Monday, 30 August 2021

The Love Note by Kate G. Smith #SummerofLove

 It might be near the end of summer but why not see it out with a bit of love in the air?

This month has been Dash Club's Summer of Love, with a gorgeous array of books to get you in the mood for happier times. 

Books and sunshine, what more could we want.

You still have a day left to grab a 99p bargain with titles including The Spanish Girl, Summer at the Vineyard and Sleepless in Sicily and if you need something to help make your mind up I have a little excerpt and a review for one of the other amazing titles on sale, The Love Note by Kate G Smith.

the-love-note


A wedding dress. A love letter. A secret that will change everything...

When Maggie Burnett discovers her mother's beautiful wedding dress just days after she passes away, she wonders why she'd been told it was missing...

Pinned to the waistband is a note that reads: 'E, je t'aime. LS x' . 'E' must be Elizabeth, her mother, but who is 'LS'? Could he be the father she's never known?

As Maggie's seemingly happy life in London unravels, she decides it's time to go home to Norfolk and figure out the truth once and for all. Even if it means running into Nick Forster, her secret childhood crush. What if this journey to the past is the key to a new beginning?


Here is an excerpt to wet your appetite:

Saturday, 28 August 2021

The Meeting Point by by Olivia Lara Blog Tour

 I have to say, some books are predictable. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It depends on the story itself. If you can kind of guess majority of the plot but still be entirely engaged with what's happening then that's a sign of a of really good storytelling.

Olivia Lara for that reason is a master storyteller.

Something which I had the pleasure of discovering when I read her latest novel The Meeting Point.

meeting-point-cover


'Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend's phone?'

'He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I'm the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.'

And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday.

So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn't expecting a personalised itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more..

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

White Ivy by Susie Yang Blog Tour

 All books need to be read but some books NEED to be read.

White Ivy is one such book. The debut novel from author Susie Yang, now a New York Times bestseller, is quite frankly a masterpiece and I'm so pleased to be part of the blog tour so I can tell you over and over again just how much I enjoyed this story.

white-ivy


Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her. Raised outside of Boston, she is taught how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops by her immigrant grandmother. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, where her dream instantly evaporates.

Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young woman, haunted by her conflicting feelings about her upbringing and her family. Back in Boston, when she bumps into Sylvia Speyer, Gideon’s sister, a reconnection with Gideon seems not only inevitable—it feels like fate.

Slowly, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and the entire Speyer clan by attending fancy dinners and weekend getaways to the Cape. But just as Ivy is about to have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening the nearly perfect life she’s worked so hard to build.

Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens Blog Tour

 I'm just going to start this post by saying I love Sophie Cousens.

Her debut novel This Time Next Year was in my top three reads of 2020 (if you haven't read it yet then I must insist that you make time for it ASAP).

And now she's back with her next book, Just Haven't Met You Yet, which is releasing in ebook first and I'm beyond excited to be a part of the blog tour, to share with you just how much I love this story too, I feel like I'm cheating on her first book with this one.

just-havent-met-you-yet


Laura's business trip to the Channel Islands isn't exactly off to a great start. After unceremoniously dumping everything in her bag in front of the most attractive man she's ever seen in real life, she arrives at her hotel only to realize she's grabbed the wrong suitcase from the airport. Her only consolation? The irresistibly appealing contents of the case: a copy of her favorite book; piano music; and a rugged, heavy knit fisherman sweater only a Ryan Gosling lookalike could pull off. The owner of this suitcase is Laura's dream man--she's sure of it. Now, all she has to do is find him.

The mix-up seems written in the stars. After all, what are the odds that she'd find The One on the same remote island where her mom and dad had first fallen in love, especially as she sets out to write an article about their epic romance? Commissioning surly cab driver Ted to ferry her around seems like her best bet in both tracking down the mystery suitcase owner and retracing her parents' footsteps. And if beneath Ted's gruffness lies a wit that makes their cab rides strangely entertaining, so much the better. But as Laura's long-lost luggage soulmate proves difficult to find--and as she realizes that the love story she's held on a pedestal all her life might not have been that perfect--she'll have to rethink her whole outlook on love to discover what she really wants.

