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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BLOG TOUR: Man Down - Mark Pepper

Matt Spiller drives a souped-up taxi, suffers from SAD, and has a troublesome past.

It’s Christmas Eve, and one of his fares is about to become extremely problematic.

Helen Spiller still loves her husband, but can no longer live with his moods.

She’s a wonderful mum, with a screw quietly working loose in her head.

Now, their eldest daughter has hooked up with a very bad boyfriend.

Spiller thinks he has the skillset to handle all these problems.

He’s dead wrong.

 

What did I think?

Mark Pepper stole my weekend; I simply couldn't put his new book down!  Man Down is just brilliant: gripping, gritty, funny and totally addictive.  I already know that Mark Pepper is an outstanding writer as I absolutely loved his previous novel, Veteran Avenue, and I'm delighted to report that Man Down is every bit as good.

Main character Matt Spiller makes one heck of a first impression; this is one man I won't forget in a hurry - he makes Die Hard's John McClane look sane.  The same could be said for his wife Helen; the blurb mentions a 'screw quietly working loose in her head' and just you wait to see what happens when that screw finally comes loose.  It's unforgettable!

Take a bow, Mr Pepper!  Man Down is outstanding.  I gave it so many virtual rounds of applause as the scintillating plot played out.  It's so full of thrills and spills that it had my heart beating 19 to the dozen and I had a few gasp out loud moments too.  I also loved the humour written into the book through the characters' speech - they sure don't hold anything back.

With an ingenious and highly original plot, Man Down is an unforgettable fast-paced thriller.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

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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Red Dog Press

Amazon

About the author:

Mark lives in Manchester with his wife of 30 years, Jeannifer, and his daughter, Jade. 

In his day job, Mark is an Intelligence Analyst for a financial regulator in Washington DC. He is a qualified secondary school drama teacher, and worked as an actor for fifteen years, having graduated from RADA in 1990. 

His first two novels, The Short Cut and Man on a Murder Cycle, were published by Hodder & Stoughton, and his third, Veteran Avenue, originally published by Urbane and now by Red Dog Press. Veteran Avenue, is mainly set in LA, and is currently being developed as a TV series by the actor Warren Brown. 

Find him on twitter @PepSixSix

BLOG TOUR: The Gifts - Liz Hyder

In an age defined by men, it will take something extraordinary to show four women who they truly are . . .

October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in Shropshire as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.

Meanwhile, when rumours of a 'fallen angel' cause a frenzy across London, a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grips of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger . . .

THE GIFTS is the astonishing debut adult novel from the lauded author of BEARMOUTH. A gripping and ambitious book told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.

 

What did I think?

I think The Gifts is a novel that we will be hearing about a lot this year, and rightly so.  The writing is beautiful, the plot is completely immersive and the finished copies (complete with illustrations) will be stunning.

Through the character of surgeon Edward Meake, Liz Hyder has really captured the Victorian obsession with science and the workings of the human body.  So it's no wonder that Edward's interest is piqued when he hears rumours about the body of an angel being found in the Thames.  Intent on capturing and studying a live angel, Edward begins his quest to acquire the impossible: a live angel.

It's both fascinating and horrifying to see the way that women were treated in the 19th century.  Not just the angels, who were treated as things rather than women, but Edward's wife Annie and budding writer Mary.  Annie is very much kept in the dark about her husband's work and Mary has to adopt a male pseudonym for her writing to be taken seriously.  I absolutely loved the character of Mary; she's bold, courageous and strong, especially when she's following a story.

Although the story is completely immersive, I had difficulty getting into the rhythm of the book as most of the chapters are very short and they swap between the viewpoints of several characters.  I think the finished copy with illustrations will be better as it allows the reader to pause and absorb what they have just read.  I loved the newspaper articles that are scattered throughout the novel - it really brings the book to life.

Haunting, powerful and mesmerising, The Gifts is an astonishing novel that combines historical and feminist fiction with a touch of the ethereal.

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 Psychopath - A M Edwards

 

Meet Jez. Jez is adulterous husband to Maxine, devoted father to Jamie, promiscuous lover, university professor, pro-vice chancellor for research – and a serial killer aiming to get to the top by any means necessary.

His passion for murder parallels his love of music and he matches each kill with its own special theme song to enhance the experience as he works towards assembling his top forty greatest hits.

When the vice-chancellor of lowly ranked Francis Drake University begins to sexually pester Jez’s mistress Bella, it accelerates his plans for domination. But will he get there?

What did I think?

I really enjoyed this book.  A M Edwards has really got into the mind of a psychopath and serial killer and once I started reading I couldn't put it down.

Jez is not a character anyone will warm to because he's a psychopath, but his observations of people and situations are painfully honest and absolutely hilarious.  I laughed out loud so many times, especially when I read Jez's observations of the workplace - I'll not share any of it here as it will spoil it for others but it's so true!

You really don't want to get on the wrong side of Jez as he is very likely to kill you.  Jez is an academic with a wife and a son and it's surprising to find someone like him living an apparently normal life, although it just shows that appearances can be deceptive.  You never really know who you work with or live next door to, so be careful if you cross them as they might be a secret psychopath.

The story is written from the point of view of Jez and his uniquely strange voice comes across loud and clear.  Although I loved it, I think some people might struggle with this but if you want a warm, fuzzy read then you shouldn't pick up a book named The Psychopath.  It is exactly what it says on the cover!

Dark, disturbing and surprisingly funny, The Psychopath is a highly original novel - I don't think I have ever read anything quite like it.  If you have a dark sense of humour and you like watching shows such as Dexter, then you will love this book.

