REVIEW: The White Rose Network by Ellie Midwood

The White Rose Network by Ellie Midwood

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, True stories

Read: 4th February 2022

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Published: 9th February 2022

★★★ 3 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Based on a true story, an unputdownable and utterly heartbreaking World War 2 page-turner

 

1943, Germany: “I won’t be able to live if anything happens to you,” she whispered into his ear as they said goodbye, not knowing if they would ever see each other again. The White Rose Network brings to life the incredible true story of Sophie Scholl––one of history’s bravest women, who risked everything to lead a revolution against darkness.

Sophie was born to be a rebel, raised by parents who challenged the brutal Nazi regime. Determined to follow in their footsteps, she leaves for university, defying Hitler’s command for women to stay at home.

On her first day in Munich, Sophie’s brother Hans introduces her to his dear friend. When she meets Alexander, with his raven-black hair and brooding eyes, she knows instantly that she isn’t alone. There are more courageous souls like her, who will fight against evil.

Together, and with others who also refuse to back down, they form the White Rose Network. In an underground vault, Sophie and Alexander conspire in whispers, falling in love as they plot against Hitler. Promising her heart to Alexander is the most dangerous act of all––with each risk they take, they get closer to capture.

As snowflakes fall on a frosty February morning, Sophie and her brother scatter Munich University with leaflets calling for resistance: “We will not be silent; we will not leave you in peace!”

But their lives hang in the balance, with the secret police offering a reward to anyone with information on the White Rose Network. It is only a matter of time before the Gestapo closes in… And when Sophie is imprisoned in an interrogation room, staring a Nazi officer in the eye, will she take their secrets to her grave? Will she sacrifice her freedom for love?

Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Lilac Girls will be completely gripped by this heartbreaking and addictive page-turner. This inspirational tale shows that, in the face of evil, giving up is not an option…

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Ellie Midwood's heartbreaking tale #TheWhiteRoseNetwork.

Based on true events, THE WHITE ROSE NETWORK is the fictionalised story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, resistance fighters campaigning against the Nazi fascist regime during Hitler's reign during World War 2. Raised on truth and justice, their parents instilled in them the courage to challenge the injustice which they then found themselves in. 

Hans, already in the Wehrmacht as medical aid (so he does not have to spill the blood of another human being), lives in Munich where his sister Sophie would join him as one of the very few women allowed to attend university. Upon moving to Munich, Sophie then meets her brother's friends who thus make up the White Rose network and is excited to join them in the cause, fighting for Germany's freedom. Amongst the friends is Alexander, half Russian and half German, with whom Sophie falls in love with despite being engaged to another away fighting at the Front. This is primarily her story.

Beginning in February 1943 after her capture for distributing a shower of leaflets at the university alongside Hans, Sophie is interrogated by KriminalKommissioner Robert Mohr who, as a vetran in the police, now works as a highly skilled interrogator with the Gestapo. His job is to elicit the truth and the wider expanse of their network. But what he experiences in her presence makes him question himself and his very reason for being there. Sophie is an extraordinary young woman, courageous beyond belief, and is not afraid to stand up for her belief in the injustice facing their country. Their tête-a-têtes in the interrogation room are some of the best scenes in the book as his truths versus hers are challenged creating something of an enigmatic contradiction in its place.

I had heard of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose network before picking up this book, but this story delves deeper into the lives of both Hans and Sophie and the depth of their involvement right up to the end. Although we know how the story ends, it doesn't stop the reader from hoping for the best whilst knowing without a doubt to expect the worst. 

An inspirational story of a time long since past but never forgotten, THE WHITE ROSE NETWORK is a tribute of sorts to those men and women who gave up their lives for the social injustices that shrouded their much-loved country through Hitler's fascism. They gave their lives so that Germany may have a better future...in freedom.

As thought-provoking and heartfelt as it was, I found the story itself a little too political...and yet, that is exactly what the White Rose were fighting against. But that is just a reflection of my own personal tastes. It was certainly inspiration and heartfelt, but yes...too political for my tastes. But don't let that dissuade you because it is an incredible story of bravery and courage in the midst of injustice.

