I am absolutely thrilled to be sharing my review of this beautiful book with you all today! 🙂

Happy Publication Day, Claire Huston! 🙂

Art & Soul

Claire Huston

(Written 08/04/2020)

What an absolute joy to read this book was! I have absolutely LOVED it!

Becky Watson is an inspiring and instantly likeable character. A single mother to a toddler, juggling motherhood with running her own business, she is certainly not shy of hard work. Her business is quite unique, as she is a life-fixer. I’ve never known a life-fixer, but it sounds like an interesting and challenging job. Her clients hire her for whatever they need to improve their lives and her new client certainly seems to be stuck in a rut with no seemingly easy way to escape. She is obviously going to have her work cut out with this one.

Charlie Handren is an artist. A struggling artist who has lost his muse. His marriage has failed which hasn’t helped his creative juices to flow, for quite some time. Six years in fact. His daughter talked him in to giving Becky a call, but he’s not at all convinced and they struggle to hit it off to begin with. Becky does wonder if she can be any kind of help to him at all. Eventually, between herself and his daughter, Phoebe, they get him to agree to give her ideas a try and they put Becky’s plans in action. And what an ambitious plan it is! I found the whole thing quite exciting.

Becky is quite bossy to be honest, but she obviously knows her stuff. I admired her confidence. I enjoyed the friendship that quickly builds between Becky, Charlie and Phoebe, although it isn’t without it’s ups and downs. What friendship is!?

I didn’t warm to Rachel, at all, and did wonder what Charlie saw in her, past her looks. I was really, really, really hoping he would direct his affections towards Becky instead. The chemistry between them is difficult to ignore. You know what it’s like when you’re reading a book with two characters who are obviously made for each other but can’t seem to see it for themselves so you really, really want to jump in to the story and bang their heads together to make them see sense? Well, yeah, this is one such story!

I felt completely invested in these characters and totally immersed in their story. I was routing for them both to find true love and happiness, and I thoroughly enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions I experienced along the way.

This isn’t your average romance. It’s a beautifully written novel full of fascinating characters you will fall in love with.

Virgil is a fabulous character! Loved him!

There is also lots of cake and who doesn’t love cake!?

Art and Soul really does have it all. I can’t imagine anyone not loving it from the first page to the last, as I did. It left me with a huge satisfied smile on my face.

Many thanks to Claire Huston for my beautiful paperback copy. I am truly thankful to have had the pleasure of reading it prior to publication.

OUT NOW!

About the author…..

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. Art and Soul is her first novel.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for all the cakes mentioned in Art and Soul at http://www.clairehuston.co.uk along with over 100 other recipes. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

As well as her website, you can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Goodreads: linktr.ee/clairehuston_author

happy reading 🙂

Happier Thinking

Lana Grace Riva

(Review written 16^th April 2020)

Happier Thinking is an inspiring little read. I have read it this morning whilst enjoying a coffee, in my back garden, in the glorious sunshine.

This a self-help book but is unique in the sense that it is the author’s own coping strategies with stress and anxiety. It is very reader friendly and almost made me feel like I was having an informal chat with the author, discussing how to turn negative thoughts in to positive ones in the hope of living a happier, less stressful, life. Much like the chats we might share with our partners, family, and friends. They always make us feel better, in general, and this book has that same feel good factor. We all need these chats sometimes as although the advice in this book might seem obvious, we do tend to forget it when things are not going our way. I will certainly be putting some of this advice into practice in the future.

I especially liked the ‘Be Kind’ chapter. It has an important message for us all. I quote, “Happier Thinking goes hand in hand with kindness. Kindness to all including yourself.” We all need to remember to be more kind to ourselves as well as each other.

I very much recommend this book to you if you suffer with stress and/or anxiety, or even if you don’t.

I think these words will in inspire you either way.

Many thanks to the author for my review copy.

Via Amazon UK

Changing how you think is possible. I wasn’t always so sure that was true until I experienced it myself, but I know now we don’t have to just accept unhappiness. Not always anyway. This book is my collection of tips and suggestions that have helped me achieve happier thinking. It’s sort of a gym for my mind. I’d love to tell you it was easier than the real gym but well… it’s not really. It takes time, effort, and practice but it’s absolutely well worth the rewards.

happy reading 🙂

Fallible Justice

Laura Laakso

(Louise Walters Books)

(Review written on 15^th April 2020)

Fallible Justice has been on my bookshelf, unread, for far too long and I’m so glad I have finally had the chance to read it! It has made a wonderfully refreshing change to read something quite different to most of the books I tend to gravitate towards.

