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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BLOG TOUR: Just One Look At You - Jill Mansell

 

Venice. The perfect setting for romance, and for secrets to be shared.

Fen can't believe her luck. A luxury holiday with her beloved grandmother Disa - what could be more delightful? It doesn't cross her mind that she might fall in love. Or that love can bring complications . . .

Jamie can't help it that women always fall for him, rather than for his kind-hearted friend Leon. Nor that only one of them got the looks (that would be Jamie). But how will he feel if the girl he's drawn to only has eyes for Leon?

Disa has a secret. A few weeks ago, an old letter in a file revealed a shocking truth about her late husband. She's come to Venice to find out more.

There's news on the way that will reverberate through all their lives, as Jill Mansell's joyful, heartbreaking new novel takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion - and makes us believe in love again.

What did I think?

Just One Look At You is as beautiful inside as out.  I could lose myself in the gorgeous cover and I was completely mesmerised by the story inside.  I have never been to Venice but I felt as if I was there following in the characters' footsteps.

There are a number of characters and it took me a little while to get to know who was who but they really affected me.  I laughed (a lot) and cried (a little) as their lives played out in front of me.  I had a lump in my throat at the perfect ending and I didn't want to leave the characters behind when I turned the final page.  I'll just have to read it again, then!

I can't believe that this is the first Jill Mansell book I have read and I will certainly be looking out for more of her books.  It's so much more than a romance book with the addition of secrets, misunderstandings, secret admirers, heartbreak and laughter.  

So beautifully written, Just One Look At You is a poignant, heartbreaking and uplifting novel that swept me away to Venice on an emotional rollercoaster that broke my heart and pieced it back together again.  A highly recommended read that may require tissues.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Jill Mansell started writing fiction while working in the NHS, after she read a magazine article that inspired her to join a local creative writing class. Since then she has written over twenty-five Sunday Times bestsellers. Her acclaimed novels include The Wedding of the Year, Promise Me, Should I Tell You?, And Now You’re Back, It Started with a Secret and You and Me, Always. Jill’s books have sold over 14.5 million copies worldwide.

Jill lives in Bristol and for many years worked in the field of clinical neurophysiology. You’d think inventing characters and stories would be easier, but she can assure you it isn’t.

Twitter @JillMansell

Facebook /OfficialJillMansell

Instagram @JillMansell

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BLOG TOUR: The Arctic Cruise - Caroline James

Pack your bags for the adventure of a lifetime…

From the #1 bestselling author of The Cruise, embark on an unforgettable journey and sail through Norway’s winter wonderlands to see the spectacular Northern Lights.

________

Will the Arctic wonderland work its magic this winter?

Joy never imagined stepping aboard a cruise ship without her husband, Tom. Now widowed, Joy wonders what her voyage on the Emerald Dream will hold – and as it glides through breathtaking Norwegian fjords, she longs to believe in happiness again. However, she carries a secret that could unravel her fragile hopes if it ever came to light…

Elsewhere on deck, as the sun dips below the horizon and the polar night sets in, Henry, a lifelong bachelor, is living his dream of seeing the Northern Lights. Having long since given up on love, he now dedicates himself to his passion for photography. But when he meets Joy, is it more than the aurora borealis that catches his eye?

As they embark on a snow-dusted adventure which takes them from bustling ports to reindeer-drawn sleigh rides, will Joy and Henry find the courage to embrace love again? Or will hidden truths sink the possibility of a new beginning?

A heartwarming, feel-good voyage of self-discovery, romance and second chances, perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Judy Leigh.

 

What did I think?

I've only recently discovered Caroline James' books and I picked up The Arctic Cruise based purely on my love of her previous novel, Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure, and I'm so pleased that I did.  It was a lovely surprise to find the cruise setting sail from my neck of the woods and I think it's the first time that I have seen the Littlehaven weebles (as we locals call them) mentioned in a book.

It's the wonderfully drawn characters that kept me invested in the story from start to finish and they each have their own stories to tell.  I've never been on a cruise but I can totally imagine the variety of characters that Caroline James describes being very true to life.  I absolutely adored Joy, Henry, Leticia and Jim and the Montgomery Joneses provided a bundle of laughs through their snobbery and entitlement.

