I have read which feature AI technology, one of which failed to grab my attention and the other one only just, A WOMAN ALONE has a sinister edginess that both grips you and creeps you out.

The main characters were well developed, if not annoying, while the supporting ones lingered in the background. I have to say that Scott is the most egotistical selfish husband, dismissing his wife's fears and concerns as ridiculous. The ostentatious way in which he dismisses her every thought, fear or concern as "being just like her mother" is arrogant and abhorrent. He really did not seem to care about her feelings at all while at the same time reiterating the state of her mental health. I found him to be just as coercive as the house itself! And Taryn...OMG! I am not a fan of children, but this child was the spawn of satan. Her behaviour was abhorrent...but then given that she had the illusion of everything she wanted on her tablet screen, I was not surprised.

"I don't have to worry about waking Taryn. At exactly 7:35, the curtains of her room upstairs will open and the tablet by her bed will flicker on, distracting her with morning cartoons while I prepare her oatmeal and come to get her."

Seriously? And they wondered why Taryn continued to act out? When the cartoons finish, seconds count down till the inevitable happens. From her crib upstairs, she screams like a banshee and when Cece walks in and greets her daughter, Taryn is glaring at her and demands petulantly "Another. Now!" When that doesn't happen, she kicks and screams and flails her arms. Her tantrums are epic. In fact, every time Taryn features in the story (which is minimal to say the least) she is throwing some kind of tantrum.

I would have liked to see a bit more character development with the mysterious neighbour in the house behind Cecelia's. The only explanation, when it came, was so random and out of left field it really didn't make any sense why it was even there. Or why he had a camera trained on Taryn's window. He could have been more developed and interspersed within the story much better than the random way in which he was plonked there. Jessica, too, could have been a little more developed. Some of her actions were a little confusing when the bigger picture was revealed and some threads were left unexplained.

But overall, A WOMAN ALONE is a sinister tale that is chilling in more ways than one. It is creepy on a whole new level. But it is also edge of your seat and will keep you guessing till the end. And the twists will leave you thinking "what the hell just happened?"

Although this concept has been done before, I think Nina Laurin was far more successful in her tale than those who have gone before and I couldn't help but think it would make a great movie. It is chilling, thrilling and claustrophobic.

My first foray with this author, A WOMAN ALONE is perfect for fans of J.P. Delaney's "The Girl Before" and S.K. Tremayne's "The Assistant"...only better.

I would like to thank #NinaLaurin, #Netgalley and #MulhollandBooks for an ARC of #AWomanAlone in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nina Laurin is the author of bestselling psychological thrillers.

Arriving in Montreal when she was just twelve years old, she speaks and reads in Russian, French, and English, but writes her novels in English.

She wrote her first novel while getting her creative writing degree from Concordia University, and Girl Last Seen was published a year later in 2017. The follow-up, What My Sister Knew, came out on June 19th 2018 to critical acclaim. Followed by The Starter Wife on June 11th 2019

Her latest psychological thriller, A Woman Alone, was published July 9th 2020.

Nina is fascinated by the darker side of mundane things, and she’s always on the lookout for her next twisted book idea.

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW: One in Three by Tess Stimson

One in Three by Tess Stimson

Genre: Domestic thriller

Read: 30th April 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 9th July 2020

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

DESCRIPTION:

Both of them loved him. One of them killed him . . .

Louise has had to watch her husband, Andrew, start a new family in the four years since he left her. The ‘other woman’ is now his wife – but Louise isn’t ready to let Caz enjoy the life that was once hers, or to let go of the man she still loves.

As Louise starts to dig into Caz’s past, the two women’s pretence of civility starts to slip. But in trying to undermine each other, they discover more about the man they both married.

And when Andrew is murdered at a family party, both women are found standing over the body.

It’s always the wife. But which one?

MY REVIEW:

One in three marriages end in divorce. This one ends in murder.