However, my favourite part of the entire book is the very last page...revealing that the heart and soul of the White Rose truly lived on. 

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, The Girl from Berlin.' Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents. 

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

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SPOTLIGHT: The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

 

The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

Genre: Psychological thriller

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Published: 30th January 2022

DESCRIPTION:

It’s a beautiful place to live. Or die. 

June is very happy in her home. It’s where she raised her two kids – now college age – and every room is filled with memories, some beautiful, some painful. She loves the garden she has worked so hard to create. She likes her neighbours in this pleasant, leafy suburb.

But lately, something has changed.

There’s the new guy across the street. He seems rough, possibly criminal. And he’s been taking a definite interest in June’s rebellious daughter, Cathy.

And there’s June’s son, Sam. He’s always been open and friendly but recently he’s been sullen and secretive.

Even more disturbing, June’s cheating ex-husband suddenly seems to be everywhere. It’s almost as if he’s stalking her.

Then, when someone she knows is murdered, June begins to understand that all these different things are connected. And as she investigates further, she realises that she herself is in terrible danger.

Because someone out there wants June gone. Permanently.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kevin is a Guidance Counselor by day and a psychological thriller author during his off hours. He puts an original slant on some common experiences and creates engaging stories with a personal twist. Kevin lives in Dublin, Ireland with three great kids, a frenetic Westie, Alfie, and a wife who makes him laugh, which is really all he could ask for.

Kevin writes psychological thrillers. The Perfect Home will be his second novel published with Inkubator Books.

REVIEW: The Birthday Party by Wendy Dranfield

The Birthday Party by Wendy Dranfield

Genre: Psychological thriller, Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Suspense, Mystery, Crime fiction, Crime thriller

Read: 6th February 2022

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Amazon

Published: 7th January 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Charlotte waves at her mother across the crowded lawn. Little red boots on, cowboy hat crooked over her blonde pigtails, she’s been looking forward to this party for weeks. Moments later, she disappears without a trace…

Kathy Hamilton drives away from her sister-in-law’s pristine-white suburban house in Maple Falls certain she’s left her daughter in safe hands. On the hottest day of the year, a birthday is the perfect excuse to gather friends, family and neighbors around the pool for a barbecue. But when she returns hours later to find her little girl has vanished, her world shatters.

Nobody laughing and drinking in the garden that day saw anything unusual.

Kathy’s eldest daughter is anxious and hardly eating. Is she sick with worry for her sister, or hiding a terrible secret?

The phone rings and rings, but why can’t Kathy get hold of the babysitter?

And is she imagining it, or when her husband rushed from work to join the search, was he wearing a different shirt to the one she saw him leave the house in that morning?

As the temperature rises, and long-buried secrets begin to surface, it’s clear that even the most perfect families keep devastating secrets. But in a town as small as this, is there anyone you can trust?

A totally gripping and utterly addictive page-turner that will have you racing through and reeling at the twists. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl and Teresa Driscoll, it will keep you up reading all night long!

MY REVIEW:

WOW! Just WOW! I loved this book by new-to-me author Wendy Dranfield and, although it is not my usual choice of setting as I tend to stick to British or Australian set books (simply because there are so many out there I have limit myself to my favourite setting...and those being Britain and Australia), I was completely immersed from the very beginning. Yes, it is of a missing child (of which there are many, I know) and yes there are plenty of secrets to unravel amidst the lies and deception...but WOW! If THE BIRTHDAY PARTY is anything to go by, I think I might have to add Wendy Dranfield to my list of authors...despite the continent difference! lol

A birthday party is supposed to be a happy occasion, an exciting time for children with loads of fun and food. In this case, it was adorned with every novelty imaginable for a child from jumping castles, pony rides, face painting and swimming to clowns and even fire eaters! It was a child's heaven. And 5 year old Charlotte "Charlie" Hamilton had been looking forward to her twin cousins' birthday party for weeks. It was all she could talk about. 

