BLOG TOUR: One Last Secret - Adele Parks

One last client

A week at a beautiful chateau in the south of France – it should be a straightforward final job for Dora. She’s a smart, stunning and discreet escort and Daniel has paid for her services before. This time, all she has to do is convince the assembled guests that she is his girlfriend. Dora is used to playing roles and being whatever men want her to be. It’s all about putting on a front.

One last chance

It will be a last, luxurious look at how the other half lives, before Dora turns her back on the escort world and all its dangers. She has found someone she loves and trusts. With him, she can escape the life she’s trapped in. But when Dora arrives at the chateau, it quickly becomes obvious that nothing is what it seems…

One last secret

Dora finds herself face to face with a man she has never forgotten, the one man who really knows her. And as old secrets surface, it becomes terrifyingly apparent that one last secret could cost Dora her life…

From the Sunday Times Number One bestseller Adele Parks comes a blisteringly provocative novel about power, sex, money and revenge. 

What did I think?

OMG, Adele Parks, you devious little minx!  This book is filled to the brim with secrets and I devoured it in my quest to discover every single one of them.  Just when you think you have it all worked out, Adele Parks throws another curve ball to spin you in a completely different direction.  

Dora is a character with an unusual and unique voice; she is so blunt about everything, which shouldn't come as a surprise as her job as an escort doesn't require emotion.  It's actually really interesting to read about such an unusual character from her own perspective.  Of course, being an escort isn't something that little girls aspire to be but it is a necessary evil to pay the bills for a lot of women.

It took me a little while to warm to her as Dora is a very unemotional character, but I really liked her when I scratched beneath the surface.  I love how her personal and professional lives are so very different and it was lovely to read about her friendship with Evan, which comes under threat when she takes one last job as an escort.  A job that takes her to a luxurious chateau in France where nothing is as it seems.

I didn't manage to predict a single thing in this book.  Oh I had plenty of ideas and suspicions but I was completely wrong on all counts.  Reading books is one instance when I'm happy to be proved wrong as it shows how good the book is when you don't manage to predict any of it.  

One Last Secret is twisty, addictive and unpredictable.  I really enjoyed it and don't think I have read anything like it before; the main character is so unique and the twisty plot just keeps on delivering, even when you think all has been revealed there's still more to come. 

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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BLOG TOUR: The Vacation - John Marrs

How far would you run to escape your past?

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth.

Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood.

But for eight strangers at a beach front hostel, there is far more on their mind than an extended vacation.

All of them are running from something. And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep . . .

 

What did I think?

Originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are, The Vacation is another outstanding novel from John Marrs.  I found it a bit daunting at first as there are a lot of characters but oh my word, I enjoyed every second of it.

Set in Venice Beach, Los Angeles this is a brilliant character driven novel with a whole range of colourful characters who are thrown together in a rundown hostel.  They all have different reasons for staying there and I devoured each and every one of their wonderful stories.

With short, punchy chapters written from a particular character's perspective, The Vacation is a real page turner as something might happen to that character at the end of the chapter and you can't wait to continue their story but it's time for someone else's perspective to take over.  It definitely exercised my speed reading muscles as I just couldn't read it fast enough.

I loved each and every character and I couldn't pick a favourite as I was deeply affected by many of their stories.   John Marrs' wonderful writing brings the characters to life and the way that their stories ebb, flow and intertwine is sublime.

Completely addictive and filled with suspense, The Vacation is the perfect holiday read for 2022, although it's so addictive that you're sure to finish it well before your holiday ends.  An easy five stars from me for this highly recommended book.

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

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Sun Damage - Sabine Durrant

The heat is intense.

The secrets are stifling.

She just needs to escape . . .

Nine guests arrive at a remote villa in the south of France.

They know each other well. Or think they do.

But at least one of them has plenty to hide - and nowhere to run.

Under the relentless sun, loyalties will be tested, secrets revealed, and tensions pushed to the point of no return.

 

What did I think?

I've enjoyed some Sabine Durrant novels in the past and Sun Damage is no exception, although strangely the blurb doesn't seem to accurately reflect the novel.  So much so, that you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd picked up the wrong book when you first start reading.  Bear with it though, as this is a tense and claustrophobic novel that is so easy to read.

Ali and Sean are con artists, preying on the wealthy without a second thought.  When a con takes an unexpected turn, Ali sees her chance to escape Sean's clutches and finds herself masquerading as a chef for a British family who have rented a holiday villa in the south of France.  How the other half live, eh?