The scenery is breathtaking, especially the Northern Lights, as the beautiful writing painted such a vivid description in my mind and I really felt as if I was standing on the deck wrapped up in my big winter coat and being mesmerised by the wonder of the night sky.  

Incredibly heartwarming and filled with unforgettable characters, The Arctic Cruise is an uplifting, poignant and humorous novel.  So, pack your virtual bags and let Caroline James whisk you away to the beautiful Norwegian fjords.

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://geni.us/TACK1

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, and her eagerly anticipated follow-up novel, THE CRUISE CLUB, and now: THE ARCTIC CRUISE. 

Her best-selling novel ATTICUS ARNOTT’S GREAT ADVENTURE is described as “A heartwarming and uplifting read where the characters shine from the page.” 

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 in her cosy writing retreat, Caroline enjoys tranquil walks with Fred, her Westie, and refreshing swims in a local lake. As a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the SoA, ARRA, and the Society of Women’s Writers & Journalists, Caroline is a champion of lifelong creativity.

Social Media Links – 

Website: www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk 

Twitter: @carolinejames12 

Facebook: Caroline James Author 

Instagram: carolinejamesauthor

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BLOG TOUR: Death on the Ocean - Martha Fischer

Amanda Lipton leads a fairly uneventful life as a teacher. The most she has to worry about is staffroom politics and petty quarrels among pupils and colleagues. And then she wins a million in a TV show. Life is about to change in ways she cannot possibly have anticipated.

To escape the stuffy atmosphere at school, Amanda decides to change her life and take a luxury cruise, no expense spared. Expecting a life of calm and luxury aboard the Belgravia, she is dismayed to find events rapidly spiralling out of control. Her fellow passengers, especially the man she is drawn to, are not as they seem. 

When she witnesses what looks like a cold blooded murder, Amanda realises that her own life could be in danger.

What did I think?

This was a quick fun read; not too taxing on the grey matter.  Sometimes it's nice to relax and read a book without tying your brain in knots trying to work things out too much.  That being said, I didn't work out the identity of the murderer on board until almost the big reveal so Martha Fischer succeeded in keeping me in suspense.

Amanda Lipton is a bit of a strange character; I didn't particularly like or dislike her but she just felt a bit flat so she had no overriding qualities to which I could relate.  I did like her being careful with money, at least at first, as she has just scooped the jackpot on a TV show.  I thought it was very amusing that even though she is now a millionaire, she only got a place at the VIP table as somebody mistakenly thought she had something to do with Lipton tea.  This place at the table could be very costly though, with a murderer on board targeting the first class passengers.

It felt a bit like I was reading Amanda's diary whist reading Death on the Ocean.  She is certainly attracting some male attention and it surprised me that she's the type of person who wants to sample the produce before she buys it.  Thankfully, she doesn't kiss and tell so we are spared the details and allowed to concentrate on the thriller aspect of the story.  I did enjoy the mystery/thriller story rather than the romance one; I'm not saying I don't enjoy a bit of romance now and again but it just felt a bit too diluted for me.

The cast of characters are set out like a game of Cluedo so it's great fun trying to work out who killed Mrs Peacock in the cabin with a snake bite. If you're looking for a quick easy read, then Death on the Ocean fits the bill.  It's lighthearted enough to read on holiday by the pool or on the beach but I maybe wouldn't read it if you're going on a cruise, as the thought of being stuck in the middle of the ocean with a murderer on the ship gives me the heebie jeebies. 

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

BLOG TOUR: Do Not Become Alarmed - Maile Meloy

When Liv and Nora decide to take their husbands and children on a holiday cruise, everyone is thrilled. The ship's comforts and possibilities seem infinite. But when they all go ashore in beautiful Central America, a series of minor mishaps lead the families further from the ship's safety.

One minute the children are there, and the next they're gone.

What follows is a heart-racing story told from the perspectives of the adults and the children, as the distraught parents - now turning on one another and blaming themselves - try to recover their children and their shattered lives.

