Outside - Charlotte Levin

She’s locked the door to the world.

Is love strong enough to open it?

Following a tragic incident, rising-star Beatrice is struggling. Having retreated from life entirely, she finds herself unable to leave the house. With her acting career now over, (Though don’t tell her agent), and discovering who her real friends aren’t, her world has shrunk—its only inhabitants, an elderly Polish neighbour, the world’s most boring postman, her therapist with issues of her own, and Piano Bitch from across the road. Thank God for Matisse, her beloved, foul-mouthed parakeet.

When she hires Irish gardener, Finn, to tame the overgrown garden that she cannot even enter, things take an unexpected turn. Their connection blossoms, and she’s no longer isolated and alone. But can a relationship survive the restrictions that control her, or will love enable Beatrice to confront her fears and step outside again?

Your next reading obsession, the poignant and darkly funny new novel from the bestselling author of If I Can’t Have You, perfect for fans of Sorrow and Bliss and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.

 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, what an absolutely stunning book!  It's my first Charlotte Levin book but I will definitely be picking up her earlier novels after being completely blown away by Outside.

It's a dual timeline novel with 'Before' and 'Now' chapters that are separated into parts that correspond with the four seasons.  Whatever the weather outside, it doesn't affect Beatrice as she is cocooned from the world behind her locked door and closed curtains, with only her foul-mouthed parakeet for company.   

Beatrice is agoraphobic and being unable to see a physical ailment makes it hard for people to empathise with her.  Surely, you just need to open your door and walk outside?   Oh if only it was that easy.  You cannot help but take Beatrice into your heart as the reason behind her condition is revealed and I struggled to hold in my tears on more than one occasion.

It is quite a heavy subject but Charlotte Levin perfectly balances this darkness with a bright shining light in the form of parakeet Matisse and Irish gardener/love interest Finn.  Charlotte Levin writes from the heart, delving into her own experience with anxiety and agoraphobia, to give the reader a true, honest and raw insight into this debilitating disorder.

Candid, poignant and surprising uplifting, Outside is an incredibly emotional book with an unforgettable protagonist who I completely adored.  So beautifully written, this is an unmissable book that is going on my favourites shelf.  An easy five stars for this very highly recommended read. 

I received a gifted hardback for the Insta Books Tours readalong and tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: ASK HIM (The Sandbox Trilogy) - Julie Savanth

When thirteen-year-old Matt disappears on his way home from school, his mother Rachel refuses to believe he is simply gone. Everyone tells her to let go. The police have no answers. Her friends think she’s spiralling. Even her husband, Dom, seems to want her to stop asking questions. But Rachel won’t give up. As she begins to uncover links between Matt’s disappearance and a string of other missing children, a pattern begins to emerge. Then she finds the coded message Matt left behind, and everything changes. Because Matt saw something he was never meant to see. And the truth about where he went is more terrifying than Rachel could ever have imagined. ASK HIM is a chilling, thought-provoking thriller about grief, love, perception, and how far a mother will go to bring her child home.

 

What did I think?

ASK HIM is a fantastic debut novel from Julie Savanth that took me on a very intriguing and gripping journey as a mother searches for her missing son.  The cover gives an indication that something otherworldly might happen so prepare to expect the unexpected when you pick up this book.

It starts with one of the most jaw-dropping first sentences I have ever read.  I'm not going to share it and spoil it for others but that's what I call a massive hook.  Rachel and Dom's son Matt has been missing for 18 months and the police have no leads so Rachel does a bit of investigating herself and gets a lot closer to finding out what happened to Matt than the police ever will.

I think it's hard to categorise ASK HIM as it falls into several genres; it's primarily a mystery thriller with the missing child but it morphs into magical realism as the story progresses.  It is very well written and I was completely captivated by the beautiful writing and the mind-bending plot.

Highly original and incredibly imaginative, ASK HIM is a breathtaking, mesmerising and fascinating debut novel.  The ending is sheer perfection and even though it's not a cliffhanger as such, I am very excited to see what happens next in the trilogy.  

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

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Where the Heart Meets the Sea - Kimbra Drake

An emotionally rich love story with themes of lost and found family in a stunning Norwegian island setting.

Twenty-nine-year-old Ella Nilsen has never known her parents—or even how her mother died. Raised by her emotionally distant Norwegian grandmother, Hilda, Ella has long accepted that the topic of her parents is off-limits. When Hilda passes away, Ella is shocked to find that her inheritance includes a summer cottage perched above the sea in a place called Lyngør, a remote island in Norway. To sell it, she’ll have to visit the cottage and take stock of what’s there—and maybe Lyngør holds the key to her mother’s mysterious passing, if she can get the locals to talk.

For as long as he can remember, Leif Arnesen, a thirty-four-year-old boatbuilder in Lyngør, has carried grief and shame from his father’s death, an accident that upended their small community. When Ella breezes into Lyngør looking for answers, her very presence stirs up old ghosts and earns her the villagers’ suspicions. As sparks begin to fly between Leif and Ella and their relationship blossoms quickly, everything Leif knows to be true threatens to capsize.