So when the day came around, Charlie dressed herself in her red dress with zebras complete with yellow shorts underneath (for reasons only a 5 year old would know...lol), cowboy boots, cowboy hat and little blonde pigtails. Mum Kathy has no sooner pulled up outside her brother-in-law Scott's house when Charlie jumps out of the car and races around the side of the house to where all the fun and action is! And it doesn't take her long to discover the pony for which she lines up for a ride almost immediately. With so many adults in attendance, Kathy is certain her daughter will be safe at the party amongst the other children overseered by all the other parents. She takes a few minutes to say hello and give her good wishes to the birthday twins before making her escape. Having arranged for babysitter Megan to collect Charlie when the event is over, Kathy then heads to the refuge where she volunteers despite the migraine that continues to pound her head before keeping an important appointment with husband Mitch at 4pm.

Little did they know...

Several hours later, Kathy and Mitch arrive home to discover that Megan and Charlie aren't there when the party should well and truly be over. They try calling Megan on her mobile phone. No answer. They return to the party where all the children have now gone as have the entertainment and all that remains are a few inebriated adults with no clue as to where Charlie is or when they last saw her. Frantic with worry, Kathy calls the police to report her daughter's disappearance. 

Enter Detective Chase Cooper. He and Kathy knew each other decades ago back in high school and used to date, much to her snobbish parents' chagrin as they saw him as being from "the wrong side of the tracks". But for the privileged Kathy, Chase was her first love and although she tried hiding their relationship it all went terribly wrong and she is devastated when it fell apart. But despite their history, Chase immediately begins the search for Charlie at Scott and Cindy's house, its sprawling grounds and beyond whilst trying to ascertain exactly where Megan has also disappeared to.

And then the hidden cracks of the prestigious Hamilton family facade begin to surface exposing the secrets and lies that have been maintained for decades...and nothing is as it seems. Bit by bit, the mystery unravels only to reveal yet another twist of which there are a litany!

The author has carefully constructed a tangled web of secrets and deception that are so intricately woven and, by revealing just enough along the way, keeping the reader invested and giving the impression of knowing what's happening...and then she tosses in another twist that opens up a completely different possibility. The plot was so skillfully woven that it had me completely fooled for much of the book. I did suspect a few twists along the way but mostly I was in the dark and had no idea where it was heading. And just before the final reveals, a light went on and I knew exactly where it was heading and I couldn't keep up for flipping the pages of my kindle so fast in a heart-stopping race to the end!

OK so some of the story maybe a tad far-fetched but this is fiction. And what we enjoy is fast paced, thrill ride, addictive reads that throw us so many twists that keep us engaged throughout. Who cares if it's not entirely believable? For the most part it is. And that's what balances out the far-fetched bits because at that point you're so invested in the story you don't care if it's real or not. Just that it is one hell of a ride!! And it is!

The characters are all developed enough for the picture they are depicted in. Some of them are endearing and some are hateful. I loved Chase's reliability and Megan's no nonsense style. Fay reminded me of a baby bird that takes tentative steps to see if it's safe. I sympathised with Kathy for the most part but her blindness when it came to her mother at times was irritating. Sure, she's her mother but the woman was downright rude and controlling. Nowhere did I see her "good intentions" that Kathy often talked about.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY also contains some triggering issues for some readers but to mention them could potentially be a spoiler but I do feel it should be pointed out despite this so readers can judge whether is appropriate in such a case. Without giving too much away there is abuse and assault as well as slightly graphic crime scenes, while not overly graphic they cam be enough to upset some readers.

With its vivid descriptions and atmosphere, THE BIRTHDAY PARTY is a fast paced read that is chilling in part but oh so addictive! It is nail-biting, page-turning and heart-racing that I stayed up well into the night and into the wee hours of the morning just to finish it! And when I did I can honestly say I was speechless. THE BIRTHDAY PARTY was jaw-dropping to the extreme throughout like no other thriller I have read...and I've read plenty! This book just keeps on giving with twists and bombshells despite the red herrings peppered throughout. Not many crime thriller writers can hoodwink me but Wendy Dranfield has done it more than once in this book alone!

