A Stranger in Corfu - Alex Preston

On the Greek island of Vidos the past lingers like salt in the air. The inhabitants - former members of MI6 - are sent here to be forgotten. Exiled. Either too damaged or too compromised to be allowed to live freely.

For years, residents make the best of their fate - old enemies reconcile, long-lost friends swim together in the warm sea and estranged lovers share a bed once more. But secrets bind tightly. And when one of their own washes up dead, alliances fracture and a tide of suspicion begins to rise.

A vivid reimagining of a real, hidden slice of the British Intelligence Service's history, A Stranger in Corfu is an exquisitely tense and masterfully spun novel about shadowy morality, unravelled secrets and the futility of trying to outrun the past.

 

What did I think?

It was really interesting to read A Stranger in Corfu because although it is fiction it did make me wonder what happens to spies when they are no longer active.  Are they trusted to they keep their secrets or are they too much of a risk?

These former spies are exiled on the island of Vidos in Corfu and they live together rather like a dysfunctional family.  The Greek police have their work cut out when one of the ex-spies is found dead.  Is it an accident or was it murder?  The spies know better than most that it's a dangerous world out there and you don't know who you can trust.

The timeline flips back and forth between the current setting and previous assignments and although the pacing is quite slow I was mesmerised by the eloquence of Alex Preston's writing. 

Atmospheric, poignant and intriguing, A Stranger in Corfu is an enthralling literary thriller that I really enjoyed reading.  It's well worth a read if you enjoy spy thrillers as it's something a bit different from the norm.

I received a gifted hardback for the Adventures With Words readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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BLOG TOUR: The General's Wife - Suzanne Dana

 

Some secrets don't stay buried, even beneath military honors

Margaret Stone appears to be the perfect military spouse—supportive, resilient, and respected as the wife of Brigadier General George "Rocky" Stone. But beneath her carefully composed exterior lies a past shadowed by tragedy and one fateful night that could destroy everything she's built.

When a blackmail letter signed "Swimbuddy1980" arrives, Margaret is forced to confront the truth about what really happened during a late-night swim at Coronado Beach nearly thirty years ago. As the threats escalate and her husband faces a career-defining deployment to Afghanistan, Margaret must navigate the complex loyalties of military life while fighting to protect the life she's crafted from the ashes of her troubled youth.

From a San Diego tattoo parlor to the formality of Marine Corps ceremonies, Margaret's journey reveals the resilience of the human spirit and the unique bonds forged through shared sacrifice in the military community.

In this compelling narrative of love, betrayal, and redemption, one woman discovers that while the past shapes us, it need not define us—and that true strength comes from facing the most painful truths of all.

What did I think?

The General's Wife is a wonderful debut novel that gives the reader a glance into US military life from a side you don't often see: that of the wives and partners.  The armed forces have such an important and difficult job but so do those they leave behind when they're deployed.

With reference to a secret in chapter one, I was immediately drawn into the story and just had to find out what was haunting Maggie from her past.  Maggie is a Brigadier General's wife and any scandal would be a detriment to his career progression.  That's why Maggie agrees to pay a blackmailer to keep her secret hidden but this means that she is hiding something else from her husband.

The secret is revealed to the reader through flashbacks to Maggie's youth and it broke my heart to see Maggie carrying this burden for so many years.  Secrets can fester if you try to bury them and it's true what they say about a problem shared but Maggie is terrified of the consequences and she doesn't know who she can trust.

I love secrets in a novel so I was hooked from the start and as much as I wanted to know what the secret was I was enjoying the whole story of Maggie's life, both past and present, just as much.  Maggie is such a strong character that I really came to care about her and she would definitely give us Brits a run for our money in the stiff upper lip stakes.

Completely captivating and incredibly intriguing, The General's Wife is filled with love, honour and respect.  It's a riveting story and it's so beautifully written that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

I received a gifted paperback for the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Suzanne Dana is both a general’s daughter and a general’s wife. She graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in journalism and a secondary education credential in English. As a general’s wife, she moved nineteen times and supported her husband through eight deployments, including those to Iraq and Afghanistan. She currently sits on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation board as an Adjunct Director. She enjoys photography, travel, water sports, and volunteering at a local women’s shelter. She resides in Arizona with her husband. 

The General’s Wife is her debut novel.

Social Media Links – 

Website: http://suzannemdana.com/

Facebook: suzannemdana

Instagram: @authorsuzannedana

Giveaway:

Giveaway to Win 10 x signed copies of The General’s Wife (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Win 10 x signed copies of The General’s Wife (Open INT)

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BLOG TOUR: The Lost Detective - Elspeth Latimer

On a summer's day, a baby vanishes. The mystery is never solved, leaving a young mother lost in grief.

Twenty-one years later, ex-police detective Dan Hennessy is struggling with his own tragic loss, and when a neighbour disappears and a body turns up at the solar farm, he is desperate for answers.

