REVIEW: Nurse Kitty's Secret War by Maggie Campbell

Nurse Kitty's Secret War (Nurse Kitty #1) by Maggie Campbell

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Post-WW2

Read: 21st April 2021

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Published: 5th July 2020

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

A novel inspired by the brave nurses and doctors from the first NHS hospital, the Trafford General, opened after the end of World War II. An inspiring and romantic read for fans of Call the Midwife and The Nightingale Girls.

It's May 1945 and at 3pm, nurse Kitty Longthorne listens, together with the other surgical staff at South Manchester's Park Hospital, to Winston Churchill's broadcast on the radio. Germany has signed a declaration of complete surrender. The war is over in Europe and that day is to be celebrated as VE Day.

The mood in Park Hospital - still full of wounded American soldiers - is jubilant and hopeful, though Kitty is anything but. Her clandestine squeeze and the man she hopes to marry, James Williams has been giving her the cold shoulder for the last week, and she can't work out why. Furthermore, her twin brother, Ned, is still missing in action - his last known whereabouts point to him being in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.

An uplifting, heart-wrenching novel based on the true story of the first ever NHS hospital, for fans of Donna Douglas and Nancy Revell.

MY REVIEW:

There are many historical sagas of nursing set around wartime but NURSE KITTY'S SECRET WAR is one with a slight difference. Beginning on VE Day when news of Germany's surrender to Britain marking the end of WW2 regaled the nation, another war was simmering below the surface. Whilst Churchill lead Britain to victory there were those who felt that the nation now needed a change as the Labour party proposed the introduction of the National Health Service, offering free health care for everyone.

Coming from a deprived working class background, Kitty Longthorne became a nurse during WW2 working at Manchester's Park Hospital. As the nation is celebrating the end of the war, Kitty continues to nurse the deluge of American soldiers on her ward - some of whom are badly injured - coming up against Sister Iris' indignation and Matron's staunch rules. Not content to sit by and watch Sister spew constant hate at kindly German-born nurse Lily, Kitty defends her friend and finds herself coming under Matron's wrath for her trouble. But Sister Iris is the least of her worries.

Having formed an attraction for up and coming plastic surgeon Dr James Williams, Kitty's heart is broken when she sees her friend Violet flirting with him on more than one occasion and James reciprocating. Devastated, Kitty thought she and James had a future as they enjoyed each other's company and made tentative plans together. But now Violet, who was more than aware of Kitty's feelings for James, flaunts their new-found relationship which is soon followed by an engagement ring. Now the woman who had been one of her closest friends makes snide comments and jeers at Kitty's working class background. 

And then there is Kitty's family. For many years it had just been Kitty and her mother, since her twin brother Ned went off to fight and her father landed himself in prison. But now her father is back and is wheedling his way back into her mother's affections, planting his feet firmly under the table once again. Kitty's father was nothing but a criminal and she knew her mother would do well to be rid of him, as she had seemingly come to life in the three years he'd been locked up. Now she is reduced to a self conscious skivvy, there to serve her father's every whim. And when news of her brother having been missing in action is now a Japanese prisoner of war arrives by telegram, Kitty must then console her distraught mother.

Between her family life, her unrequited love for James and Violet shoving their engagement in her face at every chance she gets, Kitty throws herself into her work at Park Hospital. As the military patients are slowly repatriated making way for other patients, her work is never complete as there is always someone who needs her care. When a barely conscious woman is brought into casualty as she arrives for work one day, despite it not being her ward Kitty assesses the patient as critical and, taking her straight up the theatre, seeks out James to confirm her suspicions. Although he may no longer care for her, Kitty knows James is a professional and the top of his game. After surgery the woman arrives on her ward and Kitty takes over her care, getting to know Dora and her situation. For some reason, her story seems to touch both Kitty and James, it it's people like Dora who cannot afford a doctor who the NHS would benefit most. And that is why James campaigns for a Labour government and the critically needed National Health Service, much to the chagrin of the other doctors in the hospital who thrive under private practice.

When Labour win by a landslide, it's only a matter of time before the NHS is set in place. But then they receive word that they will be the nation's first NHS hospital, setting in motion preparations that will see Park Hospital go down in history. Kitty knows how much this means to James whereas Violet frowns in disdain at the thought of the lower class receiving the same care for which they used to have to pay for.

For all of Kitty's struggles, she continued to persevere regardless...a prime example of the generation's stoicness in the face of war. But inside her heart was breaking, never more so than when she arrived at the church to witness the love of her life marry another. Was it truly too late for her and James?

Kitty was a wonderful character who was the epitome of nursing - caring, selfless, compassionate - and yet she had a determination and feistiness about her that was to be her strength through hardships. She loved her job and she was good at it. Incredibly loyal to her family - her downtrodden mother, criminal father and reprobate brother - she persevered nonetheless. Her relationships with Lily, James and Matron were all recounted well. I don't want to say much more and give anything away.

I enjoyed NURSE KITTY'S SECRET WAR - which seemed to be everything in between - and the introduction of the NHS which changed the face of healthcare in the UK. I look forward to seeing what comes next for Kitty.

Recommended to fans of historical sagas, wartime fiction such as Nency Revell, Nadine Dorries and Pam Howes.

I would like to thank #MaggieCampbell, #NetGalley and #Trapeze and #OrionPublishingGroup for an ARC of #NurseKittysSecretWar in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Maggie Campbell is the pseudonym for crime writer Marnie Riches.

Marnie grew up on a rough estate in Manchester, aptly within sight of the dreaming spires of Strangeways prison. She swapped those for the spires of Cambridge University, gaining a Masters degree in Modern & Medieval Dutch and German. She has been a punk, a trainee rock star, a pretend artist, a property developer and professional fundraiser. In her spare time, she likes to run, renovate houses and paint. Oh, and drinking. She likes a drink. And eating. She likes that too. Especially in exotic destinations.