This is an Urban Fantasy which is generally out of my reading comfort zone (I have no idea why though), but I found it completely captivating. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it during the last few days (mostly in the comfort of my back garden, in the sunshine). 😊

Fallible Justice is similar to most of what I read, in the sense that it is a crime thriller of sorts. There is still a mystery to solve and an investigation to follow and to become immersed in. I loved the supernatural side of this investigation and the many fascinating characters we meet along the way. It is very cleverly written, and I happily escaped real life to lose myself within the pages of this book.

Given what is going on in the world right now particularly (COVID-19 – in case we need a reminder in years to come), it was a very welcome distraction.

The main character, Yannia Wilde, is a Private Investigator and is hired by the daughter of a man who is due to be executed for a crime she believes he is innocent of. Yannia is her last hope of saving her father’s life. Can she prove his innocence in less than a week? They don’t have the luxury of time and despite her initial reluctance Yannia decides to take on the case with the help of her friend, Karrion (a bird shaman) who becomes her new apprentice. I was as determined as they are to find out the truth.

Yannia is one of the Wild Folk who escaped the conclave to make a life for herself in the city of Old London. I was very much drawn to Yannia and fascinated by her story. I really warmed to Karrion too and I’m very much looking forward to catching up with them both in book 2 (which I have already purchased).

Pure escapism!

I look forward to reading more books in this genre in future.

Many thanks to Louise Walters for my review copy.

Via Amazon UK

In Old London, where paranormal races co-exist with ordinary humans, criminal verdicts delivered by the all-seeing Heralds of Justice are infallible. After a man is declared guilty of murder and sentenced to death, his daughter turns to private investigator Yannia Wilde to do the impossible and prove the Heralds wrong.
Yannia has escaped a restrictive life in the Wild Folk conclave where she was raised, but her origins mark her as an outsider in the city. Those origins lend her the sensory abilities of all of nature. Yet Yannia is lonely and struggling to adapt to life in the city. The case could be the break she needs. She enlists the help of her only friend, a Bird Shaman named Karrion, and together they accept the challenge of proving a guilty man innocent.
So begins a breathless race against time and against all conceivable odds. Can Yannia and Karrion save a man who has been judged infallibly guilty?

happy reading 🙂

The Break Up

Tilly Tennant

(Review written 14^th April 2020)

Tilly Tennant has done it again! I absolutely adore Tilly’s writing and I have adored The Break Up.

Lara a single lady with her own wedding planning business which she runs from a summer house in her back garden. I LOVED this! If only I was brave enough to start my own business from my back garden. She is quite the inspiration. Employing just one assistant, Betsy (who is adorable), she has built up a successful business. Some of their clients are hilarious, others just genuinely lovely.

Lara is a likeable character, although she did frustrate me at times. In a good way though, as she is very real. She often overthinks things which I think is quite typical of anyone who has been through a break up such as hers. Her ex, Lucian, left her for her best friend. I’m pretty sure this would mess with my head also and leave me struggling to trust anyone again.

Lucian is a slimy character. I’m not sure what she ever saw in him really and I reckon he did her a favour in the long run. She still has the one true love of her life anyway, her cat, Fluffy!

Fluffy’s wandering ways lead her to meet Theo, who turns out to be a VERY likeable character. Their relationship goes from icy cold to hot and heavy and back again. A real rollercoaster romance which makes this book a highly entertaining read. The two of them have a quick temper, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. I did want to bang their heads together at times, but only because they are obviously made for each other. I was routing for them the whole time.

If you love a romance with plenty of drama, and amusing moments, you will love this book. I love it when a book leaves me with big smile on my face and this one most certainly did that.

I highly recommend!

Via AmazonUK

What happens when Mr Right goes rogue?

Lara doesn’t have a back-up plan. So when her safe-bet boyfriend Lucien dumps her for her best friend, Lara’s world implodes. Life after the break up stretches bleakly ahead, lonely evenings on the sofa with only a bottle of wine and her grey cat Fluffy for company…

Down the road, Theo loves his job as a jazz musician, giving other people great nights out before coming home in the early hours and unwinding with his loyal cat Satchmo.

What they don’t know is that it’s the same cat.

And when they find out, standing in the streets in their pyjamas, both on the hunt for their lost pet, sparks of the wrong sort fly.

Lara can’t deny that Theo is one of the most gorgeous men she’s ever met, but she can see exactly why he’s still single. They do say opposites attract… but is she ready to move on? And when Lucien comes back into the picture, will she be tempted back to her life before the break up, or risk everything on the chance of something new?

A wonderfully warm will-they-won’t-they romantic read that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. If you’re a fan of Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews, The Break Up is the love story you’ve been waiting for.

