The Art of Hiding @MrsAmandaProwse #bookreview

About The Art of Hiding

Nina McCarrick has it all: a loving husband, two beautiful boys, a well-appointed home and more time than she knows what to do with. Life is perfect. Until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina quickly loses her life of luxury and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life.

Bestselling author Amanda Prowse once again plumbs the depths of human experience in this stirring and empowering tale of one woman’s loss and love.

My review of The Art of Hiding

An Amanda Prowse book is always something to look forward to, and this book was no execption. The Art of Hiding is an emotive, thought provoking and hugely enjoyable read from one of my favourite authors. As ever, this book reaches into the depths of your soul and drags out every single emotion. I could not read and remain unaffected while reading The Art of Hiding, it touched me deeply.

The story begins when Nna's husband, Finn, is suddenly killed, leaving her alone to care for their two boys, Declan and Connor. Her orderd and well maintained life of everyday luxury is quite literally tuned on its head. She loses their home, income and friends. Nina leaves all of this  mess behind to start a new life in Southnampton, the city of  her youth, where her sister, Tiggy still lives. For me, this is when the real story begins.

This is such a beautiful book, in that, although about the depths of human despair, and hitting rock bottom, it explores the fact that life always finds a way. The novel beautifully explores the theme of revisiting your roots and the importance of family, no matter what has happens in your life. The book tackles head on the issue surrounding debt, somewhat poignant in these times of austerity, that we are all living in, and I read with a twist in my gut at what happened to Nina, as theoretically, this could happen to anyone.

The crux of this novel is to do with relationships. The relationship that we have between siblings. I loved Tiggy and everything that she stood for. The fiercely protective sister who says what she thinks, while wearing her heart on her sleeve. But the book also delves into the type of relationship that we have with our partner. It asks the question: Do we ever really know our partner? Are they hiding things from us? This is the completely gripping thread that ran throughout the entire book. That of what happened to Finn, and if he really was the man who Nina saw every day.

The Art of Hiding highlights most eloquently the importance of family and that possosions are just things, stuff, that is accumulated over time. It is people that matter. This really is a life affirming book that makes you truly appreciate what you have in life.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy.

The Art of Hiding is published by Lake Union Publishing, 18 July, and can be found on Amazon here.

About the author

Amanda Prowse likens her own life story to those she writes about in her books. After self-publishing her debut novel, Poppy Day, in 2011, she has gone on to author sixteen novels and six novellas. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and she regularly tops bestseller charts all over the world.

Remaining true to her ethos, Amanda writes stories of ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love tested in ways they never imagined. The most prolific female contemporary fiction writer in the UK, with a legion of loyal readers, she goes from strength to strength. Being crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail was one of her finest moments.

Amanda is a regular contributor on TV and radio, but her first love is and will always be writing.
You can find her online at www.amandaprowse.com, on Twitter at @MrsAmandaProwse and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove

Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World by Laura James #bookreview

About Odd Girl Out

What do you do when you wake up in your mid-forties and realize you've been living a lie your whole life? Do you tell? Or do you keep it to yourself?

 

Laura James found out that she was autistic as an adult, after she had forged a career for herself, married twice and raised four children. Odd Girl Out tracks the year of Laura's life after she receives a definitive diagnosis from her doctor, as she learns that 'different' doesn't need to mean 'less' and how there is a place for all of us, and it's never too late to find it.

 

Laura draws on her professional and personal experiences and reflects on her life in the light of her diagnosis, which for her explains some of her differences; why, as a child, she felt happier spinning in circles than standing still and why she has always found it difficult to work in places with a lot of ambient noise.

 

Although this is a personal story, the book has a wider focus too, exploring reasons for the lower rate of diagnosed autism in women and a wide range of topics including eating disorders and autism, marriage and motherhood.

