BOOKSTAGRAM TOUR: The Age of Fury - John Stephens

A fierce seventeen-year-old Irish girl joins forces with a notorious gangster to hunt down her sister's killer.

1907. New York City. A glittering world built on lies - and one murdered girl who could expose them all.

Caitlin Quinn crosses the ocean from Ballykelly with nothing but a desperate letter from her missing twin, Mary. New York is meant to hold answers - but instead it offers danger: a sprawling metropolis with a brutal underbelly of crooked deals, criminal empires and forces who'd kill to keep Mary's truth hidden.

Then there is William Furey - a feared gangster haunted by a rage he can't explain. He has his own orders to find Mary, and when his search collides with Caitlin's, their unlikely alliance sparks something fierce and undeniable.

As the walls close in, Caitlin and William realise the truth will cost them far more than they ever imagined. To uncover what happened to Mary, they must risk everything: their loyalties, their futures, and the fragile trust growing between them. Because love, like justice, exacts a price. And some sacrifices are paid in blood . . .

The producer, director, and writer of shows including Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., and Gotham turns his attention to the underworld of Gilded Age New York in this riveting suspense novel that blends tension and humanity - and deftly showcases a heart-stirring exploration of truth, identity, and love.

 

What did I think?

FIVE HUGE STARS!  The Age of Fury is one of the best books I've read this year, if not this decade.  Absolutely outstanding!

Billed as 'Peaky Blinders meets Brooklyn', I have never watched Brooklyn but I definitely got Peaky Blinders vibes.  It's published by Hot Key Books, which is a teen and YA imprint of Bonnier, but it is a fantastic historical fiction novel for adult readers too.

The haunting prologue is a letter from Mary to her twin sister Caitlin asking her to leave Ireland and come to New York to help her.  Caitlin doesn't think twice and immediately sets sail for America, writing to Mary about her journey.  Caitlin's unique, funny and strong voice shines through the prose as she is constantly talking to Mary in her head and telling her everything that is happening, making me laugh out loud along the way.  Caitlin is determined to find out what has happened to Mary and so is gangster William Furey.

I absolutely adored the two main characters, Caitlin and William, whose points of view are told via their own chapters.  The chemistry between the two of them doesn't just sizzle on the page, it erupts like fireworks.  As their paths keep crossing and their feelings grow, William has to decide what is most important to him: Caitlin or his very dangerous boss.

I don't think I can really put into words how much I enjoyed this book.  It is action-packed, blisteringly fast-paced and completely binge-worthy.  I want to read it again so I can experience it all over again.  Unforgettable and unmissable, The Age of Fury is definitely going on my favourites shelf.

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

My rating:

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Amazon

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Beastwoven - A.B. Hamilton

Two girls forced to share a body as they hunt and destroy beasts. The irony? They're the very beast they must destroy. The first in an incredibly written and dazzlingly original YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Tomi Adeyemi.

Lia and Ali are trained to use their elemental weaving powers to destroy burl beasts - mindless, bloodthirsty monsters created when the threads of their world tangle together. Their secret? They themselves are a burl beast: twin sisters, forced to share one body. Quiet and reserved Lia controlling by day. Outspoken and abrasive Ali leading by night.

When news arrives that an elusive criminal is creating bespoke burl beasts by practising the illegal magic that could finally separate them, the girls jump at the chance to join the team sent to investigate. But as the girls get closer to their new flock and, more importantly, two different boys, it becomes harder to hide who - or what - they really are.

Delving deeper into the dangerous world of flesh-weaving and political intrigue, the girls get closer to the answers they so desperately seek. But is the price of their separation truly worth the risk?

 

What did I think?

Wow!  I could not put this book down!  I was completely hooked by the dark and dangerous world of burl beast hunting and totally invested in the story of Lia and Ali.

To their fellow burl beast hunters, Lia and Ali are one person but they are actually twins who have been bound together by elemental magic to keep them safe.  What a massive secret to keep hidden!  Revealing this secret makes them one of the very beasts that they are hunting to destroy.  

