The Open House by Sam Carrington #NetGalley @AvonBooksUK #book #review #TheOpenHouse @sam_carrington1

 

The Open House by Sam Carrington

Published by Avon Books

Publication Date 10th December 2020

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Book Description:

Everyone’s welcome. But not everyone leaves…
Nick and Amber Miller are splitting up and selling their Devon family home. But despite the desirable location, the house isn’t moving. Not a single viewing so far.
 
When their estate agent suggests an open house event, Amber agrees, even as she worries about their gossiping neighbours attending and snooping around their home.
 
But Amber has more to worry about than nosy neighbours. Because thirteen people enter her house that afternoon, and only twelve leave.
 
Someone doesn't want the house to sell, and is willing to do anything to stop it…

My Thoughts:

Sam Carrington is an author I have had on my radar for some time but somehow have never managed to move to the top of my list. Having read The Open House her backlist will now be moving up the order.  What a masterclass in building tension and putting almost every character in the spotlight as a suspect!  You think you have the plot sussed then just a drip of doubt is all it takes for your whole theory comes crashing down.

The main character Amber Miller is mid-divorce after her husband Nick had a brief fling with a work colleague. Their family home which she shares with their two young sons is on the market - a sore point with soon-to-be-ex mother-in-law Barb. Because the house used to belong to Barb and her husband before he died and it made sense for Amber and Nick to move in and fill the house with a family; until Nick's exploits meant that the property needs to be sold and the equity split between them. But someone is clearly determined that the house is not going to be an easy sell. 

Amber arranges with the estate agent Carl to hold an open house event and this is where things really start taking a sinister turn. At first Amber doubts herself, thinks she's imagining things but then her youngest son starts having nightmares about the man who watches him from the end of his bed. Is she really just being paranoid or is there something going on that she needs to be concerned about?

Signing up her nosy neighbour Davina to help keep an eye on the house, whilst running her theories past her friends Jo and Keeley, husband Nick and her new partner Richard, Amber becomes more and more confused as to who could be responsible for the scuppering of her house sale. Each and every one of the people she knows ends up on her suspect list but the truth is way beyond anything her overactive imagination could come up with in the dead of night as she watched the clock tick round. But the biggest question is why anyone would go to such lengths - it all seems a bit extreme for a bitter ex mother in law with a soft spot for the house.

I love how the pace of the book builds alongside the tension. It starts with a mild feeling of dread and cranks up as the pages turn quicker the further through the story you get.  Brilliant writing, some great characters (good and bad) and a spectacular finale to put the cherry on the top.

About the Author:

Sam Carrington lives in Devon with her husband, two border terriers and a cat. She has three adult children and a new grandson! She worked for the NHS for fifteen years, during which time she qualified as a nurse. Following the completion of a psychology degree she went to work for the prison service as an Offending Behaviour Programme Facilitator. Her experiences within this field inspired her writing. She left the service to spend time with her family and to follow her dream of being a novelist.

Just Between Friends by Rosie Nixon @HQstories @Rosie_Nixon #JustBetweenFriends #NetGalley #book #review

 

Just Between Friends by Rosie Nixon

Published by HQ

Publication date: 12th November 2020

Genre: womens fiction

My thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Book Description:

Aisha Moore is eight months pregnant. She’s thrilled, and a little scared. Not least because her husband Jason hasn’t quite wrapped his head around the fact.

Lucy is having her first child too. She has finally got her wish – although the circumstances aren’t quite what she had hoped. Oscar will be a great dad though, won’t he?

When the two women join the same baby group, they quickly become friends and before long they’re confiding in each other.

Only there’s one thing Lucy hasn’t told Aisha. And while a baby may turn your life upside-down, a secret this big will change everything.

My Thoughts:

I think anyone who has attended antenatal classes or baby & toddler groups will be able to relate to this book. It certainly brought back memories of the diverse variety of parents-to-be in the classes I attended back in the day and the sense of everyone assessing/judging each others circumstances and relationships was portrayed very well by the author.

The story is mainly told from mum to be Aisha's perspective and she relates her worries about just about everything from how good a mum she will be to how invested her husband is in the antenatal group classes. She seems to click straightaway with one of the other mums, Lucy but the other woman seems to run hot and cold with Aisha, one minute she's wanting to be best mates then others she's hard to get in touch with. What is Lucy hiding? Or are Aisha's hormones just making her over sensitive? As a whole the group gels really well and there are some great comedy moments which I'm sure are very relatable to anyone who has experienced these type of groups. 

