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Family Matters (Detective Allie Shenton Gritty Crime Thrillers Book 7) by Mel Sherratt @writermels #PublicationDay

Family Matters (Detective Allie Shenton Gritty Crime Thrillers Book 7)

by Mel Sherratt

Allie Shenton is back!!!

I love it!

I have loved every one of the books in this series and this one has been no exception.

The story starts with the suspicious death of local teenager, Katie Frost, found very close to home in what initially appears to be a random attack. How is her mother supposed to cope with yet another devastating loss. She has already quite recently lost her husband, Katie’s dad, to cancer. So much sadness for one family to endure. Heart-breaking.

Allie and the team are tasked with finding her attacker and get them off the streets. As is often the case, there turns out to be more going on behind closed doors then they had anticipated! How quickly can they piece it all together and get back to spending more quality time with their own families who don’t see much of them at all during a murder investigation. It’s all hands on deck until the perpetrator is behind bars.

This is another fast-paced police procedural featuring some regular characters I feel like I now know personally. Allie’s team is a brilliant. They work well together as colleagues, and friends, with a deep respect for each other and their jobs. I love following them through their processes and celebrate with them when they solve a case.

There are obviously a few dodgy characters throughout this story, as expected (which isn’t unheard of in Stoke-on-Trent 😉 ) No, seriously, I love that these books are set in Stoke. I’m proud to have been born here (although I’ve always lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme 😉 I.Y.K.Y.K ) There are honestly more good people than bad, as with most cities/towns. Mel Sherratt is one lovely lady who does us proud!

** Many thanks to Mel Sherratt for my review copy of Family Matters. Proud to be part of #TeamSherratt **

A deadly party. A vicious attack. A list of suspects.

When Katie Frost is murdered a few metres from home, a family is left in turmoil. Who would kill their beautiful girl? DI Allie Shenton and her team delve into the teenager’s background, bringing many secrets to light – from her acquaintances, neighbours and friends.

No one has a bad word to say about her, but everyone else has things they’re trying to hide, especially after a recent birthday celebration. With limited forensic evidence coming in, Allie’s work is doubled when another girl is attacked. Further investigations reveal she too was at the party.

Can Allie work out the truth hidden within the lies to find out who is wreaking havoc on a family’s loved ones? And, as threats from the past rear their ugly head within her own team, will she be able to keep them safe at the same time?

If you haven’t yet been introduced to Allie Shenton then you really should give this series a go!

As I publish this post, books 1-6 are available as a set on Kindle for just 99p!!! An absolute bargain and the perfect excuse to add this series to you TBR list. I have no idea how long this offer with last so grab them now. 99p is practically giving them away!

Happy reading!

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What Happens At The Beach… (Mills & Boon True Love) by Rachael Stewart @rach_b52

What Happens At The Beach…

by Rachael Stewart 

What Happens At The Beach…. is the most adorable read! I absolutely loved Fae and Rick’s story.

I also wouldn’t mind a week or two (or three, or four….) in one of their houses on the beach 😉

Fae took a little while to grow on me, if I’m honest, but I think she is probably meant to. She seems to have a bit of a chip on her shoulder, and it takes a while for us to understand why. She is quite rude to Rick at first which I thought was unfair considering she had only just met him.

The hostility doesn’t last long though, understandably. Rick does sound like he could sweep any single lady off their feet! Fae soon softens but is conflicted, which is easier to understand as you get to know her better.

Their dogs help though, which I love!

This is a book full of sunshine, beach walks, long talks, and romance, with a few bumps in the road but ultimately the happiest of endings.

Another gorgeous story by the very lovely Rachael Stewart!

If you need a little shot of sunshine and smiles in your life, you should read this.