Having authored the first six books of HarperCollins Childrens Time-Hunters series, her George McKenzie crime thrillers for adults were inspired, in part, by her own youth and time spent in The Netherlands as a student. She also writes contemporary womens fiction.

Nurse Kitty's Secret war is Marnie's first book in a new historical saga series, away from her usual gritty crime novels, under the pseudonym of Maggie Campbell. The second in the series, Nurse Kitty's Unforgettable Journey, will be published in November 2021.

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REVIEW: My Little Girl by Shalini Boland

My Little Girl by Shalini Boland

Genre: Domestic thriller, Psychological thriller

Read: 13th April 2021

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Published: 22nd April 2021

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Your daughter is missing. Did someone close to you take her?

Seven-year-old Beatrice has gone missing. Her mother Claire’s whole world has been turned upside down in just one moment and she can’t stop shaking. She’s desperate to find her precious daughter, but nothing about the day she disappeared makes sense…

The mother-in-law: Jill was meant to be looking after Beatrice. She says she didn’t take her eyes off the little girl but her version of events doesn’t add up… Claire has never got on with her, so why should she trust her now?

The husband: He should have been with their only child. Instead, he changed the plans without telling Claire. She didn’t think there were any secrets between them, but maybe she was wrong?

The first wife: Laurel has always been jealous of Claire’s family. Has her husband’s ex-wife taken her daughter?

Which one of them is lying? And who really knows where Beatrice is?

From the million-copy bestselling author, this totally addictive psychological thriller will keep you guessing all the way to the final shocking twist. Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Wife Between Us.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Shalini Boland's exciting new thriller MY LITTLE GIRL.

There's no such thing as a bad Shalini book. Even one as different as this. MY LITTLE GIRL is not like her usual domestic thrillers but the tension is just as great. The queen of the killer twist may not have her usual twist in this one but there is still a twist or two to keep you guessing throughout.

Seven year old Beatrice Nolan disappears in the Hall of Mirrors at the visiting fair where her grandmother Jill has taken her and her young friend Millie. Having taken her eyes off the girls for a split second to take a phone call from her ex-daughter in law, Laurel, when she looks up...Beatrice has gone. Although the colours in the Hall of Mirrors is distracting with its distorted reflections, Jill isn't sure when she last saw her granddaughter and Millie, who is busy reflecting on her own reflection, is as surprised as Jill to find Beatrice no longer beside her.

Claire was supposed to have a relaxing night out with her best friend Freya and friends but upon receiving a startling phone call to say that her daughter has gone missing from the fair, she feels guilty for wanting a night of freedom away from being a parent for a few hours. She was supposed to be with Bea and Millie tonight but she made other plans so her husband Oliver was taking them instead. So why on earth did her scatty mother-in-law take the girls instead? Where was Ollie? After several small mishaps under Jill's care, both Claire and Ollie decided it was best that his mother not be left alone with Bea...let alone her friend as well. This is just the thing she was afraid of happening on Jill's watch...and now it has. Claire is furious but she has no time for that now because they must find Bea.

And then there is Oliver. All of a sudden, in the wake of their daughter's disappearance when he and Claire should be supporting each other he is instead mooching off on the pretext of filling out tax forms for submission for his business. But when Claire seeks him out at his shop she finds it in darkness with no sign of him having been there for a couple of days. When Ollie finally does return home, he is blotto having spent the day at the pub instead. He gives Claire some lame excuse that didn't even wash with me so I knew Claire wouldn't believe him for a second. Every day since Bea's disappearance, Ollie has been acting strange. Why? And why is he lying to her? 

And Laurel, Ollie's first wife. Why did she call Jill at that exact moment in time? The moment that Bea disappears? Was the phone call just a distraction to nab Bea? After all, Laurel has made no secret that Ollie was the love of her life and although they divorced, she never really got over losing him. He thought she'd been having an affair but she denied it which, of course, knew she would and didn't believe her. So is her friendship with Jill just a ploy to get closer to Ollie? The two women have maintained a close friendship despite the divorce and the fact that Oliver is now married to Claire. So just how close is Jill to Laurel?

Despite the police investigation into Bea's disappearance, Claire finds that she cannot sit back and wait for something to happen. She must get out there and help look for her daughter. Someone somewhere must have seen something...surely? She expects the support of Ollie throughout this but he's nowhere to be seen, disappearing himself in the early morning and not returning until the evening. What the hell is he up to? And where the hell is all day if he not with his mother or not at the shop?

The fallout from little Bea's disappearance on the Nolan family is near imploding with each of them dealing with the trauma in their own way. Jill is organising search parties and newspaper interviews, Claire is setting up Facebook pages, papering the town with flyers of her missing girls and trespassing properties to follow leads while Oliver remains suspiciously MIA throughout the day only to turn up drunk most evenings. Then the kidnapper begins to taunt the family with anonymous messages that none of them share with each other so the family begins to implode. Is Claire going to lose both her daughter and her husband? Or will she get her little girl back before it's too late?

While many have expressed a boredom with "missing child" tropes, I on the other hand love them! Sure, there are a lot of them out there but each of them are different and unique in their own ways. It takes a special talent to take a not-so-unique concept and make it your own and Shalini has done just that. Throughout the story she has put her own stamp on it in the way that Shalini does. Instead of the investigation being the focus, Shalini shines a light on uncovering the lies, the secrets, the deception and the truths on the characters during this most traumatic time of their lives. The way she tells the story brings it to life in your mind that you feel you are living the trauma with them.

Whilst MY LITTLE GIRL is not as compelling as some of her previous thrillers, it is still addictive and had me turning the pages until 3am. That, and the fact I just love Shalini's style. You just know, that even if you do figure out who's behind it, there will be a killer twist at the end to throw us off. After all, Shalini is not the queen of the killer twist for nothing. And she delivered with a satisfying conclusion.

