Behind Her Smile is an incredibly tense read. I could just feel that there was more than meets the eye to this story and that it was going to take a disturbing turn at some point. I couldn’t wait to find out how!
It’s a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give anything away, but I was absolutely gripped, as I expected to be with another one of Caroline’s books.
If you love a psychological crime thriller with intriguing characters, complicated relationships, both family and romantic, an extremely clever, twisty plot full of suspense, deceit, love, loss, heart-breaking sadness, and jaw dropping shocks then you will love this book!
I can’t recommend it highly enough.
An easy five stars for me!
**Many thanks to Caroline for my epub review copy**
Buried secrets are dangerous. Unearthing them might be deadly …
Laurie Dunn has returned to her childhood attic bedroom and her old nightmares have come rushing back. Terrorised by a client-related mugging, her job as a criminal solicitor causes more problems than solutions.
Finn Ballentine yearns for a fresh start, but even the glossy façade of his new law firm can’t protect him from the past he’s running from.
After a disturbing remark by her confused father, Laurie joins forces with Finn to uncover dark truths. But the long-buried secrets they unearth are laced with danger for them both.
I was very much looking forward to reading The Blitz Secret having really enjoyed books one and two in this series.
John Cook is a brilliant, no-nonsense character. A bloke I would definitely want on my side. He reminds me of Reacher. I picture Alan Ritchson when I read these books.
In this book we see Cook spending most of his time in London. Now, I didn’t live through the blitz, but I feel like I did after reading this book. I’m glad I really didn’t. It must have been terrifying. I was particularly disturbed by the cutting of corners where building air raid shelters was concerned. I would not be at all surprised if that actually happened!
I was mortified by the behaviours of some of the characters in this book. People who should have been safe to trust. It just goes to show, you never know what might go on behind closed doors. What Ruby goes through is nothing short of horrific!
I’m impressed by Cook’s determination to succeed in everything he does. He’s like a dog with a bone who won’t let go. I admire this so much, as so many other people would take the easy way out and just give up at the first hurdle. He will not rest until he gets satisfactory results. A man on a mission!
Lady Margaret is brave. I couldn’t do what she does. I’d be useless!
There is so much tension throughout this book, I don’t think I relaxed once. Fast paced and full of suspense it kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending left me well and truly intrigued for book four!
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**
Allie Shenton is back!! I absolutely love this series so I was very excited to learn there would be a book eight. I only wish I had read it sooner.
I had so many mixed feelings about this story. Imagine being sixteen years old and jailed for something you didn’t do. I can’t even imagine how that might affect someone’s mental health and general outlook on life. My heart went out to teenage Jamie, especially when he realises he is going to lose his Mum too. However, as much as I understand his anger and rage, his revenge plans are brutal. It would have been lovely to have seen him turn his life around after his release and live his best life. Show his so-called friends from back then that he wasn’t going to let them ruin his life any further. I realise this is so easy for me to say though and it also wouldn’t make as dramatic a storyline. Lol!
A woman is attacked in her home. A man is murdered in his own home, and another man is stabbed. Detective Allie Shenton and her team soon work out what is happening and have their work cut out to find the culprit before he gets to anyone else. I was rooting for them the whole time and although I had little sympathy for those who lied in the past no-one deserves to be murdered in their own home.
This is such a fast-paced crime thriller featuring a perpetrator who knows exactly what he’s doing as he’s had a long time to plan things. I could barely keep up! I thought I had it sussed though, and I did to a certain extent, but there are moments throughout that I absolutely did not see coming! My heart was in my mouth on more than one occasion and just when I thought it was over, BAM, another jaw-dropping shock. One that really had me panicking!
Just brilliant! I loved it! I can’t wait for book nine!
** Many thanks to Mel Sherratt for my digital review copy **
#TeamSherratt
They left him to rot, but now he’s back for revenge.Jamie Sanderson walked out of prison with a score to settle. Fifteen years later, he’s back in his hometown and it isn’t long before the bodies start piling up. A man stabbed in an alley. Another found dead in his own home. A woman barely clinging to life. Someone is working through a bloody list, and nothing will stand in their way.
Detective Allie Shenton and her team know who they’re hunting but finding him is another matter. With every day that passes, the danger grows for the people he will come after. And then the worst happens.
As the investigation stretches the team to their limits, Allie faces a brutal reminder that the past never really lets go. Because someone comes for her, and survival is no longer guaranteed.