**Many thanks to Rachael Stewart for my review copy**

Temptation under the summer sun…

After her home and livelihood are demolished by developers, Fae agrees to house and dog-sit for her wealthy stepsister in Bondi Beach. She’s a fish out of water in this glamorous setting, and her guard is up when she encounters gorgeous neighbour Rick and his adorable Great Dane. But the philanthropic billionaire quickly challenges her perceptions, and their intense chemistry explodes into a passionate—but strictly temporary—flirtation. Because it’s clear Rick doesn’t trust easily…and Fae can never truly belong in his affluent world—can she? Yet it’s increasingly hard to imagine their trysts ever ending!

Happy reading!

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The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe (Author), Lilit Zekulin Thwaites (Translator) @Antonioiturbe9

The Librarian of Auschwitz

by Antonio Iturbe (Author), Lilit Zekulin Thwaites (Translator) 

The Librarian of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Dita Kraus.

Dita is now 95 years old, but was only 14/15 years old as her story is told in this book. Honestly, I don’t really know how to properly review books like this one, when based on such horrific circumstances that really happened, not that long ago. I think it’s essential that these books are read by anyone and everyone though. It’s quite scary to think how many people think these atrocities never happened.

Dita is quite a feisty girl, considering what she endures on a day-to-day basis whilst at Auschwitz. She is tasked with the responsibility of looking after Block 31’s library. It might have only consisted of eight books, but she vows to guard them with her life, quite literally. If they were to be found, the consequences wouldn’t even bare thinking about. How terrifying that must have been! How courageous she was to take on this responsibility.

I found her story inspiring whilst also being reminded of the horrific conditions these people endured and the terrifying things they witnessed during these times. It isn’t an easy read by any means, but beautifully written. Dita sounds like an amazing lady who has gone on, thankfully, to live a long life.

I agree with a friend of mine who said that it’s almost as if God has granted some of these survivors a long life for the purposes of making sure they can tell as many people as possible, for as long as they possibly can, what happened at Auschwitz.

We should never forget.

If you get the chance to read this, please do, then pass it on to someone else who should read it too.

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Deliver Her by Patricia Perry Donovan @PatPDonovan

Deliver Her

by Patricia Perry Donovan 

Deliver Her had waited patiently on my Kindle TBR list for quite some time so I was glad to finally read it. I can’t remember buying it, or who recommended it, but I really enjoyed it. I pretty much went in blind, so I didn’t have any expectations which I quite like sometimes.

This is a thriller/mystery, and it is full of suspense, but I would describe it more as a family saga.

Alex is a teenage girl, struggling with grief after losing her best friend in a car accident. She blames herself. She is starting to go off the rails and her mother, Meg, is understandably concerned and battling with how best to help her. A last straw sees Meg enrolling Alex into a boarding school and hiring a transporter company to take her there. This was all quite extreme to me. I can’t imagine sending my daughter off with strangers but then I can understand how some children push their parents to their absolute limits. I could feel Meg’s desperation although I didn’t agree with her not involving her husband in the decision.

Alex reacts as you would imagine and when the journey doesn’t go as planned the story takes a whole different direction. One I was not expecting!

There are some interesting characters in this book and much more going on than you think at the beginning. There are a lot of different relationships. The main character’s mother/daughter dynamic, husband/wife, sister/brother, sister/sister, as well as friendships old and new, secrets, lies, and new beginnings. I thought it was a great read!

** I purchased the Kindle edition of Deliver Her on 2nd April 2016. It is still available to buy. **

On the night of Alex Carmody’s sixteenth birthday, she and her best friend, Cass, are victims of a terrible car accident. Alex survives; Cass doesn’t. Consumed by grief, Alex starts cutting school and partying, growing increasingly detached. The future she’d planned with her friend is now meaningless to her.

Meg Carmody is heartbroken for her daughter, even as she’s desperate to get Alex’s life back on track. The Birches, a boarding school in New Hampshire, promises to do just that, yet Alex refuses to go. But when Meg finds a bag of pills hidden in the house, she makes a fateful call to a transporter whose company specializes in shuttling troubled teens to places like The Birches, under strict supervision. Meg knows Alex will feel betrayed—as will her estranged husband, who knows nothing of Meg’s plans for their daughter.