A.B. Hamilton's writing is mesmerising and the beautifully drawn characters virtually pop out from the page.  It's very exciting to read such an amazing debut novel and it makes me very keen to see what will come next.

Beastwoven is aimed at a YA audience but will appeal to adult readers too; it is a stunning fantasy novel that immersed me in a magical world that I didn't want to leave.  I loved every single page of it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

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

My rating:

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READALONG: The Last Letter - Rebecca Yarros

Beckett,

If you're reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn't. I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride. My little sister Ella's there, raising the twins alone. If I'm gone, that means I can't be there for her. I can't help them through this. But you can. So I'm begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family. Please don't make her go through it alone.

Ryan

When Beckett follows his best friend’s dying wish and arrives in the small mountain town of Telluride, he expects grief, guilt, and the weight of a promise he’s not sure he can keep.

What he doesn’t expect is Ella. Fiercely independent and determined to hold her family together, Ella is still reeling from loss after loss. But as Beckett slowly becomes part of her life, their shared grief begins to turn into something neither of them saw coming.

But Ella knows that loving Beckett means risking heartbreak all over again…and this time she's not sure she'll survive.

 

What did I think?

If Rebecca Yarros had cut my heart out with a spoon it wouldn't have hurt as much as reading The Last Letter. My heart wasn't just broken, it was put through an emotional blender and shredded into tiny little bits.  I was certainly in bits at the end of it and at several times during it too, so have your tissues handy when you read it.

The whole 'last letter' theme gave me a lump in my throat and that was before I had even been introduced to any of the characters.  Once I got to know them, I fell in love with every single one of them and experienced their pain, joy, hopes and fears as they rode the rollercoaster of life.  Talk about 'stop the ride I want to get off' - this ride is not a fun one!

Told via a dual point of view, we follow single mother Ella and soldier Becket as they start writing to each other before they even met.  I loved reading their letters and felt it really showed depth to the characters.  They of course do eventually meet, but in such tragic circumstances, and one of them is not being completely honest. Uh-oh!

As heart shattering as the story was, I just couldn't stop reading it.  I'm glad I read it as part of a readalong as it gave me a chance to pause and take stock of my emotions.  I could have easily read it in one or two sittings but I would have felt like my heart had been pelted at a brick wall.  There's some romance with a bit of spice to lighten the distressing darker parts of the story so it is very well balanced.

The Last Letter is a completely devastating novel that is filled with so much emotion it really should come with waterproof pages.  I'm not sure I can forgive Rebecca Yarros for making my heart hurt so much but forgiveness is a theme of the novel so I am sure I will forgive her...eventually.

I received a gifted paperback for the Insta Book Tours readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Love on Lake Como (Sublime Retreats Romances) - Joy Skye

A new life, an old secret, and one unforgettable Italian summer.

Falling for him wasn't part of the itinerary.

For Indie Summer, fleeing to Lake Como after walking away from her manipulative boyfriend feels like salvation.

With everything she owns crammed into a single suitcase, she heads to Italy to work a season at a luxurious villa with her twin sister, clinging to the hope that the picturesque lakeside escape might also bring her closer to their elusive father.

What she didn’t expect was that her curiosity about a reclusive actor’s villa would land her in hot water with his brooding bodyguard, Marco Rossi. Tall, dark and handsome, Marco is everything Indie should avoid, but she can't seem to stay away.

As sun-soaked days stretch into glittering nights, Indie navigates demanding guests, long-buried family secrets, and more than a few glasses of Pinot Grigio. But the biggest challenge of all might be learning to trust again, especially with a man who guards not only a celebrity, but his own heart.

Escape to the sublime in this heart-warming, slow-burn romance set against the dreamy backdrop of Italy’s most iconic vista.

 

What did I think?

Love on Lake Como is part of the Sublime Retreats Romances but don't worry if you haven't come across this series before as it has its own storyline and characters so it's actually intended to be read as a standalone.  It's my introduction to the series and I enjoyed it so much that I want to read all of the other books now.