One by one the women have their babies and distance creeps in as the parents' lives get taken over with colic, nappies and breastfeeding dramas. But there's something else, something Aisha can't pin down which is making her feel like something isn't quite right. I really enjoyed this book because the characters are so real and credible. The later chapters were rather daunting and my heart went out to Aisha whilst I wanted to throttle both Lucy and Jason for their part in Aisha's traumas. On the other side of the story, I hadn't expected to like Oscar as much as I did by the end of the book.  The other peripheral characters in the group add depth to the story and make it an enjoyable novel despite the main plotline not being too pleasant for Aisha.

This would make a great book club read as there are plenty of contentious issues and moral dilemmas to discuss.

About the Author:

Rosie Nixon is an author, mother of two and Editor-in-Chief of HELLO! magazine where she has worked for over a decade and has a love of all things celebrity, royal and fashion-related. Rosie previously held senior positions at glossy women's magazines including Grazia, Glamour and Red. In her career she has been lucky enough to attend a multitude of glamorous award ceremonies, premieres, celebrity weddings and showbiz events all around the world. Ever discreet and protective of the stars she has worked with, Rosie's experience has undoubtedly enabled her to write her debut novel The Stylist (published February 2016) and the sequel The Stylist Takes Manhattan (published in 2017).

Follow Rosie on Twitter @Rosie_Nixon

What My Husband Did by Kerry Wilkinson @bookouture @kerrywk #blogtour #NetGalley #WhatMyHusbandDid

 

What My Husband Did by Kerry Wilkinson

Published by Bookouture

Publication Date 17th November 2020

Genre Crime, Thriller

My thanks to Sarah Hardy and publisher Bookouture for the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for Kerry Wilkinson's latest novel. The views I express here are my own and unbiased.

Book Description:

'I can give you a lift home,’ the man says. Little Alice tightens the zip of her big red coat. She’s unsure, but the walk will be cold and dark. ‘I’m not supposed to get in a stranger’s car.’ He forces a smile. ‘I’m not a proper stranger, am I?’

I return home to our beautiful house on a chilly winter evening expecting to find my handsome husband Richard waiting for me by the fire. We’re still so in love, and he always takes care of me: buying us this home in the little village where he grew up, making sure I settled in and made friends, and treating my teenage daughter like his own.

There’s a bit of gossip about our age gap, but the death of his first wife years ago was so tragic that he still gets sympathetic looks. Everyone loves Richard.

He usually comes straight back from work. But tonight, our antique clock ticks on through the dark evening, with no sign of him. Then a knock at the door shatters my perfect life. A 12-year-old-girl, Alice from the village, has been found unconscious in the field behind our house. They say she was last seen getting into Richard’s car.

Now rumours are flying. As Alice fights for her life in hospital, nobody will speak to me: and when they do it’s to ask if he didn’t hurt Alice, why hasn’t Richard come home?

I know that revealing my own darkest secret about Richard’s first wife could prove his innocence… but even if I do, he’s still missing. Is everyone right, and is my husband on the run? And will telling the truth about my past turn my own daughter against me, and tear our lives apart for good?

Fans of The Girl on the Train, I Am Watching You and Shari Lapena will adore this absolutely unputdownable read by bestselling author Kerry Wilkinson, about the dark secrets we hide to protect ourselves and the ones we love.

My Thoughts:

A knock on the door heralds the start of a nightmare for Maddy as her friend's husband Atal announces that he has found a young girl unconscious in the stream at the back of her house. Then Maddy's husband Richard fails to return from meeting a friend and work colleague which fuels rumours that he may be involved in young Alice's accident. 

The story follows events as Maddy becomes the target for the village's frustration in finding the chief suspect - surely she knows more than she's telling the detective on the case? The finger of suspicion loses Maddy both her income and the respect of locals who she would have previously called her friends. The villagers close rank under the seeming direction of the village's popular yummy mummy Harriet, who is quick to take Alice's mum Gemma under her wing. 

The book may be a little predictable in reflecting how society tends to behave in the wake of an event where there is harm to a child but author Kerry Wilkinson cleverly leads the enquiries into Alice's attack in several different directions to provide some strong smoke screens and decoy characters along the way to the truth.

Will you work out who is responsible for what happened to Alice? I wasn't too far away from solving the case but the path which led to the attack was certainly not what I was expecting. As in so many novels of this genre, secrets hidden in history have a habit of eking their way into the present and innocent people are often those who get caught up in the repercussions.

Although the initial event which triggers the storyline does not make for comfortable reading, I enjoyed trying to work out who was involved in the aftermath. Definitely a book I would recommend to friends and family - but there again Kerry is an author who features strongly on my recommendation list any way. If you haven't read his work - WHY NOT?! It's time you explored his work, you're in for a treat!

