BLOG TOUR: Wild About You - Sophie Loxton

She’s had enough of saying yes. But what if someone drives her wild enough to change her mind…?

 

Anna Whitlock is done being nice.  After a lifetime of saying yes to everything - work deadlines, sponsored runs, impromptu drinks and (especially) her fiancé Sean - everything Anna has worked so hard for falls apart in one terrible afternoon. With a broken heart she heads to the countryside to start again. 

 

The glorious Stonemore Estate in the wilderness of Northumberland holds more than enough distraction for a city girl.  There’s Callum, the gorgeous estate manager, and an enthusiastic beagle called Hugo.  And then there’s Jamie, Stonemore’s sexy but emotionally unavailable owner, who seems to be hell-bent on making Anna’s rewilding job as difficult as possible. 

 

But when romance with Callum begins to flourish is her newfound resolve to stop people-pleasing about to falter? And why can’t she stop thinking about Jamie? Can she really start to put herself first and let herself say yes to the thing which will make her happiest, falling truly madly wildly in love…?

 

What did I think?

I picked up Wild About You based solely on its eye-catching cover so it was a lovely surprise to find that it is based in my neighbouring county of Northumberland.  The rugged landscape provides a stunning backdrop to this heartwarming romance and I absolutely adored it.

Anna Whitlock certainly needs to invest in a big coat when she moves from London to Northumberland to start her new job and to heal her broken heart.  Anna really didn't want to fall in love, especially not with the lord of the manor, so she pushes Jamie away whenever they're in danger of getting too close.  Jamie has buried his feelings his whole life so he keeps his guard up too and there's a wonderful will they/won't they running through the story.

Anna and Jamie's burgeoning romance reminded me a little of my old favourite Cinderella story: The Slipper and the Rose.  It is clear that the pair have feelings for each other but Anna doesn't think she's the right woman for Jamie so she pushes him towards the awful Lucinda, who has her sights set on becoming the lady of the manor and is planning to announce her engagement to Jamie at the ball.

Oh I really wanted to knock Anna and Jamie's heads together!  The heart wants what the heart wants and they are miserable apart but I can understand Anna's reasoning for stepping back from Jamie, although it doesn't mean I have to like it!

Charming, heartwarming and incredibly romantic, Wild About You is a gorgeous novel that was an absolute pleasure to read.  I am adding this to my favourites shelf as I definitely want to virtually visit the beautiful Stonemore Estate again.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Perfect Parents - J. A. Baker

Jackson and Lydia Hemsworth are pillars of the community, feted for having the perfect marriage and three wonderful children – Florence, Jessica and Ezra.

But appearances can be deceptive.

Because behind closed doors Jackson Hemsworth rules his family with cruelty and control. His marriage is a sham; his children for years have cowed in fear.

Until the day that Jackson and Lydia throw themselves off Newport Bridge in a joint suicide pact – the final cruel blow by Jackson to control his wife and torture his adult children.

As the Hemsworth siblings return to their family home, they must try to make sense of their parents’ last act. But there are many dark secrets waiting to be unearthed at Armett House.

Like, why are the townsfolk so suddenly hostile towards them? And who are the strangers who arrive at Armett House unannounced? And why has their mother’s body still not been found?

In the aftermath of their parents’ death, it becomes clear that something terrible is about to be exposed about the Hemsworths’ perfect parents.

A secret they may all wish had stayed hidden…

 

What did I think?

I've read enough J. A. Baker books to know that the parents in a book titled The Perfect Parents are going to be anything but perfect parents.  Just what sort of parents jump off a bridge for a start?

Three siblings return to the family home after the shock of their parents' suicide.  There is only one funeral to arrange though as their mother's body has not been recovered and the children aren't about to shed many tears over the death of their father.  The people in the town aren't upset about Jackson Hemsworth's demise and there is outright hostility at the funeral.  Just what has he done and why did he kill himself?

It does sometimes get a little confusing as to who is who, especially when the secrets start to be spilled and my poor old tired brain tried to understand the links and repercussions. This is probably because I only read my kindle in bed at night, so I'm sure a more alert brain would have no such issues.

This book is chock-a-block full of secrets and I couldn't read fast enough to get to the bottom of the mystery of the Hemsworths and Armett House.  There are lots of shocks and surprises in store for the reader and I had a veritable gasp out loud moment after one such shock.  I absolutely love books filled with secrets so I really enjoyed The Perfect Parents.

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/perfectparentssocial

About the author:

J. A. Baker is a successful psychological thriller writer of numerous books, previously published by Bloodhound. Born and brought up in Middlesbrough, she still lives in the North East, which inspires the settings for her books. Her first title for Boldwood was published in December 2022.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judith.baker.9

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewriterjude

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jabakerauthor

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JABakerNews

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The Stargazers - Harriet Evans

'Don't you think there should be a name for people like us?' he said. 'Who look up and who dream of more, who dream of escaping? Who never lose faith, no matter how hard it becomes?'