Unfolding through the eyes of three perspectives - all of them in the first person - we have Jill and Claire's narratives intertwining with the anonymous incerpts by the kidnapper. The whole thing felt like a cat and mouse game in which Claire and Jill were chasing their tails while the kidnapper orchestrated the entire thing. It was highly entertaining with a few red herrings thrown in along the way. Although I did feel some of those were a little obvious making the guesswork as to who was behind it all a little easier perhaps. Well...maybe I'm just used to looking where others don't. Either way, I had my suspicions early on and narrowed it down till only one remained. It didn't ruin the suspense or the mystery for me. Part of the fun is trying to work it out and then seeing if I'm right or not. Shalini can usually hoodwink me...but not this time! haha

MY LITTLE GIRL is not your usual missing child story. It is more than that, exploring the secrets, the lies, the love, the jealousies and begging the question how well do you know the people around you?

As usual, Shalini delivered another addictive and fast read with her flair for dramatic storytelling and the ultimate killer twist. I always enjoy her books, as there is never a bad one. Each of them are unique in their own way and MY LITTLE GIRL is no different.

Definitely recommend it for fans of Shalini and domestic thrillers.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Shalini Boland lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two sons and their cheeky poodle-terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Her debut psychological thriller "The Girl from the Sea" published in June 2016 reached Number 1 in the US Audible charts. Her second thriller "The Best Friend" published in October 2016 reached a high of number 10 in Amazon's UK Kindle charts. It also achieved number 1 in all its categories and was a Kindle All Star title for several months in a row.

She is also not a morning person.

*********************************************

10 Things My Readers Might Not Know About Me

My dreams (nightmares) nearly always involve the characters and settings that I’m currently writing about. For example, last night I dreamt that I’d abducted a baby and tried to hide him in my husband’s car, but I couldn’t get the doors to lock. It was awful! Maybe I’d have a better night’s sleep if I wrote rom coms.

I love all fruit except bananas. The smell, texture, taste – ugh. No. Just no. Keep that evil fruit away from me.

I write for a living, and so does my husband, but neither of our children are particularly avid readers. My eldest is dyslexic and has never enjoyed reading or writing. My youngest quite enjoys it, but has to be pretty much forced into trying a new book. How did this happen? I have no idea. We always read to them when they were younger. We have a houseful of all kinds of books. Ah, well, I’ll keep trying.

When I was nineteen, I hitchhiked at night in Israel and ended up in the middle of nowhere convinced I was going to die. Turns out I only needed to walk another two minutes to find myself back at the kibbutz where I was staying. I’ve never hitchhiked since.

My writing companion is a little Poodle/Lhasa Apso/Terrier cross called Jess who sits at my feet while I type. Sometimes she sneaks up onto the sofa and rests her chin on my keyboard. I’m not sure I could write without her nearby.

When we were in our twenties, my husband and I set up VW car shows. Our events were all jinxed. Over the course of six shows we had four instances of major theft, a forest fire, the worst storm on record, someone set up illegal rave, an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and an actual bomb scare with police cordoning off the area and evacuating everyone. Plus, we only made a profit during our first show, the other times we just about broke even. Not a huge success.

Nearly all my novels are set in and around the area of Dorset where I live. I moved here when I was eighteen, but I feel like this is my true home. I love it – the towns, beaches and countryside are beautiful.

Good coffee and chocolate are my weaknesses.

I used to be a singer songwriter and once sang on stage at The Brixton Academy in front of four thousand people. I don’t know how I did it. I’m such an introvert these days.

I feel very lucky to write for a living. Every day, I’m truly thankful and appreciate that I’ve finally discovered what it is I love to do – it only took me forty years to work it out! It isn’t always easy and some days I need a kick up the backside to stop procrastinating and get working. Other days are overwhelming and I do get anxious about what my readers will think of each book. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. I only hope people will continue to enjoy my books and allow me to keep doing what I love.

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REVIEW: Beyond this Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham

Beyond this Broken Sky by Siobhan Curham

Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Contemporary fiction, Mystery

Read: 12th April 2021

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Published: 21st April 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

1940, London: An unforgettable novel about the strength of the human spirit in the face of war and the remarkable women who put themselves in danger on the front lines during the Battle of Britain.

As a volunteer for the ambulance service, Ruby has the dangerous task of driving along pitch-dark roads during the blackout. With each survivor she pulls from the rubble, she is helping to fight back against the enemy bombers, who leave nothing but destruction in their wake.

Assigned to her crew is Joseph, who is unable to fight but will stop at nothing to save innocent lives. Because he is not in uniform, people treat him with suspicion and Ruby becomes determined to protect this brave, compassionate man who has rescued so many, and captured her heart. Even if it means making an unthinkable choice between saving her own life and risking everything for his…

2019: Recently divorced Edi feels lost and alone when she moves to London to start a new life. Until she makes a discovery, hidden beneath a loose floorboard in her attic, that reveals a secret about the people who lived there in the 1940s. As she gradually uncovers a wartime love story full of danger and betrayal, Edi becomes inspired by the heroism of one incredible woman and the legacy that can be left behind by a single act of courage…

A sweeping tale of bravery and self-sacrifice that shows that even in the midst of war, hope and love can bloom. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network, The Secret Messenger and The Lost Girls of Paris.

MY REVIEW:

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Siobhan Curham's unforgettable dual timeline tale BEYOND THIS BROKEN SKY.

I honestly don't know where to begin my review or even how to begin to review this book. I absolutely loved BEYOND THIS BROKEN SKY so much that I never wanted it to end. I found myself encapsulated within the story and every aspect of it. I kind of wished I was Edi, uncovering the mystery for myself.