Buy your copy here:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3n1Zal6

Apple: https://apple.co/3lffwGy

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3eIqAtj

Google: https://bit.ly/2GO6K3C

Follow the tour and read other reviews:

About the Author:

Kerry Wilkinson has had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.

As well as his million-selling Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.

Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.

When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://kerrywilkinson.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kerrywk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kerrywilkinsonbooks

The Pretenders by Agatha Zaza @agatha_zaza #ThePretenders #NetGalley @Agora_BooksLDN

 

The Pretenders by Agatha Zaza

Published by Agora Books

Publication Date 5th November 2020 (ebook), 3rd December 2020 paperback

Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction

Book Description:

"I’m perfectly happy lying to myself…If it means getting to stay with you."

Jasper is ready to surprise his brother; Holly is ready to celebrate their engagement.

Anne tags along for fear of missing out, and John might just be going for another drink.

But Edmund and Ovidia had other plans for their Saturday.

Over the course of one day, these couples must own up to the secrets they’ve been hiding from one another and the lies they’ve been telling themselves. And face the devastating consequences.

Three couples. Two exes. One day. One reckoning.

My Thoughts:

Well, where to start with this book? It was really not what I was expecting but after a bit of a slow start as I settled in to the story I was soon drawn into the lives of brothers Jasper and Edmund. In some ways they seem very close siblings but in others they barely seem to know each other at all.

Jasper has decided to call in to surprise Edmund at his home in London to announce his engagement to girlfriend Holly. Best friend John and his wife Anne have tagged along too, having heard so much about Edmund and his high-flying career from Jasper. So when they arrive at Edmund's home something feels very off. He's sitting in his contemporary glass cube conservatory in his pyjamas and food-spattered dressing gown staring out into the garden. Hardly the successful, focused businessman they were expecting.

The enigma grows as a woman arrives at the house dressed in running gear. Her body language at first suggests that she lives here but then changes in an instant as she becomes unsure of herself and the situation she finds herself in. Meanwhile, Jasper is looking as if he's seen a ghost.
The book gradually peels back the layers of the six people's lives and we are presented with twist after shock revelation until we get to point where it all makes some kind of sense. There are quite a few triggers which people should be aware of before indulging in this book - domestic abuse and depression to mention just a couple.

This won't be a book for everyone as it's a bit of a slow burner which hits on some sensitive subject material but the style of writing is excellent and the facts are disclosed very cleverly so I would encourage people to stick with the slow introduction as it leads to a pretty shocking conclusion.

About the Author:

Agatha Zaza is a Zambian and Finn at present living in Auckland, New Zealand. Her writing is a departure from her work in fundraising and international development.

The Pretenders was born in Singapore, where she spent three years as a trailing spouse, where she rekindled a long-dormant love of writing. Aside from Singapore, Agatha has worked and lived several countries, among them Uganda and in the then Soviet Union. While in Ireland, she earned a Master’s in Equality Studies from University College Dublin and worked in a genuine Irish pub.

Agatha’s work can be seen in the Johannesburg Review of Books and in a PEN International special edition on African writers. She has also published three short books on Amazon. She’s been a passionate slow runner for two and half decades and has recently given up composting.

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper #NetGalley #book #review @catherinecooper @HarperCollins @HarperFiction #thechalet

 

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper

Published by HarperCollins, HarperFiction

Publication Date: 31st October 2020

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Book Description:

Four friends. One luxury getaway. The perfect murder.

French Alps, 1998

Two young men ski into a blizzard… but only one returns.

20 years later

Four people connected to the missing man find themselves in that same resort. Each has a secret. Two may have blood on their hands. One is a killer-in-waiting.

Someone knows what really happened that day.

And somebody will pay.

An exciting new debut for anyone who loves Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and C.L. Taylor

My Thoughts:

As with many thrillers at the moment this book is set over two time frames - 1998 when two brothers and their partners take a skiing holiday and 2018 when a larger group has the same idea. The weather is a huge player in this story causing the brothers to make a fatal error of judgment back in the day and exposing long buried secrets in the later time frame.  Was it the brothers' competitive spirit which caused the accident or were their instructors negligent in allowing them to attempt the run they did that day?  Someone knows more than they're letting on - but who? And do they know what actually happened or are they making some dangerous assumptions?

The atmosphere is tense and fraught with suspicion in the later setting, with hidden friendships threatening to become public knowledge as the group is locked down during an intense snowstorm.
None of the characters is particularly likeable and some are not who they first appear to be but this just adds to the intrigue as the story unfolds. The reader is privy to some insights between the different camps but even with this extra information the plot twists still took me by surprise and I was left shocked by events on several occasions.