I adored Indie Summers.  She has had her heart broken and her trust in men obliterated by her lying ex-boyfriend so she can't get far enough away from him.  Luckily, she knows just the place to escape to as her twin sister Rosie works in Italy and, even luckier, the villa on Lake Como needs a new concierge.

The love interest for Indie is introduced into the story in a very amusing way.  Marco is part of the security team at George Clooney's villa and he catches Indie having a sneaky peek through the gate.  It's a small village so they are destined to run into each other again but Indie has trust issues and Marco has secrets so it's very finely balanced whether they'll actually get together or not.

This is more than just a romance novel; it's a total emotional rollercoaster and I loved every single up, down and bend in the road.  I didn't expect to read it as quickly as I did as I don't read that fast on Kindle but I found that I was picking it up at every available opportunity to find out what was happening with Indie and Marco.

Completely heartwarming and incredibly compelling, Love on Lake Como is an absolute delight to read and the emotional ending is exquisite.  It's simply wonderful and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Waterstones

Amazon

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BLOGATHON: Night By Night - Jack Jordan

I'm taking part in the Compulsive Readers Jack Jordan Blogathon and I'm resharing my review of Night by Night from 2019. 

If you're reading this, I'm dead . . . A heart-stopping thriller from the master of the moral dilemma and Sunday Times bestselling author.

Rejected by her family and plagued by insomnia, Rose Shaw is unravelling day by day.

Her life is a blur of exhaustion, until one evening a man running through the streets collides with her before quickly vanishing, dropping a journal at her feet.

Inside are Finn Matthews' frantic, desperate words. He was convinced he was being hunted. Now he's missing, and nobody is looking for him.

Rose decides to dedicate her sleepless nights to obsessively search for answers about what happened to Finn. Why did he think someone wanted to kill him? And why, in the midst of a string of murders, won't the police investigate his disappearance?

The deeper Rose digs, the more determined she becomes to uncover the truth. But she has no idea what it will cost her…

What did I think (in 2019)?

I've read every book that Jack Jordan has published and the talent of this outstanding young author continues to amaze me.  You know you're guaranteed a good read when you pick up a Jack Jordan novel and wow does he pull out all of the stops in Night by Night, his fifth book.  I was almost hyperventilating in shock after a huge gasp out loud moment in the opening chapters, in a part named 'Before'; so be prepared and buckle up for this thrilling literary rollercoaster ride! 

You would have to be completely heartless not to feel for Rose Shaw; she has such an emotional and heartbreaking back story with so much tragedy in her life and the punches just keep on coming.  When Rose finds a journal in the street one night, she is determined to find out what happened to its owner, but someone is equally determined to stop her.  As she continues to dig into the disappearance of Finn Matthews, it feels like Rose is very much alone, losing friends and family at every turn and even the police don't believe her.

I loved Rose's dogged determination to get to the bottom of the disappearances of young men in her area over several years.  When Rose puts an advert in the newspaper, a string of families come forward who have lost loved ones; vulnerable young men who are just trying to live the life they have chosen.  Someone is preying on these men and the local police force, filled with bigots and homophobes, won't take their disappearances seriously.

It's scary to see how people's prejudices affect their work ethic; I know this is fiction but I bet it does happen in real life.  It shouldn't matter what age, sex or sexual preference a person has but oftentimes it's the only thing that some narrow minded people see.  It's very brave of Jack Jordan to put this subject out there and it pains me to think of the suffering that many people will have encountered over the years.  I was particularly moved by Jay's story and how he was crying for help inside but couldn't voice it to those who cared most about him.

Jack Jordan remains firmly one of my favourite authors and I'm always on tenterhooks when he releases a new book.  Night by Night is an outstanding psychological thriller that succeeded in shocking and gripping me but it was also very thought-provoking as it highlighted the emotional torture that people hide so very well.  Although it's a thriller not a self-help book, if it makes just one tortured soul ask for help as a result of reading it, then it's a job well done.

