REVIEW TOUR: We Burned So Bright - TJ Klune

The world is ending in thirty days.

A wandering black hole is approaching Earth, and soon, everything will be gone. For husbands Don and Rodney, forty years of marriage suddenly feels like no time at all.

One last road trip. One final chance to say goodbye.

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea comes a story about what we owe the people we love when time runs out. Don and Rodney are in a race against the clock, driving from Maine to Washington State to settle unfinished business before the sky breaks.

Is it enough to burn bright, even if nothing remains of the ashes?

Along the way, they encounter a world choosing how to spend its final moments―from impromptu weddings and bright bonfires to those simply sharing a final meal. Under a kaleidoscope sky and a cracked moon, Don and Rodney must look back on a lifetime of highs and lows and ask the ultimate question: was our best good enough?

A bittersweet, life-affirming masterpiece about love, legacy, and the beauty of a life well-lived.

 

What did I think?

We Burned So Bright is my first TJ Klune book and it is simply breathtaking.  I loved it so much I could've quite easily read it again immediately after turning the final page, if I hadn't been crying my eyes out of course!  Cry?  Me? No, I SOBBED.  This is one heck of a book hangover; I was still upset the next day!

The plot is incredibly thought-provoking and you can't help but wonder what you would do if the end of the world was imminent.  As the planets in our solar system start to break up and disappear into a black hole, it's only a matter of time before Earth is next.  Husbands Don and Rodney have a very important trip to make before the world ends and I felt completely privileged to witness their journey, although I suspected I would need my tissues handy and I was right.

The writing is so beautiful and profound that I noted down several quotes as I was reading, even though there are only 163 pages in the book.  Now this is what we mean by quality over quantity.  I also learned something that I didn't know about the acronym LGBT that actually started out as GLBT.  What an amazing tribute to these silent heroes.

Heartbreaking doesn't even come close to describing We Burned So Bright, although it most definitely broke my heart.  It is also strangely uplifting as it reminds us to hold those we love a little closer and that we'll finally have achieved equality when the world ends.  All the stars in the universe for this unforgettable book; five stars just aren't enough.  

I received a gifted hardback to read for the review tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Kiss, Marry, Murder (The Jessica Sinclair Mysteries) - Faye Brann

TV reality show host and former journalist Jessica Sinclair quits her job after receiving a death threat and is scratching a living as a private investigator when she discovers the body of her former best friend, Marianne Hughes. Accused of her murder by a police chief with a grudge and devastated that she never got to put her relationship right with Marianne, Jessica sets out to find her killer.

Smelling D-list celebrity blood, the press set up shop outside her front door after news of her involvement with the case is conveniently leaked. Jessica begins to suspect the answer is close to home - perhaps literally. With the help of her two new recruits – bitter divorcee Darcy, and Della, a frozen fish truck driver – Jessica investigates the most likely suspects and ends up revealing uncomfortable secrets.

When more threatening notes arrive, Jessica realises that she really does have a target on her back. Time is running out... Can she find the murderer before they kill her, too?

Set in the leafy environs of Barnes in southwest London, Kiss, Marry, Murder is a fast-paced, suspenseful murder mystery with a humorous twist; a combination of action, sleuthing, wit and heart.

 

What did I think?

Kiss, Marry, Murder is a fantastic start to a new series and it's such good fun to read.  I can't wait to read the sequel, Little Grey Cells, to catch up with Jessica and her quirky team again.

It's a really intriguing mystery as Jessica received a death threat that made her leave her job in TV.  As if that wasn't bad enough, Jessica then discovers the body of her estranged friend and ends up being accused of her murder.  With a little help from her new friends, Della and Darcy, Jessica starts to her own investigation to both clear her name and find out who is threatening her.

Jessica, Della and Darcy are larger than life characters and it is their banter and escapades that had me giggling surprisingly frequently.  It's so refreshing to have a murder mystery with added humour as it lightens what would otherwise be a dark storyline.

Captivating, witty and entertaining, Kiss, Marry, Murder is an unpredictable and unforgettable murder mystery.  I am already hooked on the series at book one, which gives you some indication just how good this book is.  A very highly recommended read.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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The Body that Floats (Julia and Frankie Mystery Series Book 2) - Jayne Chard

TWO RETIRED SISTERS

ONE DEAD BODY

Julia, a retired head teacher with a fondness for order, and her half-sister Frankie, who believes that rules are more like vague suggestions, are back—this time in the picturesque Cornish village of Portscatho.