Monday, 23 August 2021

The Wedding Party by Tammy Cohen Blog Tour

 Weddings.

The perfect subject matter for a book.

All the romance, the emotions and ..... the murder.

Tammy Cohen's novel The Wedding Party is being released in paperback and I was so pleased to be asked to take part in the blog tour to celebrate.

This is a thrilling whodunnit that turns a dream wedding into something entirely unexpected.

wedding-party-cover



Lucy has dreamt of her wedding day for as long as she can remember.

And now the day is almost here. Her nearest and dearest are gathered on an idyllic Greek island and she just knows it's going to be perfect. It has to be.

But even the best-laid plans can go horribly wrong. Why are her parents behaving so strangely? Why won't the rather odd lady from the airport stop hanging around? Who is the silent stranger her sister brought as a plus-1?

And then they find the body.

Sunday, 22 August 2021

Lies Like Wildfire by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez Blog Tour

 As much as I love to read, sometimes I just don't have enough time to sit and concentrate on a book (never enough hours in the day) so there are days when I just need a quick read. 

You know the ones, something sharp, snappy, suspenseful even.

And that is exactly what I got with Jennifer Lynn's latest novel, Lies Like Wildfire. 

lies-like-wildfire


In Gap Mountain, California, everyone knows about fire season. And no one is more vigilant than 18-year-old Hannah Warner, the sheriff's daughter and aspiring FBI agent. That is until this summer. When Hannah and her best friends accidentally spark an enormous and deadly wildfire, their instinct is to lie to the police and the fire investigators.

But as the blaze roars through their rural town and towards Yosemite National Park, Hannah's friends begin to crack and she finds herself going to extreme lengths to protect their secret. Because sometimes good people do bad things. And if there’s one thing people hate, it’s liars.

Thursday, 19 August 2021

Wicked Little Deeds by Kat Ellis Blog Tour

Some stories I think you need to expect the unexpected and this is how I feel about Kat Ellis's novel Wicked Little Deeds.

It's a tale that expertly mixes genres and creates a chilling atmosphere.

wicked-little-deeds


From its creepy town mascot to the story of its cursed waterfall, Burden Falls is a small town dripping with superstition. Ava Thorn knows this well - since the horrific accident she witnessed a year ago, she's been plagued by nightmares.

But when someone close to her is brutally murdered and Ava is the primary suspect, she starts to wonder if the legends surrounding the town are more fact than fiction.

Whatever secrets Burden Falls is hiding, there's a killer on the loose, and they have a vendetta against the Thorns...

Monday, 16 August 2021

Daisy Chain by Julia Vaughan Blog Tour

 Crime was always a genre that I remember my mum reading a lot of. At a younger age, it didn't interest me very much but over the past couple of years this genre has become far more appealing to me. 

I think it has something to do with the thrill of the chase.

Trying to solve a puzzle alongside the detectives working on the case.

And this was certainly how I felt when I read Julia Vaughan's latest novel Daisy Chain, as we followed a rather thrilling cold case.

daisy-chain


In 2009 the body of five-year-old Daisy Prospero was found in Shropshire woodland. Her killer has never been caught.

Ten years on, Detective Chief Inspector Kath Fortune and her new Cold Case team are on the hunt to find the truth.

With psychic Lane Petreus and tech expert Byron on board, the team must call on all their resources to close the case.

Alongside the new investigation into his daughter's murder, Todd Prospero has his own mystery to solve. Who is the woman he finds in his garden in the middle of the night on the brink of death?

A chain of secrets and lies lead the team to uncover connections that no-one could have imagined.

Can the killer be brought to justice?

Saturday, 14 August 2021

The Unexpected Love Story of Lexie Byrne (aged 39 1/2) by Caroline Grace-Cassidy Blog Tour

 There are days when I need a good pick me up and books have always been my saviour when it comes to moments like this.