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

My rating:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon




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BLOG TOUR: The Orchid Hunter's Daughter (The Scottish Library Series Book 1) - Jane Anderson

Friendship, love and dangerous orchids

Innerpeffray. Scottish Library Series Book One

Beauty and danger entwine like the most exquisite hothouse bloom.

In 1867 Scotland, sixteen-year-old Iris Finlay's world shatters when her grief-stricken father abandons his ministry and departs for Ecuador on a plant-hunting expedition. Sent to live with her aunt at Drummond Castle, Iris finds solace in Innerpeffray Library and an unexpected friendship with talented artist Annie Cooper. She hatches a plan for independence through their joint botany publication. When the charming Spanish botanist Rafael de Rias enters their lives before mysteriously joining her father abroad, both girls are enthralled, then dashed. Iris is inspired and also faces disgrace working as rebellious Princess Louise’s chaperone in Balmoral. But after receiving devastating news, Iris uncovers the secret tale of a rare black orchid. Enlisting help from Annie's brother Struan, can she piece together a botanical mystery?

 

What did I think?

The Orchid Hunter's Daughter is stunning both inside and out.  Just look at the beautiful cover that hints of the intricate, powerful and beautiful story held within the pages of this outstanding book.  It's the first book in an exciting new series and I can't wait to read more.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres but I don't think I have read anything set in the unusual world of horticulture.  Jane Anderson's writing is very vivid and descriptive as she brings the exquisite blooms to life through Iris Finlay's words and Annie Cooper's drawings.  

Iris is only 16 years old when her father travels to South America in search of rare plants for his new employer.  Left in the care of her Aunt Leonora, Iris befriends orphan Annie Cooper through their shared love of books at Innerpeffray Library.  To my shame, I had never heard of Innerpeffray Library (the first lending library in Scotland) so I loved finding out more, both in the book and through additional research afterwards.

Annie's twin Struan is very protective of her and has been all his life so I loved the way he looked out for her.  Struan is left to pick up the pieces when a smarmy Spaniard arrives and sets the girls' hearts a-flutter before leaving them to join Iris' father's expedition.  Oh I really didn't like Rafael at all but it's no surprise that Iris and Annie had their heads turned by him.  He knew exactly what he was doing and his actions only get worse.  

I loved the appearance of the royal family when Queen Victoria visits Scotland and Iris enters the household as chaperone to Princess Louise.  I don't know much about Princess Louise but she certainly seems to be a very colourful character and an early feminist.  I also enjoyed reading about Sophia Jex-Blake as I had never heard of her but she did so much in the fight for women's rights.

What an absolute gem of a book!  I could write so much more about it as I loved it, both the fantastic storyline and the real characters and places that led me to find out more about them.  The Orchid Hunter's Daughter is an unforgettable book and completely unmissable for historical fiction and feminist fiction fans.  An easy five stars and a highly recommended read. 

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

My rating:

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Snow Love Lost (Marram Bay Book 2) - Portia MacIntosh

Ivy, the owner of a year-round festive store, loves Christmas. When her mother passed away, Ivy vowed to take over her mother’s store and keep the Christmas spirit alive in the idyllic seaside town of Marram Bay, and she’s been running the place single-handedly ever since.

The only thing missing in Ivy's life is a dash of romance – something her twin sister, Holly, will not let her forget.

As Christmas approaches, an enigmatic businessman moves to town, threatening to bulldoze her beloved shop to make way for a holiday complex. Ivy must fight to save the store. But could this intriguing newcomer be hiding a softer side, one that just might grant all her holiday wishes?

 

What did I think?

I don't know how I haven't discovered Portia MacIntosh until now but I'm so pleased that I have as I absolutely loved Snow Love Lost.  It's the republished second book in the Marram Bay series but it can definitely be read as a standalone, although (like me) you will be adding the other two books (and more of Portia's) to your wishlist. 

