Bad For Good

How far would you go?

The murder of a promising footballer, son of Brighton’s highest-ranking police officer, means Detective Superintendent Jo Howe has a complicated and sensitive case on her hands. The situation becomes yet more desperate following devastating blackmail threats.

Howe can trust no one as she tracks the brutal killer in a city balanced on a knife edge of vigilante action and a police force riven with corruption.

‘This is the real deal. A thoroughly absorbing crime novel with characters and events that will stay with you for a long time.’ Elly Griffiths

This is a book that has exceeded all of my expectations and been one that I have devoured in just one afternoon and I’ve been left wanting more.

Bad for Good has definitely converted me as a fan of Graham Bartlett. This is perfect for fans of the genre and has definitely captured my interest from early on.

This book has everything that I love in a crime fiction book- a dark but gritty plot.. questionable characters and unpredictability. I have been transported and felt as though I have watched this one play out.

This has given us multiple perspectives and has contained well developed characters with a great backstory. I have loved this book and literally been desperate to turn the pages to see what was coming next.

This is a must read, a definite for the TBR.

The Way Back to You

Delighted to join the blog tour for this one today. Thank you Callie for my spot and place on the blog tour.

When Simon reconnects with his first love Sylvie – the French pen pal he never met – he is determined to not let her go again.

Life may not be as straight-forward at sixty as it was at sixteen, but that won’t stop him.

Together with old school friend Ian, he sets off on the same bike ride – from Bristol to Bordeaux – that they attempted all those years ago.

But while they now have better bikes, more acceptable haircuts, and Google Maps, some things never change.

And it soon becomes clear that this trip will have even more bumps in the road than the first . . .

This is such a charming read by a truly fantastic author. I adored the Flip Side by the same author. This is a gem from start to finish. And I have no regrets in devouring this in just one sitting.

This book flows effortlessly and is one which is completely captivating. The characters are realistic and well developed. The characters are realistic and you instantly fall in love with them as you read.

I loved the dual timeline between past and present. I felt it really helped us to know and understand the characters and experiences that they face in this wonderful book.

This is every bit as heartwarming and joyful as I’d hoped. It completely won my heart, made me smile and laugh out loud. This is without a doubt a book worthy of five stars.

Stranger on Board

Thrilled to join Michael Joseph for this one today.

When ex-marine Sarah French joins a luxury superyacht as on-board security, it seems like the perfect place to start over.

But as they head into open water, someone goes missing.

There’s a murderer on board.

And everyone is a suspect.

If Sarah is to keep everyone safe, she’ll need to find the killer.

But there’s a storm on the horizon . . .

I absolutely loved this book. I raced through page after page devouring this gem in just one sitting. It’s a completely addictive and unputdownable read.

I have loved the writing style of this one. This is a book that really pulls you in. Ward makes you feel as though you are there with the characters, you completely sense the claustrophobia and emotions of the characters.

This book is fast paced from the very beginning. Sarah is a great character to go through this book with. I found myself constantly trying to work out where this was going to go!

Reading this one, I was unsure from the beginning who to trust and who not to trust. This has been a rollercoaster ride and one that I didn’t want to get off.

This is well written and transports you to the pages of this one. You feel as though you are with Sarah trying to work out what’s going on.

This is a perfect book for thriller fans. It has the tension and atmosphere, the mix of characters and is completely engaging.

I have no doubt in recommending this gem. I have devoured page after page with no regrets. A superb read and I’m excited to read more by this author.

Just Got Real

A huge thank you to the gorgeous ladies at MJ for my advanced copy of this utter gem.

When happily divorced Joni is reluctantly talked into joining a dating app, she is surprised to quickly hit it off with Ant. Phone calls and texts soon evolve into a plan to meet up.

Which is a problem, as Joni’s profile picture is of someone else.

Joni daren’t confess her lie. Yet unable to stop thinking about what might have been, she hatches a plan to ‘meet’ Ant in real life without revealing who she really is.

Once she and Ant are an item, however, it’s soon clear that the only thing Ant was honest about was his profile picture. He’s still online dating. And intimately texting other women.

So Joni contacts them: they need to know. And once they’re comparing notes on Ant, upset turns to thoughts of revenge.

Is Ant about to discover what it’s like being on the wrong end of a woman’s wrath? . . .

My Bookish Thoughts

Jane Fallon is a fantastic author and this is another absolute gem. I’ve been so excited to delve into the pages of this one. I am a huge Jane Fallon fan and no matter what the book or title, I always know it’s going to be a wonderful read.

In this book, we meet Joni, Saffy and Mary. They all have one thing in common- they are all dating the same man. Matty comes across charming and likeable at the start. We embark on this rollercoaster with Joni who actually stood him up so fakes a “accidental meet” so she can date him.