 

This memoir gives a timely account from a woman negotiating the autistic spectrum, from a poignant and personal perspective

 

 

 

 

My review of Odd Girl Out

 

Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World is a raw and startlingly honest account of what it is like to be on the autistic spectrum. Laura James always felt that she was different, bit it wasn't until her mid forties that she finally got her  diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, (ASD). Odd Girl Out chronicles Laura's memoirs from when she was first diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in August 2015, through to December 2016. This book was incredibly insightful and informative, and once I started to read I couldn't stop.  It made me nod in agreement, it made me cry. This is also an uncomfortable read at times, but an important one. I feel that everyone who is affected by autism, individuals themselves, parents and professionals, should all read this book.

 

I wanted to read this book as my youngest son has ASD, he was diagnosed at the age of three in 2011. I like to read books on the subject of autism so that I can better help and enable him to live as independent life as possible. Knowledge as they say is power. I have read many parenting books and autism books by professionals, such as Tony Attwood, Simon Baron-Cohen, Steve Silberman (NeuroTribes was such an interesting read) and Temple Grandin. I do find that books written by individuals on the autistic spectrum,  are by far the most helpful to me. They explain candidly about what it is like to be autistic. Odd Girl Out is one of those books. But never before have I read a book that is so raw, that has been stripped to the absolute bones so that all emotions are exposed, and all with the intention of helping indivials who are on the spectrum, and in particular, women. I felt that I was hugely privileged to be allowed into Laura's world, to read her innermost thoughts and to share her experience in the world as an autistic woman. In doing so I felt like I learned so much more about my son's condition and that now, some of his behaviours make more sense to me. I feel that it is very hard for a neurotypical person to fully understand what autism is, in fact scrub that, I will never understand what it is like to be autistic, but by reading such book's as this, I now have more underrating.

 

This book is also such a breath of fresh air. I am sick to the back teeth of reading about 'cures' and how we need to find a 'cure' for autism. I agree wholeheartedly with Laura when she says that we need to put more resources in place, to have early intervention and help available to parents, rather than ploughing money into researching a cure. Autism is simply different, not less, once again I agree with Laura when she says that autistic brains are wired differently. Just as I find it difficult sometimes to understand my son, he too in turn, most probably finds it difficult to understand me.

 

Books such as Odd Girl Out are vital. We need voices from the autistic community. This is a fascinating read that features Laura's opinions as well as voices from leading autism professionals such as Tony Attwood, Sara Wild (head teacher at Limpsfield Grange, a school for girls on the autistic spectrum) and Dr Judith Gould, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. and the Lead Consultant at the Lorna Wing Centre for Autism. All of these factors make for an incredibly informative book, but one that I also read as a story. By the time I had finished the book, I felt terribly sad. I  wanted to carry on reading, to learn more about Laura's life. It felt like she had become a close friend, I knew her that well.

 

I would like to thank Laura for writing such a powerful and emotive book. It brought a lump to my throat while reading it because of her sheer honesty. She definitely pulls no punches and I liked this. Laura James will help so many autistic individuals and their families by sharing her personal story, and in particular she will help so many women, who for too long have been misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

This book really is a must read... for everyone.  



 

Odd Girl Out is published by Bluebird Books for Life on 6 April. You can find a copy on Amazon here.

With thanks to Bluebird Books for Life who sent me a hardback copy for review purposes.

To find out more information about autism, please visit the National Autistic Society (NAS) website at http://www.autism.org.uk/

About the author

Laura James is an author and journalist and the owner of a communications agency. Her writing has appeared in many national and international newspapers and magazines.when not frantically fighting deadlines, she can generally be found hiding under a duvet with a stack of good books and lots of chocolate. She is the mother of four adult children and lives with her husband their dogs and cat in North Norfolk. Since her diagnosis she has campaigned for autism awareness and acceptance.

Last Breath by Robert Bryndza

 

He’s your perfect date. You’re his next victim.

 

When the tortured body of a young woman is found in a dumpster, her eyes swollen shut and her clothes soaked with blood, Detective Erika Foster is one of the first at the crime scene. The trouble is, this time, it’s not her case.

