The Takedown by Carlie Walker

 I am a huge fan of romantic comedies. Sometimes we need something a bit more light-hearted to give us back a bit of positivity. And that's exactly what I got with Carlie Walker's novel The Takedown. 

Described as Miss Congeniality meets The Love Hypothesis with the spice of Mr and Mrs Smith, this is a romcom that is written to make you laugh whilst giving you all of the feels.

He wants to take her out.
She wants to take him down...

Sydney's mission is

1. Stop her little sister from marrying a notorious criminal

2. Seduce his bodyguard to gather intel for the FBI

3. Definitely do not fall in love...

Agent Sydney Swift is going home for the holidays. She's just discovered that her younger sister, Calla, is engaged to Johnny Jones - the heir to the nation's most notorious crime dynasty - and she's determined to stop their perfect winter wedding at any cost.

But gathering incriminating evidence on Johnny isn't as easy as she'd hoped, especially as her biggest obstacle is Nick, his infuriatingly handsome and charming bodyguard!

As Sydney spends more time with Nick, lines begin to blur, and while seducing him to gather intel was bad enough, falling for him is even worse. Soon Sydney is faced with a difficult decision - one that certainly wasn't covered in her training...

My Book of Revelations by Iain Hood Blog Tour

 When the millennium was looming I was only thirteen years old. To be honest I was overly concerned with the Y2K mania but I know there were plenty of people who were.

Iain hood (author of This Good Book and Every Trick in the Book) is back with his latest novel My Book of Revelations and he's delving into the thoughts and feelings of oh so many of you out there as the countdown to the 2000's began.

The countdown to the millennium has begun, and people are losing their heads. A so-called Y2K expert gives a presentation to Scotland’s eccentric Tech Laird T.S. Mole’s entourage in Edinburgh, and soon long hours, days, weeks and months fill with seemingly chaotic and frantic work on the ‘bug problem’. Soon enough it’ll be just minutes and seconds to go to midnight. Is the world about to end, or will everyone just wake up the next day with the same old New Year’s Day hangover? 

Once a Monster by Robert Dinsdale Blog Tour

 My love for historical fiction has grown immensely over the past couple of years and there have been some wonderful novels released within that time.

One such book is Robert Dinsdale's latest release, Once A Monster. It only too me reading the blurb for
me to know that this story was going to be something quite special.

Now I assume you've joined this blog tour to find out more about this magical tale and I feel I've got an important job being the first stop to make you want to buy a copy ASAP.

London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died four years past, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers in her possession, she spends her days dredging up coals, copper and pieces of iron spilled by the river barges – searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.

But one day, Nell discovers a body on the shore. It’s not the first corpse she’s encountered, but by far the strangest. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head are the suggestion of horns. Nell’s fellow mudlarks urge her to steal his boots and rifle his pockets, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath and Nell is forced to make a decision which will change her life forever . . .

Scareground by Angela Kecojevic Blog Tour

 Scareground is the latest book from author Angela Kecojevic.

The question is will the story be as scary as the book suggests?

Roll up, roll up, the Scareground is in town!

Twelve-year-old Nancy Crumpet lives above a bakery and her life is a delightful mix of flour, salt, and love.

Yet her mind is brimming with questions no one can answer: Why did her birth parents disappear? Why can she speak with the sky? And why must she keep her mysterious birthmark hidden?

Everything changes when the Scareground returns to Greenwich. When Nancy and her best friend meet the fair's spooky owner, Skelter, and discover a world full of dark magic and mystery, she must confront her greatest fears to get to the truth. But is Nancy ready for the secrets the Scareground will reveal? for all the secrets the Scareground will reveal?

The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm by Karen Foxlee Blog Tour

 I think you all know by now, I am a huge fan of children's literature. It's just pure escapism and I'm still quite partial to a good illustration.

Karen Foxlee has definitely mastered the art of writing because we have in her Guide to Monsters series is a great sense of adventure and a fantastic protagonist who goes by the name of Miss Mary-Kate Martin.

There are those that hunt monsters to harm them and there are those that hunt monsters to help them. Which one are you?

Dressed in sparkly red shoes and carrying her strawberry-scented notebook, Mary-Kate is accompanying her archaeologist mother to the tranquil English countryside to investigate some interesting bones found in an old well. But once they arrive, they realise that the village of Woolington is not as peaceful as it seems. Mysterious noises, earth tremors and a terrifying legend have the locals frightened.