If you have not read THE BIRTHDAY PARTY, I can only say you need to do yourself a favour and go out and grab yourself a copy...because you won't be sorry. It is definitely one of those "just one more chapter" books that you end up reading way past your bedtime and into the wee hours of the early morning...

An addictive heart-racing thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and blow your mind over and over again!!

Recommended for fans of Lisa Jewell, Louise Jensen, Nicola Marsh, C.L. Taylor and Teresa Driscoll.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Wendy has been a full-time crime writer for a number of years now, but during her career she has also worked for various charities who try to stop the exploitation of vulnerable children and adults, as well as with prisoners, and working as a coroner’s assistant. She has written a mixture of standalone novels and series, and short stories, several of which have been published in various anthologies in the UK and the US. She's also been shortlisted and longlisted for various writing competitions including the Mslexia novel writing competition.

Wendy's current crime series, published by Bookouture at Hachette UK, follows Detective Madison Harper as she tries to reclaim her life after spending six years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit. 

Wendy is active on social media and would love readers to look her up if you’d like to keep up-to-date with book releases and find out what happens behind the scenes with her, her characters and her writing buddies; Joey, Sookie and Teddy!

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PUBLISHER:

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

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REVIEW: The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

The Perfect Home by Kevin Lynch

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 3rd February 2022

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Amazon

Published: 30th January 2022

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

It’s a beautiful place to live. Or die. 

June is very happy in her home. It’s where she raised her two kids – now college age – and every room is filled with memories, some beautiful, some painful. She loves the garden she has worked so hard to create. She likes her neighbours in this pleasant, leafy suburb.

But lately, something has changed.

There’s the new guy across the street. He seems rough, possibly criminal. And he’s been taking a definite interest in June’s rebellious daughter, Cathy.

And there’s June’s son, Sam. He’s always been open and friendly but recently he’s been sullen and secretive.

Even more disturbing, June’s cheating ex-husband suddenly seems to be everywhere. It’s almost as if he’s stalking her.

Then, when someone she knows is murdered, June begins to understand that all these different things are connected. And as she investigates further, she realises that she herself is in terrible danger.

Because someone out there wants June gone. Permanently.

MY REVIEW:

I generally love neighbourhood thrillers. You are given a glimpse into the lives of those you think you know but really you don't and then from out of nowhere you are hit head on with a twist you very probably didn't see coming! However in this case, I could see no twist, no tension and nothing remotely interesting happening in this neighbourhood. And after an interesting presmise I was somewhat disappointed.

I was so bored throughout as far as I read in this so-called thriller. I got as far as 30% before I chucked it in and couldn't be bothered with any of them. Each character was equally unlikeable and none of them gave me an inkling to find out more about them or what they could be hiding...if anything. June is a divorced mum of two equally irritating offspring who show no respect whatsoever to their mother, instead giving her attitude and constantly talking back. And the neighbours?? Elderly Fred looked as if he was about to blow a gasket and Paul would trip over his supply of alcohol he uses to blot out the rest of the world on a daily basis because, well, his own has basically fallen apart.

And then there is Steve Murray, the new neighbour from hell, busy clogging up their normally quiet street with a deluge of cars he is tinkering with and revving on a daily basis accompanied by his very loud choice of music. Cathy, June's twenty year old know-it-all daughter, says he's just tryong to make a living and to give him a break. Her son, Sam, bounces between much of the same and it being next to impossible to study or write his assignments for uni. And then there's Nick...June's ex-husband who has now found a new job as gardener for the letting agent of the properties in their street and therefore sees it as his right to pop in for morning tea and breaks and basically whenever he chooses...regardless of the fact that it is no longer his home. Of course June is seen as the bad guy if she refuses him a spare key, but having Nick in her home and sanctuary is the last thing she wants. Basically, she's a doormat for everyone else and their wishes.