The prologue is set in 1998 and introduces us to fraternal twins Holly and Ivy who couldn't be more different; for one thing, Holly dislikes Christmas and Ivy loves it.  It's a bit difficult to escape the festive period as their mum owns a shop called Christmas Every Day in the picturesque seaside town of Marram Bay.

Fast forward to the present day and Ivy is running the shop after buying out Holly's share when their mum passed away.  It is clear that this is more than a shop to Ivy as it's almost as if it holds some of her mum's spirit so she is prepared to fight with all she has to save the shop, despite dwindling sales and the landlord selling the building.

There is an amazing enemies to lovers trope when Seb walks into the shop one day with no intention to buy anything festive, but rather the whole building.  Ivy could maybe handle a new landlord but Seb doesn't want the building, he wants the land and his bulldozers are revving their engines.  Ivy would hate him if only he wasn't so hot!

Enemies to lovers comes hand in hand with a 'will they/won't they' vibe and I adored every second of it.  I completely fell in love with the characters and I think I must've had something in my eye at the end as my eyes were a little moist to say the least.

Funny, flirty and incredibly heartwarming, Snow Love Lost is a lovely read filled with heart and a sprinkling of Christmas pixie dust.  You've got a new fan right here, Portia MacIntosh!

I received a gifted paperback from the publisher that I chose to read; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Howling: Volume 3 (The Annie Jackson Mysteries) - Michael J Malone

Two men, centuries apart, dream of being a wolf. 

One is burned at the stake.

Another is locked in a psychiatric hospital for most of his life.

And Annie Jackson is about to find out why…

Vowing once again to remove herself from society, Annie is back living alone in her little cottage by the shores of a loch. But when an old enemy – now locked up in a high security hospital – comes calling, begging her to find the son that she was forced to give up at the age of seventeen, Annie is tempted out of seclusion. The missing boy holds the key to ending Annie’s curse, and he may be the only chance that both she and Lewis have of real happiness.

Annie and Lewis begin an investigation that takes them back to the past, a time etched in Scottish folklore, a period of history that may just be repeating itself. And what they uncover could destroy not just some of the most powerful people in the country, who will stop at nothing to protect their wealth and their secrets, but also Annie’s life, and everything she holds dear…

Dark, immersive, and utterly compelling, The Howling is a story of deception, betrayal, and misplaced power, and a reminder that the most public of faces can hide the darkest of hearts…

 

What did I think?

The Howling is the third book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series and although you could enjoy it as a standalone, it is absolutely brilliant when read as part of the series.  If you thought the first two books were dark, just wait until you read The Howling.

Annie Jackson has a curse that gives her a vision of the impending death of someone with whom she has come into contact.  There is nothing she can do to prevent the death so she has chosen to isolate herself in a remote cottage to keep her murmurs quiet.  Annie is drawn out of isolation when an old adversary dangles a carrot in front of her that is too impossible to resist: find her son and the curse will be broken.

Interspersed with chapters from a dark and dangerous past, I was completely hooked from the start and the historic storyline is both horrifying and heartbreaking.  I could very easily visualise every scene in the book as it played out in my head as I was reading.

I just can't get enough of Michael J Malone's writing; he immediately draws you into the story and I dived in headfirst to submerge myself in the vivid and haunting words.  As much as I wanted Annie and her twin Lewis to succeed in their mission to break the curse, I also don't want the series to end so what a quandary that puts the reader in as we race to the dramatic conclusion.

Deliciously dark and incredibly haunting, The Howling is a fast-paced and completely unmissable novel.  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:

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UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure - Caroline James

When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott trades the rainy hills of Cumbria for the golden coast of Spain in his beloved vintage campervan, his quiet village is left reeling from the shock. With only his faithful collie, Ness, for company, Atticus sets off in search of sunshine, serenity, and perhaps a glass or two of sangria. But his solo adventure quickly turns into something far more unexpected...

Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.

As father and daughter navigate new paths, they learn that starting over isn’t about running from the past—but embracing the unknown with open arms…

Full of laughter, love and second chances, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a feel-good escape that proves it’s never too late for a new beginning—no matter where life might take you.