Could there be any truth in the myth of the beast who lives in the ancient well? And if so, why would it return? Mary-Kate might be anxious, but she is not afraid to get to the bottom of this monstrous mystery.

The Exiled by Sarah Daniels Blog Tour

 Sarah Daniels is back with the follow up to The Stranded. 

Nik and Esther stories are not over and I'm definitely here for The Exiled because I need to know where they are now!

It is six months since the Arcadia set sail for the first time in forty years. But this wasn't the freedom the inhabitants were hoping for. Esther Crossland did what she had to do, but it has left a trail of destruction in her wake. Now the wrecked ship is abandoned. Its inhabitants are in exile, trapped in sprawling make-shift shelters made up of warehouse, tents, shipping containers.

Esther and Nik, architects of the rebellion, are on the run. Esther is in hiding, desperate to do something to help her people, and Nik seems to have abandoned all hope, on a journey taking him further and further from home. And neither of them want to face up to their true feelings about one another . . .

Not only that, there is a new villain in town. With the fall of Commander Hadley, it's left to the ruthless Admiral Janek to deal with the traitors, and her own past is beginning to catch-up with her.

Then the shaky ceasefire negotiated by General Lall, Nik's mum, falls apart. Nik and Esther find themselves in a world of betrayals and double crossings - a game of power, with no one to trust but themselves.

It's time for the final showdown.

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels Blog Tour

 I've always been a fan of young adult books, whether that be coming of age stories, romances, but especially when they are more fantasy or dystopian.

What Sarah Daniels has created with her novel The Stranded is a mixture of all of the above!

Welcome to the Arcadia.

Once a luxurious cruise ship, it became a refugee camp after being driven from Europe by an apocalyptic war. Now it floats near the coastline of the Federated States - a leftover piece of a fractured USA.

For forty years, residents of the Arcadia have been prohibited from making landfall. It is a world of extreme haves and have nots, gangs and make-shift shelters.

Esther is a loyal citizen, working flat-out to have the rare chance to live a normal life as a medic on dry land. Nik is a rebel, planning something big to liberate the Arcadia once and for all.

When events throw them both together, their lives, and the lives of everyone on the ship, will change forever . . .

Sea Haven by JM Simpson Blog Tour

 JM Simpson is back with the latest novel in the explosive Castleby series.

And I'm pleased as punch to be part of the blog tour for Sea Haven. I've followed this series from the beginning and I can't believe we've reached book number four!

One tragic death. Five people know the truth. Who is to blame?

Hollywood darling Cassie Warner is tragically killed three weeks before Christmas in a car crash on the outskirts of Castleby. Her daughter, Tabatha, narrowly survives the crash. Detective Steve Miller suspects foul play and discovers evidence confirming he is dealing with a murder enquiry.

Local crime mafiosi, Mickey and Pearl Camorra’s empire is at risk from rival gangs who plan to take over. Anxious to avoid a violent and bloody turf war Detective Miller reluctantly supports them to keep control.

Ex-soldier Foxy takes in a troubled loved one and does all he can to help, but the odds are stacked against him.

As Detective Miller investigates the crash, he discovers a broken family with a long history of neglect and abuse. Digging deeper, he is faced with five potential suspects, but who is really to blame?

Murder, obsession, intrigue and suspense continue in the fourth of the Castleby Series.

My Brother George by Kelly and Zoey Allen Blog Tour

 I love that there is starting to be a lot more diversity in books and that goes for both children and adult genres. 

One such book that was bought to my attention recently was My Brother George by Kelly and Zoey Allen. This is a beautifully illustrated story that follows Molly and her family as her brother George stands up for himself showing that his wonderful long hair and hair clips are just part of what make him who he is. 

Michael, the Amazing Mind-Reading Sausage Dog by Terrie Chilvers Blog Tour

 Who doesn't love a children's book, especially when they contain mind-reading dogs!

Terrie Chilvers has come up with something eccentric and entertaining, alongside hilarious illustrations, this is a story designed to make you laugh out loud.

And I'm rather excited to be a part of the blog tour.

And now I have an exclusive about the wonderful superstar cast (of dogs) that you'll get to meet along the way:

Maybe it's About Time by Neil Boss Blog Tour

 Some books really resonate because they use such recent topics that make us think, make us remember and perhaps put a different perspective on things for us.