One such book that lightened my mood recently has to be the latest release from best-selling author Caroline Grace-Cassidy.

And now it is my stop on the blog tour for The Unexpected Love Story of Lexie Byrne (aged 39 1/2). This is a novel that is pure fun, guaranteed to make you smile - well I was kept smiling throughout anyway. So sit back, relax and read on for more of my thoughts on this heartwarming tale.

lexie-byrne


Meet Lexie Byrne. The big 4-0 is looming, but she's perfectly content without a man. How else could she watch movies on repeat and eat crisp sandwiches in bed? Finally free of her love rat ex, she's never settling again. Nothing less that 'The One' will do.

Then, after an electrifying encounter on a wild St Patrick's Day, Lexie takes a leap of faith and a flight across the Irish sea. But as sparks fly, Lexie's dreams take a serious nose dive. Until an arrival no one anticipated . . .

Tuesday, 10 August 2021

Before I saw You by Emily Houghton Blog Tour

 I'd like to think of myself as a hopeless romantic. When it comes to reading books, the romance genre has and always will be my favourite. 

You just can't beat that heartwarming feeling that those types of novels provide you with.

Emily Houghton done a fantastic job of tugging at my hear strings with her latest novel Before I Saw You. If you're a fan of Me Before You then you are in for a treat with this story.

before-i-saw-you


Alice and Alfie are strangers. But they sleep next to each other every night.

Alfie Mack has been in hospital for months recovering from an accident. A new face on the ward is about as exciting as life gets for him right now, so when someone moves into the bed next to him he's eager to make friends. But it quickly becomes clear that seeing his neighbour's face won't happen any time soon.

Alice Gunnersley has been badly burned and can't even look at herself yet, let alone allow anyone else to see her. She keeps the curtain around her bed firmly closed, but it doesn't stop Alfie trying to get to know her. And gradually, as he slowly brings Alice out of her shell, might there even be potential for more?

Thursday, 5 August 2021

Merry Go Round by Sarah Toll Blog Tour

 I've always liked a good romance. 

Not necessarily the typical boy meets girl, they fall in love and everything's all happy. More those ones that are all consuming, when the emotion of it all really takes over.

And this is what I felt with Sarah Toll's novel Merry Go Round. What I'd describe as a psychological romance, this is a novel that is dark in its nature, one that I felt utterly compelled to read.

merry-go-round


Lily Montrose has endured a white-knuckle ride during her on-off affair with Nathaniel Deighton. She is sitting alone in a coffee shop when a brief but devastating call brings the whole thing to a crashing halt.

Fleeing her job and flat in London, she retreats to a farmstead on the shores of the north Devon coast to repair her broken spirit and regain her sense of self. Here she finds an unlikely soulmate in Adam, a somewhat homespun but handsome local with unexpected qualities.

As the months pass by, Lily begins to put her troubled past behind her and – despite harbouring the most intimate of secrets – her relationship with Adam deepens. But when Nat suddenly resurfaces, the malevolent merry go round begins to revolve once again, revealing the ugly truths that lie deep within Lily and unleashing a chain of events that will threaten not only her sanity, but everything she holds dear . . .

The House of Whispers by Anna Kent Blog Tour

 Sometimes a book really gets under your skin, you know the ones that give you goosebumps with just how creepy they are through description alone.

That is exactly what Anna Kent has managed to do with her latest novel House of Whispers. I felt the hairs raising on my arms as I read.

Spine-chilling.

house-of-whispers


When Grace returns to Abi’s life, years after they fell out at university, Abi can’t help but feel uneasy. Years ago, Grace’s friendship was all-consuming and exhausting.

Now happily married, Abi’s built a new life for herself and put those days behind her. And yet as Grace slips back into her life with all the lethal charm she had before, Abi finds herself falling back under her spell…

Abi’s husband, Rohan, can’t help but be concerned as his wife’s behaviour changes. As their happy home threatens to fall apart, he realises that there’s something deeply unnerving about Grace. Just what influence does this woman have over his wife, and why has she come back now?