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Probst’s Our Italian Summer and set amid the rough and wild beauty of the Norwegian archipelagoes, Kimbra Drake’s Where the Heart Meets the Sea asks what happens when we’re forced to rewrite the stories that have defined our lives—and what we do with the next chapters.

 

What did I think?

Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a stunning novel that completely captivated me and swept me away to the Norwegian coast.  With an abundance of secrets, a dash of mystery and a heartwarming romance, this fabulous book really does have it all.

I loved the main characters of Ella and Leif.  Ella only planned a short visit to Lyngør to sell the cottage she inherited and to scatter her grandmother's ashes.  Boatbuilder Leif is drawn to Ella like a moth to a flame and their blossoming romance clearly upsets some of the locals.  With long buried secrets threatening to resurface, her visit to Lyngør makes Ella question everything she thought she knew about her mother and grandmother.

This is a real diamond of a novel; it is so multi-faceted that I'm surprised the pages didn't actually sparkle.  There is plenty of drama, lots of romance and jaw-dropping revelations to enthrall and entertain the reader from start to finish.  I loved it and couldn't put it down.

Atmospheric, emotional and uplifting, Where the Heart Meets the Sea is an unforgettable novel that charmed and delighted me.  A very highly recommended read.

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

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Facade - Angela Clegg

She built the perfect life. Now someone is determined to destroy it. 

Tara Mayfield fought her way out of the gutter to build her very own fairytale. Once a girl with nothing, she is now the successful CEO of a beauty empire, with wealth, influence and a devoted husband who believes in the woman she has become. But Tara has never told him the whole truth.

When two million pounds connected to a powerful crime boss vanishes, Tara is framed for the theft. Suddenly the criminal world is closing in on her again, and the man who helped her rise from nothing now believes she has betrayed him.

With dangerous enemies demanding answers and the police starting to uncover secrets from her past, Tara has only days to find who's trying to ruin her. Because this isn't just about stolen money. Someone believes Tara once got away with murder, and they're determined to drag her back into the darkness she fought so hard to escape.

Now Tara faces an impossible choice: tell the truth and risk losing everything she's built, or protect her perfect life by becoming the woman she once was…

The Facade is a fast-paced crime thriller about secrets, revenge and a past that won't stay buried, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Gillian McAllister.

 

What did I think?

The Facade is Angela Clegg's debut novel and what a corker it is.  It grabbed my attention from the start and kept me riveted throughout.

Businesswoman Tara is such an intriguing character.  I felt sorry for her at first when her past very publicly comes back to haunt her but she is one tough cookie and she didn't need my pity as she is more than capable of looking after herself.  Just how capable she is becomes very apparent as the book progresses.

The tough female main character reminded me a little of the early Martina Cole books but less sweary.  The story twisted and turned to keep me on my toes and I could never tell what was going to happen next.  It is quite dark and gritty in places but incredibly entertaining and I loved it.  It's like a cross between The Sopranos and Eastenders with danger and drama around every corner.

Filled with tension and suspense, The Facade is a fabulous debut novel and I will be keeping an eye out for what Angela Clegg writes next.  I enjoyed it and think it's well worth a read.

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

My rating:

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BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: Mrs. Papadakis - Florence Wetzel

After five years of married life in a Cretan fishing village—milking goats, sidestepping village gossip, and contending with octopus in her refrigerator—American Carolyn Papadakis starts to wonder if she should return to the US.

An unexpected visitor deepens her doubts, and a new friendship with a pair of traveling hippies draws Carolyn into risky choices. As her marriage teeters on the edge, Carolyn must decide between the life she created and the one she left behind.

Full of humor and heart, Mrs. Papadakis paints a vibrant portrait of village life while exploring identity, belonging, and the challenge of building a life far from home. Perfect for readers drawn to literary fiction, cross-cultural life, and stories of identity and belonging.

 

What did I think?

Having read and enjoyed Aspasia by Florence Wetzel, I was very excited to return to Crete with Mrs. Papadakis and I was not disappointed.  The two books aren't linked (I don't think), other than both being set in Crete, but I did sometimes feel like I recognised some of the characters.

Carolyn feels like she gave up a lot when she moved to Crete to marry Vasilis Papadakis, in fact she has even given up her forename as she is now known as Karolina.  It's no surprise that she wonders whether she did the right thing in leaving her career and life behind in America.  Through Carolyn's feelings of 'The Plunge' and 'The Pang', the reader gets to know Carolyn so well that I felt as if she was an acquaintance of mine.

Florence Wetzel perfectly portrays the culture and people of Crete through her descriptive and evocative writing.  The characters are incredibly well developed, whether they are humans or goats.  It's quite a short book at 240 pages so it's easy to read in one sitting and there's a surprising amount of depth to the storyline to keep the reader invested and entertained.  

Heartfelt, humorous and entertaining, Mrs. Papadakis is a beautifully written and thought-provoking book.  I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Nile Cruise - Caroline James

Sail down The Nile this summer on a voyage of discovery…and just a little bit of mystery!

