BLOG TOUR: The Deception - Maureen Myant

Her past was a lie. Dare she uncover the truth?

When Kate’s mother dies, a man turns up at the funeral claiming to be her uncle. Kate is mystified; her mother was an only child. She agrees to meet him but when she tells him more about herself, he disappears. It’s best to forget him and get on with the business of grieving but when she finds her own death certificate, she realises she can’t let it drop. Besides, there are the threatening phone calls and messages to her mother to consider…

Four hundred miles away in Glasgow, DI Alex Scrimgeour is haunted by memories of past crimes. Is he responsible for a miscarriage of justice? He’s already worried when Kate contacts him with her story. If she is who she thinks she is, it could ruin his entire career. Despite their mutual antipathy, only by working together will they understand the past and finally put old ghosts to rest. 

What did I think?

Absolutely brilliant!  That's how I'd describe The Deception in two words and those are the exact words I uttered when I turned the final page.  I thought Maureen Myant's previous novel, The Confession, was good but The Deception has the wow factor, in my opinion.

I loved virtually meeting up again with Alex Scrimgeour and Mark Nicholson, who we met in The Confession, but The Deception is a complete standalone novel as it's just the characters who link the two books.  Scrimgeour takes a front seat as we find out more about his past, both personal and professional.

It gave me goose bumps when Kate finds her own death certificate after her mother's death.  Not only that, but her mother appears to have been threatened with exposing her terrible secret - oh I love secrets, the darker the better!  Kate is naturally upset but she's determined to get to the bottom of who she really is...even if that means exposing a miscarriage of justice.  Scrimgeour was certain that he put the right man away until Kate's appearance throws that in doubt.

With more hooks than in a fisherman's tackle box, The Deception is a veritable page-turner and a completely unmissable novel.  I couldn't put it down and I can't recommend it highly enough.  I can't wait to see what Maureen Myant writes next, although she's set the bar pretty high with The Deception.

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

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Was It Good For You? - Kathryn Freeman

If you’re not a ten on Sophie’s spreadsheet, you’re never getting her between the bedsheets…

No aspect of Sophie’s life goes unrecorded in her Excel spreadsheets, so when she accidentally sends it to her entire contact list instead of just her best friend, Sophie has a lot of uncomfortable explaining to do.

First on the list? Dr Michael Adams. After a disastrous first date, Michael scored a ‘3’ on Sophie’s ‘love life’ tab, but when she shows up to apologise for sharing his result with the world, he issues an unexpected challenge: ten dates to prove that love can’t be calculated by an equation or contained by boxes on a spreadsheet.

Sophie isn’t someone who’s used to thinking outside the digital box, but there’s something about Michael that makes her want to take a chance…

 

What did I think?

Reading Kathryn Freeman books always put a smile on my face and Was It Good For You? is no exception.  It's a sweet, funny and heartwarming romcom that has you rooting for the underdog, who in this case is a man who is perfect for Sophie if only she would look at him instead of at her spreadsheet.

I love spreadsheets!  Possibly not as much as Sophie though.  Sophie keeps track of her whole life on Excel and even scores her dates so she doesn't waste any time on the wrong man.  It seems very clinical and emotionless to score a person based on a first date, although I can see the benefit of it as time is so precious.  

Sophie thought her spreadsheet could never be wrong until she met Michael, who accidentally finds out his score and wants to show Sophie that there are more things to consider than the parameters she had scored him against.  Although first impressions do count for a lot, it's actually quite sobering to see what happens when you scratch beneath the surface and find out more about a person.  

It's so sweet watching Sophie and Michael's relationship grow and I raced through the chapters as I couldn't wait to see what their next date would be and what would happen after the ten dates.  I loved the characters (both human and canine) and I loved the storyline - I loved everything about this fabulous romcom.

Fun, heartwarming and sweet, Was It Good For You? is a delightful novel.  I'm always in my happy place when there's a Kathryn Freeman book on my kindle and I loved this one.

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 UK

Amazon US

About the author:

A former pharmacist, I now write romantic comedies; books that bring a smile to the face, but also a lump to the throat. Mr Right Across the Street won the RNA Award for Romantic Comedy in 2022. 

With a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), the romance is all in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links – 

Website:  http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathryn.freeman_author/ 

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BLOG TOUR: Killer Bodies - Heleen Kist

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

In a prestigious Edinburgh apartment building, gym receptionist Evie whiles away long hours doodling the deaths of residents who’ve annoyed her.

On her birthday of all days, a man slumps off the exercise bike — dead. She tries to get help, but someone has locked the doors and the phones are out of reach.

When another resident collapses inexplicably, Evie realises the deaths resemble those she drew … and her sketchbook is missing.

Was she framed...

... or is she next?

 

What did I think?