So with 30% of the book consumed I can safely say nothing happens in that time apart from the comings and goings of June to and from work, throwing together something for tea, a few words with the offspring, the new neighbour revving his engines and playing loud music with the other neighbours growing increasingly irritated by his disrespect of his neighbours and Cathy's coming and going to Nick's constantly popping in. It's more like a drop-in centre where nothing really happens except bitching about the neighbours and arguing with your adult children.

Not even the death of a neighbour swayed my waning interest in this book. Sorry, but I couldn't finish it and moved on to greener and more interesting pastures.

I would like to thank #KevinLynch, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ThePerfectHome in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Kevin is a Guidance Counselor by day and a psychological thriller author during his off hours. He puts an original slant on some common experiences and creates engaging stories with a personal twist. Kevin lives in Dublin, Ireland with three great kids, a frenetic Westie, Alfie, and a wife who makes him laugh, which is really all he could ask for. 

Kevin writes psychological thrillers. The Perfect Home will be his second novel published with Inkubator Books.

REVIEW: A New Dawn Over Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke

A New Dawn Over Mulberry Lane (Mulberry Lane series #8) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 29th January 2022

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Published: 3rd February 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

London 1958

Life has moved on since the war and the youngsters of Mulberry Lane are growing up fast.

Peggy Ronaski’s family is struggling with growing pains but she is always there, strong, reliable and ready to help whenever a crisis hits.

Meanwhile, Maureen Hart has family problems of her own to contend with.

Together they will work hard to conquer all of what life has to throw at them…

Join Peggy and Maureen as their siblings embark on life’s new adventures and try to forge a partnerships for success.

What does the future hold for the families and friends of Mulberry Lane?

MY REVIEW:

It's 1958 and A NEW DAWN OVER MULBERRY LANE takes place eight years after the previous book in which the women and their families had overcome many obstacles...such as a devastating car accident leaving one of them in a critical condition, the death of a much-loved resident, attacks in the dead of night as well as the long-awaited pregnancy for one of them ten years after her first child...all while still dealing with the rationing of food that was still in short supply fives years after the war had ended. Now at the height of a decade nearing its end sees a new generation stepping up and out to embarks on their own lives.

The author takes us on a new journey of this new generation as we revisit some old favourites. Whilst the focus was on Peggy, Maureen and Pearl in the previous book, it's their children - Maggie, Fay, Shirley and even Freddie - that shine in this installment alongside Peggy and Maureen. Even Peggy's elder daughter Janet features a lot more as does husband Ryan when the child they had so longed for eight years ago is set to being them heartache once again. As always, there is a lot going on in and around Mulberry Lane and with it are plenty of challenges that each of the families face respectively.

One of the first hurdles is Maureen's husband Gordon struck down with serious health issues whilst their daughter Shirley has completed her training as a doctor in Durham, returning to take up a position she has always intended and trained to do - work with the poor who would never visit a doctor otherwise - and she gains the respect of those vagrants as well as her peers along the way. But what is even more surprising in the budding romance that comes her way when she least expected it. We also see a dawn of a new era in medical advancement with new promises coming their way.

Previously, Peggy's daughter Fay had worked hard to train as a figure skater but after a a health scare that would set her training back months, she decides what she really wants to do is bake. And not just the simple kind. Fay has always dreamed big - first with her skating and now with this new venture. Then when Peggy's granddaughter (and Janet's daughter) Maggie moves to London, she surprises everyone with her big plans to change the Pig & Whistle as they all know it. Together she and Fay devise a plan they both intend to pursue with grandeur and the promise of welcoming results. 

Meanwhile, Janet is caught between a rock and a hard place. She loves Ryan but she's far from happy. She is discontent and is beginning to look elsewhere for something that will make her happy. Their young son Jon, whom they had longed for so long, has struggles of his own but tackles them in his own way in silence.