Readers are loving The Break Up:

‘Oh my gosh I loved this book. I think it would make a great movie… Tilly Tennant books always warm my heart and always give me a giggle too’ StefLoz Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I loved this book, it is such an enchanting read that I could have happily devoured in one sitting… it has just the right amount of romance and humour and is much more than a boy-meets-girl kind of book… It is a lovely story where we learn not to give up on our dreams and I highly recommend this book!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is such a magical and heartwarming story, I have absolutely adored this and I’m really sad that I will never be able to experience reading this for the first time again… it should be on everyone’s TBR list. I cannot say anything negative about this one, it has been the perfect book to switch off with at the end of a busy day. This is most definitely a five star read, I only wish I could give this higher. It is truly deserving of all the stars and is magical.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Such a sweet and comforting read, perfect for curling up with on a cold, wet day.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I love this author and never miss one of her books.’ Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘What a beautiful book this is! I wasn’t sure what to expect at first but once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Would definitely recommend’ Beanie Bookworm

‘Really enjoyed this, Lara and Theo are great characters and the story line was lovely. Perfect to lose yourself in for a few hours!’ Netgalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a lovely book… There were parts that broke my heart and parts that made me smile.’ B for Book Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another brilliant book by Tilly Tennant.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is a lovely easy read romantic story with lots of laughs… I found I just couldn’t stop reading.’ NetGalley Reviewer

‘A cute romantic story filled with some hilarious moments!’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘An enchanting book which captures your heart and you can be swept along with the “loveliness” of it all’ Goodreads Reviewer

happy reading 🙂

Happy Publication Day to Alison Lingwood! 🙂

On the afternoon of 15th July 2018 sport, firstly tennis and then football, dominated the television coverage and millions of fans stayed indoors on one of the hottest days for years. A hit-and-run incident in a quiet residential road in Newcastle under Lyme was witnessed only by a small boy, and the police investigation made little progress until, in nearby Stoke on Trent, the murder of a young woman raised new questions. Was somebody trying to annihilate the whole family and, if so, why?

Out now!

Read the series in order…..

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day1 #BookReview Portal to Murder (DI Christopher Timothy book 1) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day2 #BookReview The Bridport Dagger (DI Christopher Timothy book 2) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day3 #BookReview A Wild Kind of Justice (DI Christopher Timothy book 3) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day4 #BookReview Stains of Suspicion (DCI Christopher Timothy book 4) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day5 #BookReview The Calibre of Death (DCI Christopher Timothy book 5) by Alison Lingwood

#CountdownToPublicationDay #ToxicTriangles #DCIChristopherTimothy #Book7 #Day6 #BookReview Immersed in Murder (DCI Christopher Timothy Book 6) by Alison Lingwood

happy reading 🙂

Toxic Triangles (DCI Christopher Timothy book 7) is out tomorrow!

As part of the countdown to publication day I’m re-sharing my review for Book 6, Immersed in Murder…..

(originally published on 3rd February 2020)

I finished Immersed in Murder this morning and found it every bit as gripping as all the previous books in the series. This is book six in the DCI Timothy series and I’ve probably said this before, but this series just gets better and better which is quite something because Portal to Murder is a pretty epic debut, in my opinion.

When a family return home from their holiday to find a dead woman, unknown to them, in their bath a new investigation begins. When that woman is eventually linked to a devastating case from thirty years earlier the investigation becomes even more complicated until the hard work and dedication of DCI Timothy and his team starts to unravel the mystery.

This is yet another excellent police procedural, involving both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent police, which is fast paced and full of suspense. Each chapter ends in a way that makes it very difficult to put down. I had to know where this story was going. The truth is chilling and, in part, quite sad.

I highly recommend to all and I’m very much looking forward to Book 7!

If you haven’t read this series yet, you really should. Why not catch up before book 7 is published??

purchase your copy…..

Original post

Immersed in Murder (DCI Timothy book 6) by Alison Lingwood #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

As part of the countdown to publication day for Alison Lingwood’s Toxic Triangles I am re-sharing my review for book 5, The Calibre of Death.

(originally published on 13th September 2019)

The Calibre Of Death is book 5 in the DCI Timothy mystery series and I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole series!

In this book we are treated to another suspenseful murder mystery. The story is set in Staffordshire when the HS2 rail link is becoming a very real possibility and not everyone is pleased about it. Aasa Heald is visiting from London for a meeting which has to be cancelled, so she finds herself having coffee with a local elderly lady by the name of Thelma Hodgson. Thelma has found herself in a very difficult situation having been deceived out of all she owns by two less than honest excuses for human beings claiming to be long lost family. Maybe Aasa would be able to help? She doesn’t get a chance though as she is shot dead right there at their table in the café. No-one is able to save her, and no-one knows where the bullets were fired from. I can’t even imagine witnessing such an horrific act of violence.