Their morning swim off Tatum’s beach is rudely interrupted by a floating corpse. The police declare the death accidental, but the sisters have other ideas.

Soon, they’re knee-deep in smugglers’ tunnels, taking a bumpy ride in the back of a builder’s van, and facing down a gun-toting local with questionable fashion choices.

Can the sisters keep their heads above water long enough to uncover the truth or will the killer make sure they sink without a trace?

The Body That Floats – the mystery’s deep, the water’s cold, and the locals are packing more than just fishing gear. The second charming and witty adventure in the Julia and Frankie mysteries.

 

What did I think?

I enjoyed More Than Murder by Jayne Chard so I really enjoyed catching up with sisters Julia and Frankie again in The Body that Floats.

The sisters are off on a trip to Portscatho in Cornwall and they soon find themselves investigating the mysterious circumstances of a death.  The police think it's an accident but the sisters think there's more to it and they soon uncover a lot more secrets in the little village than they expected.

I love the relationship between Julia and Frankie; they still bicker a lot, as sisters are wont to do, but they seem to be getting on better than they did in book one.  They have been forced to live together in the cottage that was left to them by their aunt because if one of them moves out then the other will inherit the whole cottage.  They are as stubborn as each other where Rose Cottage is concerned but the old forced proximity is working its magic as the cracks in their relationships are gradually repaired.

The mystery part of the storyline is excellent and it's one that I'm sure Agatha Christie herself would have been proud of.  I'm always delighted to be proved wrong in my own guesses of whodunnit and it's fair to say that I didn't see this one coming.

Witty, entertaining and intriguing, The Body that Floats is a fabulous second instalment in this delightful mystery series.  It's well worth a read.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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INSTAGRAM TOUR: The Amalfi Curse - Sarah Penner

 

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse...

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artefacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever...

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.

What did I think?

I adored Sarah Penner's debut novel, The Lost Apothecary, so I was very excited to read another of her books and I was not disappointed.  The Amalfi Curse is her third novel, and the first to be set outside of London, that takes the reader to the Amalfi Coast in Italy.

This is a story about sea witches and there is a register of incantations on an illustration of a scroll in the front of the book.  I loved this touch and it really made me excited to read the story that follows.

With a dual timeline we meet sea witch Mari in 1821 and nautical archaeologist Haven in the present day.  The way their stories intertwine is breathtaking as they are linked by a sailor from a sunken ship called Holmes.  Holmes was in love with Mari, even though she was promised to another man, and I absolutely devoured their story.  Haven's father discovered the sunken ship on a dive but he passed away before he could investigate further so Haven has returned to finish where he left off.

This is such an intriguing story with an ancient curse and the promise of treasure beneath the waves.  I was completely riveted by Haven's research and I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page when she visited the archives to assist in her research.

Incredibly atmospheric and completely captivating, The Amalfi Curse is a poignant and haunting novel that is filled with mystery, magic and romance.  I loved it and highly recommend it.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Insta Book Tours Instagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman - Scott Reisfield

Hollywood Made Her a Star.

What she did for women made her a Legend.

Greta Garbo dominated European cinema and Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s. With discipline and fearless self-belief, she transformed screen acting into something intimate, modern, and psychologically real. She fought studio control... and won. She challenged censors, defied social expectations, and refused to compromise her independence.

More than a movie star, Garbo reshaped what it meant to be a woman on screen-self-possessed, mysterious, and unapologetically autonomous. She redefined the power a woman could hold in Hollywood.

In this intimate biography, her grandnephew Scott Reisfield reveals this disciplined artist, strategic thinker, and the fiercely private woman who helped usher a closed culture into the Modern Age.

 

What did I think?

I didn't know a lot about Greta Garbo before I picked up this book, apart from the phrase "I want to be alone" that is attributed to her, but I feel like I know her intimately now.

Greta Garbo is Scott Reisfield's great-aunt so he is well placed to research her life as it's part of his own family history.  There is a lot of information in the book and it has clearly been meticulously researched.  The text is enhanced by myriad illustrations such as tables, photos and adverts that I found added interest to what otherwise might have been a dry subject.