My first book by Tess Stimson was "Picture of Innocence", published in the US as "A Mother's Secret", and I totally loved that book and thought it would be a tough one to beat...but ONE IN THREE comes pretty damn close! Oh. My. Gosh! What a twisted ride this was! I was hooked from the very first page in this twisted but addictive conflict between Louise and Caz that delivered shock after shock until the very end. Just WOW!

Introducing the cast of characters, we have:

Andrew, the husband

Caz, the current young wife

Louise, the ex-wife that can't quite move on.

All three will attend a family celebration but only two will survive.

The opening scenes are explosive with the murder of the charismatic hubby, Andrew Page, having been stabbed to death with both his wife Caz and his ex-wife Louise in a tussle beside the body covered in his blood. But the question remains - which one killed him? And why?

The story then rewinds to seven weeks before that fateful night, when all hell breaks loose when Louise discovers that her mother Celia has invited her ex-husband Andrew and his trophy wife Caz to their 50th wedding anniversary party to take place on the beautiful and secluded Burgh Island in Devon. How can Louise be expected to move on if her mother continues to include Andrew in their lives, despite the fact he left them to shack up with his mistress? Louise is livid as is her doctor sister-in-law Min, who married to Louise's brother Luke. Why would Celia even invite them knowing how it rip her daughter's heart out just seeing them together? But no amount of cajoling from Louise, Min or even Celia's husband Brian would make Celia change her mind. She loves Andrew as if he were her own son and like it or not he is still a part of the family, given that he fathered Louise's two children, Bella and Tolly.

Louise has never really gotten over Andrew leaving her for a younger model, his mistress no less with whom he was cheating on her throughout the last year of their marriage. But when Louise fell pregnant with Tolly, she thought they had a chance...and so he stayed. And they were happy. But then he left her one week after their son was born straight into Caz's arms, marrying her as soon as the divorce was final. That was four years ago. And yet still Louise holds on to the hope that he will come back to them. 

A TV newsreader, Andrew is charismatic and charming, but he was not husband of the year. Despite walking out on Louise a week after Tolly's birth, she would always be the woman he loved and he made no secret of the fact that as his second wife Caz would therefore be second choice and second place - a consolation prize to the one he really wanted. Sharing children with Louise has kept him more involved with them than Caz is comfortable with, even after the birth of their son Kit. 

And then the invitation arrives. Caz doesn't want to go and Louise definitely doesn't want either of them there. But Andrew insists the two women bury the hatchet...preferably not in each other's backs.

And so we watch as both women set out to destroy the other...

The events leading up to the party are told through the alternating narratives of Louise and Caz, both women are unreliable narrators, making it difficult to work out just who is telling the truth. Which one of them is lying...or is it neither of them? There is the odd chapter from sister in law Min's perspective as she outlays her growing worry over Louise and her mental health, leading readers to wonder just how much truth is there to Louise's narrative? The clever insertion of excerpts of police interviews in the wake of Andrew's death with various witnesses and family members only adds to the growing tension as bit by bit clues are gradually revealed. What exactly was going on? And which one of them is lying?

I have to say, I was totally Team Louise and sympathised with her far more than Caz who knew what she was doing when she got involved with Andrew. I've no sympathy for a woman who went in knowing full well that he was married and laid her claim on him anyway and yet expected sympathy and understanding when he kept running back to wife #1! What did she expect? She made her bed...as her mother wisely told her. The same mother she secreted away in a rambling council-run care home in Dagenham in Essex away from the perfect life she had built for herself. Caz had secrets, of that I was sure, and I'd no doubt they told a different tale than the one she portrayed to everyone else. I didn't trust her from the beginning...

Louise, however, I did sympathise with. To love someone so completely that you envision growing old together, with your grandchildren running around you someday. And then in the blink of an eye, it's over. He has left you for a younger trophy wife and your world falls apart. I could see Louise struggling with trying to move on, and she did make an effort to do so, but her mother constantly shoving Andrew in her face made it difficult. How was she to move on if her mother kept inviting him over? Yes, they shared children together but that should have been the extent of their involvement with one another. Of course, Louise wasn't perfect. But her war with Caz began out of one woman's jealousy of the other...until it culminated into who was going to one up the other. Despite this, my loyalty remained with Louise throughout.