A great holiday read - although if you're tucked up in a ski chalet in the Alps at the time maybe you'll want to wait and take it with you to the beach instead!

My thanks to the publisher for the advance opportunity to read this book via NetGalley

About the Author:

I am a freelance journalist living in the South of France with my husband and two teenage children. We moved from London in 2009 so that the children could grow up bilingual and we could all ski more, and to enjoy a more relaxed pace of life.

I learned to ski on a school trip when I was 14 and have loved it ever since. The Chalet is set in a fictional ski resort in the French Alps which is a kind of amalgam of some I have been lucky enough to visit over the years. Many design aspects of the chalet itself are inspired by some of the luxury hotels I have reviewed - though obviously it is entirely fictional!

I'm an avid thriller reader and have been since I discovered Agatha Christie as a child.

The Chalet is my first published full-length novel, though I have also written several (unpublished) thrillers for teens and a (what used to be called) chick lit novel set in TV production.

Other than skiing and reading I love travel, theme parks (the pic on this page was taken on a rollercoaster in Spain) and I spend far too much time on social media. Some of my other favourite things include Alan Partridge, sparkly flip flops and salt and vinegar crisps.

Social Media Links:

Twitter @catherinecooper 

Instagram @catherinecooperjournalist

Facebook @catherinecooperauthor

Christmas for Beginners by Carole Matthews #NetGalley #ChristmasforBeginners @carolematthews @BooksSphere

 

Christmas for Beginners by Carole Matthews

Published by Sphere

Publication Date 29 October 2020 Hardback & ebook

Genre: General Fiction/Romance

Book Description:

The BRAND NEW Christmas read from the bestselling author

The gloriously festive sequel to readers' favourite and Sunday Times bestselling novel Happiness for Beginners

SPEND THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR AT HOPE FARM . . .

Christmas is fast approaching at the new Hope Farm. Owner Molly Baker has been convinced to organise an open day to raise some much-needed funds ahead of the New Year, but the nativity tableau is proving challenging. With anti-social sheep, awkward alpacas and a seriously sequined Santa Claus to assemble, Molly is feeling overwhelmed, and in desperate need of some Christmas spirit . . .

Despite the chaos of the farm getting in the way of her event planning, Molly is looking forward to spending the holidays with Shelby and Lucas, hopeful that a happy family Christmas is exactly what they need to draw them all together. But while she is busy making plans on the farm, Shelby, it seems, has ideas of his own.

As the nativity draws near, the team are working hard to pull off a spectacular festive fete - and make sure the animals and humans remain on their best behaviour. Will this Christmas be merry and bright, or is there more than one surprise in store for Hope Farm?

A must-read festive tale from the queen of fun-filled and life-affirming fiction, Christmas for Beginners is the PERFECT winter treat!

My Thoughts:

The farmyard frolics turn decidedly festive in Carole's latest offering, Christmas for Beginners. Owner of Hope Farm Molly Baker and her support network of Bev and Alan have settled in well following the farm's relocation to pastures new (literally) but the issue of funding is never far from their minds. Gregarious Bev is on the case as ever and soon has the troops rallied for a Christmas Fayre event to be held at the farm. I mean, after the success of previous events what could possibly go wrong?

Molly's new romantic partner Shelby is significant by his absence - it's a wonder they are a couple at all as they are poles apart personality-wise but they do say opposites attract. Shelby's teenage son Lucas, has moved in to the plush new caravan with Molly, the two of them having a more parent/child relationship than either of them could hope for Lucas to have with his father  - but there must be something in the air as Lucas is spending less time at home with Molly and more time at the poetry club in the village. But that's a good thing, right?
We are introduced to a wonderful selection of characters from throughout the local community from the dishy Mayor, who Bev has commandeered to switch on their Christmas lights, to the troubled parents of one of the students who attend Molly's classes at the farm, plus many others besides.  There are also new resident animals on the farm who provide some hilarious moments - the old favourites are still going strong too thank goodness but if they keep trying to eat the cast of the nativity scene there could well be trouble!
This is a proper feel-good festive read, just what we need after the awful year we've had in the real world of 2020. It's not all starry-eyed happiness though, as Molly is left wondering if she's bitten off more than she can chew in taking on the role of Lucas's guardian in Shelby's continued absence. Help comes from an unexpected source in more ways than one and once more Carole leaves us with a warm glow of contentment as we turn the last page. Christmas can't get more Fluffy than this - can it?