Past Mistakes is the eighth novel in the bestselling Allie Shenton series from the multi-million selling crime writer, Mel Sherratt, the author of The Estate Series and Grace Allendale books.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I started reading The Winter Job, but I really enjoyed it!
Antii Tuomainen is a new-to-me author, and I like his writing style.
Ilmari Nieminen takes on a one-off job to deliver a sofa to earn enough money to buy his daughter the piano he has promised her for Christmas. What could possibly go wrong!?
Ilmari is a likable character, and his journey turns out to be far more eventful than he could have possibly imagined. He doesn’t expect to bump into an old friend who ends up tagging along and he certainly doesn’t expect to find himself being followed. Turns out there’s more to this sofa than meets the eye and there are others who want it too. He is determined to deliver it to the destination he has been given though otherwise he won’t get paid and his daughter won’t get her piano. He’s a recently divorced father who wants to fulfil his promise to his daughter. Woe betide anyone who tries to get in his way.
Set in Finland in 1982 this is a brilliant story, full of suspense, and peppered with dark humour. I was rooting for Ilamari the whole way through. The ending really made me smile.
** Many thanks to Orenda Books for my digital review copy **
Sofas, secrets and a snowbound road to trouble…
Helsinki, 1982. Recently divorced postal worker Ilmari Nieminen has promised his daughter a piano for Christmas, but with six days to go – and no money – he’s desperate.
A last-minute job offers a solution: transport a valuable antique sofa to Kilpisjärvi, the northernmost town in Finland.
With the sofa secured in the back of his van, Ilmari stops at a gas station, and an old friend turns up, offering to fix his faulty wipers, on the condition that he tags along. Soon after, a persistent Saab 96 appears in the rearview mirror. And then a bright-yellow Lada.
That’s when Ilmari realises that he is transporting something truly special.
And that’s when Ilmari realises he might be in serious trouble…
A darkly funny and unexpectedly moving thriller about friendship, love and death – The Winter Job tears through the frozen landscape of northern Finland in a beat-up van with bad steering, worse timing, and everything to lose…
It’s probably a good job my husband doesn’t read my book reviews because I think I love Theo. I fell in love with him in chapter one. He’s just the most delicious character. I defy anyone to resist his charms!
Theo is a self-made billionaire, but this is far from the focus of this story. It’s barely mentioned really, although there are obvious nods to it such as him living in a London penthouse apartment overlooking the Thames, and owning a beach house in Pembrokeshire with a live-in housekeeper. He’s a modest character though, and he’s trying his best to support his best friend by helping her younger sister and her three-year-old daughter after fleeing an abusive relationship. The problem is, he has been attracted to Sadie for longer than he cares to admit. How is he supposed to live in such close proximity to her and keep his feelings under control!?
Sadie has always carried a torch for Theo and eventually makes her feelings quite clear, making her so much more difficult for Theo to resist….
The way Theo is with Sadie reminds me very much of how my husband is with me, which is why I think I am completely besotted with him. The chemistry between these two is off the charts! I hope they’re still the same 26 years later as we are.
With scorching scenes (hot is an understatement!) as well as heart-meltingly romantic ones I absolutely loved Theo’s and Sadie’s story. They have their stumbling blocks along the way, of course, but they get there in the end and that’s the most important thing. Who doesn’t love a happy ending!?
I adored this book and will have no problem recommending to anyone and everyone.
** I won a paperback copy of Filthy Rich Temptation in a recent giveaway. Thank you to Rachael Stewart and Boldwood Books **
Theo
Making my first billion? Easy. Surviving Sadie — and her three-year-old — moving in? Pure torture. She’s my best friend’s little sister, the one girl I should never touch. Especially after that reckless kiss seven years ago…the kiss that ruined everything.
Now she’s here, under my roof, in every corner of my thoughts. Vulnerable. Off-limits. And so beautiful it hurts. I promised myself I’d protect her, keep my distance. But every laugh, every accidental touch, makes it harder to remember why I ever said no.
Sadie
I ran to Theo for safety, but the moment I walked through his door, I knew I wasn’t just in danger from my ex—I was in danger of falling again. He thinks he’s protecting me, keeping his distance. But every smouldering look says otherwise.
And every night, I wonder: what if I kissed him again? He thinks he’s just helping. But he doesn’t see how he’s rewiring my heart—how my daughter already adores him. I’m supposed to be surviving, not falling. But I know what I want…him. His hands. His mouth. His body. Even if it’s the one thing he swore I couldn’t have…
Rupture is another brilliant addition to the Dark Iceland series. I am invested in these characters now and this series has me completely captivated.