Set predominantly in 1940 London, Ruby Grenville lives what some may perceive as a charmed life of privilege and entitlement in the ground floor flat of the building she inherited from her parents in Pendragon Square. At least, that is how Joseph, one of her tenants in the top floor flat, views her and with some distaste. In fact, he tries to avoid her at all costs but when the scream of the air raid siren sounds one afternoon he is loathe to discover his landlady exiting her flat behind a troupe of others she had obviously been entertaining with one of her seances again. In the midst of a war and the woman is profiteering from others' misfortunes for nothing but pure greed because she certainly doesn't need the money. But what Joseph doesn't know is that Ruby holds these seances to help give a little hope to those who have loved and lost...and she certainly doesn't charge for it. Ruby herself has found comfort in talking to her father whom she lost in the Great War over twenty years ago and she wanted to bring some of that same comfort to others.

Joseph is not the standard hero one would find typical to such a story. Instead of being a brave soldier fighting for King and country, he is a conscientious objector, a pacifist who often finds himself sneered at and subjected to plenty of contempt and ridicule by others. Why should he remain safe on terra firma while their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers are off fighting for King and country? They don't understand, nor do they want to. But Joseph is different kind of hero. He gets stuck in and helps on the home front, showing compassion and kindness where it is needed most. He fights for the underdog without having to take a life.

A seemingly carefree spirit, 34 year old Ruby lives life to the full with endless chatter and laughter often in her wake, spreading cheer where she can. She takes young Kitty under her wing and tries to bring her out of the shell her abusive husband Reg has put her in. As he is, thankfully, seconded to Newhaven serving King and country for the war, Kitty is able to enjoy life a little more with his absence. But still she lives in fear that he will come home on leave and knowing that the war won't last forever, there will be a time when he will return for good. Not one to let anything get in her way, Ruby decides to change the locks on the main door to the building and on Kitty's flat, in case Reg does decide to return for another round at his wife's expense. Kitty fears this will only anger Reg more but Ruby refuses to let that deter her as Kitty deserves some happiness in life...and not with that poor excuse for a husband either.

Then Ruby notices the looks the young butcher Freddy has been giving Kitty and that they are reciprocated. And a light goes off in her brain as she endeavours to bring these two together to enjoy a little happiness. But despite her obvious attraction for Freddy, Kitty reminds Ruby that she is a married woman...but Ruby sees that of little consequence and "only on paper". But Kitty knows different. There will be a time when Reg will return and if she dared to step out with another man, she knows she will pay...dearly.

Joseph watches Ruby's matchmaking with mixed feelings. Wondering how could the woman involve herself in something that doesn't concern her whilst at the same time knowing Kitty didn't deserve the treatment her brute of a husband dished out on her. He took pity on Kitty knowing she was in a most difficult situation in which he could see no real way out. Unless Reg became one of the war's casualties. But where he was posted there were no hostilities so that was hardly likely to happen. And Ruby herself. The woman was an enigma he couldn't figure out. Never having to work a day in her life she made things that were of no concern to her her business. And the endless chatter! Did the woman never shut up?

When one day Joseph gave Kitty a pamphlet on volunteer services, he was shocked to hear Ruby ask why didn't he ask her. Why not, indeed? Surely she could not be interested? It would mean having to get dirty, entering danger zones to rescue the trapped and injured, driving through blackout unable to see where you're going and certainly not dressed as if one has just stepped off a Paris runway! But interested, Ruby was. So together, the three of them signed up as volunteers - Kitty as a first aider, Joseph as an ambulance driver and Ruby as an ambulance attendee, having failed her driving test much to her disdain. Even more to her disdain, and Joseph's, is when the two are paired together. This is going to be a long shift, the both of them think.

However, there is more to Ruby and Joseph that the other thinks. Just how they view each other - she as an entitled carefree flibbertigibbet who wouldn't know a hard day's work in her life, and he as a dull and sombre and even depressing individual who wouldn't know how to smile or even laughter  if it bit him on the proverbial - will change in the coming days and weeks as they work alongside each other rescuing and saving lives. They then begin to see each other in a different light and that maybe there is a reason they each are the way they are. Joseph is surprised to discover there is more depth to Ruby than shopping, fashion and lipsticks while Ruby discovers that Joseph is a truly kind, compassionate and selfless man.

So in the midst of war, what does the future hold for these three friends? Can they find romance whilst battling the enemy? Can they fight in the face of danger? Can they overcome in the face of heartache? And can they move on to live life to the fullest and be the happiest they can be without regret?

This story set during wartime is then cleverly woven into the present day where Edi moves into the flat she has just bought upstairs in a building situated in St George's square. She has recently moved from Manchester to take up a position as editor-in-chief of a magazine leaving her husband behind who, feeling threatened by the fact his wife was no making more money than him, belittled her achievements to inflate his own ego. When she makes a startling discovery in her loft, Edi slips and loses her footing on the ladder, falling and breaking her ankle in the process. She is bedridden and decides to read a book she had ordered on Amazon written by her downstairs neighbour, Pearl, upon discovering she was a writer. Soon Edi finds herself immersed completely in the story that she begins to draw parallels to some startling coincidences. Pearl is a slightly eccentric 77 year old whose presence Edi begins to find extremely suspect.

I absolutely loved BEYOND THIS BROKEN SKY. And I loved Ruby. She was an absolute hoot! I could almost hear her endless chatter and see Joseph rolling his eyes in the dark. Their tentative friendship was amusing to watch unfold as well as their mutual exasperation for the other. But the characters were developed in such a way that you couldn't help but fall in love with them anyway. Ruby masqueraded as a carefree spirit but she hid a broken heart. Joseph came across as sombre and depressing while he concealed a deeper pain. And Kitty was a vulnerable young woman caught up in a loveless and abusive marriage with seemingly no escape. This journey they now found themselves on would change the course of their lives forever.

The dual timeline was intricately woven together with Ruby, and Joseph's, third person person perspectives in 1940 with Edi's first person narrative in the present. But the way the author transitioned these stories so they wove together seamlessly was different, original and rather clever. I won't say how it was done but it was somewhat unique.

