BLOG TOUR: Nasty Little Cuts - Tina Baker

WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE IS THIS BROKEN, YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

A nightmare jolts Debs awake. She leaves the kids tucked up in their beds and goes downstairs. There's a man in her kitchen, holding a knife. But it's not an intruder. This is her husband Marc, the father of her children. A man she no longer recognises.

Once their differences were what drew them together, what turned them on. Him, the ex-army officer from a good family. Her, the fitness instructor who grew up over a pub. But now these differences grate to the point of drawing blood. Marc screams in his sleep. And Debs hardly knows the person she's become, or why she lets him hurt her.

Neither of them is completely innocent. Neither is totally guilty. Marc is taller, stronger, and more vicious, haunted by a war he can't forget. But he has no idea what Debs is capable of when her children's lives are at stake...

A completely addictive story of a relationship built on passion, poisoned by secrets and violence. Perfect for readers of Blood Orange and Big Little Lies. 

What did I think?

Oh my goodness, I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest when reading Tina Baker's new novel, Nasty Little Cuts.  It's so dark, disturbing and completely affecting that it stole my breath away and had my heart pounding.

It's Christmas Eve and a man in her house puts Debs and her children in grave danger; the man isn't Santa Claus, it's Debs' husband Marc.  Almost unrecognisable from the man she married, Debs is afraid of Marc but she will fight to the death for her children...and it might just come to that.

This book really affected me, not just reading about the toxic relationship of Debs and Marc but the reasons behind why they are both the way they are.  I was surprised how much my heart went out to Marc, as I learned about his upbringing and army life, and whilst it's not an excuse for violence it goes some way to explaining it.

I am completely in awe of Tina Baker's ability to create such original and unique voices in her novels, especially those of children.  Debs' and Marc's daughter Dolly is the stand out character for me but I also have to give a mention to Lulu the dog whose voice was also heard.  Dolly has the honour of having the first line in the novel and what a first line it is!  It had me laughing out loud and ensured that Dolly and her little brother Pat-Pat captured my affection from the start.

Nasty Little Cuts is a deliciously dark and disturbing domestic noir novel, stunningly written and so completely addictive I positively raced through it.  I love Tina Baker's writing; it's dark and raw but a sprinkling of humour makes it perfectly balanced - she's an author not to be missed.  Highly recommended reading.

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

My rating:

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Always the Dead - Stephen J. Golds

 

Los Angeles, California. 1949.

Scott Kelly is a World War Two Marine veteran and mob hitman confined to a Tuberculosis sanatorium suffering from consumption, flashbacks and nightmares from his experiences of The Battle of Okinawa and a botched hit for Bugsy Siegel.

When his movie actress girlfriend disappears, he bribes his way out of the sanatorium to search for her.

What follows is a frantic search, a manic murder spree, stolen contraband, and a briefcase full of cash.

A story that stretches from the war torn beaches of Okinawa, all the way to the playground of the rich and famous, Palm Springs, California.

An exploration into the depths of L.A crime, PTSD and twisted love.

A semi-fictional novel based around the disappearance of Jean Spangler.

What did I think?

I discovered Stephen J. Golds books when I was drawn like a moth to the flame to the cover of his brilliant novel Say Goodbye When I'm Gone but I have to say that the postcard cover of Always the Dead is absolutely breathtaking.  Always the Dead has the same vintage thriller feel to it and although it is a little darker, I consider it to be his best book yet; I've honestly never read anything like it before.

I don't know how he does it, but reading Always the Dead is like watching an old black and white movie with a New York twanged narrator.  I was absolutely flabbergasted that such authentic vintage scenes could be conjured from such very well chosen words, which is solely due to the immense talent of Stephen J. Golds.

The main character of Scott Kelly is one that you simultaneously fear yet root for.  Scott is a war veteran, clearly suffering from PTSD, but it's his tuberculosis that sees him confined to a sanatorium.  With inner demons waging war inside his head, it's a wonder that Scott can function at all but it's thoughts of his girlfriend Jean that keep him going.  Jean isn't a traditional girlfriend and I found her to be something of an enigma, wondering if we ever see the real side of her.  When Jean disappears, Scott sets off to look for her, settling a few old scores along the way. but his physical and mental health deteriorate rapidly.

It wasn't until after I finished reading Always the Dead, that I found out that it was inspired by the true story of the disappearance of Jean Spangler.  Off to google I went and, as I often say, I love books that send me off researching fascinating stories or facts.  Jean being a real actress makes this book even more authentic and it would make an amazing movie, in black and white of course.