After reading Killer Bodies, I can say for certain that I won't be setting foot inside a gym...not that I would want to go anyway.  Exercise is bad for you and it's certainly lethal for some of the characters in Heleen Kist's new novel.

There are a lot of entitled and dislikeable characters in the book but I absolutely loved Evie, the gym receptionist.  Evie was supposed to be off work for her birthday but she is called in to work at the last minute and she finds herself locked in the gym with a bunch of residents whose deaths she has imagined and drawn in her sketchbook.  Then the residents start dying exactly how Evie imagined...

Yikes!  This is a pretty dark novel but it has a sprinkling of humour and some really funny drawings that had me laughing out loud.  I think I suspected every single character at one point or another as it really could have been any of them.  It's very cleverly done and impossible to work out as there are so many different (and dare I say, amusing) ways that people are killed.

Entertaining, imaginative and suspenseful, Killer Bodies is a brilliant locked room murder mystery that had my eyes glued to the page from start to finish.  It's so good that I want to read it again!  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 it from Amazon

About the author:

Heleen Kist is a Dutch, formerly globetrotting career woman who fell in love with a Scotsman and his country, and now writes about its (sometimes scary) people from her garden office in Glasgow. 'Killer Bodies' is her fourth novel, inspired by her hatred of exercise.

She was chosen as an up-and-coming new author at Bloody Scotland 2018. Her novels have been finalists in a variety of awards, both in the UK and USA, and she years to some day 'be the bride'.

Heleen hopes you enjoy her writing, and would love to hear from you on twitter (@hkist), Facebook (@heleenkistauthor) or Goodreads. You can also sign up to her newsletter on www.heleenkist.com

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BLOG TOUR: Eye for An Eye - M.J. Arlidge

OUR MOST NOTORIOUS CRIMINALS HAVE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.

UNTIL NOW...

'Emily' is a devoted single mother.

'Jack' starts a new job in a new town.

'Russell' may be falling in love.

They all share the same secret:

none of them are who they say they are.

They are among only nine criminals in the UK who have been granted lifelong anonymity, for their own safety, because of their terrible crimes.

But what if someone exposed their true identities to the families of their victims, who are desperate for revenge?

Probation officer Olivia Campbell is caught in the crossfire of this unprecedented crisis - and as the hunt for the mole behind it all intensifies, so too does the search for the vigilante killers let loose by the leaks...

Everyone is a suspect. Anyone could be a killer.

Who deserves justice? And who gets to decide?

#EyeForAnEye

 

What did I think?

I love the DI Helen Grace series so I couldn't wait to dive into Eye for An Eye, the new standalone novel from M.J. Arlidge, and what an absolute cracker it is.  It is one of THE most thought-provoking books I have ever read and it didn't just leave me talking about it at the end, I was talking about it ALL the way through.

Everyone deserves a second chance...don't they?  It's easy enough to say that when you're not the one whose life has been destroyed by the most heinous crime.  I could totally empathise with the anger and pain of the families who have lost loved ones, only to see the perpetrator given a new identity after serving an insufficient prison sentence.  Why should they have the freedom to live when they took a life?

What an absolutely stunning thriller this is!  It had me questioning my own morals and wondering what I would have done if I were in the shoes of every single character.  Someone is out to get justice for the families by leaking the new identities of convicted killers, but vigilante justice doesn't make them any better than the killers they are condemning to die.

Scarily realistic and simmering with tension, Eye for An Eye provokes a relentless debate and it is without doubt a book that everyone will be talking about for a very long time.  Very highly recommended - do not miss it!

I received an 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

Amazon

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Chaos & Flame (Chaos and Flame Book 1) - Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

An assassin, a soldier, a prince . . . and a deadly game of power, where no one knows the rules. Prepare to enter the world of Chaos and Flame - perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Legendborn.

When Darling Seabreak's family were murdered by the ruthless House Dragon, she swore she'd get revenge. And as a deadly assassin, there's no one she'd rather take out than their bloodthirsty war general, Talon Goldhoard.

Talon Goldhoard has no problem defending his lands from threats - even ones he hates, like the whispers of madness that surround his brother, the High Prince. So when he battles a ferocious girl who looks exactly like the one Caspian has painted obsessively, repeatedly, for years, Talon knows he must capture her alive - and find out exactly what kind of a threat she really is.

What Talon is unprepared for is the thrilling chaos that Darling will bring into his life. With the world they both know appearing to catch fire all around them, these unlikely allies must navigate a game of power, betrayal, destiny - and love - that neither of them could ever have expected.

 

What did I think?

Chaos & Flame is a great start to a new YA fantasy series and I really enjoyed it.

The book is a collaboration between fantasy author Tessa Gratton and author of graphic novels Justina Ireland.  It’s beautifully written and there’s no noticeable change of writing style at any point to make it obvious that there was more than one author.