Another unique aspect is the author peppered some little known facts from the war and the Blitz in London. Most books of this sub-genre detail the many more well-known aspects of the time, whereas BEYOND THIS BROKEN SKY reveals some of the lesser known ones. Such as the availability of air raid shelters - particularly in the East End where the working class lived and the area that was targeted the most due to the docks - the turning away of vagrants to public shelters (because they stink out the place) and the Savoy with its own shelter below ground complete with beds, bar and a dance floor.

What was also unique was the two "epilogues", which threw me at first...but it soon became clear. Although I do think the book could have finished at the end of the final chapter without the second Epilogue. I thought that would have been an appropriate way to end it...but it was still a satisfying end regardless. The pace is steady and the book very easy to read.

BEYOND THIS BROKEN SKY is exciting and addictive from start to finish and I didn't want to put it down. It is a most unique WW2 story I have ever read and incredibly well written. I loved every minute of it and didn't want it to end.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book...particularly for fans of WW2 fiction and dual timeline stories.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Siobhan Curham is an award-winning author, ghost writer, editor and writing coach. She has also written for many newspapers, magazines and websites, including The Guardian, Breathe magazine, Cosmopolitan, Writers’ Forum, DatingAdvice.com, and Spirit & Destiny. 

Siobhan has been a guest on various radio and TV shows, including Woman’s Hour, BBC News, GMTV and BBC Breakfast. And she has spoken at businesses, schools, universities and literary festivals around the world, including the BBC, Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Bath Festival, Ilkley Festival, London Book Fair and Sharjah Reading Festival.

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REVIEW: The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

The Life She Left Behind by Nicole Trope

Genre: Domestic thriller, Domestic drama, Family Drama, Contemporary fiction

Read: 18th April 2021

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Published: 1st July 2020

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

When I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s not a sound that disturbs me. It’s a feeling. Silently, I creep to my daughter’s room, breathing a sigh of relief when I see her sleeping, her night-light twirling, butterfly shapes moving their pink wings. Quickly, I lock the door. I won’t let anything happen to my little girl.

You tell him everything. The husband you adore, the father of your child, your best friend.

He knows, just by looking at your sage-green eyes, when something is wrong. The two of you can communicate with a glance, or a touch of the hand.

Except what if you can’t?

What if your happy marriage has plastered over one huge lie? A lie you have even started to believe yourself, in order to survive?

What if you have a secret, something you have hidden from your beloved husband and your strawberry-scented baby girl, to keep them safe? What if the guilt has kept you up, night after night, for as long as you can remember?

Because, after twenty-eight years, that secret is refusing to stay buried. The past you have tried so desperately to outrun is catching up with you. A faded photograph, torn in half, threatens to expose the truth and everyone you love, everything you cherish, is in harm’s way…

An emotional, thought-provoking and beautifully written novel which examines the pieces of ourselves we are afraid of, and the impossible decisions we make when we are desperate. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kerry Fisher and Liane Moriarty will be moved by this heartbreaking tale.

MY REVIEW:

What an emotional read this is! It pulled at my heartstrings, it brought tears to my eyes...it was just breathtaking. Nicole Trope is easily one of my favourite authors as her ability to capture every emotion, every thought, every heartbeat, every moment and transport you to the very heart of the story is phenomenal and just keeps me coming back. 

Having said that, THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is not an easy book to read due to the intense and chilling content. Containing themes of mental, emotional and physical abuse and domestic violence, the story that unfolds is a tragic tale of long-held secrets, shame, fear, guilt and anger that is painfully realistic. Some of the abuse scenes are graphic in nature that feel very real due to Nicole's ability to capture a moment in time with as few words as possible, placing the images in our minds that appear all too real. Our imaginations do the rest. I won't lie...the abuse scenes are harrowing, particularly if you have endured something similar, but the story is incredibly moving and as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking.

Rachel is enjoying a life well deserved with her loving husband Ben and their their beautiful seven year old daughter Beth in a beautiful new house they have recently purchased in a new and up-and-coming estate. But she hasn't always had the perfect life. In fact, she has such a troubled past that not even her husband knows about it. Why? Because Rachel and her mother, Veronica, made a promise to each other to never tell.

But now twenty eight years later it seems Rachel's past is coming back to haunt her. The secret she has kept for so long refuses to stay buried and she wonders how much longer she can keep her secret from resurfacing.

What should be a happy and exciting time in their new house is soon shattered when someone breaks in one night whilst Rachel is alone with Beth. She locks herself in her daughter's room as she hears footsteps pad up the stairs and sees the doorknob turning as someone attempts to gain entry into their hiding place. She calls Ben in a panic and then the police. But whoever had been in the house is long gone...if they were ever there at all. And then Rachel finds a troll doll standing in the centre of the landing...and she knows without a doubt that her past has come back to haunt her. He's found them at last and has come to inflict his revenge. 

Frightened for her family and scared for herself, Rachel cannot tell Ben her fears because he knows nothing about her past. The only one she can confide in is the one person who lived through it as well - her mother. Only she can't...because her mother is in a palliative care hospice with end stage cancer and is barely conscious. And even if she was, Rachel couldn't want to worry her mum. So now she is faced with a quandary - should she reveal her past to Ben? And if she does, what will he think of her? Will she lose him once the truth comes out? After all, she has lied to him their whole married life and how can one get over that? 

Whatever she does, Rachel knows she cannot keep this secret for much longer. Her past has come back and now the man they have run from for twenty eight years has been leaving little reminders of her past to let her know he is there...waiting...watching...that he can strike at any time when she least expects it. She has a family to protect. A little girl of her own...who is now the same age as she was when she and her mother left their old life behind.