This book features a fascinating storyline about two young couples who move to an uninhabited part of Hedinsfjörður in 1955. When one of the sister’s dies it’s unclear if she committed suicide or if it was a tragic accident. The truth has never been proven. Ari Thór is determined to find out. Now, I love being at home and I’m perfectly comfortable in my own company, but we humans are social animals, and I can’t imagine living somewhere so isolated and cut off from the rest of the world! I would be climbing the walls within a week. I do wonder what makes people want to live such a solitary life and I was as determined as Ari Thór to discover why these people would willingly choose this lifestyle. I never would have guessed….
Along side this case, there’s a stalker on the loose and a missing child to contend with as well as the town being on lockdown. Not the easiest of times to conduct an investigation.
Brilliantly written, tense, atmospheric, I can easily visualise the setting as if I was there myself and I’ve never been to Iceland! Excellent characters who grow on me more with each book in the series. I can’t recommend this book/series highly enough. Another easy five stars for me!
I’ve already started book four, Whiteout.
1955.Two young couples move to the uninhabited, isolated fjord of Hedinsfjörður. Their stay ends abruptly when one of the women meets her death in mysterious circumstances. The case is never solved. Fifty years later an old photograph comes to light, and it becomes clear that the couples may not have been alone on the fjord after all…
In nearby Siglufjörður, young policeman Ari Thór tries to piece together what really happened that fateful night, in a town where no one wants to know, where secrets are a way of life. He’s assisted by Ísrún, a news reporter in Reykjavik, who is investigating an increasingly chilling case of her own. Things take a sinister turn when a child goes missing in broad daylight. With a stalker on the loose, and the town of Siglufjörður in quarantine, the past might just come back to haunt them.
I wouldn’t usually read a Christmas book this early in the year, but I requested this on NetGalley when I found out that Hannah Langdon had very sadly passed away, suddenly and unexpectedly, after a short illness. Her author friends were keen to get as many people as possible to pre-order and/or request on NetGalley so, of course, I was more than happy to support. My heart goes out to Hannah’s family, friends, and colleagues.
This book is a gorgeous read! I was completely swept away with the romance of it, and it didn’t matter to me at all that we’re a little way off Christmas yet. I don’t think there’s any reason why this book would have to be read exclusively at Christmas time, although it would certainly enhance your enjoyment of the festive season.
Laura is a private nurse who is embarking on a new position at the estate of Lyonscroft. She is to care for Marilise, who is a wonderful character. The two of them hit it off straight away and Laura soon settles in. She is struggling with grief and immersing herself in her work seems to be her only option for now. She is also trying to avoid her sister’s wedding plans for as long as possible. A sister who is the polar opposite of Laura, self-centred and entitled.
When Laura first meets Nick Prince, and his beloved dog, in a hedge rescue situation, she doesn’t realise he is the heir to Lyonscroft. As she gets to know him further, he does nothing much to warm himself to her initially, but she soon has a softening effect on him, and he starts to grow on her.
As their romance blossoms, Lyonscroft begins to embrace Christmas like never before, bringing light, laughter, love, and excitement to a house previously devoid of joy. A brighter future for the heir indeed.
A beautiful story which I loved!
I need to catch up with books one and two now. I wish I had discovered Hannah Langdon before now.
** Many thanks to the publisher for my ARC via NetGalley **
A swoon-worthy tale of second chances and Christmas magic that will have you believing in holiday miracles!
When Laura Wilde arrives at the snow-dusted English estate of Lyonscroft for Christmas, she’s fleeing her sister’s wedding chaos and seeking refuge in her job as a private nurse. But this enchanting manor holds secrets – not least why the devastatingly handsome heir, Nick Prince, seems determined to keep everyone at arm’s length…
Nick wants nothing more than to escape Christmas and sell the family estate, but Laura’s arrival changes everything. As she cares for his beloved grandmother, the spirited Princess Marilise, Laura finds herself caught between two worlds: the warmth and wisdom of an extraordinary woman with stories to tell, and the guarded heart of a man with a past he doesn’t want to talk about.
But when Laura transforms the cold, unwelcoming house into a magical Christmas wonderland, something shifts. Between unexpected dog rescues and stolen moments under the mistletoe, Laura must decide: will she play it safe and stick to her carefully ordered life, or risk everything for a love that could heal them both?
Perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Beth Moran and Phillipa Ashley.
What a fabulous, feel-good story this is! I absolutely loved it!