 

What did I think?

I can't believe Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure is the first Caroline James book I have read but it's definitely not my last as I absolutely loved  it.  I adored Atticus and he has made a little permanent place in my heart to ensure that I never forget him and I won't let the old (wo)man in.

Atticus lost his wife Clara five years ago but time has not healed his heart.  Atticus' son Mungo has taken over the running of the farm, leaving Atticus to while away his days with his faithful dog Ness and his friend Arthur.  Until Mungo's twin sister Mary arrives at the farm with a cunning plan to breathe life back into Atticus via his old campervan.

It's so refreshing to have an older protagonist and, despite what his son might think, there's plenty of life left in 70 year old Atticus Arnott.  I loved reading about his adventure to Spain and his unintentional rise as a social media influencer.  Although I can understand Mungo's reservations about his dad making a solo journey, you would never leave the house if you dwelled on all the things that might happen.

Although Atticus is the main character, I really enjoyed his daughter Mary's story.  Mary is having a difficult time at home as she struggles to cope with her four children while her husband is busy working.  As events unfold, Mary has to stay strong and work out what is most important to her.

This is such a lovely book that I couldn't put it down and read it almost in one sitting.  I was completely swept away with Atticus' Spanish adventure and I loved every second of it.  It has a surprising festive feel towards the end and I may have shed a happy tear or two as my emotions got the better of me.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars.

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

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: What You See - Hilly Barmby

Harriet (Haitch) Boswell’s career as an artist could be about to go stratospheric. She’s been nominated for a prestigious bursary that would change everything. To secure it, she needs to see off five other hopefuls and charm the man who holds the purse strings during a weekend at a stunning location in Spain.

But just before she’s due to leave, she falls ill. There’s no way she can attend the event. Perhaps there’s a solution… her twin sister, Tilda.

But Tilda’s life is in turmoil. Her husband Sam has left her, declaring his love for a mystery woman. Spending a weekend schmoozing with the cream of the creative world while pretending to be her sister, is the very last thing she wants to do. But the bonds of sisterhood are strong. Haitch begs her, and Tilda agrees.

What if she’s discovered as an imposter? There’s Haitch’s egotistical agent Damian to get past first. Then there’s the small matter of surviving the selection process – all five nominees are pitted against each other in an intellectual beauty contest.

And then when someone discovers a body the next day, no one is prepared for what comes next...

 

What did I think?

Oh this book was so good and I simply couldn't put it down.  There are so many layers of intrigue to hold the reader's interest and I was well and truly hooked.

Haitch and Tilda are identical twins but although they may look alike they are very different in nature.  Haitch is the outgoing one who says what she thinks and Tilda is the quiet nerdy one who thought she had found the perfect man with whom to spend the rest of her life...until he left her.  

Tilda is reeling from Sam's bombshell so a change of scenery could be just what she needs so she doesn't take much convincing to impersonate Haitch when Haitch falls ill and can't attend a prestigeous event in Spain.  It looks like the twins have got away with their ruse but complications arise when a dead body is discovered after the event.

Oh this is very intricately plotted and I loved every minute of it.  Hilly Barmby's vivid and captivating writing cleverly drew me in to an amazing web of deceit before going in for the kill with a superb twist.  What an absolute cracker!

Intriguing, gripping and twisty, What You See is an outstanding psychological thriller that hooked me from the start and didn't let go.  A very highly recommended read.

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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Hobeck Books

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BLOG TOUR: The Torments (The Annie Jackson Mysteries book 2) - Michael J Malone

Hiding from the world in her little white cottage on the shores of a loch,  Annie Jackson is fighting to come to terms with the world of the murmurs,  a curse that has haunted female members of her family for centuries. 

While she is within the ancient, heavy stone of the old dwelling, the voices  merely buzz, but the moment she steps outside the door they clamour to torment her all over again, bringing with them shocking visions of imminent deaths. 