Rachel's life hasn't always been perfect. It hasn't always known love...or tenderness...or care... It only knew rules, cruelty, abuse, violence, mind games and fear. Her father was a man she loved and hated. He could give with one hand and take with the other...either that or he would hit, kick or punch to get his message across. He wanted the perfect house, the perfect wife and the perfect family. Appearances were everything. And control was his weapon...as were his fists. Rachel was just seven years old and she loved her daddy but she hated how he made her mummy hurt. She could hear the thump thump thump coming from their bedroom after she has gone to bed. And in the morning she could see the purple flowers on her mummy's face that made her cry. The slightest thing would make her daddy lash out. An orange that had fallen from the fruit bowl. A frame or ornament out of place. A film of dust on top of the fridge or shelf. A forgotten toy on the floor instead of put away neatly. Everything had to be sparkling clean. Rachel, her mother and the house. Everything clean and fresh with dinner ready by the time daddy walked through the door at 6pm every night. 

Except her brother Kevin. He either stays at his friends so he doesn't have to come home or locks himself in his room. He doesn't want to be on the receiving end of daddy's anger anymore than he is. Rachel hates him. He's just like daddy. He's almost as big as daddy but he is just as scared of him as she is. But when daddy isn't around, Kevin is just like him. And then one night Rachel wakes to hear the thump thump thump noise again and makes a decision. At seven years old she is determine to protect her mummy, and so they pack a bag each and leave their life behind, once and for all.

Now, twenty eight years later, it seems that old life has caught up with her. She knows her father will make them pay for leaving him but she doesn't know how to fight him, despite the fact he would be an old man at sixty five now and she is sure who would be a formidable force still. But how can she fight him while her mother is dying? How can she face her past? How can she face him? She isn't even sure she has the strength to. But if that's not bad enough, her perfect life with Ben appears to be also falling apart at the seams. How can she possibly get through with not only losing her mother but losing her marriage also? On top of having to face the monster from her past?

And then just when Rachel thinks that things couldn't possibly be any worse, the unthinkable happens...and her world comes crashing down. Will Rachel come out of this unscathed? Will her family? And will Ben forgive her for not telling him the truth? But most of all, will Rachel make peace with her past once and for all?

Oh. My. God. You will not finish this book without having a box of tissues handy. It will pull on your heartstrings and have you weeping buckets for Rachel - for the child she was and the adult she now is - and her mother. And even her brother Kevin. The abuse they endured at their father's hands is just unfathomable and heartbreaking. But what also tugs at your heart is the glimpse into what made him into the man he became. Children are born innocent. Monsters are made. Violence begets violence. 

THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is one of Nicole's most heartbreaking reads. And yet it is so powerful it will leave you breathless. The story moves between past and present evenly through various perspectives - Rachel, Ben, Little Bird (seven year old Rachel) and an unknown narrator. And yet Rachel's narrative has the feel of an unreliable narrator as she flits between the fear of her past to the reality of her present while trying to balance them with the impending death of her beloved mother.

Nicole combines thriller with contemporary fiction with this dark and harrowing story that instills a fear and throwing very few clues as to the identity of who is leaving behind the gifts that sends chills right through Rachel's core. It is cleverly crafted as the story weaves between the past and present easily despite the difficult subject matter. Nicole takes the reader through a range of emotions along with each perspective - from heartbreak to fear to anger to pain as well a love and happiness - as the story gradually unfolds, revealing a surprising twist turning everything on its head.

THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is both heartbreaking and heartwarming with it's chilling tale of a secret buried so deep in the hope it would never resurface. The story is harrowing from the abuse to the extent the fear it generated in Rachel from childhood and into adulthood. 

Emotional and compelling from beginning to end, THE LIFE SHE LEFT BEHIND is an emotionally charged story that will break your heart. And yet it delivers at the end with its heartwarming conclusion.

I love Nicole Trope and always look forward to her books, knowing that she will draw me in and take me through a range of emotions and deliver a spectacular ending. I have no hesitation in recommending any of her books...though this one I do so with the warning of the sensitive and brutal subject matter.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because-as her professor pointed out- ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’ She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree in Children’s Literature. After the birth of her first child she stayed home full time to write and raise children, renovate houses and build a business with her husband.

The idea for her first published novel, The Boy under the Table, was so scary that it took a year for her to find the courage to write the emotional story.

She is now published by Bookouture and is an Amazon top 100 bestseller in the USA, UK, AUS and CAN.

She lives in Sydney with her husband and three children.

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EXTRACT: Games People Play by Owen Mullen

 

Games People Play (PI Charlie Cameron #1) by Owen Mullen

Genre: Crime thriller

Read: 11th April 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 20th April 2021

DESCRIPTION:

When a baby is stolen from a Scottish beach, private investigator Charlie Cameron reluctantly agrees to take the case.

While her parents are just yards away, thirteen-month-old Lily Hamilton is abducted from Ayr beach in Scotland. Three days later, her distraught father turns up at private investigator Charlie Cameron’s office. Mark Hamilton believes he knows who has taken his daughter. And why.

Against his better judgment, Charlie takes the case—and when bodies are discovered, he suspects this may not be an isolated crime. Is there a serial killer whose work has gone undetected for decades? Is baby Lily his latest victim? Charlie won’t be able to give up on this case. Memories and guilt from his childhood won’t let him…

Owen Mullen is a best-selling author of psychological and gangland thrillers. His fast-paced, twist-aplenty stories are perfect for all fans of Robert Galbraith, Ian Rankin and Ann Cleeves.

EXTRACT:

The footsteps came after him, racing as he raced; slapping the sand, crunching shingle, beating against rock. Grass beneath his bare feet meant he was almost home. Almost safe. Then the crunching became a heavy pad. Gaining. He ran faster.  

 His chest burned. Heavy legs refused to carry him; he couldn’t go on. He fell, panting and terrified.  

The footsteps stopped.  

For a long time he lay, too afraid to move, expecting a hand to touch his shoulder.  

But no hand came.

He gathered his courage and looked behind him.

There was no one there.

