Wednesday 17 March 2021

BLOG TOUR! The Secrets of Meadow Farmhouse by Katie Ginger (2021)


Amelia loves her life in Paris. But with the surprise inheritance of her childhood home, Meadow Farmhouse, she has no choice but to return to the small village of Meadowbank to restore her great-aunt’s old farmhouse. However returning to Meadowbank means she has to confront her past, including old flame Adam.

When Amelia discovers a locket hidden in the farmhouse, containing the picture of a mysterious World War Two soldier, she starts to uncover the secrets of her great-aunt’s past and is drawn further into village life. Shocked by the warm welcome from the villagers and her own surprising feelings for first love Adam, Amelia is suddenly confused as to where she truly belongs.

Can Amelia finally confront her own past and find where her heart truly calls home?

Fans of Rachael Lucas, Cathy Bramley and Jenny Colgan will fall in love with Katie Ginger!
 




          A heartwarming, feel-good second chance romance.

Amelia and Adam are adorably awkward with each other after not seeing one another for ten years and I couldn't help but smile with all their blushing during their brief interactions. I laughed at her Facebook faux pas and I could just imagine how embarrassed she was about it. Their relationship was very relatable especially for anyone who has ever left home for university and found work away from home.  I couldn't wait to see Amelia make the decision not to go back to Paris.

The close-knit community of the village was very endearing and charming. Everybody knows everyone else's business but at the same time, they rally round each other when times are not so good. It just gave a lovely atmosphere to the setting and juxtaposed nicely with Amelia's life in Paris.

The mystery surrounding Vera's past was very poignant and I found the historical detail very interesting. I could imagine that something similar could have easily happened here during the second world war as American servicemen spent some time socialising in Moville while they were stationed in nearby Derry.

The Secret of Meadow Farmhouse is a darling of a story and I loved every minute of it.


Follow the blog tour and pick up your copy Here to join in the conversation.



Sunday 14 March 2021

The Poet (Samantha Jazz, #1) by Lisa Renee Jones (2021)

 



Published by Entangled:Amara, (2021)

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones brings a fresh, modern take to the thriller genre that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The poet is a liar who always speaks the truth.” -Jean Cocteau

Some call him friend or boss.
Some call him husband or dad.
Some call him son, even a favourite son.

But the only title that matters to him is the one the media has given him: The Poet.

A name he earned from the written words he leaves behind after he kills that are as dark and mysterious as the reason he chooses his victims.

One word, two, three, a story in a poem, a secret that only Detective Samantha Jazz can solve. Because he’s writing this story for her.

She just doesn’t know it yet.


A clever and frightening thriller. I couldn't put this one down. I loved the serial killer's twisted obsession with poetry and how he used it to leave messages to Samantha. The tension and fear in this book were oozing from the pages as the killer stalked Samantha and killed people she knew. The final showdown was a little bit rushed but satisfying none the less. This is a series to follow and I am looking forward to the next one!


The Poet is available now from your favourite retailer in paperback, ebook and audiobook.


Thursday 11 March 2021

Killer Blonde by Allan Evans (2021)

Every serial killer has a type. But what if that type is part of a larger, more dangerous agenda?

With virtually identical women being murdered in Minnesota, panic is causing huge political pressure to get the killer off the streets. Celebrated investigator Cade Dawkins is given the hot potato case and hopes to get it wrapped up before the governor has his head. But the killer has his own agenda—one that goes beyond simply murdering knockout blondes. As it becomes a cat and mouse game between killer and investigator, Dawkins begins to realize he just may be the mouse.
 




Killer Blonde is a fast-paced thriller and nail-bitingly good! 

The author does a great job of building up tension as we see the kills happening through the eyes of the perpetrator. It is quite chilling as he stalks and kills his victims.

Although I enjoyed the story immensely I would have liked the victims to have been represented more as women, sisters, wives, or mothers rather than being reduced to simply being 'knock out blondes.'  

The romantic angle happened very suddenly and was just referred to as fact. There was no lead-up and I wasn't sure how or when that relationship developed but it served its purpose in making the final chapters very dramatic and exciting as the killer homes in on Dawkins. I was on the edge of my seat! 

This was a great read, highly entertaining and exciting.


Killer Blonde is available in paperback and ebook as well as Kindle Unlimited. Amazon


Tuesday 9 March 2021

Hit Me With Your Best Scot (Wild Wicked Highlanders #3) by Suzanne Enoch (2021)

 

The MacTaggert brothers have one task:
Find English brides or lose their land!

Coll MacTaggert, Viscount Glendarril, is a big, brawny Highlander who doesn’t like being told what to do—not even by his exasperated English mother who is determined to see her eldest son wedded and bedded. However, when he comes to the rescue of an irresistibly beautiful woman, Coll discovers that he may have found his perfect match…

The challenge isn’t that Persephone Jones is famous, wealthy, independent, and smarter than anyone he knows. The problem is that she is not interested in marrying any man---especially not a hot-headed Scot—even if he is the only man who seems to understand who she really is even when she’s not sure herself. When Coll learns that Persephone is actually a lady-in-hiding and someone is willing to kill her for what she stands to inherit…Well, Coll has never been one to turn down a fight. When hearts are involved, nothing comes between a Highlander and his lady.
 



The third in the series but I read it easily as a standalone having not read the previous books in the series.

There were aspects of the book that I enjoyed a lot. Persephone was a unique character for a regency heroine. She was an actress with experience of men. She is a woman of independent means and is not after a wealthy man or a title. I liked the banter between herself and Coll and I thought it quite endearing when she tried to teach him about how to approach marriageable ladies of the ton.

The story is a bit slow in places and my reading was made slower with Persephene's awkward name to pronounce in my head. The author also uses a lot of non-standard spelling for speech to show attention to the Scottish accent and so my head had to process a whole lot of naes, ye, yer, havenae, willnae, dunnae and what not which I found a bit distracting.

I did enjoy the ending as there was quite a bit of drama and humour. I didn't guess who the would-be killer was until it was revealed. 

This was an enjoyable enough read and I have awarded 3 1/2 stars.


Hit Me With Your Best Scot is out now. Amazon UK

Saturday 6 March 2021

The Dog Share by Fiona Gibson (2021) Audiobook Blog Tour

 


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Tuesday 2 March 2021

You've Got Mail by Kate G. Smith (Orion Dash, 2021)

 

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