Will an adventure sailing The River Nile turn the tide for Hattie?

Hattie Mulberry is exhausted. Worn out from the demands of everyone around her, she’s long overdue a break. So, she decides to take a holiday – the adventure of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of her literary hero, Agatha Christie.

Before Hattie knows it, she’s embarking on a glamorous Nile cruise. Not only a voyage steeped in history and world-famous sights, but one where the passengers are almost as fascinating as the views from her luxurious cabin…

As the eclectic band of travellers journey between ancient temples and legendary tombs, guided by handsome Egyptologist Sam, secrets surface, desires awaken, and tensions simmer beneath the Egyptian sun.

Will the magic of moonlit nights on the Nile bring romance and renewal? Or will the infamous curse of Tutankhamun cast a shadow when least expected?

A gloriously escapist read full of sun, secrets and romance, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

 

What did I think?

The Nile Cruise is the second virtual cruise I have taken with Caroline James and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Egypt.

It's a very character driven novel but it's also incredibly atmospheric and it's very easy to visualise the scenes on the banks of the River Nile.  The characters are wonderfully drawn and I love reading books with older protagonists as they are so colourful and amusing.

Hattie meets a lot of different people on her cruise to Egypt and I really got to know them over the course of the voyage.  There's the wannabe James Bond, an influencer and a very hands-on guide, to name but a few.  Hattie makes some firm friendships and finds some unexpected romance among the guests too.

Once again, Caroline James has swept me away on an unforgettable literary journey.  I loved everything about it: the location, the characters, the evocative writing and the fabulous multi-layered plot.  This wonderfully atmospheric and hugely entertaining novel is what pure escapism is all about.  Very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

Buy link: https://geni.us/TNCK

About the author:

Caroline James is the celebrated author of later-life fiction, including THE CRUISE, the #1 best-seller that has captivated cruise ship passengers worldwide, earning its reputation as Girl Power for the Over-Sixties! Her eagerly anticipated follow-up cruise novels, include THE CRUISE CLUB, and THE ARCTIC CRUISE both hitting the Amazon Top 100 Kindle charts.

Caroline’s vibrant storytelling stems from her colourful career. Before becoming a full-time writer, she carved out a fascinating path in the hospitality industry, owning a charming country house hotel and a lively pub. As a media agent, she worked closely with celebrity chefs, giving her an insider’s perspective on the glitz, glamour, and grit of the culinary world. When she finally turned her focus to writing, she discovered her true calling, penning best-selling novels that have garnered her legions of fans.

When she’s not writing, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and writing and plotting her next novels in her Scottish retreat. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a passionate advocate for the written word and a champion of life-long creativity

Books by Caroline James:

The Nile Cruise

The Arctic Cruise

Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure

The Cruise Club

The French Cookery School

The Cruise

The Spa Break

Hattie Goes to Hollywood

Boomerville at Ballymegille

The Best Boomerville Hotel

Coffee Tea the Gypsy & Me

Coffee Tea the Chef & Me

Coffee Tea the Caribbean & Me

Jungle Rock

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author

Insta: Caroline James Author 

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REVIEW TOUR: The House on Blood Street - Josh Hanson

A psychedelic horror novel reminiscent of Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco, T. Kingfisher’s A House with Good Bones, and Dario Argento’s surreal horror film Suspiria. 

Jack and Avery’s new home on Calliope Street is a fixer-upper’s dream. The lurid collage of pornographic clippings on the basement wall seems like a quirky (and campy) feature. But once the house awakens, what seemed harmless becomes as horrifying as the blood seeping from the carpet. 

The house is alive. It is intelligent. And it demands homage. 

Inspired by the surreal and graphic films of the Italian maestros as well as a meditation on obsession and the relationship between tragedy and art, The House on Blood Street evokes the myth of Orpheus and Euridice, mixing art, love, and death into a modern take on the haunted house.

 

What did I think?

The House on Blood Street is a twisty and twisted novel that has the feel of a cult horror movie and I certainly couldn't tear my eyes away from it.  I freaking loved it!

Told in three parts: The House on Calliope Street, In the Locust Tree and Camera Obscura, this is one heck of a binge-worthy novel as we follow Jack and Avery when they move into their new home.  The weird naked women collage with a hole at its centre in the basement would have had me running for the hills but Jack and Avery find it amusing.  

It's very tense and suspenseful as the story plays out and the collage becomes more and more sinister.  If this had been a movie, I would have definitely been watching it from behind the sofa but my eyes were glued to the page and I couldn't read fast enough.

Josh Hanson's writing is sublime and it lured me into this vivid, surreal and highly imaginative tale.  I love that it has echoes of the myth of Orpheus and Euridice as it considers the lengths we are prepared to go to in order to bring our loved one back home.

The House on Blood Street has all of the hallmarks of an instant classic and, much like a favourite film, I wanted to read it again as soon as I finished it.  What a fantastic book!  It grabs the reader from the very first page and refuses to let go - very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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Waterstones

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