I love Atticus. My heart went out to him at the start. He doesn’t find much joy in life since he lost the love of his life. His son has taken over his farm and turned it into a thriving business, but Arnott just isn’t interested in it much. He takes himself off for walks with his dog, Ness, and generally just tries to stay out of everyone’s way. So sad.
One day though his grandson convinces him to renovate his old campervan, giving it a new lease of life. Atticus decides to bite the bullet and drive it to Spain. I’m not sure I’d be that brave at my age, let along 70. Little did he know just how much this was going to change the rest of his life.
His daughter welcomes the change in him and supports his sense of adventure.
His son, not so much. He’s not the most likable of characters although I can understand how some children, however old they are, find it difficult to accept a parent moving on after the death of the other. Brother and sister couldn’t be any different to each other.
I loved joining Atticus on his travels, meeting his new friends, letting his hair down, and learning to embrace life again. I would absolutely follow his Instagram account!
A beautifully written, heart-warming read which left me with a smile and happy tear.
** Many thanks to Caroline James for my gifted Kindle copy **
When seventy-year-old Atticus Arnott drives his beloved campervan from the rainy hills of Cumbria to the golden coast of Spain, his village is left reeling. With only his loyal collie, Ness, by his side, Atticus sets out in search of sunshine and serenity—but his journey of travel and self-discovery in Spain soon brings surprises he never imagined.
Back in Ireland, Atticus’s daughter Mary is facing a crisis of her own. As her picture-perfect life starts to crumble, she must find the courage to put herself first for once and rediscover the dreams she set aside long ago.
From a later in life romance to an uplifting women’s fiction story about family, Atticus Arnott’s Great Adventure is a heartwarming travel romance story perfect for fans of escapist holiday read fiction. Proof that it’s never too late to start over, this delightful romcom will inspire readers to embrace the unknown with open arms.
I am SO behind with writing reviews I thought I would write one overview for the rest of the DS Harbinder Kaur series which I have listened to consecutively on Audible recently….
When an elderly lady with a heart condition dies suddenly, as sad as it is, you’d be forgiven for assuming there’s nothing suspicious with that. Peggy is a fascinating character, and Harbinder soon realises that not all is as it first seems.
Another excellent crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns.
I really enjoyed the unusual storyline of this book. Centred around DS Caitlin Fitzgerald. A detective with a secret of her own. A secret she’s had to bury in order to function and live a ‘normal’ life. I can’t even imagine how anyone would begin to do that. Thirty years later, she finds herself attending a school reunion where things take a sinister turn and I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to end. Shocked!
This book focuses more on characters featured in book two, The Postscript Murders, Natalka and Edwin, with Harbinder more of a featured character. Natalka and Edwin now run a private detective agency and Natalka now lives with Benedict.
I like that these characters are awarded their own book in the series, although I did miss Harbinder.
Another enjoyable whodunnit which reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club in a way.
I really like Harbinder as a person and a detective. This book/series is full of fabulous characters and compelling storylines. I really liked the narrator of this series too. Does anyone know if there will be a book five?
Oh, my goodness! What a gorgeous read this is! I can always trust Rachael Stewart to make me smile and warm my heart. She writes such beautiful characters, often with difficult pasts, who manage to find happiness with each other despite the odds. I love it!
Maria is a single mother of an eighteen-year-old daughter. It has been just the two of them for a long time after Maria’s painful split from her daughter’s father. She is determined not to be answerable to any man again.
Then in walks Tim. Obviously easy on the eye, Maria can’t resist a night of fun. One night only. No strings attached.
Fate has other ideas though and I loved how their story unfolds.
Tim is just gorgeous. I think in Maria’s situation I might snatch him up without a second thought, but I understand her reluctance. Having good looks and being a billionaire is not enough to convince her to surrender her heart again in a hurry. Her daughter will always be her priority. Tim’s daughter is his priority too, but after devastating loss he isn’t ready to give up on the first woman who has made him feel the way he hasn’t for a long time.
I loved it! The characters, the yacht, the sunsets, the angst, the romance, the happy ending. I loved it all!
** Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for my review copy **
In this Sun, Sea and Swept Away story, single mum Maria has fought to reclaim her world from her controlling ex. Romance is the last thing on her mind—until billionaire widower Tim walks into her bar, igniting a passion she thought she’d buried. A brief fling was meant to be enough, until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited on a luxury superyacht. Working as a stewardess, Maria is mortified to be serving the man she shared a bed with. Worse still, their attraction is stronger than ever…
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