What did I think?

I was really looking forward to reading this one so I jumped right in as if I was diving into the clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.  It sounds gripping and intriguing from the excellent strapline: The sun is shining, the sea is blue, the children have disappeared... So what's it all about?  A question I ask myself now even though I have read it.  Seriously, what's it all about?

Liv and Nora are cousins who are as close as sisters.  They decide to spend the Christmas holidays on board a luxury cruise liner with their husbands and children.  The guys go off to play golf as the women and children go on an excursion with a guide from the ship.  On the way to the zip wire excursion, the minibus gets a flat tyre but the guide, Pedro, knows of a little secluded bay nearby where they can all relax and have fun.

The children play in the water while Nora goes off exploring in the bush with Pedro and Liv falls asleep after having a drink of Pedro's potent cocktail.  The dream holiday soon turns into a nightmare when Liv wakes up to find the children missing.  20% in to the book and so far so good.  Why did Nora go into the bush with Pedro?  Did he drug Liv?  What has he got to do with the children's disappearance?

Normally at this point I say that all my questions were answered but unfortunately this wasn't the case in this instance.  Once the children disappeared, I kept waiting for something to happen.  They didn't actually disappear as such because we follow what they're up to while their parents plead for their safe return.  As I got closer and closer to the end, I was waiting for the big 'A-HA! I knew he/she was dodgy' moment but when it didn't materialise it left me feeling rather flat.  Perhaps I am too used to 'the twist' and the 'big reveal' type of books to appreciate a slow burner these days.

An interesting premise but one that didn't really deliver for me.  I found the characters a bit flat and uninteresting but the missing children storyline did keep the pages turning at a steady pace.  I was left feeling rather confused about the dual storyline, that of a young girl travelling across country to New York with her uncle.  It just seemed quite unnecessary as it didn't seem to add anything to the story, for me anyway.

A good book to take on holiday to read around the pool, or to take on a cruise - just don't go on any excursions and keep an eye on your kids!

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Mercury Travel Club - Helen Bridgett

Meet Angie Shepherd who, after 24 years and 11 months of marriage, finds herself divorced and driven by friends and family to move on. From hangover to makeover, Angie steps firmly away from the sensible knitwear, and launches into every adventure on offer – from baking classes and book groups, to speed dating, and even 'The Granny-Okes', a 1980s tribute act and YouTube sensation.

But Angie needs more than a bar of galaxy and a night in with Murder She Wrote... what she dreams of is entrepreneurial success. Channelling her inner Richard Branson, the light bulb moment happens: it's time to take the plunge and invest her divorce settlement into The Mercury Travel Club, an exciting new business venture. But as the Travel Club gets going, things never go according to plan, and in this digital age a little chaos brings the fame she's been looking for.

Set in present-day Manchester, this classic mid-life journey features the 1980s soundtrack from Angie's youth, and sees her travel the world whilst coping with life after the Ex.  Angie's journey is the catalyst her friends need to examine their own lives; as they start to find their true callings, will Angie find hers? Witty, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny, this feel-good debut novel shows it's never too late for a second chance.

What did I think?

Well this little gem of a book was just what I needed when I was feeling a bit low, not unlike Angie Shepherd at the start of The Mercury Travel Club.  I think I read this whole book with a smile on my face and certainly struggled to contain my laughter, indeed many laughs did escape whilst reading this book.

Angie was looking forward to her silver wedding anniversary when her husband, Alan, left her for a younger woman.  Forced to sell their family home and start a new life, Angie may feel like curling up and feeling sorry for herself but her friends and family have other ideas.  Her hilarious friend, Patty, is instrumental in keeping Angie on her feet as she takes a few tentative baby steps on the road to singledom.  Patty gives the impression that she's a bit of a man-eater but she's more words than actions and has an absolutely enormous heart of gold.  I couldn't get enough of Angie's hilarious mother; I really looked forward to her appearances and couldn't wait to see what imperfect pearl of wisdom she would come out with next.