Ayr, 35 miles from Glasgow

They walked along the beach and stopped not far from an old rowing boat with a hole in the bottom. Mark carried the folded push chair and his daughter. The sun fell towards the horizon. It had been a great day, a scorcher, but the best of it was behind them. Noisy gulls scavenged, soaring and diving and calling to each other. Lily pressed her face against her father's chest, too tired to be interested in the birds.

"We ought to get back," Mark said. "Lily's tired. She should be in bed."

Jennifer didn't reply. He knew what she was thinking.

"Surely not?"

"Last one? Five minutes?"

Mark glanced at his watch - ten past seven - and limited his concern to a sigh. The last thing he wanted was to spoil things with a quarrel; there had been enough of those.Red flags fluttered in the evening air. He pointed to them.

"Be careful, Jen. The waves are getting bigger. Don't go far."

She dropped the bag with their towels and the baby's things at his feet.

"I will. In and out. Promise."

The water was cold; colder than in the afternoon. When it was waist high she kicked her legs and headed out. Jennifer caught a glimpse of Mark and Lily standing on the sand: her whole universe. She loved them so much. That thought almost made her turn back. Instead she took a deep breath and dived.

It happened so fast. One minute she was swimming, the next the current was dragging her to the bottom. Seawater flooded her mouth. She fought, thrashed to the surface and tried to shout; a hoarse whisper was all that came. Her head went under and stayed under. Her lungs were on fire. With  no warming it released her and she saw blue sky. Jennifer gulped shallow ragged breaths, shocked and scared, and started towards her family. She would never leave them again. But the decision was no longer hers. The force drew her back into a world without light or oxygen and this time it didn't let go. Her arm broke free in a desperate attempt to escape. Tongues of spray pulled it down and Jennifer knew she was going to drown.

She'd dreamed of watching her daughter grow into a woman. That would never be. And Mark, poor Mark. How unfair to leave him. Her body rolled beneath the waves. She stopped struggling, closed her eyes and disappeared from sight.

Seconds passed before mark realised something wasn't right. "Where's mummy? Where's your mummy?" The baby sucked her thumb. "Where is she, Lily?"

At first he couldn't move. Cold fear consumed him. A hundred yards away a group of boys played footballl; apart from them the beach was deserted. He yelled. They didn't hear him. He threw the push--chair to the sand, yanked it open and sat Lily in it. His hands were shaking. The damned straps wouldn't fasten. He spoke to himself. "Please god, no. Please god, no" and raced into the sea.

The water was freezing. What the hell had Jen been thinking? This was Scotland, for Christ's sake. He swam to where he'd last seen her and went under. Mark was a good swimmer but it was dark. His frantic fingers searched until the pressure in his chest forced him to the surface. He took in as much air as he could and went back. Something bumped against him; he grabbed hold and dragged it up. Two boys ran into the water to help: the footballers. They hauled her body the last few yards and Mark fell to his knees. Jennifer wasn't breathing. People appeared on the beach, silent witnesses to the nightmare the day had become. Where had they been when he needed them? He shouted, half in anger half in desperation.

"Somebody call an ambulance!"

The crowd kept s respectful distance, believing what he believed, that he's lost her. Jennifer's face was white. Mark covered her mouth with his and breathed into her. His hands pressed against her chest demanding she come back to him.

One of the boys took over with no better luck. Mark tried again, refusing to let her go. He pumped her heart, whimpering like a child, sobbing for himself as well as his wife. Jennifer's eyes fluttered; she retched and vomited water. Mark turned her on her side and rubbed her back, whispering reassurance, blinded by tears, aware his prayers had been answered. It was going to be all right. She was safe. The would be together again.

The three of them.

He raised his head and saw ambulance men racing towards him across the sand. mark jumped to his feet. They must have drifted...except the boat was there. His voice rose from a cry to a scream.

"Lily. Lily!"

He spoke to the group who had offered nothing.

"I left a baby here, somebody must have seen her."

They stared, no idea what he was talking about.

A new terror seized him. He ran a few steps up and down the beach, lost and afraid. They bag lay where Jennifer dropped it. But no push chair. No sign of his daughter had ever been there.

Lily was gone.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Owen Mullen is a highly regarded crime author who splits his time between Scotland and the island of Crete.  In his earlier life he lived in London and worked as a musician and session singer. He has now written seven books and his first gangland thriller for Boldwood, Family  will be published in January 2021.

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REVIEW: Blood Loss by Kerena Swan

Blood Loss (DI Paton #1) by Kerena Swan

Genre: Domestic thriller, Crime fiction, Police procedural

Read: 10th April 2021

Goodreads

Amazon

UK

US

Australia

Published: 20th March 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Sarah

With one eye on the rear view mirror and the other on the road ahead, Sarah is desperate to get as far away from the remote Scottish cabin as she can without attracting attention. But being inconspicuous isn’t easy with a black eye and clothes soaked in blood…

… and now the fuel tank is empty.

DI Paton

When a body is discovered in a remote cabin in Scotland, DI Paton feels a pang of guilt as he wonders if this is the career break he has been waiting for. But the victim is unidentifiable and the killer has left few clues.

Jenna

With the death of her father and her mother’s failing health, Jenna accepts her future plans must change but nothing can prepare her for the trauma yet to come.

Fleeing south to rebuild her life Sarah uncovers long-hidden family secrets. Determined to get back what she believes is rightfully hers, Sarah thinks her future looks brighter. But Paton is still pursuing her…

… and he’s getting closer.

Kerena Swan’s brilliant novel explores how honest mistakes and human frailty can have terrifying and long-reaching consequences. It’s a tale of family ties and loyalty, revenge and redemption that you won’t want to put down.

MY REVIEW:

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Kerena Swan's newest domestic noir/crime fiction BLOOD LOSS.

Following on from the novella "Here She Lies" that initially introduced DI Dave Paton and his lovable son Tommy, the good detective returns in what promises to be an exciting new series. Despite the novella preceding it, BLOOD LOSS is the first in the series and can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the standalone nor knew of its existence till now and I did feel as if I'd missed anything.