The haunted landscape is keeping secrets, and there are dangers lurking in the Brecks.

Dan must find the truth.

Can he offer hope to the grieving mother, and also save himself? 

What did I think?

Wow!  The Lost Detective is one of the best debut novels I have ever read.  Do not miss this book, crime fiction fans!  

I had to double check that The Lost Detective is Elspeth Latimer's debut as her writing is so accomplished and the plot is so compelling that I read all but the last few chapters of this fantastic book in one sitting.  I only put it down to go to sleep and I couldn't wait to pick it up the next morning to read the stunning conclusion.

The prologue is haunting and heartbreaking; it is every mother's nightmare to lose their child and Alice has had to live for 21 years without knowing what happened to her six-week-old baby Felix. Dan Hennessy knows all about loss as his fiancée was tragically killed by one of his police colleagues and he lost his future as well as his career that day. 

There's a lot of mystery and intrigue as we read about various events and different characters but they all tie together perfectly into a satisfying and incredibly emotional conclusion.  I may have had something in my eye at the end...

Poignant, evocative and captivating, The Lost Detective is a breathtaking debut novel that is unpredictable and unmissable.  Elspeth Latimer is certainly one to watch based on the strength of this very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/lostdetective-zbt

About the author:

Elspeth Latimer is an associate tutor on the prestigious University of East Anglia MA in Creative Writing Crime Fiction, and also the author of Writing the Detectives, an academic study of the protagonist in the contemporary crime fiction series, published by Cambridge University Press.

Connect with Elspeth:

Facebook: elspeth.latimer.7

Instagram: elspethlatimer16

Threads: @elspethlatimer16

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BLOG TOUR: Love Ahoy! - Jo Lyons

Maddie Summers has never been the impulsive type. So taking a new job as a holiday rep in Turkey is way out of her comfort zone. Will embarking on a boat trip with a host of demanding passengers see her all at sea - literally?

But then there’s Jackson, the sexy Australian rep who she’s falling for, hook, line and sinker. Though any chance of romance is complicated by Maddie’s gift for chaos, the powerful family onboard ship (including their light-fingered five-year-old), and a supervisor with secrets he’ll do anything to keep hidden.

Amid the rough waves of jealous crewmates, missing jewellery and even a potential man overboard, Maddie must be brave and throw logic to the wind. Can she take a risk and set a course for love? 

What did I think?

I love Jo Lyons' books and her new novel, Love Ahoy! is a real breath of fresh air in the romcom genre.  Take note doctors, Love Ahoy! should come on prescription; it made me laugh and smile all the way through.

Maddie needs a change of scenery after a recent break up so she hops on a plane and flies to Turkey to work in the head office of a holiday company.  Of course things don't go to plan from the moment she steps on the plane but give the girl her due, she stuck by her decision.  Maddie thought she would be sitting behind a desk at head office but instead she's working on a gulet to give a rich family a holiday to remember.

The family on the boat is hilarious and I absolutely adored five year old Emir - he is so cute and precocious that he was definitely my favourite character (and that's saying something as I'm not a huge fan of kids!).  The romance part of the storyline is absolutely sizzling as the chemistry between Maddie and Jackson almost left scorch marks on the page.  Be careful you don't get your fingers burnt, Maddie (and readers!).  There's also a bit of a mystery element with more than one character hiding something (and I'm not talking about Emir's stash of pilfered goods).

Cute, flirty and fun, Love Ahoy! is a hugely entertaining read packed with sun, sea and secrets (you thought I was going to say something else there, didn't you?).  It's a sunny smile of a book and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

I received a digital ARC for the bookstagram tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The Perfect Lie - A. Barker

For years, Anna chased hope, desperate to outrun the lies she'd told herself.

Convinced her future can only be found in the past, she returns back to Brighton, where it all began.

She's older. Wiser. More determined.

Then she meets Patrick.

The man she should never have met.

The son of the only man she ever loved.

The son of the man she murdered over twenty years ago.

This fast-paced, twisted psychological novel will keep you hooked until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

Be prepared for a thrilling descent into the dark side of love with a story so unbelievable you will think it's actually true.

Perfect for fans of books by Freida McFadden, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.

 

What did I think?

Well this book certainly kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat!  The Perfect Lie is filled with so many lies and twists that I really didn't know what was going to happen next.

Anna is a character I loved to hate; she is completely deluded and she literally got away with murder.  When Anna returns to the scene of the crime many years later, she meets Patrick, the son of the man she killed, and it's not long before he is drawn into her dangerous web.  Is history about to repeat itself?

Eeeeeek!  I couldn't read this book fast enough to discover all of the secrets and lies buried within.  I'm keeping my review brief as I don't want to inadvertently release any spoilers but I will say that the plot is super-sharp and the pacing is blisteringly fast.