Angie works in a travel agency and has a lovely boss, Charlie.  When Angie decides to make her dreams a reality, Charlie offers her a business partnership where they offer themed holidays and The Mercury Travel Club is born.  Like all best laid plans, things often go wrong but that is the charm of the club.  Angie keeps a cool head and is calm under pressure, making her trips much sought after, despite some attempted bad press.  As the Entrepreneur of the Year awards approach, Angie sets her sights on the award.  Will she win it?  Whatever the outcome, you'll be sure they'll have a good time!

I loved the quirky chapter names, each one giving a little hint as to what was in store next.  I almost clapped with glee (I would have if I could have put the book down) when I saw a chapter with the title 'The Kids Wanna Rock'.  As I involuntarily started singing, "Turned on the radio, sounded like a disco...", I was delighted to see my absolute favourite singer Bryan Adams getting some well deserved column inches.  Maybe not the real man but a tribute band, but still, any book that gives Bryan a mention gets a big thumbs up from me.  "I got my first real six string, bought it at the five and dime..."  (Admit it, it's in your head now 😃)

With such an impressive debut and a fabulously witty writing style, I am overjoyed to see that Helen Bridgett plans more books in The Mercury Travel Club series.  The Mercury Travel Club is hilariously funny and a perfect pick me up.  If I had a passport, I'd certainly sign up!

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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About the Author

Helen Bridgett was born in North-East England and now lives in Manchester having stopped off at a few places in between. Having failed miserably with every New Year's resolution that involved giving up food or drink, one year, she set herself a completely different goal - to write a novel and give it as a Christmas present. The Mercury Travel Club was born and the characters took on a life of their own. Outside of writing, Helen loves hiking and wine - not usually at the same time.

Helen is currently developing the next novels in The Mercury Travel Club series.

EXTRACT TOUR: Distress Signals - Catherine Ryan Howard

I am so excited to be the first stop on the extract tour for Catherine Ryan Howard's wonderful thriller, Distress Signals.  From the first pages, that I am sharing with you below, I was completely hooked as I followed the investigation into Sarah's disappearance.  Who can Adam trust and is Sarah alive or dead?  You can read my full review here.

Follow the tour to read all the extracts, then head over to Amazon to order your own copy of Distress Signals.

EXTRACT ONE

ADAM

I jump before I decide that I’m going to.

Air whistles past my ears as I plummet towards the sea, dark but for the panes of moonlight breaking into shards on its surface. At first I’m moving in slow-motion and the surface seems miles away. Then it’s rushing up to meet me faster than my mind can follow.

A blurry memory elbows its way to the forefront of my thoughts. Something about how hitting a body of water from this height is just like hitting concrete. I try to straighten my legs and grip the back of my thighs, but it’s a moment too late. I hit the water at an angle and every nerve ending on the left side of my body is suddenly ablaze with white-hot pain.

I close my eyes.

When I open them again, I’m underwater.

It’s nowhere near as dark as I expected it to be. Beyond my feet, yes, there is a blackness down deep, but here, just beneath the surface, it’s brighter than it was above.

It’s clear too. I can see no dirt or fish. I twist and turn, but I can

see no one else either.

As I look up through the water, the hull of the Celebrate looms to my right, the lights of its open decks twinkling. I have a vague idea where in the rows of identical balconies my cabin is, and I wonder if it’s possible for two people to leave the same spot on such an enormous ship, fall eight storeys and land in completely different places.

It must be because I seem to be alone.

I drift down, towards the darkness. Pressure builds in my chest.

I need to get to the surface so I can take a breath. So I can call out and listen for the sounds of legs and arms splashing, or for someone else calling out to me.

I move to stretch both arms out—

A hot poker burns deep inside my shoulder. The pain makes me gasp, pulling water into my throat.

Now all I want to do is to take a breath. I must take one. I can’t wait any longer.

But the surface is at least ten or twelve feet above me, I think.

I start to kick furiously. My lungs scream.

I’m not a strong swimmer; I go nowhere fast. My efforts just keep me at this depth, neither sinking nor ascending.

The surface gets no closer.