The story begins with an explosive start as Sarah flees the scene of a frenzied murder in which she killed her lover, Robert Nash. She feels no real remorse for what she's done apart from the fact that he drove her to it, believing it to be all his fault. As if she has the starring role in a crime drama she now finds herself in, Sarah avoids the nearest junctions to the motorway, service centres and as many roads with CCTV and ANPR that could track her journey from Perthshire in Scotland to Milton Keynes where she ends up. 

Believing she has covered her tracks well, Sarah ditches the life she had in Manchester prior to all this...leaving the identity she took there before settling back where she grew up in Milton Keynes as Sarah Butcher, daughter of convicted murderer John Butcher. Finding her mother in her usual drunken state, Sarah resents the life she was given with these two people as parents. Her abusive father had long accused her mother of an affair with the man he killed with one punch for which he now sits in prison for. Maybe he even suspected that she wasn't his daughter. Convinced that the man she grew up with as her father is not her biological father, Sarah decides to do a DNA test to prove or disprove this fact once and for all. 

But nothing will prepare Sarah for the results she so eagerly awaits that will change the course of her life forever.

When holiday makers arrive at their rental cottage on the River Tay in Perthshire, they didn't expect to find a man stabbed to death amidst a bloodied mess. DI Paton is tasked with investigating the death which is clearly a murder but soon finds himself meeting dead ends. Not helped by the fact that the man in whose name the cottage had been booked doesn't seem to exist therefore no trace of him can be found. The more he studies the scene, the more Paton is sure that this is a love tryst gone wrong. He looks at the major airports, CCTV, car rentals and even taxi services in his attempts to locate the man...all to no avail. When he is at last identified by his wife reporting him missing in Leeds, Paton is relieved to know the name of the man for whom they are searching to be able to trace his movements...and hopefully his companion. He is excited when they discover a silver car picking up the man traced to a hotel in Paisley. And then nothing.

And then the team catch a break when the same make and model of silver car is seen entering the motorway and heading south towards Manchester. Hot on the trail, Paton heads to Manchester to find out more about Robert Nash's visits to the area and if he had acquired a mistress whilst there. Is this the break they've been looking for? Little does he know that this is only the beginning.

Jenna Winterbourne has lived a charmed life in Bow Brickhill, the more affluent area of Milton Keynes, in a converted barn her parents purchased and converted themselves as their dream home. At 24, she is the youngest of two daughters with her older sister Lucy six years her senior. Despite her privileged life, Jenna stands out from the norm with her peasant style clothing and dread-locked hair, a bone of contention with her more conservative and responsible sister. She holds down two jobs working in a bar at nights and babysitting for twins during the day whilst dreaming of travelling the world and saving the planet. A staunch vegan, Jenna is resolute in her principles regarding animals even to the point of purchasing a very expensive vegan-friendly saddle for riding her horse in her bid to eliminate the use of animal products, including leather. Lucy accuses her of wasting her life away instead of making something worthwhile of herself but Jenna knows that she has never been academic whilst Lucy has thrived on lists and numbers and everything that gives her the air of respectability and responsibility. The two sisters couldn't be more different.

When their mother Fiona suddenly becomes ill, the sisters should be working together but are instead fighting with one another. It takes their cleaner Grace to come to their mother's aid and nursing her before the sisters even know their mother is ill. At first the sisters think it's just their mother missing their father who had died just six months before...but nothing will prepare them for the shock they are about to be delivered that will rock their world from its foundations.

When the story began I wasn't sure where it was going to lead but it isn't long before the direction is clear, with even more "ah-ha!" moments to come, though it never loses its creepy edge throughout. With each page devoured, I became more and more intrigued as backstories emerge and things became intense for all involved. I sympathised with both Sarah and Jenna in their respective lives where each feels a little on the outer and yet their behaviour and attitudes also made me dislike them at times. Though it was Lucy I detested for much of the book. She was positively horrible, rude and selfish. No wonder Jenna felt like she didn't belong with her sister constantly snapping and snarling at her.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Sarah, Jenna and DI Paton and their respective narratives. Though the timeline would have been better identified through the month and year instead of "the previous February" and "the following September". This could make it a little confusing and it would have been best identified as "February 2019" and "September 2019" given as it was the same year and later identified as actually being 2019. Despite this, I found the format easy enough to read as we move between Sarah and Jenna's lives and DI Paton's investigation. As the story progresses, we discover how their lives inextricably intertwine in an intriguing tale with a clever and satisfactory end.

I especially love that it wasn't all police procedural bogging the reader down with only the investigation to tell the tale. I love how the main feature was Sarah closely followed by Jenna with DI Paton's investigation rounding off the story.

A brilliant read from start to finish, BLOOD LOSS is addictive and compelling in every way with engaging characters, likeable or not, that keep those pages turning until the breathtaking conclusion. I loved the final chapters which I thought to be an excellent touch with the final word even a little creepy.

I thoroughly enjoyed BLOOD LOSS and look forward to further adventures with DI Paton and his son Tommy.

I would like to thank #KerenaSwan, #RachelsRandomResources, and #HoebeckBooks for an ARC of #BloodLoss in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Introducing DI Dave Paton and his son Tommy, the stars of the first novel 'Blood Loss' in Kerena Swan’s new series, to the world.

Before making the move to Hobeck, Kerena had published three novels, Dying To See You, Scared to Breathe and Who’s There? and has built a solid fan base around her writing career thus far. She is a juggler extraordinaire: driving forward a successful care business she runs with her husband yet finding time to write. She loves to write, here and there and everywhere when she’s not working. We don’t know how she does it but we are glad that she does!

Kerena lives on the Bedfordshire/Buckingham border with her husband, son and two cats. She also has two daughters and two granddaughters.

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