It's hard to actually like Ali as a character as she is a con artist so you're never sure who the real Ali is.  The family dynamic and the relationships between the guests was very interesting to read, as was Ali's relationship with Sean.  I found it fascinating how quickly and easily they managed to glean information about their marks, which is of course a lot easier in this digital age.

I didn't find it as twisty as I expected from the blurb, I think my imagination must have been working overtime as I worked out most of the plot quite early on and even expected more twists to be revealed from clues I thought I'd picked up, but they didn't materialise.  So, even though I was left with a few unanswered questions I still enjoyed the book.

Sun Damage is quite a slow burner but it's compulsively readable.  It's beautifully written as you would expect from a Sabine Durrant novel, with characters that you love to hate.  It's a good book to take on holiday to read by the pool and a stark reminder to not post your whole life on social media.

I received a gifted hardback copy from the publisher as part of the Tandem Collective readalong and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Hostage - Clare Mackintosh

Save hundreds of lives. Or save your child?

You're on board the first non-stop flight from London to Sydney. It's a landmark journey, and the world is watching.

Shortly after take-off, you receive a chilling anonymous note.

There are people on this plane intent on bringing it down - and you're the key to their plan.

You'd never help them, even if your life depended on it.

But they have your daughter . . . So now you have to choose.

DO YOU SAVE HUNDREDS OF LIVES? OR THE ONE THAT MATTERS MOST?

 

What did I think?

WOW! What a book!  This is one of those books where I want to tell you to stop reading my review and just buy the book now - it's THAT good.  So for anyone still with me, I'll try to sum up my thoughts of a book that left me completely speechless (and incredibly tired as I really couldn't put it down).

The moment I opened this book, I knew I was going to be hooked.  The prologue is an emergency call transcript that is so chilling it made all of the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.  It haunted me throughout the book and I couldn't read fast enough to get to that point but also felt terrified of reaching it.

Mina is in the middle of a marriage breakdown so she signs up to be a flight attendant on the first ever non-stop flight from London to Sydney, even though this means she will be separated from her daughter Sophia for several days.  Someone on the plane knows all about Sophia and they're banking on Mina being willing to do anything to keep her safe.  Can Mina really sentence hundreds of people to death just to save one life?  That's all I'm going to say about the outstanding plot that kept me reading late into the night.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes of Mina's life and I was very intrigued as to how she ended up becoming a flight attendant.  Clare Mackintosh very cleverly weaves a story into the main thread that shows we can be physically held hostage but also metaphorically held hostage to our past.  This felt like a pearl of wisdom from the Dalai Lama; how often do we hark back to something we wish we'd said or done differently?  Let it go!  It's holding you hostage.

Claire Mackintosh scoops all the stars as well as all the adjectives in her exceptional new novel.  Hostage is breathtaking, jawdropping, awesome, stunning, gripping and terrifying; it's an absolute must read and very highly recommended.

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

My rating:

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About the author:

Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of five Sunday Times bestselling novels, including I Let You Go, which was the fastest-selling debut thriller in the year it was released.

Translated into forty languages, her books have sold more than two million copies worldwide, have been New York Times and international bestsellers and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller chart.

Clare spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant and is the founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival. She now writes full time and lives in Wales with her husband and their three children.

www.claremackintosh.com / www.facebook.com/ClareMackWrites / @ClareMackint0sh

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BLOG TOUR: The Bay - Allie Reynolds

The waves are to die for. It's a paradise they'd kill to keep.

There's a darkness inside all of us and The Bay has a way of bringing it out. Everyone here has their secrets but we don't go looking for them. Because sometimes it's better not to know.

Kenna arrives in Sydney to surprise her best friend, shocked to hear she's going to marry a guy she's only just met. But Mikki and her fiancé Jack are about to head away on a trip, so Kenna finds herself tagging along for the ride.

Sorrow Bay is beautiful, wild and dangerous. A remote surfing spot with waves to die for, cut off from the rest of the world. Here Kenna meets the mysterious group of people who will do anything to keep their paradise a secret. Sky, Ryan, Clemente and Victor have come to ride the waves and disappear from life. How will they feel about Kenna turning up unannounced?

As Kenna gets drawn into their world, she sees the extremes they are prepared to go to for the next thrill. And everyone seems to be hiding something. What has her best friend got involved in and how can she get her away? But one thing is rapidly becoming clear about The Bay: nobody ever leaves.

 

What did I think?

Don't be misled by the gorgeous cover; something dark and dangerous is lurking inside The Bay.  I really enjoyed it; it's action-packed, gripping and hugely entertaining.