It does take a while to read the book as it's quite chunky with 618 pages but it's worth taking your time to fully appreciate the depth of research that has gone into writing it.  As Greta Garbo is his own ancestor, I completely trusted the accuracy of all of the details that Scott Reisfield shares in the book.

Interesting and informative, Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman is the definitive guide to one of the most iconic actresses of the The Golden Age of Hollywood. 

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Mini Breakers - Lucy Kennedy

Five women.

Twenty-two years of friendship.

One annual holiday that promises escape, connection and chaos in equal measure.

No matter how hectic their careers, relationships or family lives become, they keep their tradition alive: one week away together EVERY year. This time, the Mini Breakers are heading to Portugal.

But as the sun comes out, so do the secrets.

Between complicated love lives and the messy realities of middle age, this getaway might just be their most dramatic yet.

Scandals, revelations and questionable decisions are guaranteed when this group of gloriously imperfect, perimenopausal and fun-loving friends reunite.

THE MINI BREAKERS is a warm, sharp, wickedly funny story about the friendships that shape us.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed my virtual mini break to Portugal with The Mini Breakers and it was a pleasure to meet Kate, Georgie, Beth, Sam and Dee.  This is Lucy Kennedy's debut adult novel and it's an absolute cracker. 

This group of five women have been friends since their school days and, although they may now live miles apart, they all gather together for a holiday every year.  It's so lovely that they have remained firm friends, although it is sometimes challenging with Diva Dee in the mix.

They each have something going on in their lives and, whilst their problems may be quite heavy, Lucy Kennedy's natural Irish wit adds a lightness to the storyline.  Prepare for lots of laughs when you pick up The Mini Breakers as there are some hilarious scenes in store for the reader.

Filled with Irish charm, The Mini Breakers is a witty and entertaining novel that would be a fantastic holiday read, although you might get some funny looks from people around the pool when you laugh out loud.  A highly recommended read.

I received a gifted paperback for the Love Books Tours bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot (Soho Summers Series Book 1) - Sacha Hughes

Soho’s life was perfect, until it wasn’t.

The youngest of three girls, growing up on the Essex coast, she had love and laughter… until her mum lost her battle with cancer.

At 24, grief hit hard. With pinot grigio as her go-to painkiller and the belief that only Mr Right can fix her broken heart, Soho dives headfirst into love’s messiest lessons.

With her recruitment career in London a comical shit-show, Soho’s nights with her five best friends, the Wino Worms, are fuelled by cocaine, cocktails, and chaos. Hundreds of men later, hope never lasts past hangovers and sunrise.

That is, until a disastrous bedroom incident sparks a painful journey of healing she’s been running from. But not for long! Enter Warren Williams: the irresistible Aussie with endless champagne and sweet nothings. Could he be the Mr Right she’s been chasing all along? She’s not ready… Or is she?

Full of heartbreak, hilarity, and a hint of redemption, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot is a gloriously human, raw, and riotous journey through love, loss, and learning that the only person who can save you… is you.

 

What did I think?

Wow!  What an amazing debut novel from Sacha Hughes!  I expected to like Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot, which is why I chose to read it, but I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!

Soho Summers is such a realistic and relatable character.  The 28-year-old has been searching for her very own Mr Right but every one she picks turns out to be Mr Very Wrong.  Summer may laugh off all of her dating nightmares in front of her friends but it really stings when her friends return to their partners and Soho goes home alone to her cute cat Pickle.

When Soho's mother dies she spirals dangerously out of control with a cocktail of drink, drugs and sex but she continues to tell her friends and family that she's 'fine'.  Isn't that so true?  We use 'I'm fine' so often that it almost has the opposite meaning to what it should convey.  Now, I would like to say that I couldn't put this book down but I had to at the end of a couple of chapters to gather my emotions as it is heartbreaking reading at times.  Soho's grief is palpable and I just wanted to reach into the book and give her a massive hug.

I've seen readers talking about book hangovers before but I had never had one...until now.  I didn't want the book to end and I'm already looking forward to the next one.  There's a sneaky peak of book two in the back of the book and I don't usually read these excerpts but I just had to see what was next in store for Soho.  I can't wait for more!!

Entertaining, laugh out loud hilarious and incredibly poignant, Love, Grief & More Sex Than Pinot made me laugh and cry so have your hankies at the ready when you read it.  It's an unmissable and unforgettable emotional rollercoaster of a rom-com and an easy five stars.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the Online Book Review Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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