DCI Christopher Timothy and his team have their work cut out trying to piece together a very confusing puzzle. Who locally would want this woman dead? Was she even the intended target?

As well as investigating murder, Chris has his teenager sister-in-law, Florence, staying with them as her alcoholic mother has gone to a clinic for help. This brings its own challenges for their little family, especially as Florence seems to have befriended their main suspect!

Nothing is ever straight forward, but it all comes together with dedication and determination. Another excellent police procedural.

I LOVED the last chapter, although tinged with sadness. Exciting times ahead for the Timothy family. I can’t wait to read book 6!

purchase your copy…..

Original post

The Calibre Of Death (A DCI Timothy mystery, Book 5) by Alison Lingwood #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, The Killer Shadow Thieves I was very much looking forward to catching up with Tom Blake again in book 2, A Place of Reckoning. I can assure you this has been another thoroughly entertaining read!

First of all, I love that these books are set in Stoke-on-Trent. This always makes it that little bit more exciting for me as I love it when I recognise street names and public places etc. mentioned throughout the story.

I have to warn you, this isn’t a story for the feint hearted. It really is quite gruesome at times and often makes for uncomfortable reading due to the nature of some of the crimes committed and some seriously disturbed characters.

The story begins with the kidnapping of a very wealthy pottery tycoon’s wife. Annabelle is kept locked away and subjected to all manner of horrific abuse whilst her kidnapper attempts to extort money from her husband, Charles Lancaster. The team are confident they know who is responsible though and hope to resolve the situation quickly and find Annabelle alive. However, when a headless body is discovered in a remote spot, in the peak district, their investigation is blown wide open. This woman has a mysterious tattoo on the small of her back. What does that mean? They have their work cut out finding out who this woman is as every attempt has been made to obscure her identity. DI Tom Blake and Lucy Stryker (an FBI profiler) work together with the rest of the team to try to piece together the clues before anyone else gets hurt. The investigation gradually reveals all sorts of sadistic secrets which truly made my skin crawl, but I had no choice but to keep reading as I was desperate to find out the truth! A truth that I did not see coming at all!!

Oh, on a happier note, I loved that Tom and Lucy have found a little bit of romance in their lives! I like a bit of happiness in amongst all the murder and mayhem. 😊 These people deserve a bit of respite from their day-to-day dealings with the dregs of society!

Overall, this book a quite horrifying, but absolutely gripping and I won’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves an excellent psychological murder mystery/police procedural/thriller. It ticks all the boxes for me, once again, and I can’t wait for book 3! I really, really hope there is going to be a book 3!??

Many thanks to J.F. Burgess for my review copy.

Out now!

ICYMI

The Killer Shadow Thieves (DI Tom Blake book 1) by J.F.Burgess @burgess1012 #BookReview

happy reading 🙂

I am delighted to be sharing in the cover reveal love for Gillian McAllister’s forthcoming release, How to Disappear!

Pre-order now: the gripping new psychological suspense from the Sunday Times bestselling author of No Further Questions and The Evidence Against You

‘Bravo! How to Disappear is undoubtedly her best yet. Gripping and emotional – a cracking read’ Clare Mackintosh

‘A relentless drumroll of suspense . . . ranks among the best psychological-suspense thrillers of recent years’ A. J. Finn

What do you do when you can’t run, and you can’t hide?

Lauren’s daughter Zara witnessed a terrible crime. But speaking up comes with a price, and when Zara’s identity is revealed online, it puts a target on her back.

The only choice is to disappear.

To keep Zara safe Lauren will give up everything and everyone she loves, even her husband.

There will be no goodbyes. Their pasts will be rewritten. New names, new home, new lives.

The rules are strict for a reason. They are being hunted. One mistake – a text, an Instagram like – could bring their old lives crashing into the new.

They can never assume someone isn’t watching, waiting.

As Lauren will learn, disappearing is easy. Staying hidden is harder…

‘Totally addictive, with twists that repeatedly pulled the rug from under my feet.’ Erin Kelly

‘Tense and unpredictable. I couldn’t put it down.’ Claire Douglas

‘If Jodi Picoult wrote psychological thrillers, they would look like this. A compulsive read with a jaw-dropping twist, I read it in a day’ Rosamund Lupton

‘An intricate and spellbinding exploration of the devastating ripples that spread from a terrible crime.’ Holly Seddon

‘I read How to Disappear with my heart in my mouth.’ Lia Louis

Praise for Gillian McAllister

‘I read it in a breathless day and a half’ Lisa Jewell

‘Perfection. Intriguing and compelling’ Clare Mackintosh

‘As tense as a piano string’ Sunday Times

‘Addictive, clever, twisty’ Sun

Check this out!

Pre-order now!

https://smarturl.it/HowToDisappear

happy reading 🙂