Impossible to put down and even more difficult to predict, The Perfect Lie is perhaps one of the most twisty books I have read for quite some time.  A very highly recommended and completely thrilling read. 

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Witch Finder (The Accidental Medium Book 5) - Tracy Whitwell

History is revealing itself, and the lines between past and present are becoming hauntingly blurred . . .

This is the fifth and final installment in the hilarious Accidental Medium series featuring Tanz, who with the help of the dead, has become an unwilling crime-solver.

When Tanz returns to her hometown in Newcastle, she comes face-to-face with dark, ancestral secrets lurking in its shadows. Haunted by chilling visions of the witch-trials, a voice from the past warns her, You’re the one. Burn it, chosen one. As a sinister figure threatens to ruin everything she’s built for herself, Tanz must embrace her connection to the dead to uncover her destiny.

With everything on the line, Tanz finds herself entangled in a web of folklore, mystery and imminent danger. Elements collide as the echoes of history demand intervention and new relationships entwine in her mystical journey. Tanz must wield courage against paranormal forces and listen to old and new allies in order to prevent ominous threats from consuming her world.

Will Tanz unravel the mysteries surrounding the witch pricker and her own lineage in time, or will she fall prey to the darkness that stalks her?

 

What did I think?

I love The Accidental Medium series and although I've missed a couple of the books it really doesn't matter as you can read each one as a standalone.  The Witch Finder is the fifth book in the series and it's an absolute belter.

Gateshead lass Tanz is back home but with both her and her little mam having weird dreams, Tanz decides to move into a hotel in Newcastle.  The dreams and visions that Tanz is having relate to the 15 women and 1 man that were convicted of witchcraft and hanged on the Town Moor in Newcastle (this did actually happen in real life).  It gets a bit scary as Tanz researches this dark period of our history and the past refuses to stay buried.

Tracy Whitwell writes with such warmth and wit (no pun intended) that the characters virtually pop out from the page and the storyline entertains from start to finish.  It's also like a mini virtual tour of Newcastle as Tanz visits the Lit & Phil, St. Andrew's church and the Town Moor, to name but a few.  The descriptions are so vivid that even if you don't know the area you will be able to visualise it.

Blending fact with fiction, The Witch Finder is a compulsive, gripping and surprisingly poignant read.  The 17th century witch trials are a shocking and disturbing part of history that we may wish had never happened but it should never be forgotten.  A very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Overthinking Cure - Dr Jessamy Hibberd

Do you get caught up in anxious thoughts?

Do you replay over your mistakes and failures in your mind?

Do you lie awake at night because you can't stop thinking about what happened earlier that day?

If so, you're suffering from overthinking.

But you are not alone.

Thinking about your life is a normal part of being human; it's often helpful to analyze a situation or revisit a problem in your mind, but if you find yourself constantly dwelling on your thoughts - with no sign of resolution - then it becomes a problem.

Overthinking is the problem that disguises itself as the solution.

In this life-changing book, trusted psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd shows how to break free from overthinking. Through expert advice, and real-life examples from her clinic, you will become more aware of your overthinking habits - and learn why we get stuck in unhelpful thinking patterns. Dr Jessamy offers personalized prompts and practical tips to identify your doom spirals and help you find healthier coping strategies that redirect your thoughts.

The cure is simple: break the cycle of overthinking.

In this book, you will learn how to:

- Notice your thoughts

- Choose your response

- Challenge your thinking

- Accept the reality of how life is

- Face your fears

The Overthinking Cure is the essential guide to break free from overthinking - so you can live a better life and focus on what really matters.

 

What did I think?

I am a massive overthinker and once I get on the hamster wheel I can't get off it.  I didn't even know it was a solvable problem, I just thought it was the way that I am but now I know better thanks to Dr Jessamy Hibberd's amazing life-changing book, The Overthinking Cure.

By the time I had finished reading chapter one, I had started to recognise when I was overthinking and by the end of chapter two I realised I wasn't alone and it's not my fault.  Our brains are wired to solve problems and part of that is going through every possible outcome, but sometimes this overthinking can affect our life and become a negative habit.

The book is set out in three parts: Understanding the problem, Why we overthink and The cure.  It is written in a very accessible way that is easy to understand and there are diagrams, tables and exercises to aid further understanding.  The chapters are concise and informative as well as being interesting and thought-provoking.  There are some memorable analogies too and I particularly liked one about our emotions being like where to seat children in a car: you don't want them driving it but neither do you want them hidden away in the boot!

Whilst I think it's a long road to cure my overthinking, I feel like I'm heading in the right direction with my emotions firmly strapped in to the back seat.  I think it's fair to say that The Overthinking Cure could change your life as it has already made a difference to mine.  Don't overthink it - just order a copy now!

I received a gifted paperback copy for the Novel Tours Bookstagram Tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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