I have loved their initial interactions. This has given us an insight into the characters. I was shocked when Joni decided to go through Matty’s phone. This really starts out adventure.

This book is perfectly paced with a great array of characters. Fallon has written a completely unpredictable read which has hooked me quickly. I have devoured this book in just hours. I found myself unable to put this down.

I love Fallon’s writing. I am always transported and feel as though I’m with the characters. This is one I could imagine on screen easily. I have read ALL of Fallon’s books and this is definitely a favourite.

This is a book which has it all- drama, great characters, unpredictability and a plot that will keep you turning page after page. This is definitely a must for the TBR! It will definitely convert any reader as a fan of Jane Fallon.

A must read and one I highly recommend.

Birthday Girl

A huge thank you to Eleni for my copy of this one.

He loved her. He lost her. But he should never have written her off.

‘Birthday Girl is a real treat of a book, beautifully written and perfectly paced, slowly revealing secret after secret until you’re not sure of anything anymore – only that you have to keep reading’ – Elly Griffiths, author of The Ruth Galloway Novels

Jonathan’s wife disappeared more than twenty years ago. Now he’s seeing her everywhere . . .

New York in the 1990s – impoverished writer Jonathan Dainty takes his wife Maddie out to the beach for her birthday. Hours later he finds himself at the local police precinct trying to explain how on earth he let his wife get into a stranger’s car, and allowed it to drive her away.

More than twenty years later, Maddie is presumed dead and Jonathan has channelled his grief into a best-selling series of crime novels. As far as he can, he is living the perfect life.

Then one day he catches a glimpse of his dead wife, moving through a throng of people. Is Maddie alive? Has she come back? And why does no one believe him? As Jonathan attempts to uncover the truth, it soon becomes clear that the people closest to him are hiding something, something that could change everything . . .

The propulsive thriller from debut talent Niko Wolf, perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Blood Orange

My bookish thoughts:

This is a literary masterpiece, beautifully written and holds your attention from the beginning. This is a book I have devoured in one sitting.

Jonathan is an interesting character and one we see as an aspiring author and a bestselling crime author. This moves flawlessly between the two timelines and doesn’t disappoint.

This really hooked my attention quickly and I became completely unwilling to put this one down. So I have just embraced how much I’ve loved this and kept reading.

I found this a completely unpredictable read and had no idea where this was going. It is clever and engaging.

Birthday Girl is a book that has converted me as a fan of this author and I absolutely need more.

Keep Them Close

My absolute hugest thanks to the absolute QUEEN that is Sophie Flynn.

She trusted a stranger with her secrets. Now she’s paying the price.

Emily loves her four-year-old twin daughters. Like any frazzled mum, she spends her time wiping up spills, cooking their favourite meals and putting plasters on scraped knees, trying her best to be the perfect mum as well as keep her sanity.

Internet forum MumsOnline proves to be a lifeline in her darkest days, an anonymous place where she can voice the problems that she would never say in real life.

She finds a connection with fellow mum-of-twins, TwoIsTrouble, and soon, the internet friends are chatting daily. But when Emily tries to pull back, realising she has shared too much about the darkness in her past, she finds herself being stalked. 

As Emily’s history is exposed, it’s clear that someone is using her secrets against her…and they will threaten everything Emily loves to destroy her perfect life.

My Bookish Thoughts

Sophie Flynn, stand up and take a bow my lovely because this is a masterpiece. What a rollercoaster this has taken me on, my only wish is I could reverse time and experience this all over again. Your debut was amazing, but this is even better.

This book introduces us to Mark and Emily. Parents of twins, all has not been smooth though. Emily has suffered postnatal depression and other events in the past. As a reader, we see emily tormented by another “mum” from the online forum.

This is where it really ramps up. I have found myself completely suspicious of everyone. I was convinced I knew who was guilty and then Sophie threw in more which made me realise I had it completely wrong. There is so much in this to keep you guessing it’s just wonderful.

This is gorgeously written, I feel as though I have been watching the events play out in front of me. I feel as though I have known the characters and been involved in the setting.

This has definitely been unpredictable and kept me guessing. Flynn is so clever with the way the characters have all connected together and each played their own part in this one.

Sophie is definitely an author to watch out for in this genre. I have devoured this book in just one day. It has been completely impossible to put down, even when not reading this is one I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

This is a gem to read and I cannot wait for more books from Sophie. This is a must read and one I will be shouting about until Sophie is sick of me and blocks me on social media! A must read for fans of the genre.

Nora Goes off Script

Nora’s life is about to get a rewrite . . .

Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns the collapse of her marriage into the best script of her life. When it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her picturesque Hudson Valley home, Nora’s life will never be the same – especially after world-famous Hollywood actor and former ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ Leo Vance is cast as her ex-husband.