While she fights to secure her place on the investigation team, Erika can’t help but get involved and quickly finds a link to the unsolved murder of a woman four months earlier. Dumped in a similar location, both women have identical wounds – a fatal incision to their femoral artery.

Stalking his victims online, the killer is preying on young pretty women using a fake identity. How will Erika catch a murderer who doesn’t seem to exist?

Then another girl is abducted while waiting for a date. Erika and her team must get to her before she becomes another dead victim, and, come face to face with a terrifyingly sadistic individual.

Gripping, tense and impossible to put down, Last Breath will have you on the edge of your seat, racing to the final dramatic page.

My review of Last Breath

Last Breath is the fourth installment in the Erika Foster detective series by Robert Bryndza, and the first book in the series that I have read...and WOW, I loved every page. This is an exhilarating read that gripped me from the incredibly chilling Prologue. Unlike many other reviewers who have read the books in order, I came to this book knowing absolutely nothing about the characters or their backstory, but for me this really didn't matter, as I felt like I was not missing out. This really does work as a stand alone novel. Having said that, I do plan on working my way back through the previous three books.

So, Last Breath is about a sadistic serial killer who preys on women. He uses a false identity while online to stalk his victims. Robertt Bryndza has created a chilling and truly unforgettable serial killer. He is the man who you could walk past on the street and not be aware of the horrific crimes that he has committed against women. He is the man who you could befriend. It is spine chillingly real. That is why this book works so well, the events could happen, and they could happen to you.

DI Erika Foster leads the investigation, and is a character that I quickly got to know, as she wears her heart on her sleeve. She is feisty, opinionated, caring and will ultimately do whatever it takes to catch the bad guy. I had a lot of respect for her. But equally, I did too for Moss and Peterson, her colleagues. Together they made a great team, supporting each other. This leads me onto the investigative procedures and how the crime scenes were investigated. Once again, everything was painstakingly real, making me live the moment when they found  the body of a young woman, thrown away, discarded like a piece of rubbish into a dumpster. I felt what Erika felt, and I too wanted to catch him.

Last Breath is a thrilling serial killer read that will have you on the edge of your seat. It deals with the issues of online dating, social media, the issues of online safety and of how women are portrayed as victims in a clever and empathetic way. One scene in particular stuck in my mind, as Erika so eloquently pointed out that she could have been one of these young women in her younger days. All it takes is to walk down the wrong street or to be delayed by a few minutes. This thought stayed with me. Last Breath is a disturbing read, a thought provoking read and a book that is simply unputdownable.

Last Breath published by Bookouture on April 12, can be found on Amazon here.

About the author

Robert Bryndza is the author of the international #1 bestseller The Girl in the Ice. The Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller is the first book in the Detective Erika Foster series.

The Night Stalker, and Dark Water are the second and third books in the series, and the fourth book, Last Breath, has just been published.

Robert's books have sold over 1.7 million copies, and have been translated into 26 languages.

In addition to writing crime fiction, Robert has published a bestselling series of romantic comedy novels. He is British and lives in Slovakia.

You can find out more about the author at www.robertbryndza.com and on Twitter and Instagram @RobertBryndza

Sign up to Robert Bryndza‘s New Release Mailing List here: http://eepurl.com/UITxz

Paris for One and Other Stories by JoJo Moyes

About Paris for One and Other Stories

A collection of 11 unmissable short stories from the Number One internationally bestselling author of Me Before You and After You

'Lots to cheer about in Moyes' first collection of short stories. If you want romance, the title story and its hapless heroine Nell will give it to you in spades' Red

'Moyes somehow manages to break your heart before restoring your faith in love' Sunday Express

Nell is twenty-six and has never been to Paris. She's never even been on a romantic weekend away - to anywhere - before. Travelling abroad isn't really her thing. But when Nell's boyfriend fails to show up, she has the chance to prove to everyone - including herself - that she can be independent and intrepid. Alone in Paris, Nell finds a version of herself she never knew existed . . .