The urge to open my mouth and breathe in is only a flicker away from overwhelming. I start to panic, flailing my left arm and legs.

I lift my face to the light as if oxygen can reach me through the water the same way the moon’s rays can, and that’s when I see a shadow on the surface.

To continue reading, head to MRS B BOOKS tomorrow, 6^th May.

#DistressSignals

www.distresssignalsbook.com

Amazon link

Distress Signals - Catherine Ryan Howard

Did she leave, or was she taken?

The day Adam Dunne's girlfriend, Sarah, fails to return from a Barcelona business trip, his perfect life begins to fall apart. Days later, the arrival of her passport and a note that reads 'I'm sorry - S' sets off real alarm bells. He vows to do whatever it takes to find her.

Adam is puzzled when he connects Sarah to a cruise ship called the Celebrate - and to a woman, Estelle, who disappeared from the same ship in eerily similar circumstances almost exactly a year before. To get the answers, Adam must confront some difficult truths about his relationship with Sarah. He must do things of which he never thought himself capable. And he must try to outwit a predator who seems to have found the perfect hunting ground...

What did I think?

If you've ever watched a series of Damages, you will know what I mean when I say that this book started with a glimpse of the ending and I couldn't read fast enough to find out how it got there.  The first sentence sees Adam jumping off a cruise liner and my heart rate immediately began to speed up.  After a few paragraphs, you realise that he wasn't the only one to go overboard...from then on, I was caught hook, line and sinker!

Adam thinks his girlfriend, Sarah, has gone on a business trip to Barcelona but when she doesn't return he starts to get worried. Sarah's friends and parents have not heard from her and then Adam receives an envelope containing Sarah's passport and a post-it note saying that she's sorry.  I had tingles up my spine when Adam got this - has Sarah disappeared to begin a new life or has something more sinister happened?  Engage thrusters: increase reading speed.

As if that wasn't intriguing enough, interspersed chapters introduce us to Corinne and Romain.  Corinne is working on the Celebrate, a luxury cruise liner, and she appears to have something to hide.  Romain's story begins when he was a young boy and trouble seems to follow him around.  His story, although disturbing, was really sad at times and I thought he might have had a better life if he had got some help early on.  So what do Corinne and Romain have to do with Sarah's story?  I'm not going to tell you but it's all part of the mystery of the Celebrate.

Adam starts to dig around to find out what happened to Sarah and his search leads him to the Celebrate.  Sarah is not the only person to go missing on that ship and Adam enlists the help of another man searching for his wife.  The suspense and tension mounts with every page as the mystery is gradually revealed.  I was suspicious of everyone but could never have imagined the brilliant ending.

Distress Signals has all the ingredients for a wonderfully written thriller.  Full of twists and turns, clues and red herrings; it's an all round gripping read that is sure to be a big hit in 2016.

I received this book from the publisher, Corvus, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Day Four - Sarah Lotz

"The trip of their dreams becomes the holiday of their nightmares"

The Beautiful Dreamer has been cruising for four days when it stops dead in the water.  There is no electricity and no phone signal so they can't call for help, but when they don't reach port everyone is sure that the rescue teams will come looking for them.

Then a body is found on board which means there's a murderer on board too!

As security try to keep the search for the murderer under wraps, the ageing psychic on board, Celine del Ray, without the surreptitious help of her assistant appears to receive real messages for people on board, including a message from the dead girl.

As the days go on, the toilets stop working and the food starts to run out.  You can feel the eerily stillness of the sea through the writing and the bubbling undercurrent of craziness about to settle in.  I could almost smell the stench in the description of the lower cabins where the toilets had backed up and soaked through the carpet.

I particularly liked the scenes with the psychic and the manifestations of her spirit guides.  I really felt like something evil had got onto the ship.  It was similar to The Three in that I didn't really know what to make of the ending, other than to draw my own conclusions about life after death, the Bermuda Triangle and conspiracy theories.  There are some links to The Three but you could read this a stand-alone book.  I absolutely loved the press cuttings at the end, in a similar vein to The Three, making you feel like you could be reading non-fiction.

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

Buy it from The Book Depository