Huge thanks to the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read this lovely book ahead of publication in exchange for my unbiased review.

About the Author:

Carole Matthews is the Sunday Times bestselling author of thirty-two novels, including the Top Ten bestsellers Let's Meet on Platform 8, A Whiff of Scandal, For Better, For Worse, A Minor Indiscretion, With or Without You, The Cake Shop in the Garden, Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, A Cottage by the Sea, The Chocolate Lovers' Club, The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas, The Chocolate Lovers' Wedding, Million Love Songs and her current novel, Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights. Carole has also been awarded the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award. Her novels dazzle and delight readers all over the world.

For all the latest news from Carole, visit www.carolematthews.com, follow Carole on Twitter (@carolematthews) and Instagram (matthews.carole) or join the thousands of readers who have become Carole's friend on Facebook (carolematthewsbooks)

The Stranded by Stuart James #blogtour #review @StuartJames73 @BOTBSPublicity #TheStranded @Bloodhoundbook

 

The Stranded by Stuart James

Published by Bloodhound

Publication Date 19th October 2020

Genre: Psychological Thriller

My thanks to Sarah Hardy of Book on the Bright Side Publicity for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

Book Description:

What could be more innocent than going on holiday?
As a family drive along a quiet country lane on their way to the airport, they meet a stranger standing alone in the middle of the road.
Steering them along another path, he tells the driver, Ben, that a tree has fallen and there's no way through.
But as they make their way along the diverted route, they come across a coach blocking the road.
Getting out of the car Ben goes to investigate and is horrified to find the passengers tied to their seats.
Then a discarded phone starts to ring…
If Ben calls the police, everyone on board will die.
The caller is about to start the horrific game...

My Thoughts:

I have been eagerly awaiting the publication of Stuart's next book (I may even be guilty of pestering him on the odd occasion prior to the release of the date as to when it would be coming out - sorry Stuart!). When I read that his previous novel The House on Rectory Lane was the winner of a rather prestigious award this only added to my excitement and anticipation because you just KNOW it's not going to disappoint. And here it is: The Stranded. 

Having been walloped by a nasty eye infection and a cold at the same time I have been wallowing in self-pity on my sofa for a few days. What better companion in this situation than a Stuart James thriller?  I mean, you read it with one eye shut in fear of what you're going to read next anyway so once I could physically focus I got stuck in. And I read the whole thing in one sitting!

Ben, Laura and daughter Millie are heading to Gatwick for a well-earned holiday to Barcelona.  Ben hates motorways after getting stuck in a huge tailback for hours so makes the decision to take the A roads - the scenic route - to the airport. Oh what a fateful decision that is. It's not long before a shady figure in a hi-vis jacket is directing them down a side road due to a fallen tree blocking the main road.

That is just the start of their problems, as they encounter a broken down coach blocking the diversion route. Ben goes to the vehicle to see if he can assist the driver only to find the passengers bound to their seats with fear in their eyes.

The story continues at a roaring pace with the hi-vis man (aka the caller) issuing instructions to the family and the passengers via an ancient mobile phone. He's playing horrific games with them, his justification being that the passengers have sinned and they all need to pay for what they've done. We find out each of the passengers alleged crimes as they are given the chance to admit what they have done, the ripple effect of their actions making more and bigger waves as their confessions are made. 

Having got a feel for the type of family Ben, Laura and Millie are, the fact that they stopped to help in the first place rather than turning and running to the airport when they had the chance, meant that the conclusion of the book was even more unexpected. They're not the same type of people as those cherry-picked to be passengers on Henry Mitchell's coach from hell but I suppose the trauma they experienced will change how you see life. Even so Stuart James concludes things with his signature shock scenario which left me reeling open-mouthed, and I can guarantee that you definitely will not guess how the story ends. Supremely well-plotted throughout, I am never disappointed with this author's work which always leaves me champing for the next book.  

Yet another edge of the seat thriller from Stuart - I would love to see his work televised, I think it would work so well!

About the Author:

I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.

There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.

I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns.

My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.

This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.

I started writing three years ago, penning The House On Rectory Lane which has just won The International Book Award in horror fiction. I got the idea from something that has often seemed scary to me. I know that a terrifying story has to be something that you’re frightened of doing, something that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck, something that fills you with dread, yet also with excitement.

To me, the thought of going to a house in the middle of nowhere, upping and leaving a busy town and moving to the country is something that scares lots of people and me: the seclusion, the quiet, the darkness. That’s what inspired me to write my first novel.

My second thriller is called Turn The Other Way, which was a world wide number 1 best seller and stayed at number 1 for 19 weeks in the US.