Brilliantly written with a vintage feel, Always the Dead is dark, gritty and compulsive reading.  Stephen J. Golds is a hugely talented author and definitely one to watch.  A well deserved five stars and highly recommended reading.

Many thanks to Stephen J. Golds for sending me an early copy to read; all opinions in this review are my own.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Soldier Boy - Cassandra Parkin

 

Under the shadow of trauma, Liam has been discharged from the army. As night terrors torment him and he struggles to keep his anger intact, he finds himself in his car, his daughter Alannah asleep in the back, while his wife Emma has gone AWOL. With no idea where to go for shelter, his only goal is to hold onto his daughter at all costs. But Alannah is on a journey of her own.

As the consequences of Alannah’s choices unfold, nothing will ever be the same again.

Soldier Boy is gripping story about secrets, fear, longing, lies and the power of being true to yourself, even when the price is higher than you could have imagined.

What did I think?

I thought there was a bit of my book missing when I turned to the first page of Soldier Boy and the first line appeared to have started mid-sentence.  Sure enough, the same happened with the next chapter but what Cassandra Parkin has so cleverly done is used the final word of each chapter as the first word of the following chapter.  It's not only a very clever format, it really makes you think about how all of the threads of the story weave in and out of one another.

Soldier Boy is such a breathtaking book that I really don't know where to begin as any review I write will not do it justice.  Cassandra Parkin is not just an amazing wordsmith, she's a word thief as she stole all my words and left me completely speechless at the end of the book.  My emotions were put through the wringer as I read Liam, Emma and particularly Alannah's story. 

I'm not going to mention the story at all as I don't want to give away any spoilers of the wonderful (but rather dark) plot; this is a book that each individual reader should experience first-hand.  It's horrific at times but so heart-achingly poignant that I feel as though I left a piece of my heart behind when I turned the final page.

A highly emotional story written in an ingeniously unique format, Soldier Boy is an exceptional novel that will make your heart ache.  It's a sobering reminder to listen to what we're being told rather than only hearing what we want to hear.  So very highly recommended but be warned that there are some shocking moments that will be a bit stomach lurching for the squeamish.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Up Close & Personal - Kathryn Freeman

For pure escapism and to take a break from reading crime and thriller novels, I always have time to read a Kathryn Freeman book.  I was so excited to get a spot on the Rachel's Random Resources blog tour for Kathryn Freeman's latest novel, Up Close & Personal, so scroll down to read my review.

British actor Zac Edwards is the latest heartthrob to hit the red carpets. Hot, talented and rich, he sends women wild…all except one.

Close protection officer Kat Parker hasn’t got time to play celebrity games. She has one job: to protect Zac from the stalker that seems to be dogging his every move.

Zac might get her hot under her very starched collar, but Kat’s a professional – and sleeping with Zac is no way part of her remit…

What did I think?

Kathryn Freeman always seems to be able to tap into our long forgotten memories of teenage (and not so much teenage) crushes, whether it's a sports star, a musician or, in this case, a movie star.  We've all dreamed of meeting our idol and having them fall madly in love with us, but as you grow older you realise that their public and private personas are very different.

Before Kat Parker literally bumps into movie star Zac Edwards, she had only ever seen him on the big screen.  Zac sounds even more attractive in person but he has attracted the attention of a stalker who seems to know his every move.  When the stalker finds out where Zac lives, the studio call in a personal protection company and Kat is assigned to be Zac's bodyguard.

Kat is naturally attracted to Zac but, aside from the fact that it would be unprofessional to fall for a client, she is deeply traumatised from her days in the army.  Zac is also afraid to get too close to anyone as he would very much like his dark and disturbing secret to remain hidden.  Battling their hearts and minds sets up Kat and Zac for a fabulous will they/won't they storyline.

I do love Kathryn Freeman's style of romance; the characters are very insecure despite the confidence they display to the outside world.  There are plenty of 'nearly' moments when their hearts rule their minds but neither character wants to give anything away.  It's almost as if they are holding onto the darkness in their pasts to inflict self-harm when they feel unworthy of being loved.

Due to the bodyguard and client setting, Kathryn Freeman injects a bit of danger and mystery into Up Close & Personal.  There are some heart in the mouth moments as it gets surprisingly dangerous at times.  I really enjoyed this mystery element around who was stalking Zac and why they were doing it; it certainly ramped up the pace of the story and it became quite a page turner in the end.