Pretty as a Picture by Elizabeth Little Blog Tour

 I'll be honest, there are some books that I'll choose to read purely based on their front covers. That's right, I can be in the dark as to what the story is actually about but the cover is enough to make me want to pick it up instantly.

One such book was Pretty as a Picture, the latest novel from best-selling author Elizabeth Little. Now I haven't read any of her other books so I really was stepping into the unknown with this story.

SPOILER

It did not disappoint!

pushkin-blog-tours


Marissa Dahl, a shy but successful film editor, travels to a small island off the coast of Delaware to work with the legendary--and legendarily demanding--director Tony Rees on a feature film with a familiar logline.

Some girl dies.

It's not much to go on, but the specifics don't concern Marissa. Whatever the script is, her job is the same. She'll spend her days in the editing room, doing what she does best: turning pictures into stories.

But she soon discovers that on this set, nothing is as it's supposed to be--or as it seems. There are rumors of accidents and indiscretions, of burgeoning scandals and perilous schemes. Half the crew has been fired. The other half wants to quit. Even the actors have figured out something is wrong. And no one seems to know what happened to the editor she was hired to replace.

Then she meets the intrepid and incorrigible teenage girls who are determined to solve the real-life murder that is the movie's central subject, and before long, Marissa is drawn into the investigation herself.

The only problem is, the killer may still be on the loose. And he might not be finished.

Love Hope by Juliet Ann Conlin Blog Tour

 Sometimes a book comes along that just pulls out all of the emotion in you. You know what I mean, the all encompassing sympathy and empathy combined.

And that's exactly what I felt when I had the opportunity to read Love Hope.

Juliet Ann Conlin has created a beautiful tale of love, loss and lasting friendship.

love-hope


An unexpected letter. An unlikely friendship. A chance to start again.

Ever since she first picked up a violin, Hope Sullivan dreamed of going to music college, joining an orchestra and travelling the world with her best friend Janey. But when her parents were killed in a car accident on the way to one of her recitals, she gave it all up to look after her younger sister, Autumn. Ten years later, Janey is living their dream on her own, Autumn is flourishing as a doctor and Hope's life is smaller and less musical than ever.

Arnold Quince had the happiest of lives - until he lost his beloved wife Marion. Once the life and soul of the village, he withdrew into his grief and pushed all his friends away. Now, five years on, he is sick, lonely and just counting down the years until he can be with Marion again.

When Hope and Arnold are pushed into writing to one another, neither has any idea how much their life is about to change.

Tuesday, 3 August 2021

The Turnout by Megan Abbott Blog Tour

 I'll admit, I'm no dancer (not from want or trying) but that doesn't stop me enjoying the world of dance, watching and admiring.

I've read books based around ballet before but when I heard about Megan Abbotts' latest novel The Turnout, I was immediately intrigued. 

Described as dark and mesmerising, making Black Swan look like a children's story, I was left wondering what possible direction could this author take the story? Surely the idea of ballet is just to beautiful to be so disturbing?

the-turnout


Ballet flows through their veins. Dara and Marie Durant were dancers since birth, with their long necks and matching buns and pink tights, homeschooled and trained by their mother. Decades later the Durant School of Dance is theirs. The two sisters, together with Charlie, Dara's husband and once their mother's prize student, inherited the school after their parents died in a tragic accident nearly a dozen years ago. Marie, warm and soft, teaches the younger students; Dara, with her precision, trains the older ones; and Charlie, back broken after years of injuries, rules over the back office. Circling around each other, the three have perfected a dance, six days a week, that keeps the studio thriving. But when a suspicious accident occurs, just at the onset of the school's annual performance of The Nutcracker, a season of competition, anxiety, and exhilaration, an interloper arrives and threatens the delicate balance of everything they've worked for.