The morning after the crew leaves, Nora finds Leo on her porch with a half-empty bottle of tequila and a proposition. He’ll pay a thousand dollars a day to stay for an extra week. Seven days: it’s the blink of an eye or an eternity, depending on how you look at it. It’s enough time to fall in love. Enough time to break your heart . . .

Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, Nora Goes Off Script is the best kind of love story – the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life.

For Nora and Leo, this kind of love is bigger than the big screen.

This book has stolen my heart and made me fall completely in love. There is really nothing to dislike about this utter gem.

Nora is a wonderful character and I have loved her from the beginning. This is one of those books which pulls you in from the beginning and holds you hostage- completely unable to put down until the very last page.

This is a witty and smart read. I found it easy to devour page after page of this gem. It certainly hasn’t disappointed and I have no shame in devouring the entire book in just one sitting.

The dialogue within the pages is fantastic and realistic. All of the characters are well developed and as a reader you do feel as though you know them. The author has really made them seem real and likeable in this book.

This is just the most gorgeous and lovely read. I have been fully invested in Nora and can safely say that she deserves all the great things. I have been wanting more since finishing this book. I have no hesitation in recommending this gem to other readers.

This is a must for the TBR.

Retreat to the Spanish Sun by Jo Thomas

Thrilled to join the blog tour for this one today.

From the bestselling author of Escape to the French Farmhouse comes a deliciously feel-good new story…

Eliza has a full house! When her three children grew up and moved out, she downsized to a smaller property… but now they’re all back. Every room in the house is taken and Eliza finds herself sharing her bed with her eldest daughter and her daughter’s pug. Combined with the online course she’s trying to finish, plus her job to fit in, there just isn’t the peace and quiet that Eliza needs.

So when an ad pops up on her laptop saying ‘house-sitters wanted’, Eliza can’t resist the chance to escape. She ends up moving to a rural finca in southern Spain, looking after the owner’s Iberico pigs, learning about secret gastronomic societies… and finding a new zest for life and love along the way.

Jo Thomas is a gem. An absolute diamond and brilliant storyteller. I have been transported to the Spanish sun and haven’t wanted to return to reality at all.

This is just a gorgeous read and definitely a favourite by Jo Thomas. The descriptions are perfect in enabling you to imagine the setting and characters.

I have been completely hooked by this one. Eliza has been a wonderful character to go on this journey with and it’s been fun and action packed.

I love that every book by Jo is different but leaves you equally as happy as the previous. I definitely feel that Jo Thomas is a must read author. Regardless of your mood, this is one that you will devour with no regrets.

There is absolutely nothing to dislike about this book. It’s a gem from beginning to end.

The Bay

My absolute hugest thanks to Alara for my copy of this one.

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.

Well this is an addictive and heart stopping read. I adored Allie’s debut so I’ve been very excited to delve into this one. It definitely hasn’t disappointed.

This is an adventure that everyone needs to go on. We are taken to Sorrow Bay, a private and secluded beach. Kenna has taken the plunge and showed up to surprise her best friend.

The tribe in this one are made up of a mix of characters. Some likeable and others extremely unlikeable. They are definitely a mixed bunch and I couldn’t work out who was trust worthy and who wasn’t. This is an absolute gem of a book.

I have loved the heart racing and mind blowing moments that have filled the pages of this one. This is a book jam packed with action and one that is completely addictive.

I have devoured page after page of this one in just one sitting. I have been transported to the beach setting with so many questions whizzing around my head.

I’ve been really unsure about Mikki from the beginning. This didn’t change as I read the book. I am in awe of Reynolds. I am not only transported, but she has the ability to make my pulse race. My heart has pounded almost out of my chest as I’ve read this one.

This is a rollercoaster read I wish I could experience for the first time all over again. This book is a phenomenal read and Allie has produce another absolute masterpiece.

I loved the previous book but this one is equally as good if not better. I have loved every second of this book. This truly is worth all the stars. I have loved it. A definite for the TBR.

The Sinner

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?

From the Top Ten ebook bestselling author, Caroline England’s newest thriller will have you hooked from the first page to the last jaw-dropping twist.

Caroline England is a must read author and I’m so happy to be on the blog tour for the fantastic latest book.

This is definitely my favourite of Caroline’s books and I’ve read them all. This has been an eagerly anticipated gem and it’s been completely worth the wait.

This is a book filled with grief, secrets and lies. It’s definitely a superb psychological thriller and is written in a way that is completely impossible to put down.

There are mixed characters in this book- some you will like and others you immediately dislike. I have definitely had mixed opinions of the individuals in this book.

This book moves at a perfect pace and has been a book which has been completely unpredictable. There have been moments my pulse has been racing.

This is a must read and I’m gutted I cannot experience this books for the first time all over again. I absolutely love Caroline’s books and this is a definite for the TBR.