'Stargazers,' I said. 'That's what we are'

It's the 1970s, and Sarah has spent a lifetime trying to bury memories of her childhood: the constant fear, the horror of her school days, and Fane, the vast, crumbling house that was the sole obsession of her mother, Iris, a woman as beautiful as she was cruel. Sarah's solace has been her cello and the music that allowed her to dream, transporting her from the bleakness of those early years to her new life with her husband Daniel in their safe, if slightly chaotic, Hampstead home and with a concert career that has brought her fame and restored a sense of self.

The past, though, has a habit of creeping into the present, and as long as Sarah tries to escape, it seems the pull of her mother, Fane Hall and the secrets hidden there cannot be suppressed, threatening to unravel the fragile happiness she enjoys now. Sarah will need to travel back to Fane to confront her childhood, and search for the true meaning of home.

Deliciously absorbing and rich with character and atmosphere, The Stargazers is the story of a house, a family, and finding the strength inside yourself to carry on.

 

What did I think?

You can't help but be drawn to The Stargazers by its beautiful cover and it's as beautiful inside as out.  This is the story of the Fane family and the stately home that has been in their family for decades but is crumbling to dust around them.

Set in a dual timeline where we meet Iris in 1922 and her daughters Sarah and Victoria in 1969 to 2020.  Iris has been driven mad by Fane Hall falling into the hands of her father's brother, Uncle Clive.  It's her house!  As she keeps telling everyone, and it would have been her house if only she had been born a boy.  Iris's obsession with Fane Hall has driven a wedge between her and her daughters and it has also fractured the relationship between the sisters.

It is absolutely heartbreaking to see how Iris treats her daughters.  All that matters to her is Fane Hall and she is determined to get her Uncle Clive out of her house.  It's a deep-rooted simmering feud but it has taken over the whole of Iris's life and she has missed out on so much.

Sarah is living her best life in her new home with her husband, Daniel and their two daughters.  Sarah doesn't know how to be a mother and my heart really went out to her as she struggled to adjust to motherhood while Daniel entertains his entourage of local ladies who hang on his every word.

There is so much going on in this book from school bullying that horrified me to an incident with a tree that I am still laughing about now.  It's one of those books that make you experience the full spectrum of emotions and there are some stunning surprises in store for the reader that I didn't see coming at all. 

The Stargazers is beautifully written with an intriguing plot and a powerful message about home, which really is where the heart is.

I received a hardback copy to take part in the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Blood Ties (Steph Grant Murder Mystery Series Book 3) - Lin Le Versha

 

Hector Percy appears to have it all. He shares his magnificent home, Glebe Hall, with his beloved wife Esme and son Jack, alongside their two closest friends and their daughter. But beneath the veneer of entitlement, Hector lives in fear of those who might snatch away his inheritance. Esme suspects he's right; they'd created the perfect existence but now the arrangement is crumbling. If that happens their blissful life at Glebe Hall would be over.

Then tragedy strikes, forcing Hector and Esme to confront their future far sooner than they expected. One moment tearing the two families apart. Is this the end of their dreams?

Former detective Steph Grant finds herself embroiled in the family dynamics as she, along with partner and former boss, DI Hale, are pulled into the investigation. Delving into the history of the two families and the Hall, Steph and Hale unearth buried secrets - secrets that shake the very foundations of Glebe Hall, secrets that will change the future forever.

What did I think?

Hobeck have scored a hat-trick!  Blood Ties is the third book in the Steph Grant series and I've now read a trio of third books published by Hobeck that have all been outstanding.  Lin Le Versha has clearly had a cup of that magical Hobeck No.3 blend tea as Blood Ties is absolutely brilliant.

It's very fitting that everyone's favourite Hobeck canine Derek gets the first line in Chapter One and what an absolute cracker it is.  I burst out laughing as it's just so Derek.  Derek provides some humour and light relief in what is otherwise a dark and chilling murder mystery.  

I loved the setting of Glebe Hall, although it's a bit of a strange set up with two families living there as well as the many skeletons hiding the closet.  The Percy family are well-connected so any scrapes they get into can be brushed under the carpet with just a quick phone call to the Chief of Police.  

Steph Grant and her partner DCI Hale don't take privilege into account when they investigate an alleged accident on the estate.  This is no accident and it's no coincidence that it happened on Percy land.  Oooh there's just so much mystery and intrigue in this book, Steph and Hale keep scratching away at the surface to reveal the darkness underneath.

Entertaining, gripping and intriguing, Blood Ties is brilliant from start to finish.  I loved everything about this book: the stunning cover, the intricate plot and the impeccable writing.  It's an easy five stars and a book I can't recommend highly enough.

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

My rating:

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