Throughout the story, Peggy and Able Ronoscki are one of the central couples alongside Maureen and Gordon. Now it's their children's time to shine as a new generation brings fresh ideas to Mulberry Lane. We see a little less of Rose and Tom Barton in this book but they are still there on the periphery and will more than likely pop up again in future tales. But the stories that surround the primary characters of this book have enough on their hands to deal with - struggles, loss, grief, health issues as well as hope and new beginnings as change is on the horizon for them all.

I have not been with the series from the beginning so therefore there may have been some key experiences I have missed but each book is written in such a way that you don't miss out, bringing the past back through a little backstory while telling the story of the present. I did find the beginning of this book a little slow to get going but once it did I enjoyed it immensely and find myself looking forward to the next installment.

Already I enjoy some of Rosie Clarke's other series - Harpers Emporium and the new Blackberry Farm - as well as some of her standalones. She has the ability to bring a sense of comfort to her stories that you can just see yourself settling into a comfy seat at Peggy's table to enjoy her delicious shepherd's pie with a helping of apple pie and cream for afters. 

As always, Rosie Clarke's sagas are a pleasure to revisit even after some time with her warm sense of family and friendship. If you haven't already had the pleasure of the Mulberry Lane series, I definitely recommend it. Even if you start midway, the author brings enough backstory into the present to bring you to speed that you don't miss out. But of course, starting at the beginning is always the best option, if possible.

I enjoyed my trip to Mulberry Lane once again and I'm glad I made the journey. I look forward to future visits.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

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

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

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

 

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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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REVIEW: The Guest Room by Rona Halsall

The Guest Room by Rona Halsall

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 27th January 2022

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Published: 31st January 2022

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

You think you’re safe in your home. You’re wrong.

Steph used to think her life was perfect. A happy marriage, two wonderful kids, and a home she felt safe in and called her own. But now her husband has walked out after thirty years, her daughter Bea is married and lives miles away, and Steph’s estranged son hasn’t made contact in years. Home doesn’t feel like the safe haven it once did.

When she begins to hear noises in the night, at first she thinks she’s imagining things. But then she finds open windows she knows she left closed, and a strange smell in the kitchen – and she knows none of it feels right.

Then her front window is smashed, and a young man named Noah helps her fix it. He’s fallen on hard times and Steph impulsively offers him a place to stay. He reminds her of her missing son, and as a mother she finds herself wanting to help him. Also, if he is there, she won’t be home alone.

Before long Noah is living in Bea’s old bedroom, paying rent, and getting his life back on track. Steph’s ex-husband and Bea are furious. But Steph feels secure at last, and that’s what matters.

Until the strange things start happening once more.

And Steph realises that someone is out to scare her…

Someone who will stop at nothing to make her never, ever feel safe again.

The most twisty and unputdownable thriller of the year – perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and Gone Girl.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Rona Halsall's latest compelling thriller #TheGuestRoom.

You think you're safe in your own home...you're wrong.

Steph has always thought she a pretty good life with husband Andy but after almost thirty years together and a multitude of rows fraught with misunderstanding, Andy walks out filing for divorce soon after. Her grown-up children, Bea and Max, have long since flown the coop so, now in her fifties, Steph finds herself living alone for the first time in her life. And she intends to make the most it.

But living alone isn't all it's cracked up to be. For Steph is a nurturer and she thrives on helping others and being there for them. But now she suddenly finds herself on her own and she isn't quite sure what to do with herself. She works at a local homeless shelter where she feels she is most needed...an environment in which Steph thrives. But it doesn't provide the money she needs to take out a mortgage to buy Andy out of his share of the house. And no amount of discussion with Andy will shift her stance on remaining in this house, where all her memories are...not to mention her son Max. What if, after leaving abruptly in the middle of the night ten years ago to join the army, Max finally comes home only to find they've moved? But Andy is intent on selling and finds every opportunity he can to try and change her mind. But Steph is adamant. She is staying.

And then strange things begin to occur. Returning home from work she finds clear signs there has been an intruder. The stale smell of cigarettes. A window left open she knows she had closed. And a cigarette butt on her living room floor. The feeling that someone has been in her home....and yet nothing was taken. The police are called, a report is filed and she is given a crime number. End of. Until a few days later a brick is thrown through her front window. Steph feels uneasy. Someone is trying to frighten her. But who? Andy wants her out but surely he wouldn't stoop to this...would he?