Kenna and Mikki have a puzzling relationship; they've been best friends since school in England but Mikki is not exactly thrilled when Kenna turns up on her doorstep in Australia.  Kenna is determined to stop Mikki from rushing into marrying Jack, although Kenna didn't even receive an invitation to the wedding.  Strange - something is definitely afoot!

Jack invites Kenna to join him and Mikki on a trip to Sorrow Bay, a secret part of the coast that only a few people know about.  The tension really begins to mount when Kenna meets other members of the group who really don't like sharing their waves with strangers.  Just what has Mikki got herself tangled up in?

I absolutely loved all of the different characters in this book; everybody is hiding something and I couldn't read fast enough to uncover all of their secrets.  The surfing and extreme challenges they partake in had my heart racing and I even found myself holding my breath at certain points as if I was underwater too.

The characters and the scenery are so vividly drawn by Allie Reynolds that I felt as if I was on the beach with them.  The Bay is one of those books that you can easily imagine being made into a film or series and I would definitely want to watch it.

Tense, gripping and thrilling, The Bay is a brilliant thriller that not only has you on the edge of your seat, it has you gripping the armrests and holding your breath.

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

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BLOG TOUR: The Sinner - Caroline England

 

EVERY SAINT HAS A PAST

To the unsuspecting eye Dee Stephens has a perfect life as the vicar's wife: a devoted marriage to her charismatic husband Reverend Vincent, an adoring congregation and a beautiful daughter.

EVERY SINNER HAS A FUTURE

But beneath the surface, Dee is suffocating. Vincent is in control, and he knows her every sin. Desperate, Dee escapes into a heady affair with Cal, an old schoolmate.

EVERY CONFESSION HAS A PRICE

But is Cal the saviour she thinks he is? What dark secrets does he harbour? And to what lengths will Vincent go to when he uncovers the truth?

What did I think?

The Sinner is absolutely riveting.  It is filled with secrets, lies and deception so it is just the kind of book I love: a book that's difficult to put down and impossible to predict.

Dee is a very interesting main character; she really dislikes her role as vicar's wife, almost as much as she dislikes her mother-in-law.  The fractious relationship between the two women was beautifully described by Caroline England and I could totally see why Dee felt the need to escape into Cal's arms.  It's really difficult to talk about the plot without releasing any spoilers, so that's all I'm saying about it.

From the front cover design to the writing inside, The Sinner is completely flawless.  I was captivated from start to finish by both the intriguing characters and the compelling plot.  I absolutely raced through it as I just had to wring out every last secret hidden within the pages.

I've read a few Caroline England books over the years and The Sinner is definitely one of her best, although the others are all brilliant too.  I really wasn't expecting some of the twists and turns, and there are a lot of them, which will surprise and delight thriller fans.  The Sinner is a hugely enjoyable novel and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

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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The Silent Brother - Simon Van Der Velde

 

The Past Never Dies

When his beloved little brother is stolen away, five-year-old Tommy Farrier is left alone with his alcoholic mam, his violent step-dad and his guilt. Too young to understand what has really happened, Tommy is sure of only one thing. He is to blame.

Tommy tries to be good, to live-up to his brother’s increasingly hazy memory, but trapped in a world of shame and degradation he grows up with just two options; poverty or crime. And crime pays.

Or so he thinks.

A teenage drug-dealer for the vicious Burns gang, Tommy’s life is headed for disaster, until, in the place he least expects, Tommy sees a familiar face…

And then things get a whole lot worse.

What did I think?

Wow - what a book!  The Silent Brother left me speechless, breathless and completely stunned.  Simon Van Der Velde has written a gritty, poignant, dark and disturbing masterpiece.  Set in the east end of Newcastle, this is what it would have been like if The Sopranos and Shameless had been set here.

Tommy Farrier has had a tragic life and oh how I felt for him.  His mam cares more about booze than she does her own children, so it's no surprise when Tommy's younger brother is taken into care.  This harrowing event shapes Tommy's whole life and the shadow of it hangs over his every move.  To survive, Tommy joins the Burns gang and this sets him on a dark and dangerous path with seemingly no escape...

Simon Van Der Velde has captured the heart and soul of Newcastle in this breathtaking book and the unique voice of Tommy is portrayed beautifully.  It's heartbreaking to read at times, especially as you start to care for the characters, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the page.  Poverty and crime often go hand in hand, like two sides of the same coin, and the story is very true to life as so many children will have followed in Tommy's footsteps.

Beautifully written, The Silent Brother is a raw and gritty thriller that really has the wow factor.  Do not miss this one!  It's an absolute masterpiece and I don't have to think twice before awarding the full five stars - I'd give it more if I could.  I'll definitely be reading it again and I really can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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