I received an 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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BLOG TOUR: The Rebel Daughter - Miranda Malins

A country torn apart by war. A woman fighting for her future...

Ely, 1643. England is convulsed by Civil War, setting King against Parliament and neighbour against neighbour. As the turmoil reaches her family home in Ely, 19-year-old Bridget Cromwell finds herself at the heart of the conflict.

With her father's star on the rise as a cavalry commander for the rebellious Parliament, Bridget has her own ambitions for a life beyond marriage and motherhood. And as fractures appear in her own family with the wilful, beautiful younger sister Betty, Bridget faces a choice: to follow her heart, or to marry for power and influence, and fight for a revolution that will change history...

A gripping evocation of the Civil War, and the hidden stories of women at the heart of power... Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Anne O'Brien 

What did I think?

I couldn't wait to read Miranda Malins' new novel, The Rebel Daughter, as I loved her stunning debut, The Puritan Princess, and I was not disappointed.  The Rebel Daughter is every bit as stunning as its predecessor as Miranda Malins sweeps the reader away to the 17th century and the English Civil War.

The story follows Bridget Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's eldest daughter.  Bridget is intelligent and forthright, character traits that are not terribly attractive to suitors, and she is overshadowed by her younger sister's beauty.  Henry Ireton is a great admirer of Oliver Cromwell and he sees Bridget as very much like her father, but his marriage proposal comes as a shock to Bridget.  Seeing Bridget growing to love Henry really warmed my heart and I loved that Henry valued Bridget's opinions.

Miranda Malins' writing is stunning, creating such vivid imagery of this historical period that I felt as if I was walking in Bridget's footsteps.  It's so refreshing to read about such strong women in history as they are so easily forgotten about in favour of the achievements of their menfolk.  It's lovely to see women playing such important roles in historical fiction from a feminist perspective.

The Rebel Daughter is completely compelling historical fiction. Informative and engaging, it's a fascinating glimpse into the past with characters brought to life by the talented pen of Miranda Malins.  I loved it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Universe: And Our Place Within It - Andrew Newsam

What happens inside black holes? Is dark matter real? Could we do anything to prevent being wiped out by an approaching asteroid? Will our explorations of our neighbouring planets reveal life or a new place to settle? What can observations of stars reveal about our origins – and our future?

Professor Andrew Newsam draws on his vast expertise to show us what’s going on beyond the limits of our planet, from our solar system to distant galaxies – and what this tells us about our own place in this vast expanse called ‘the Universe’.

From glowing nebulae to the sweeping majesty of the Milky Way, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Universe will spark your curiosity and help you make sense of the amazing discoveries and fascinating mysteries of the cosmos.

 

What did I think?

I don't think I've ever read non-fiction as quickly as I read this brilliant book.  I know very little about astronomy although I've always been interested in our solar system, however, many astronomy books just go straight over my head.  This is most definitely not the case with Andrew Newsam's Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Universe: And Our Place Within It that is written in such an informative and engaging way that I found easy to understand and incredibly entertaining.

I not only learnt things, I found that I retained the information and it made me eager to find out more.  The writing is captivating and entertaining without being patronising to any readers who may already know some basics about astronomy.  It's clearly written for the layperson who has no prior knowledge of astronomy and incredibly easy to read.  I'm amazed at how much knowledge about the universe I gained and retained.  It's true what Frank Carson said: it's the way you tell 'em!

There are six chapters: Looking out from Earth, The Sun as a star, The Solar System, Stars, Galaxies, and The Big Bang.  Ranging from 16 to 52 pages long, each chapter covers a lot of ground but it never gets boring and I found myself eager to read just one more chapter, which is almost unheard of for me when reading non-fiction.  There are also some stunning colour images in the middle plate section to enhance and support the text.

So, if you've always wanted to know more about the universe then this is the book for you.  I didn't even hesitate before awarding the full five stars and it deserves every single one of them.  I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Andrew Newsam and I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to Alison Menzies for sending me an ARC to read and review; all opinions are my own.

My rating:

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The Castaways - Lucy Clarke

You wake on a beautiful, remote island.

Sparkling blue seas, golden sunsets, barely a footprint in the sand.

Yet this is no ordinary escape.

 

Next to the wreck of a plane, a stranger paces. Another sharpens a knife, scoring a list of the dead onto a palm tree. Others watch from the shadows of a campfire – all with untold stories, and closely-guarded secrets…

This is no ordinary holiday.

This is no ordinary island.

This is no ordinary beach read.

Gripping, twisty and full of sun-soaked atmosphere, THE CASTAWAYS will whisk you far away to the island – and never let you go.

 

What did I think?

Oh wow, I enjoyed this book.  It had my eyes glued to the page from start to finish and I couldn't read it fast enough - what a page turner!

Through a dual timeline, I immersed myself into Lori's story in the 'Then' chapters and her sister Erin's story in the 'Now' chapters.  Erin has never given up hope that her sister might be still be alive following the disappearance of her flight en-route to a remote Fijian island.  But, with so many islands in the area, nobody even knows where the plane actually crashed.

Lori's plane crash left me breathless and I didn't realise I had been holding my breath until I actually released it.  All of the scenes are so vividly described that I felt as if I was there.  I can't imagine anything worse than being trapped on an island with strangers.  When it comes to survival, you really can't trust anyone.  I don't want to say any more about the stunning plot for fear of releasing any spoilers as each reader needs to experience the shocks and surprises for themselves.

Twisty, gripping and so very addictive, The Castaways is a real page turner.  It's vivid, atmospheric and breathtaking - I loved it.

I chose to read a digital ARC via NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Amazon