When the transport goes wrong—and Alex goes missing—Meg must face the consequences of her decision and her deception. But the hunt for Alex reveals that Meg is not the only one keeping secrets.

Happy reading!

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#BookLaunch The Fight For Freedom by Stephen Smith #PhilipAstleyProjects #PhilipAstleyCentre #ShowmensGuildofGreatBritain #FunFair #FairgroundHistory

Hi all,

This afternoon my Mum and I attended a very exciting book launch in our hometown of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The launch was held at the Philip Astley Centre, in our town centre, which was the perfect venue for this book….

The Fight For Freedom by Stephen Smith

There was a reception from 1pm where we enjoyed complimentary coffee and cake before being treated to a fascinating talk from Steve outlining the history and inspiration behind his book.

Speaking of history, for those who don’t already know, Steve Smith was my High School history teacher (and form tutor for my 5 years at Chesterton Community Sports College). We have stayed in touch since and he has always made an effort to attend anything we have invited him to. He attended our wedding reception in 2002! He also came along when we attempted to organise a 20 year school reunion. There were a grand total of 9 of us there, if memory serves, and that includes my husband, Steve, coming with me. Needless to say we didn’t even try for a 30 year reunion, which is a shame really! He also came along to my 40th Birthday drinks, and most recently, Steve’s 50th Birthday celebrations. So, I am so glad I was able to show my support and attend his book launch today 🙂 (Although I didn’t expect to be the only ex-student in attendance!)

The event was very well attended though. Guests included the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Cllr Barry Panter….

….as well as Showmen, Showpeople, enthusiasts, collectors, authors, historians, and experts from all around the UK. It was great to see a full venue of support for Steve and his passion for this subject. A thoroughly enjoyable event. I look forward to reading the book and learning more.

You can purchase a copy of Steve’s book by contacting….

https://www.traditionalrides.com/fairgroundsociety/sales.html

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The Lost (Paula Maguire 1) by Claire McGowan @inkstainsclaire

The Lost (Paula Maguire 1)

by Claire McGowan 

Wow! What a brilliant start to a series. I have thoroughly enjoyed The Lost as part of a buddy read with some of my lovely Bookstagram friends. It isn’t a series I was aware of before so I’m glad it was brought to my attention.

Paula Maguire is a forensic psychologist from Northern Ireland but has been living in London for some years now. She has, however, been called back to her hometown to help with the investigations of two missing local girls. Have they simply run away? Could there be a serial killer on the loose? Are there any links to missing girls from years before who were never found? There are a lot of unanswered questions for the team to find answers to and fast.

This is a fast-paced police procedural featuring a forensic psychologist who sometimes ignores orders in her quest to find the truth. Paula Maguire is an interesting and likeable character who has her own backstory to tell. I like that we learn more about her past as the story progresses. I love her passion for her job and her determination to help these girls.

This is a story full of suspense and intriguing characters. It kept me guessing throughout and keen to find out how it was all going to end.

Shocking, heart-breaking, but brilliant!

I have already bought book 2!

** I bought the paperback edition of The Lost on the 27th of December for the purposes of our buddy read **

Not everyone who’s missing is lost

Hard-hitting and unputdownable, THE LOST follows Forensic psychologist Maguire back to her hometown in the search for two missing girls. This exhilarating introduction to the Paula Maguire series by Claire McGowan is sure to grip fans of Elly Griffiths and LJ Ross.

‘Claire McGowan is a knockout new talent’ – Lee Child

When two teenage girls go missing along the Irish border, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has to return to the hometown she left years before. Swirling with rumour and secrets, the town is gripped by fear of a serial killer. But the truth could be even darker.