I have multiple stories running, past and present. A family who want answers from the surgeon responsible for their daughter’s death. A young woman looking for her parents after they go missing from a party. A couple driving home and hearing screams for help from the back of the van in front of them. A serial killer on the loose in North London, dragging victims off the street.

I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.

My third thriller, Apartment Six, was published in January of this year and was a number 1 hot new release on Amazon for 4 weeks.

Stranded goes on pre-order Monday October 12th on Amazon and is released October 19th.

I’m 47, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing. I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.

Social Media:

Website:  stuartjamesthrillers.com

Twitter: @StuartJames73

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

Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews @BooksSphere @carolematthews #HappinessForBeginners

 

Happiness for Beginners by Carole Matthews

Published 21 February 2019

Published by Sphere

Genre: Womens fiction, romance

Book description:

Molly Baker is living her best life.

Thirty-eight years old, she lives on the twenty-five-acre Hope Farm in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by (mostly) four-legged friends and rolling hills. There's Anthony the anti-social sheep, Tina Turner the alpaca with attitude, and the definitely-not-miniature pig, Teacup.

Molly runs the farm as an alternative school for kids who haven't thrived in mainstream education. It's full on, but she wouldn't have it any other way. So when the well-groomed Shelby Dacre turns up at Hope Farm asking to enrol his son Lucas, Molly isn't fazed.

But Lucas is distant and soon Molly realises he might be more of a handful than she anticipated. And then there's the added problem that his dad is distractingly handsome. Molly has her beloved farm to think of - could letting Lucas and Shelby in be a terrible mistake, or the start of something wonderful?

An absolute must-read from the queen of romance Carole Matthews, Molly's story will make your heart sing.

My Thoughts:

If you've read any of my posts previously you will probably know that Carole Matthews is my go-to author when I don't know what to read. Her book Lets Meet on Platform 8 was the book which got me back into reading after a few years' break and suffice to say she's my favourite when I want something fun and heart-warming to reset my reading mojo. Happiness for Beginners hits the spot perfectly although I have to admit that it's been on my shelf for a while now - I usually read Carole's books as soon as possible around publication date however with other reading deadlines taking precedence this one slipped down the order.  With her new book Christmas for Beginners due out soon, which is a follow up to this one, I thought I had better catch up and read the beginning of the story in case it offered background I would need to know for the Christmas book.

The story is set around Hope Farm, a place which offers opportunities for those students who, for various reasons, struggle to cope in a traditional educational environment. To keep the students busy there are blind chickens, retired shire horses bent on destruction, some diva-ish alpacas, a Shetland pony who is allergic to his own hair plus various other misfits and unfortunates who would all struggle to fit in elsewhere. The students' role here is learn about the animals' needs and how to centre their attention on something other than their own issues but in a way which is fun and rewarding. Molly Baker inherited the farm from her aunt Hettie who brought her up when her alcoholic mum couldn't manage. Living in a ramshackle old caravan on the farm Molly wants nothing more than a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream life. She is dedicated to her animals and the students who come to help on the farm are like her extended family, together with helpers Bev and Alan. They are all waifs and strays in their own way.

We follow the fate and (mis)fortunes of the farm and the introduction of a celebrity student Lucas Dacre to the mix , a young lad who has lost his mum and whose dad Shelby is the heart throb lead character in TV soap opera Flinton's Farm. Moody and full of teenage anger, Lucas has been excluded from his school for arson and in a final act of desperation dad Shelby has asked Molly if she can help get him back on the straight and narrow. Can she manage to get past Lucas's defence strategies and reach the sensitive soul she can see lurking beneath the surface?

As always there are plenty of humorous moments usually involving at least one of the animal contingent but underneath there's a reflection of the more serious side of life. Never at any point does Carole come across as preachy; she merely puts across opinions which many of us will agree wholeheartedly with and leaves you with a warm glow of contentment when you turn the last page.

I definitely recommend this book, especially if you are looking to read the follow up novel. I am moving straight on to Christmas for Beginners - I'm not sure it's really my 'thing' as I am not a huge Christmas fan but with the characters I have got to know from Hope Farm I am optimistic there is going to be far more to it than just tinsel and turkey.

About the Author:

Carole Matthews is the Sunday Times bestselling author of thirty-two novels, including the Top Ten bestsellers Let's Meet on Platform 8, A Whiff of Scandal, For Better, For Worse, A Minor Indiscretion, With or Without You, The Cake Shop in the Garden, Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses, A Cottage by the Sea, The Chocolate Lovers' Club, The Chocolate Lovers' Christmas, The Chocolate Lovers' Wedding, Million Love Songs and her current novel, Christmas Cakes & Mistletoe Nights. Carole has also been awarded the RNA Outstanding Achievement Award. Her novels dazzle and delight readers all over the world.