In the ten other stories, Jojo Moyes introduces us to a cast of strong, relatable women in the midst of their everyday lives. In Honeymoon in Paris, featuring characters from her bestselling novel, The Girl You Left Behind, Liv and Sophie - though decades apart - both find that marriage is only the beginning of their love stories. In Crocodile Shoes, a businesswoman's blossoming confidence emerges from a fateful changing-room mix-up. And in both Love in the Afternoon and A Bird in the Hand, two couples dance around the trickiness of long-time marriage. In this irresistible collection, readers will be whisked from elegant perfume shops to taxis to five-star hotel rooms and more.

My review of Paris for One and Other Stories

 



 

I shall start by saying that I am a huge fan of JoJo Moyes and have read nearly all of her books. I was therefore very excited when I found out that she had wrote a short story collection. I vowed last year to read more short story collections, and so Paris for One and Other Stories was a very much welcome treat, and it didn't disappoint.

 

What I love about this author is her ability to write about women, like me, in every day situations. She is able to give them a distinctive voice, which allows them to tell their own unique story. All are interesting, relatable and immensely enjoyable. So, this heartwarming collection is comprised of 11 short stories, and I enjoyed each and every one of them. 

 

Paris for One is the first story in the collection and I have to admit, my favourite. Here, we meet Nell, a twenty-six-year-old woman who has become somewhat stuck in life. She has a boyfriend, but forever seems to be alone. It is during her short break to Paris that she is finally able to find out who she is and what she really wants from life. The story is predictable and I pretty much guessed the ending, but for me that was part of the charm. What mattered was the journey that I was on with Nell as she discovered who she truly was.

 

These stories, as with all of JoJo Moyes writing, captivate the soul. They feel as if you are visiting an old friend, and I felt like I knew and had befriended all of these women. All of them had a different story to tell, those of heartache, love, friendship and daring heroines. These stories covered all of them. What I particularly liked was the theme of marriage, and love after a long marriage, a subject that is not often talked about in this genre of literature. We often read books about new romance and falling in love, so it made a refreshing change to explore romantic love within a long term relationship.

 

Paris for One and Other Stories really is the perfect book to curl up with one night, and to simply enjoy... just as I did. 

 

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

Paris for One and Other Stories, published by Michael Joseph on 9 Feb, is available on Amazon here.

Lily's House by Cassandra Parkin

                                                                                              

 

About Lily's House

 

When Jen goes to her grandmother's house for the last time, she's determined not to dwell on the past. As a child, Jen adored Lily and suspected she might be a witch; but the spell was broken long ago, and now her death means there won't be any reconciliation.

Lily's gone, but the enchantments she wove and the secrets she kept still remain. In Lily's house, Jen and her daughter Marianne reluctantly confront the secrets of the past and present - and discover how dangerous we become when we're trying to protect the ones we love.



                                                                                      

My Review of Lily's House

 

I was first attracted to Lily's House because of the subject matter, that of a granddaughter returning to her grandmother's house, following her death. From the book's blurb it is obvious that something happened between them, for Jen to not be able to say goodbye to her grandmother before her death, and this thought ate away at me. I needed to know what had happened between them and what their unique story was. Throughout the book we are told their story, and it is beautiful.

This is such a beautifully crafted book about the love between mother and daughter and, granddaughter and grandmother. The book is dominated by the strength of women and how women support each other during the lifespan.

We are firstly introduced to Jen and her daughter, Marianne, as they slowly make their way to Lily's House by train. The present day is intertwined with memories gone by of when Jen was a little girl and used to stay at Lily's house. This is the structure of the book, as the present day goings on are intermingled with flashbacks of how life used to be for Jen and the freedom that she felt at her gran's house. These chapters in the book brought a lump to my throat, as they reminded me of the times that I used to stay at my grandmother's house as a little girl, when my grandfather was still alive. The images of eating cake, playing in the garden, and the absolute freedom that I was given. All of my memories were brought to the surface, making Jen's feelings and emotions even more raw.