When she stumbles upon young Noah in her shed, she offers him a feed if he helps her board the window until the glazier can come the following morning. Steph recognises Noah from the homeless shelter and having fallen on hard times after dropping out of university, she impulsively offers him a room. He'd be doing her a real favour actually. The security of having someone there will make her feel less vulnerable plus the rent will help her towards taking out the mortgage she needs to pay Andy. However, the problems don't go away but merely increase and Steph is really beginning to feel scared. Who would want to frighten her so much? 

A real page-turner, THE GUEST ROOM is a chilling and disturbing read highlighting the vulnerabilities of the main character, Steph. I had to shake my head at some of her impulsive decisions and although I understood her motives they were borne out of naivete and idealism. Not everyone can be taken at face value yet that is just what Steph does. I was sympathetic to her plight even if I wanted to shake her at times.

There is a real sense of foreboding and a creepy atmosphere throughout where the tension is clearly palpable. I was sitting on a knife-edge waiting for the heart-pounding tension to dissipate and yet the twists keep coming. Although there were many suspects, I had two clear ones in my mind as I sifted for clues throughout the debris that was now Steph's life. When the reveal came, it was with a slow build that the reader became suddenly aware at the moment Steph did, though I sat there thinking..."At last the penny drops!!" No, I wasn't surprised but it was indeed a shocking twist...and yet it wasn't even the last one either.

The jaw-dropping twists that pepper throughout make THE GUEST ROOM an engaging and compelling read you won't want to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I did find the start a little slow with the constant domestic disputes between Steph and Andy. I can't wait to see what Rona has in store for us next!

Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers such as Ruth Heald, Shalini Boland and Lisa Jewell.

I would like to thank #RonaHalsall, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGuestRoom 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 lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and three guinea pigs. 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 Orphan in the Peacock Shawl by AnneMarie Brear

The Orphan in the Peacock Shawl

Genre: Historical fiction, General fiction, Victorian Era

Read: 26th January 2022

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Published: 27th January 2022

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Yorkshire Dales 1850

As a terrible storm rages, Annabelle Wallis is shocked to find a distressed young woman at her cottage door, heavy with child. Moments later a baby girl is born. But by dawn, the mother has vanished, leaving behind the helpless child wrapped only in a silk peacock shawl.

When news spreads that Lady Eliza Hartley, sister to wealthy estate owner, John Hartley, has been found dead, Annabelle realises the terrible secret she has stumbled on. Terrified she’ll be blamed for Eliza’s death, Annabelle flees to the filthy slums of York, where she plans to raise the precious orphan as her own.

The cobbled streets of York’s slums are no place for a young woman like Annabelle or a Hartley babe and John Hartley is determined to bring them both home. But Annabelle proves impossible to find.

Annabelle can’t hide forever from the wealthy Hartley family, but can she ever give up the baby she loves?

MY REVIEW:

My first read by author AnneMarie Brear and what a delightful read it is! As soon as I began I was swept away back to the Victorian era of the windswept Yorkshire Dales to the foetid slums of York. The author's descriptions were vivid enough to picture them without being bogged down in overt detail whilst bringing a realism to the tale. Almost at once I felt like I was reading Catherine Cookson or Dilly Court, both of whom I adore. Needless to say, I read this book in one sitting one afternoon...I could not put it down until I finished.

Set in the Yorkshire Dales in 1850, Annabelle Wallis lives in a cottage on the edge of the estate of the wealthy Hartley family. She is an orphan whose mother entrusted her to her friend Amy Wallis, an herbalist known locally as Widow Wallis having lost her husband in a tragic accident fifty years before. Widow Wallis saved the life of the then Lady Hartley and, in a gesture of gratitude, was granted lifetime occupancy of the cottage in which she and Annabelle now live. Villagers come to her for tonics and herbal remedies for their ailments, swearing by her tinctures, as well as being entrusted as their unofficial midwife as the need arises. 