I believe that is what Neil Boss has done with his novel Maybe It's About Time.

Two people trapped in their different worlds. One by wealth and one by poverty. Twenty years working for The Firm has given Marcus Barlow everything he wants but has taken his soul in return. Finding a way to leave has become an obsession.

Claire Halford’s life hits rock bottom when she is caught stealing food from Tesco Express. Left alone by her husband with two small children and an STI, her suicide music is starting to play louder in her head.

A chance meeting brings them together. As a mystery virus from China starts to run riot across the country, their world’s collide and they find they have more in common than they knew.

Set in the early months of 2020, Maybe It’s About Time is a story about the difficulty of changing lives for the better. Starting as a funny and satirical view of the egocentric world of professional services, it gives way to a heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that rejuvenates Marcus and Claire, giving them both hope for a better future.

Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan Blog Tour

 Sometimes you need a good YA book to give you your reading mojo back.

And that's exactly what I got with Calum McSwiggan's debut novel Straight Expectations. 

Seventeen-year-old Max has always been out, proud and just a little spoiled. Frustrated by the lack of romantic options in his small-town high school, during an argument with his lifelong best friend Dean, Max lashes out and says he wishes he had never been born gay.

Max gets more than he bargained for when he wakes up to find his wish has come true - not only have his feelings for boys vanished, but so has Dean.

With his school life turned upside down and his relationship with his family in tatters, Max sets out on a journey of rediscovery to find a way back to the life he took for granted, and the romance he thought he'd never have.

The Little Venice Bookshop by Rebecca Raisin Blog Tour

 Sometimes we all just need a feel-good book to instil a bit of positivity in us.

And that is something I know I'm guaranteed to get from author Rebecca Raisin. Having reviewed her previous novels, I was rather excited to be taken on another wistful journey with her latest story The Little Venice Bookshop.

When Luna loses her beloved mother, she’s bereft: her mother was her only family, and without her Luna feels rootless. Then the chance discovery of a collection of letters in her mother’s belongings sends her on an unexpected journey.

Following a clue in the letters, Luna packs her bags and heads to Venice, to a gorgeous but faded bookshop overlooking the canals, hoping to uncover the truth about her mother’s mysterious past.

Will Luna find the answers she’s looking for – and finally find the place she belongs?

The Woolworths Girls Promise by Elaine Everest Blog Tour

Elaine Everest is a new author to me but I do like a a good saga and that is what this lovely author has to offer in her series of books.

The Woolworths Girl's Promise is part of you've guessed it, The Woolworths Girls series however I'm pleased to say that it can be read as a stand alone book.

After losing her beloved fiancé at Ypres in 1917, seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Billington faces a lonely future estranged from her upper-class parents due to her association with Charlie Sayers and his working-class family. No longer able to live under her parent’s roof she is taken in by Charlie’s father, escaping the suffocating demands of her parents.

Betty soon learns all too well about the realities of life after an accident at the Woolwich Arsenal munitions works. Spotting an advertisement for a nearby job at Woolworths, Betty starts on a new and thrilling journey starting at the bottom of the employment ladder in the well-known store.

Her work journey leads her to Ramsgate in Kent to work in a newly built store and with it the chance of marriage, but can she ever forget Charlie and the promise she made to him…?

In this book we are introduced to Elizabeth (Betty) Billington. 

Never Too Late by T. A. Williams Blog Tour

 I don't think it's any secret (if you look back on my blog) just how much I enjoy reading novels by author T. A. Williams.

It's that brilliant mixture of location and characters that draws me in each time.

So I was of course rather excited when I was given the chance to join the blog tour - publication day - for their latest story, Never Too Late which happens to be the first in the Beneath Italian Skies series of books. 

Spoiler alert, I cannot wait to read the rest of the stories!

A classically trained pianist, Steph works as a recording engineer for a small studio when she’s offered the job of a lifetime – travel to the Italian Riviera to help world-famous band, Royalty, record their reunion album after a decades-long hiatus.

Steph could definitely do with the distraction. Her boyfriend – who also happens to be her boss – is increasingly unreliable and erratic, and she’s awaiting news from her doctor after a recent biopsy. So an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy is the perfect escape.