Up Close & Personal is a fabulous novel written in Kathryn Freeman's inimitable style but with a twist; it's not just heart-warming, it's also surprisingly thrilling.  An easy to read romance with a hint of danger, Up Close & Personal is pure escapism and I enjoyed every minute of it.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

A former pharmacist, I’m now a medical writer who also writes romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero.

I’ve two sons and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), so any romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

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Monsters - Raphaela Weissman

Every evening, Annie and Paul Mayfield and their son Thomas sit together in the seething silence of their Brooklyn apartment, still haunted by the memory of the attack on the Twin Towers a year earlier. The nights are plagued by Thomas's vivid nightmares, Annie's unexplained sleepwalking, and Paul's growing paranoia as he fears the implications of their disquiet. 

At eight years old, Thomas is eerily serious, and oddly precocious. He also lives in fear- of his parents' unexplained behavior, the monsters he imagines hiding everywhere, and the uncertain world he inhabits in his own room. 

Monsters is a relentless portrait of a family on the brink of chaos, as they struggle to care for each other under the weight of fear.

What did I think?

I don't like to remember that awful day back in September 2001 but at the same time, I don't think we should forget it either.  Monsters refers to 9/11 but isn't about that day, rather about the effects of it on the people who have those flaming towers burned onto their retinas.

Thomas has nightmares about being in a plane crash and you don't need to be a psychologist to understand what event sowed the seeds for that nightmare.  His parents are barely functioning, certainly not with each other, in fact Thomas thinks they turn into monsters when his back is turned.  It is clear that Annie and Paul do love their son but their marriage is so fractured that it feels doomed to failure.

It's really interesting to see how the family interact with each other, especially in the wake of Annie's sleepwalking.  Paul hasn't just fallen out of love with his wife, he has become afraid of what she might do whilst in a fugue state.  Instead of helping Annie, Paul distances himself from her and daydreams about another woman filling her shoes.  Annie feels this distance between herself and Paul and easily transfers her feelings on to other men.  All the time, I was screaming: 'What about Thomas?'  They are so selfish, thinking about themselves instead of helping their son, it got me so mad.

Monsters is a bit of a slow-burner; I thought nothing much was happening but then I would suddenly experience an outpouring of emotion as feelings of anger/despair/concern/frustration burst out of me.  I think Monsters is a brilliant study of a fractured family who struggle to show any kind of emotion around each other, although I certainly felt a wealth of emotions whilst reading it.

An emotional piece of literary fiction, Monsters is such a compelling read that once started you will find hard to put down.

I read Monsters in instalments via The Pigeonhole and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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The Mice of Holy Redeemer Hill - Christopher Carnahan

After a disastrous year, a little, overworked mouse named Mystic and her family are trying find the joy of Christmas. As their preparations are underway, menacing rats dampen their holiday spirit. Nosey kids pose a constant threat. They’ve managed to make friends with a rambunctious scurry of squirrels who have vowed to protect and keep them safe in their home in a crèche outside of Holy Redeemer Parish. 

The parish is home to a dedicated but lonely priest and two nuns who teach at the church school. Together they are on their own quest to help those struggling during the Advent season. A National Guard veteran recently returned from war struggles with symptoms of PTSD. A homeless man seeks redemption. A young woman tries to escape from an abusive relationship. As the drama unfolds, their lives intertwine with those of the creatures on the grounds the parish grounds building to an explosive ending.

Written so that the story unfolds throughout the Advent season, this book is broken into 25 short chapters that can be read once a day from the first of December until Christmas.

What did I think?

I was drawn to this book as part of my festive reading as it was described as kind of an advent book, with 25 chapters to read throughout December.  I think I would have found it hard to link the stories together if I had only read one chapter every day, so I read a few chapters at a time.

The book touches on the side of Christmas we don’t like to see, but should be reminded of – those who are homeless, suffering from PTSD, victims of domestic violence, or separated from loved ones.  It reminds us of forgiveness in the face of adversity, to never give up and that small is mighty.

Although there were some nice little stories, I was expecting a warm Christmassy glow at the end which unfortunately I didn’t get.

I received this e-book from Books Go Social in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Waiting Game - Jessica Thompson

Nessa Bruce waits for her husband to come through the double doors. She'd waited for him to return home from Afghanistan for what felt like forever, and now the moment was finally here. But Jake isn't... Jake Bruce hasn't come home, and it looks like he never will.

Nessa's life - and that of her daughter Poppy - is turned upside down in an instant. What has happened to the elusive man at the centre of their world? They hold onto the hope that he is still out there somewhere, alive... but as time passes by, Nessa is forced to look at her life, at the decisions she has made and the secrets she has kept. For maybe somewhere within it all lies the answer to the question she's desperate to answer - where is the man she loves?