For all the latest news from Carole, visit www.carolematthews.com, follow Carole on Twitter (@carolematthews) and Instagram (matthews.carole) or join the thousands of readers who have become Carole's friend on Facebook (carolematthewsbooks).

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman @VikingBooksUK @richardosman #book #review #TheThursdayMurderClub

 

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Published by Viking

Publication Date: 3 September 2020

Genre: Cosy Crime

Book Description:

In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders.

But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves.

Can our unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late?

My Thoughts:

The most unusual setting for a crime novel I think I have ever read, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed Richard Osman's debut novel. I am delighted to hear there are more books planned for our intrepid investigators and look forward to seeing how the characters will be developed.

The book has a lovely feel to it which seems unusual for the genre, but the whole thing draws you in with some sharp witted humour (not surprising if you've ever watched the author in gameshow Pointless) and characters you can recognise from people in your own community. Some may say they are slightly stereotypical but this just makes the book more 'comfortable' and believable in my opinion.

 

Chief organiser of the Thursday Murder Club Elizabeth reminds me very much of Nessa in the TV programme Gavin and Stacey in that she seems to have connections with people in high places, stories which are very vague and improbable but then she comes through and proves that she does indeed 'know people'. Her friend Joyce seems to just tag along in a dreamy kind of way but on the quiet she is far more observant than she would let you know. Former trade unionist Ron always has lots to say and comes across as rather confrontational but is actually a big softie under all the bluster with family being the most important part of his life. Ibrahim is a retired psychologist and is a methodical analyst of just about anything you can possibly analyse! Together they make a formidable team.

The Thursday Murder Club likes to revisit cold cases which have left detectives bemused.  They invite the local constabulary to come in and do a talk to them under the premise of security and how to avoid scammers but once female officer Donna is on site they sweet talk her into helping them with their enquiries. Never underestimate a pensioner - let alone a group of them who have joined forces! In a shock twist, the retirement village suddenly finds itself involved in a murder enquiry of its own and in the only part of the book that I found more than slightly unbelievable, the Murder Club members persuade Donna and her boss Chris to share information of the case with them. But seeing as it was Elizabeth who got Donna her the chance be on the murder case in the first place, how can she possibly refuse?

I know there have been some less than complimentary reviews saying this book has been over-hyped due to it being penned by a celebrity author however I personally enjoyed the investigations of the Coopers Chase retirement home residents, there being some nice little twists and reveals throughout the book.  Richard's trademark humour runs through the book like a traditional English stick of seaside rock and makes the whole story very enjoyably British. Bring on book 2 I say!

About the Author:

Richard Osman is an author, producer and television presenter. The Thursday Murder Club is his first novel. He is well known for TV shows including Pointless and Richard Osman’s House of Games. As the creative director of Endemol UK, Richard has worked as an executive producer on numerous shows including Deal Or No Deal and 8 Out of 10 Cats. He is also a regular on panel and game shows such as Have I Got News For You, Would I Lie To You and Taskmaster.

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard @CorvusBooks @catherineryanhoward #TheNothingMan

 

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard

Published by Corvus Books

Publication Date: 6th August 2020

Genre: Crime

Book Description:

I was the girl who survived the Nothing Man.
Now I am the woman who is going to catch him...

You've just read the opening pages of The Nothing Man, the true crime memoir Eve Black has written about her obsessive search for the man who killed her family nearly two decades ago.

Supermarket security guard Jim Doyle is reading it too, and with each turn of the page his rage grows. Because Jim was - is - the Nothing Man.

The more Jim reads, the more he realises how dangerously close Eve is getting to the truth. He knows she won't give up until she finds him. He has no choice but to stop her first...

My Thoughts:

What a great concept for a book! This is something completely different to anything I've read before and is so well executed. 

The book starts with an every day situation, a former police officer named Jim doing his day-to-day job as a security guard at a shopping centre. He has his eye on a suspicious looking woman lurking around the shelves when his attention is drawn away from her to a book which is part of the display of new releases. The book is entitled 'The Nothing Man', the story relating the unsolved crimes of a serial killer some twenty years previously. The author of the book is the sole survivor of the man the media nicknamed 'The Nothing Man', so-called because the police seemed to have absolutely no leads to who the culprit might be. Jim's reaction seems extreme, until we realise that he has a personal interest in the events back in the day.