With houses at war, it’s very reminiscent of Game of Thrones but with added magic in the form of gifts that are particular to each person, ranging from prophecy to invisibility.  Caspian, the Prince Regent of House Dragon, has been compelled to paint images of an eyeless girl since he was a young boy.  Now Caspian is about to meet Darling in real life, as she has been captured by his brother Talon, but Darling is on a mission to destroy House Dragon.

With chapters written from the point of view of the three main characters, Chaos & Flame is absolutely riveting and completely unpredictable; I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page.  The story ends quite neatly and satisfyingly whilst at the same time leading nicely on to book two, which I am most eager to read.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: Death at the Caravan Park - Susan Willis

Clive Thompson heads for Whitley Bay caravan park to finish writing his novel. He’s never had a caravan holiday before and is warmly greeted by the manager, Liz Mathews, who lives on the park. She is single and cares for her ninety year old mother who has Alzheimer’s Disease. Clive meets the people in neighbouring caravans and has an amazing view from his veranda over the sea to St. Mary’s Lighthouse. However, Audrey goes missing during the night and Liz is beside herself with worry.  The police are out looking for her, but disillusioned by their efforts, Clive begins his own investigations.  

 

What did I think?

I love books set in the North East and Whitley Bay is such an idyllic setting for a holiday...and a suspected murder.  Susan Willis paints a vivid picture of the area with her carefully crafted words and I think even if you've never been to Whitley Bay, you could quite easily imagine St. Mary's Lighthouse and causeway.

Clive is writing a book set in neighbouring Durham and he thinks that a holiday on his own will help him finish his book.  He ends up investigating a death in real life when one of the owners of the caravan park is found dead on the causeway.  This might make him sound like a bit of a busybody but I actually think he is just really helpful and kind.

The caravan park setting creates a wonderful mini-community and there are some colourful characters among Clive's temporary neighbours.  I loved delving into their backstories and I felt like I was peeking through their caravan windows.  One of the neighbours is hiding a huge secret but if anyone can get to the bottom of it, Clive can.

Death at the Caravan Park is a very entertaining cosy mystery in a fabulous setting.  It's like a soap opera in a book with lots of secrets, a mysterious death and a bucketful of drama.  A very enjoyable read and one to recommend to fans of cosy mysteries and North East based fiction.

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:

Susan is a published author of eight novels and six novellas with short stories published in Women’s Weekly magazines. She is now retired from Food Technology and scribbles away in County Durham. Writing psychological suspense and cosy-crime novels with strong, lovable North East characters, is her passion. Last year, she brought us, Clive’s Christmas Crusades, set in York. Following the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, Susan wrote six Curious Casefiles which is now published by Northodox Press. She has incorporated up-to-date issues: poor mental health in a kidnap scene, the perils of social media, and an intruder on Skype.

Follow Susan Willis: www.susanwillis.co.uk 

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BLOG TOUR: The Prodigal Son (The Shadow of the Raven Book 5) - Chris Bishop

THERE IS REJOICING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ANGELS OF GOD OVER ONE SINNER WHO REPENTS 

WESSEX 893. As the kingdom is once more plagued by Viking attacks, Wareham is obliged to strengthen its defences against the threat posed by huge fleet of Viking longships which are rampaging along the south coast and could strike there at any time.

Meanwhile, having recognised Edward’s true lineage, King Alfred fears that the boy may fall victim to every fraudster in the realm seeking to get their hands on the vast fortune he’s set to inherit. Worse still, given his newly established bloodline, he could well be used by those wishing to usurp Alfred as King.

The most immediate threat to the boy comes from his treacherous uncle, Edmund, who has already tried once to kill him and failed. He is believed to have fled to join a band of desperate thieves in Wareham Forest from where he could strike again at any time.

 

What did I think?

The Prodigal Son is book five in the Shadow of the Raven series, which is one of my favourite historical fiction series.  Although it can be read as a standalone, it is an absolutely brilliant instalment when read as part of the series.

I was completely invested in Edward's life and the threats on his life from his evil Uncle Edmund had my heart racing and my blood boiling.  Edmund wants what he thinks is rightfully his and only his nephew Edward stands in his way.  I loved how Edmund ends up living with a bunch of outlaws in the forest, but there really is no honour among thieves and they all have their eyes on the loot.

The writing is exceptional as Chris Bishop brings Anglo Saxon England to life and I felt fully immersed in this dark and dangerous historical period.  The threat from the Vikings once again hangs over Wessex but for Edward, the danger is much closer to home and he can't trust anyone.  

Impeccably researched with facts and fiction intertwining to create a highly entertaining story, The Prodigal Son is an outstanding conclusion to a phenomenal series.  I really cannot recommend the whole Shadow of the Raven series highly enough and if you just happen to have picked up and enjoyed The Prodigal Son, then you will love the rest of the series.  

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

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

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