Monday 27 January 2020

Rags-to-Riches Wife (Mills & Boon Historical) by Catherine Tinley (2020)







Lady’s maid…
To wedded Lady?
Lady’s maid Jane Bailey’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of wealthy gentleman Robert Kendal. He’s come to take Jane to visit her long-lost, aristocratic grandfather. Travelling together, they succumb to a mutual attraction. Yet Jane knows a maid should not hope to love a gentleman, even if she’s suddenly wearing silk dresses and dining with the Family. Society decrees they cannot marry, but how long can Jane deny her heart?



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It's impossible not to like Jane and Robert and take delight in their initial friendship followed by their burgeoning romance. The path to romance didn't run completely smoothly. There was the issue of Jane being the long lost granddaughter to a wealthy and aristocratic family. Her appearance was met with open hostility by some, mild curiosity by others, and hope and love by her grandfather.
I loved the realism is this book. Jane didn't have an easy upbringing after her father died and her story is treated with intelligence and sympathy. 

This is a lovely and touching read. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys historical regency romances. 

Rags to Riches Wife is out now!  
 From the Publisher's own website Mills & Boon

And all other good retailers.

#Romance #Historical #Mills&Boon #CatherineTinley

Thursday 23 January 2020

Perfect Remains (A DI Callanach Thriller Book 1) by Helen Fields, Narrated by Robin Laing (2019)



On a remote Highland mountain, the body of Elaine Buxton is burning. All that will be left to identify the respected lawyer are her teeth and a fragment of clothing.

In the concealed back room of a house in Edinburgh, the real Elaine Buxton screams into the darkness…


Detective Inspector Luc Callanach has barely set foot in his new office when Elaine’s missing persons case is escalated to a murder investigation. Having left behind a promising career at Interpol, he’s eager to prove himself to his new team. But Edinburgh, he discovers, is a long way from Lyon, and Elaine’s killer has covered his tracks with meticulous care.

It’s not long before another successful woman is abducted from her doorstep, and Callanach finds himself in a race against the clock. Or so he believes … The real fate of the women will prove more twisted than he could have ever imagined.

Fans of Angela Marson, Mark Billingham and M. J. Aldridge will be gripped by this chilling journey into the mind of a troubled killer.




I really loved this book and if I could have listened to this book in one go without a heap of interruptions I would have. It's an addictive read. It's dark, twisty, suspenseful and it's set in Scotland. I loved listening to the authentic Scottish accents performed in the narration a listened to the story unfold.
DI Callanach is an interesting character as are the people he works with. there is the hint at a possible romance so it will be very interesting to read the next book and see how things develop.
The mystery itself was riveting. The reader is privy to who the killer is and we get glimpses of the world through his eyes. It was creepy and disturbing but such good reading! impossible to put down.
I am really looking forward to continuing this series in audio format.

audiobooks.com         Audible         Amazon

Saturday 18 January 2020

A Pleasant Rivalry (A Willow Valley Historical Romance Book 3) by Linda Weaver Clarke (2019)




Angelica Davis is surprised when she finds out that an old school chum has returned to Willow Valley to take over his grandfather’s business. Since she writes articles for the Chronicle and Simon Morgan owns the Willow Valley News, they just happen to be rivals. The competition is on. Who will be the first to discover the identity of the jewel thief or the arsonist? Will it be Angelica or Simon? Gradually the feelings she once had for him return as they both search for the same stories. To her surprise, Angelica realizes she is losing her heart to her rival.






I've really enjoyed this series. It's a very gentle read with just the right amount of romance and mystery. I really like how the author blends fiction with historical facts and real-life figures from the past. It's very well researched. My own studies of American history centred on the colonial era as well as anything related to the Irish diaspora so it's always interesting to read about different aspects of American social history.
I enjoy this kind of book when I need a break from psychological thrillers and murder mysteries. This was a lovely story; a light and entertaining read.

Available at Amazon

Sunday 5 January 2020

Hands Up by Stephen Clark



Officer Ryan Quinn, a rookie raised in a family of cops, is on the fast track to detective until he shoots an unarmed black male. Now, with his career, reputation, and freedom on the line, he embarks on a quest for redemption that forces him to confront his fears and biases and choose between conscience or silence.

Jade Wakefield is an emotionally damaged college student living in one of Philadelphia’s worst neighborhoods. She knows the chances of getting an indictment against the cop who killed her brother are slim. When she learns there’s more to the story than the official police account, Jade is determined, even desperate, to find out what really happened. She plans to get revenge by any means necessary.

Kelly Randolph, who returns to Philadelphia broke and broken after abandoning his family ten years earlier, seeks forgiveness while mourning the death of his son. But after he’s thrust into the spotlight as the face of the protest movement, his disavowed criminal past resurfaces and threatens to derail the family’s pursuit of justice.

Ryan, Jade, and Kelly–three people from different worlds—are on a collision course after the shooting, as their lives interconnect and then spiral into chaos.



This story sparked my interest from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down.
I sympathised with the victim and felt that a justice of sorts was paid at the end. I could understand the actions of the police officer but he and his partner were undoubtedly at fault. There is a lot of back story regarding the victim's family and it made very good reading and sounded very true to life.
I was less convinced of the developing romance towards the end of the book but grief and stress do make people behave in ways they wouldn't ordinarily.
This was an excellent read and I would recommend it.


'Hands Up' is available for free with Kindle Unlimited.  Here