Not everyone who’s lost wants to be found

Surrounded by people and places she tried to forget, Paula digs into the cases as the truth twists further away. What’s the link with two other disappearances from 1985? And why does everything lead back to the town’s dark past- including the reasons her own mother went missing years before?

Nothing is what it seems

As the shocking truth is revealed, Paula learns that sometimes, it’s better not to find what you’ve lost…

What readers are saying about The Lost:

‘Well written and keeps you guessing. The best book I have read this year’

‘Fantastic read. Had me gripped from start to finish – I just couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended’

‘Compelling and thrilling. Claire McGowan has a clever ease of storytelling that draws you in and leaves you wanting more‘

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Paula-Maguire-gripping-explosive-ebook/dp/B00ABLJ37E/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1APRGMGZ48GCD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9dREvwA9ehKgTipkaz2N8yF_Up9D-5jvistfpMezPGV7qpaRkJQiPZvOA0lPOObHzeP47dTeAQl2lvAT8FoJnZFAaxnAKxJeeCLmQjJXIcjKb22P01IOqkpHlL-NtgMckL1PALmvOVprOaOsnyjL2_lHFwoWZzbK2koBnQSqcAJ1K4_wI5MxE_8-NQFVN_vpXD2VOGitYwR_lvGwRMUnefgUDQpVYGH7WD4Kb8CLhNQ._0gwxgGxfdlHE0n_kcjAnJISpRB1RoldAR6_l8ndu_M&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+lost+claire+mcgowan&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1736695571&sprefix=the+lost+clai%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-1

Happy reading!

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Christmas Every Day by Beth Moran 

Christmas Every Day

by Beth Moran 

Christmas Every Day is a fabulous festive read!

I immediately took to Jenny who I think is very brave to take on her late grandmother’s ramshackle (to put it mildly) cottage. I understand her need for a fresh start though and her determination to see it through.

I immediately took to Mack too, Jenny’s next-door neighbour, although he’s a grumpy so and so to begin with. We soon learn why.

These two have a lot going on, emotionally and otherwise, and I enjoyed how their relationship develops from neighbours barely tolerating each other to friends….

There is so much more going on throughout this story though….

Jenny’s job and the relationships she builds with the family she finds herself working for.

A local estate agent trying to bully her into selling the cottage.

The Book Club members are an interesting bunch. Lol!

The hunt for a famous local author who doesn’t seem to want to be found.

Jenny’s relationship with her mother.

Mack’s relationship struggles.

Some surprises along the way!

It all adds up to a brilliantly written story which had me hooked! I LOVED it!

** I borrowed Christmas Every Day from the Prime Reading Library **

When Jenny inherits her estranged grandmother’s cottage in Sherwood Forest, she has nothing to lose – no money, no job, no friends, no family to speak of, and zero self-respect. Things can only get better…

Her grumpy, but decidedly handsome new neighbour, Mack, has a habit of bestowing unsolicited good deeds on her. And when Jenny is welcomed into a rather unusual book club, life seems to finally be getting more interesting.

Instead of reading, the members pledge to complete individual challenges before Christmas: from finding new love, learning to bake, to completing a daredevil bucket list. Jenny can’t resist joining in, and soon a year of friendship and laughter, tears and regrets unfolds in the most unexpected ways.

Happy reading!

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The Christmas Book Hunt: A Short Story by Jenny Colgan 

The Christmas Book Hunt: A Short Story

by Jenny Colgan 

The Christmas Book Hunt is a lovely festive short story. One I’m sure you could enjoy at any time of the year though.

There’s a seriously poorly elderly relative with one last wish. A niece who is determined to fulfil that wish and a bloke sent to throw a spanner in the works.

I love that this story is centred around finding a book. A unique book which isn’t going to be easy to track down, if it even exists at all!

I thoroughly enjoyed joining Mirren on her quest to make her great-aunt happy in her final days. I also enjoyed the romance she found along the way.

Lovely!