If you like the sound of The Waiting Game from the blurb, then read on for an exclusive extract followed by my review.  Thanks to Rebecca Mundy from Hodder for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for this amazing book.

*****

The Waiting Game by Jessica Thompson: Exclusive Extract

The darkness enveloped them beyond the trees like a thick, impenetrable blanket. A small glow was emitted by the fire, which was now burning down to its embers. Nessa lay reluctantly in Jake’s arms inside the sleeping bag, beneath the roof of his makeshift shelter. He held her close, but her body language was cold.

‘Do you have any idea how angry I am with you Jake, how hurt I am?’ Nessa whispered, burrowing herself further down in the sleeping bag to stop the cooler evening breeze making her neck cold and ruining the toasty environs they’d created.

Jake said nothing, his gentle breathing the only sound coming from him.

‘Poppy and I . . . we basically held a funeral for you. Do you even realise that? We had to cope with losing the person we love more than anything in the world. Do you not get that?’ Nessa cried.

‘Of course I do,’ Jake said, softly.

‘We had to try and adapt to life without you. And your mum, your poor mum . . . It’s been horrendous Jake, losing you. I simply can’t believe you put us through it,’ she cried, starting to weep as she spoke. Nessa considered scrabbling out of the sleeping bag and getting away from him, but something was keeping her there.

‘I’m so sorry . . . I’ve been thinking about you all the time, seriously, every second of my day. I knew it would be tough, of course I did, but it was all I could do. I had no other choice,’ Jake said, resolutely, stroking Nessa’s hair with his free hand, his touch warming her body.

‘No other choice? Are you fucking insane?’ Nessa asked, half-sitting up now and staring at him.

‘And all this good deed bullshit you’ve been doing. What the fuck were you thinking?’ Nessa asked, pausing and scanning her surroundings, gathering her thoughts so that she could work out what to say next.

Jake flinched as she spoke, as if experiencing pain with each word that tumbled from her lips.

‘Oh my god . . . Hold on a minute,’ Nessa said, thinking aloud. ‘Poppy, that night she got drunk . . . Was it? Was it you that carried her home that night?’ Nessa asked, a look of horror upon her face.
Jake nodded, shame etched across his face.

‘Brilliant. Absolutely bloody brilliant. So we’ve all been telling her that she’s having psychotic delusions for no reason at all! Well that’s just fucking fantastic,’ Nessa spat, trembling with rage.

‘Yes . . . that was me,’ Jake whispered. ‘I was in the area doing some things for you guys, stuff to help you out, and I actually saw her by pure chance, staggering around outside the bowling alley and then collapsing on the floor. She was ridiculously drunk and all her friends had just pissed off.

What else was I supposed to do? Leave her there? She’s my little girl for god’s sake!’ Jake cried.

*****

My review

This was an absolute pleasure to read, although with such a heart-breaking storyline that I admit to shedding tears from about half way through right to the very end. The storyline is completely believable and delved into highly emotional subjects such as depression and suicide.

Writing a book about a character returning from a tour in Afghanistan was always going to be emotional. The torment that Jake is going through is also experienced by too many of the brave men and women of our armed forces. Jake may be broken but the real Jake is still inside of him and the love he has for his family shines through every page.

I loved the close friendship between Nessa and Will, something that could have been more than friendship on several occasions if the stars had aligned. It was lovely that Nessa had Will in her life when she was going through the difficult period following Jake’s disappearance.

Jake’s parents, Betsy and Mick, were really endearing characters and Mick’s Alzheimer’s was portrayed with such realism that my heart went out to them. His moments of clarity were becoming rarer and there’s a moment of clarity that isn’t recognised as such, which was an absolutely beautiful touch.

Nessa and Jake’s teenage daughter, Poppy, was portrayed both understandably angry and vulnerable and I alternated between wanting to slap her and hug her. It was sometimes shocking the way that she treated Nessa but it’s so realistic as we always lash out at those closest to us.

I can’t write any more without spoiling the book for others, but this is an excellent book and one that will mean so much to anyone linked with the armed forces.  I have already passed my copy on to my cousin who also did a tour of Afghanistan and I'm sure The Waiting Game will do its own tour within her regiment.

It’s a love story and a sad story; a story of family, love and loss that will appeal to all readers and I will definitely be adding more of Jessica Thompson's books to my reading pile.

I received this book from the publisher, Coronet, via Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

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