The children are always the ones caught in the crossfire. Louise and Andrew failed to see the struggles going on with their 16 year old daughter but Caz did. But did that make her a good mother...or was it an opportunity she saw to get at Louise? Nothing these parents did benefited their children as they were caught up in their hate-fuelled war with one another with Andrew trying to calm the waters between the warring women. But when Louise did see Bella's pain, she halted any further sparring with Caz. Her daughter was more important. But Caz? She happily left her son in London with the neighbour with no further thought of him while she sat in their Brighton house fuming at Andrew being with Louise...and lying about it! Is she surprised? Once a cheater, always a cheater. But did her son's wellbeing not come first? No. In fact he didn't even factor in as she drew her final card to play against Louise. 

While Andrew tries to diffuse the animosity between the two women and placate them...is he as blameless as he seems? Both women acted abhorrently at times, but it was Caz I found to be the most selfish. And yet she was surprised by her husband's behaviour. If a man cheats on one wife with another, chances are he will cheat on you too. Did Caz really think she was THAT special that he wouldn't stray from her? 

ONE IN THREE is an addictive fast paced thriller that will have you questioning the reliability of each narrative. Neither woman is innocent but are they guilty of murder? And if so, which one? Who to believe?

The characters are well-developed and there are times you love to hate them as well as sympathise with them. I cannot imagine what Louise's mother was thinking forcing her daughter's ex-husband and his new trophy wife on her when her loyalty should have been with her daughter! And while Andrew appeared to be the good guy caught in the middle, was he really? Or was this battle a war of his own making? The only thing I would have loved to see, and didn't, would be a showdown with Caz's mother revealing everything to all.

I could rave about this book all day though it would be difficult not to reveal a spoiler or two. But it is THAT good! I despaired when I had to put the book down to go to sleep and at any time I was interrupted. I simply couldn't put it down! I relished every gory detail and each drama played out by one or the other woman and couldn't wait to see what was coming next. I began to suspect who was the murderer but even then it was too easy...until I grasped another suspect. Was I right? In the end, I was but...it felt a little flat when the motive was revealed...even if the opportunity was slightly unbelievable. There were three I would happily have seen as the murderer, and although one of them was, I would have been far happier if the one of the others had been. Not for any other reason than because it would have been a shocking twist that you would not see coming.

I will say that unfortunately there is a little animal abuse featured, though it wasn't gory or detailed it was enough to dampen the story a little. And for this reason I have deducted half a star. I wish authors would stop with the animal mutilation or abuse or graphic death of an animal. It is not needed and puts off a lot of readers. Had it been a dog, I would have been weeping buckets and probably would have found it difficult to continue.

Overall, though, ONE IN THREE is a brilliant domestic thriller that will leave you guessing right up to the end. Perfect for fans of Sue Watson, Shalini Boland, K.L. Slater and Lisa Jewell.

I would like to thank #TessStimson, #Netgalley and #AvonBooks for an ARC of #OneInThree in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Tess Stimson was born in Surrey, in the south of England, and read English at Oxford University. Upon graduating she joined ITN as a news producer, reporting and producing regional and world stories, travelling to hotspots and war-zones all over the globe, before leaving bullets behind to become a full-time writer.

Since then, she's written more than a dozen novels, numerous short stories, and two non-fiction books, which have been published internationally and translated into more than twenty languages.

In recent years, Tess has moved away from writing women’s fiction and towards darker psychological thrillers, which seem to suit her personality better. As well as writing fiction she continues to work as a journalist, and also teach reporting for media and creative writing at a university in the North-Eastern US.​

Tess live in Vermont with her husband, and am visited intermittently by her three grown-up children whenever they need their laundry done.

Social Media links:

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