** I bought the kindle edition of this book on 17th November 2024 **

A Christmas mission…

Mirren’s beloved great-aunt Violet is seriously ill. Her one Christmas wish is to be reunited with a long-lost hand-illustrated book from her childhood, a challenge Mirren gladly accepts to give Violet some much-needed festive cheer.

An enchanting journey…

With no sign of the cherished volume online, Mirren falls into the fascinating world of rare books. From London to snowy Hay-on-Wye and Edinburgh’s cobbled streets, she chases leads from bookshop to bookshop—and bumps into mysterious, charming Theo, who, unbeknownst to her, is searching for the same book for reasons of his own…

The start of a new chapter?

As the two join forces to track the book down before time runs out for Violet, will Mirren find her Christmas miracle—and maybe even a kiss under the mistletoe… ?

Happy reading!

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Destiny Revealed: Wizard Twins (The Destiny Trilogy Series Book 1) by Cris Pasqueralle 

Destiny Revealed: Wizard Twins (The Destiny Trilogy Series Book 1) 

by Cris Pasqueralle 

Destiny Revealed begins with the thirteenth birthdays of Jack and Maddie. They aren’t your average teenagers though. They have no idea just how special they are. Their lives are turned upside down when their parents are kidnapped and taken to a different realm, and they discover it is their responsibility to rescue them as well as save all the realms!

I don’t read a lot of Fantasy or a lot of YA fiction, but I enjoyed this story. It was like a breath of fresh air with it being so different to what I generally read. A great start to a series. One I think will appeal to many readers, young or old!

** I purchased the kindle edition of this book on 19th April 2020 **

THE MAGIC BEGINS…
On the day of their thirteenth birthdays, twins Jack and Maddie Austin receive a special gift from their wizard relative Uncle Benny: two necklaces, along with a note shrouded in secrecy. The celebration is interrupted by three intruders, led by the evil being Tardon, who kidnaps the twin’s parents. Uncle Benny manages to escape with the twins and later, reveals the truth behind both their gifts and identities: that Jack and Maddie are powerful wizards from the magical realm. Now, faced with the decision of a lifetime, they must return to that realm, rescue their parents and save all the realms from imminent doom. Praise for Destiny Revealed: “Great fantasy fiction for young adults!” “A High Fantasy Quest not to be missed!”

Happy reading!

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Fight Back (Kerry Casey, Book 2) by Anna Smith

Fight Back (Kerry Casey, Book 2)

by Anna Smith

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed, book one of this series, Blood Feud, I was very much looking forward to catching up with Kerry Casey and the gang again in Fight Back. They’re an interesting bunch and live lives so far removed from my own it makes it the perfect book to lose yourself in. I don’t think I’d ever sleep if I was involved in the sort of things these characters get up to, but I know very well these sorts of things go on in this world. Scary stuff! Kerry Casey is one tough lady though and she won’t be intimidated by anyone. However powerful they are, or think they are. Kerry is still determined to turn the “family business” into a legitimate one, but other people are determined to make this as difficult as possible for her. Of course, this makes for a more interesting story. One I very much enjoyed. I’m looking forward to reading book 3, hopefully soon.

** I purchased the paperback edition of Fight Back on the 14th of August 2024 **

Gangster Kerry Casey has fought her way to the top of the Glasgow crime scene. But can she stay there?

Kerry Casey is now a fully-fledged gangland boss. With her business partner Sharon and her wily lawyer Marty at her side, she is busy ridding her organisation of the drug-dealing, people-trafficking scum her dead brother Mickey got them involved with. But her great dream is still to take the Caseys straight.

Her plan to turn her organisation around hinges on building a property empire in Spain. But Kerry has some deadly rivals – in Glasgow, on the Costa del Sol, and even further afield. They will never believe she has what it takes to defend her turf, and they won’t rest until the Caseys are destroyed.

Treat yourself

Happy reading!