What she doesn’t expect is an instant connection with Rob, the son of Royalty’s lead singer. With her career – and her heart – at a crossroads, what path will Steph follow?

The Mother by T M Logan Blog Tour

 I love T M Logan.

There I said it.

I'm yet to read one of his books and be disappointed. So when I was given the chance to jump on board the blog tour for his latest novel I literally jumped at the chance.

The Mother is a crime thriller with twists like no other. Read on to see some of the reasons on just why I can't get enough of this author.

Framed for murder. Now she's free . . .

A woman attends a funeral, standing in the shadows and watching in agony as her sons grieve. But she is unable to comfort them - or reveal her secret.

A decade earlier, Heather gets her children ready for bed and awaits the return of her husband Liam, little realising that this is the last night they will spend together as a family. Because tomorrow she will be accused of Liam's murder.

Ten years ago Heather lost everything. Now she will stop at nothing to clear her name - and to get her children back . . .

Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery Blog Tour

 Some books ooze elegance and that's just what Nicole Flattery's novel Nothing Special has in abundance. 

Taking a different perspective on some of And Warhol's life, this author manages to captivate a whole new audience with her story telling.

New York City, 1966. Seventeen-year-old Mae lives in a run-down apartment with her alcoholic mother and her mother's sometimes-boyfriend, Mikey. She is turned off by the petty girls at her high school, and the sleazy men she typically meets. When she drops out, she is presented with a job offer that will remake her world entirely: she is hired as a typist for the artist Andy Warhol.

The Night Man by Jorn Lier Horst Blog Tour

Horst is described as one of the most brilliantly understated novelists and I had to admit before I was asked to take part in this blog tour, I'd never read one of their books before. 

But I can say with full honesty that I will definitely be reading more now. 

A body in the lake, a head on a stake . . . 

Wisting returns in The Night Man.

WILLIAM WISTING IS IN A RACE AGAINST TIME

When a severed head is found on a stake in the quiet town of Larvik, Police Inspector William Wisting is called in to investigate.

ALL ROADS LEAD BACK TO THE NIGHT MAN

As the media closes in on the biggest story of the year, Wisting's journalist daughter Line receives a tip. Soon, it becomes clear that there is more to this case than anyone thought. A criminal network has lodged itself deep into the roots of the city, and it's up to Wisting to take down the elusive and dangerous Night Man.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

But hunting down The Night Man will take everything Wisting has, and it's all too easy for the hunter to become the prey . . .

The Night Animals by Sarah Ann Jukes Book Review

 Those of you that take the time to read the posts on my blog will know that I am a firm believer that any book is there to be read and enjoyed by anybody. Personally, I thoroughly enjoy stories that are seemingly aimed at a younger reader. Even more so when I think that the children in my class at school will appreciate too.

One such book that I had the pleasure of perusing was The Night Animals by Sarah Ann Jukes. 

Beautifully illustrated by the award-winning Sharon King-Chai, this is Sarah's second middle grade novel and it is one that is fully engaging from the first page.

Nora's mum has good days and bad days, but the bad days are getting worse.  It's been just the two of them for always, and they don't need anyone else.  When the rainbow-shimmering ghost animals Nora used to see when she was small start to reappear, she's convinced that they hold all the answers.  Along with new friend Kwame, Nora follows a glittering ghostly fox, hare, raven and otter on the adventure of a lifetime, helping her to find the strength she needs to help her family.

When I First Held You by Anstey Harris

 Some stories are just so beautifully written that you can't help but love them.

Anstey Harris's latest novel, When I First Held You was one of those books. I was drawn in so quickly and I didn't want to let go of this tale in a hurry.

In 1960s Glasgow, anti-nuclear activists Judith and Jimmy fall in love. But their future hopes are dashed when their protestors’ squat is raided and many, including Jimmy, are sent to prison. Pregnant and with no word from Jimmy, Judith is forced to enter an unmarried mothers’ home, give up their baby and learn to live with her grief.

More than half a century later, Judith’s Mending Shop restores broken treasures, just as Judith herself has been bound back together by her late, much-missed partner, Catherine. But her tranquillity is shattered when Jimmy—so different and yet somehow the same—reappears, yearning to unpick the painful past.

Realising they each know only half of the other’s story, Jimmy and Judith finally break the silence that tore apart what might have been their family. Amid heartbreak and hope, how much can now be mended?