Into this oasis comes her adoptive mother, Mandy McEvoy, begging for  Annie’s help. Mandy’s nephew Damien has gone missing, after dropping  off his four-year old son at his mother’s home. 

Unable to refuse, but terrified to leave her sanctuary, Annie, with the help of her brother Lewis, is drawn in to a secretive, seductive world that will have her question everything she holds dear, while Lewis’ life may be changed forever… 

 

What did I think?

I loved The Murmurs, the first book in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, so I couldn't wait to read the sequel, The Torments, and I was not disappointed.  Although you could read The Torments as a standalone, I think it's beneficial to have read The Murmurs first to really get to know the characters of Annie Jackson and her brother Lewis and to understand Annie's curse.

Annie finally has her curse under control, at least when she's at home in her isolated cottage.  If only she could stay behind closed doors, she wouldn't be plagued by the murmurs and the death visions. When her cousin Damien goes missing, Annie and her brother Lewis are called upon to help find him but the world outside Annie's four walls is filled with danger for someone like Annie.

I really enjoyed reading about Annie Jackson again and it was like meeting up with an old friend so I was very invested in her story.  I was on the edge of my seat as the danger level ramped up and I was suspicious of everyone linked with Damien's disappearance.  With Hallowe'en approaching, the clock is ticking for Annie and Lewis to uncover the truth behind Damien's disappearance, and a whole lot more than they bargained for.

Spooky, chilling and compelling, The Torments is a book that will keep you up at night, both when you're reading it and after you've finished it.  It's the perfect book to read on Hallowe'en and I most definitely recommend it.

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

About the author:

Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines  throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood  Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. His dark psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and  is currently in production for the screen, and five powerful standalone thrillers followed  suit. The Murmurs, first in the Annie Jackson Mysteries series, was published to critical  acclaim in 2023. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as  an IFA and a bookseller. Michael lives in Ayr, where he also works as a hypnotherapist. 

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BLOG TOUR: Profile K - Helen Fields

He’s going to kill you. He just doesn’t know it yet.

Midnight Jones is an analyst trained to understand the human mind. But everything changes when, in the course of her work, she discovers Profile K’s file – because K stands for killer, and she knows that someone more dangerous than she could have ever imagined walks among them.

Midnight knows what Profile K is capable of before he even commits his first crime. But as the news rolls with the brutal murder of a local woman, no one believes what she tells them: that he is capable of so much worse.

Profile K will kill again – and, terrifyingly, Midnight realises that the moment she found his file was the moment she became his next target. Because Profile K is coming for Midnight – and the only way to escape with her life is to find him before he finds her…

The million-copy bestseller is back with a dark, terrifying journey into the mind of a psychopath that will keep you riveted until the very last page.

 

What did I think?

OMG!!! Helen Fields has done it again - her new novel has completely blown me away. Profile K really has the wow factor and I couldn’t put it down.  It's just fantastic from start to finish and deliciously dark and disturbing, as you would expect from a Helen Fields book.

Midnight Jones has a moral dilemma when the test results she’s reviewing reveal a Profile K.  The 'k for killer' profile was set up as a joke as nobody expected anyone to actually be a Profile K. It must be a mistake in the system, surely?  Midnight doesn’t think so but her bosses tell her to forget about it but then the bodies start mounting up.

I absolutely loved Midnight Jones.  Not only does she have a great name, she also has a heartbreaking backstory which sees her being the main carer for her twin, Dawn.  Midnight can't risk losing her job as she needs to work to pay for Dawn's care and it's so expensive that she has no money left over for a life of her own.

The pacing is fast and furious and I simply couldn't read fast enough.  I felt like my eyes were on stalks as I opened them as wide as I could to devour the words as quickly as possible.  It was great to see Connie Woolwine make an appearance, although Profile K is a complete standalone novel so you don't need to have read any other Helen Fields books to enjoy it.

Intense, gripping and enthralling Profile K is an edge of your seat nail-biting rollercoaster of a book and it’s one not to be missed.  Very highly recommended.

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

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