Annabelle has always viewed her guardian as her mother, referring to her as Ma who has taught twenty two year Annabelle everything she knows about herbs and their uses. Together they frequent markets and fairs selling their tonics and remedies which are indeed sought after. But Ma is aging, though she has never revealed her true age, and when she dies suddenly Annabelle is bereft. Now everything she has ever known is about to change. The only home she has ever known, the cottage she has grown up in, will now revert back to the Hartley estate thus rendering her homeless.

But a chance encounter with John Hartley, brother of the owner of the estate, and a promise that she may remain sets Annabelle's heart aflutter. The moment she and John Hartley set eyes on each other, it is obvious to everyone but them that they are meant for each other...except for the slight technicality of the class divide. He is a wealthy landowner, she is working class...and never the twain shall meet. Except that it does. Neither Annabelle nor John can stop thinking of the other, although neither of them give their feelings a voice. Instead they pretend it isn't there whilst avoiding the other.

And then one night in the midst of an horrific thunderstorm, a knock at Annabelle's door reveals a young woman heavy with child and very obviously in the throes of labour. She pleads with Annabelle to help her deliver the child without the aid of a doctor. Moments later, a baby girl is born and the woman extracts a vehement promise from Annabelle to keep her secret. By the morning, the woman has vanished leaving behind a note reminding Annabelle of her a promise and her baby wrapped only in a silk peacock shawl.

The following day when news spreads throughout the village about the sudden death of Lady Eliza Hartley, Annabelle fears the promise she made was a foolish one. Especially when the family discovers the truth thus holding her to blame. Terrified, Annabelle flees the only home she has known with the child wrapped in the peacock shawl, intent on honouring the promise she made.

When John Hartley discovers the truth, he endeavours to find Annabelle and the child. But Annabelle proves hard to find...and yet, she cannot hide forever. Can she? But if she is found, will she be able to give up the child she has raised and loves as her own?

THE ORPHAN IN THE PEACOCK SHAWL is a delightfully easy read from beginning to end, reminiscent of the late great Catherine Cookson. The descriptions were vivid without being too much and the characters were well-developed enough to cheer them on. I loved the characters of Annabelle and John, as well as those of Ginny and Dickie, though he was persistently annoying at first. The fact that Annabelle draws her parallels to her own circumstances was incredibly noble in doing the same that her Ma did for her by taking in this child. 

I found THE ORPHAN IN THE PEACOCK SHAWL incredibly easy to read and did so in one sitting, easily immersing the reader into the Victorian era with seamless and expert storytelling. Although predictable, it's the journey we are taken on that makes it so enjoyable. It's simple, it's sweet and an absolute pleasure to read. I was thoroughly absorbed from start to finish.

THE ORPHAN IN THE PEACOCK SHAWL is perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Catherine Cookson.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

AnneMarie Brear was born in a small town in N.S.W. Australia, to English parents from Yorkshire, and is the youngest of five children. From an early age she loved reading, working her way through the Enid Blyton stories, before moving onto Catherine Cookson’s novels as a teenager. 

Living in England during the 1980s and more recently, AnneMarie developed a love of history from visiting grand old English houses and this grew into a fascination with what may have happened behind their walls over their long existence. 

Her enjoyment of visiting old country estates and castles when travelling and, her interest in genealogy and researching her family tree, has been put to good use, providing backgrounds and names for her historical novels which are mainly set in Yorkshire or Australia between Victorian times and WWII. 

A long and winding road to publication led to her first novel being published in 2006. She has now published over twenty-seven historical family saga novels, becoming an Amazon UK best seller and with her novel, The Slum Angel, winning a gold medal at the USA Reader's Favourite International Awards in 2019, and a silver medal for The Market Stall Girl in 2021. Two of her books have been nominated for the Romance Writer’s Australia Ruby Award and the In’dtale Magazine Rone award.

AnneMarie now lives in the Southern Highlands of N.S.W. Australia with her husband and her family.

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