The chapters move between Eve Black's narration of what happened to her family and the others who suffered at the killer's hands, and Jim's reaction to what he reads in Eve's book. The tension builds steadily as it becomes clear that Jim isn't happy to see the facts in print. He has things he needs to do in order to put this case to bed.  There is a constant feeling that Eve is missing a vital piece of information from what she saw that awful night - her mind is blocking some of what she saw in order to protect her from the horrific events - could that information bring the killer to justice? Could the net be closing on the Nothing Man?

I really wasn't prepared for the conclusion to this book. It is absolutely brilliant and I only wish I could read it again for the first time (if you know what I mean). Now I know the ending it just wouldn't be the same to re-read it - but that's not to say that I won't be revisiting these pages. It's one very clever author to come up with a book of this calibre and I am more than happy to recommend that any reader who likes a good crime novel should get this on the priority reading list.

About the Author:

CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1982. Her debut thriller, DISTRESS SIGNALS (2016), was an Irish Times and USA Today bestseller, and was shortlisted for both the Irish Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA John Creasey New Blood Dagger. Her second thriller, THE LIAR'S GIRL (2018) was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel. She currently lives in Dublin, where she divides her time between the desk and the sofa.

The Ex Boyfriend by Rona Halsall @bookouture @RonaHalsallAuth #TheExBoyfriend #NetGalley

 

The Ex-Boyfriend by Rona Halsall

Published by Bookouture

Published 30th September 2020

Genre: Mystery/Thrillers

Book Description:

He promised to love her until her dying day…

When Becca’s first love shows up on her social media feed, she can’t help but smile fondly. Once upon a time Connor was the love of her life, and though it was over ten years ago, he’s always held a place in her heart.

Then he sends her a message. He sounds happy – still kind and funny, still living across the world in Australia. But he wants to know everything about her life now. How can Becca tell him the truth? About her workaholic husband, her stressful job, and the challenges of caring for her elderly father and her longed-for, adorable but exhausting three-year-old daughter Mia?

Becca hesitates, knowing she shouldn’t even reply. But Connor lives on the other side of the world. Just how dangerous can becoming friends again be?

It feels harmless. Until Mia gets sick – in a way that no one can explain. And it starts to become clear – someone will do absolutely anything to make sure Becca never escapes her past…

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller – perfect for fans of My Lovely Wife, The Girl on the Train, and The Woman at the Window.

My Thoughts:

I find books about young families to be quite emotive and this certainly lives up to that expectation.  Rona Halsall has taken every mum's biggest fear and made it the focus of her latest heart rending novel: Becca's young daughter's health is causing concern and nobody can explain what is making her ill. As a district nurse Becca has a fairly broad knowledge of medical conditions and there's only one thing she can think her daughter's symptoms point to but she can't understand why or how this could be happening. Then when she approaches the experts for support her world is flipped on its head and she ends up on the wrong side of the authorities.

The author leads us sensitively through all the emotions the lead character experiences then gives us a background to Becca which doesn't seem to reflect the person we have seen her demonstrate in her every day life. She's a caring person who is meticulous in caring for her daughter and her many patients in the local community. It's not long before she finds herself completely isolated from everything she holds dear and seeks refuge back with her widowed father who is delighted to be on hand to support her. Her sister however is a different kettle of fish, seemingly full of sympathy one minute then more interested in her own agenda the next.

I really enjoyed how the story switches focus to Becca's younger days; a trip across the world to relieve the stress of work-related issues and the whirlwind romance she had with Connor, a young surf-dude and free spirit who captured her heart many years ago. But why would her two worlds collide all of a sudden? I did kind of work out the plotline regarding the two story threads but the book is about so much more than the two individual time frames. Some of the characters will shock you, some you will find reassuringly comforting - and not always those you expect as you try to work out what is happening to Becca's family and who is responsible.

I'm reluctant to say too much more regarding the relatively small cast of characters in case it helps you work out what's going on, but suffice to say they're not a very nice bunch of folks - with the odd exception. 
I will be interested to know what other readers thought with regards to the conclusion of the book as I was in two minds over a couple of issues.  My thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this novel prior to publication and I look forward to being able to discuss it with other readers soon.

About the Author:

Rona is the author of Best Selling psychological thrillers published by Bookouture. Her sixth book will be out 30th September 2020.

She lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and two guinea pigs. She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful glens and beaches on the Island while she's plotting her next book. She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

To find out more about Rona and her novels, go to:
Website: https://ronahalsall.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RonaHalsallAuthor
Twitter: @RonaHalsallAuth
Instagram: @ronahalsall