Throughout the book we are also observer's to text messages between Jen and her husband, Daniel. In fact this is the major way in which we learn about his character. This I thought, was a very clever narrative device. We are also able to read flashbacks of their time together from when they first met, which also helps to shed a light on their present day relationship.

Then we have the relationship between Jen and Marianne, the way in which they both care and support each other. Marianne is on the brink of adolescence and, it is time for Jen to learn to give her some independence and to allow her to become the young woman that she so desperately wants to be. The scenes between the two of them were so beautifully told. The dialogue flowed so easily and was just how a mother and daughter communicate with each other, with all of those unsaid inner most thoughts.

Lily's House is a story about a granddaughter and grandmother and the life that they shared. But it is also about the strength of women and the special bond that women have with each other. I adored this book, which is full of several twists and turns. I loved it. It is a very special book indeed.

With thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for a review copy.

 

About the Cassandra Parkin

Cassandra Parkin grew up in Hull, and now lives in East Yorkshire. Her short story collection, New World Fairy Tales (Salt Publishing, 2011), won the 2011 Scott Prize for Short Stories. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. Author of The Summer We All Ran Away (2013) and The Beach Hut (2015).

Lily's House is published by Legend Press and is available to buy from Amazon here

The Handsworth Times by Sharon Duggal

 

 

About - The Handsworth Times

 



 

Mukesh Agarwal sits alone in the Black Eagle pub, unaware that a riot is brewing or that Billy, his youngest son, is still out on his bike ...A mile away in the family home in Church Street, Anila, one of the three Agarwal girls, is reading Smash Hits and listening to Radio One as she sprawls across the bottom bunk, oblivious to the monumental tragedy that is about to hit her family ...It is 1981 and Handsworth is teetering on the brink of collapse. Factories are closing, unemployment is high, the National Front are marching and the neglected inner cities are ablaze as riots breakout across Thatcher's fractured Britain. The Agarwals are facing their own nightmares but family, pop music, protest, unexpected friendships and a community that refuses to disappear all contribute to easing their personal pain and that of Handsworth itself.THE HANDSWORTH TIMES is a story of loss and transition, and pulling together because ultimately, there is such a thing as society.

 

My Review of The Handsworth Times

 

The Handsworth Times is a raw and emotional read that draws you in from the very first page. Set in the early 80's, we are taken back in time to when there where no smartphones, internet and when people relied upon their local community and newspapers to find out the local gossip and news stories of the day. I loved this book for its nostalgia, lyrical storytelling but ultimately because at its heart was the story of a family learning to live with loss and prejudice.

 

The story opens with the father and head of the household, Mukesh Agarwal, sitting alone in a pub in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. He appears to be a lonely man, sat alone with just his thoughts and as the story progressed, my sorrow for him grew. It is while he is sat in the Black Eagle pub, that the riot begins and which ultimately leads to a tragedy within the family.

 

Although set in the 80's, this book could very well be set in modern day Britain. The issues that surround migrants, post Brexit and how we are now a nation that both embraces and fights against ethnic diversity, could be transferred so easily into this book. The problems within society have not changed, they have just been given different labels.

 

So the Agarwal family live in the Handsworth area of Birmingham that is home to many different cultures and belief systems, and it is because of the tragedy that the family endures, that these different cultures come together, in a way that would not have been possible before. This is a book about community, about how a community can divide itself because of its different belief systems, race, culture etc., but that at the end of the day, when a tragedy  occurs and that particular community is on the brink of collapse, the only way to fight and to stand up for what you believe in is to stand together.

 

This book is full of wonderfully captured characters. The mother, who keeps the home together is a strong and independent woman who finds her inner strength when those around her lose their focus and love of life. She was by far my favourite character. However, I also thought that all of the children in the book had their own distinct voice and story to tell. Together through all of the various different storylines that run throughout the book, we get a glimpse into a life that was dominated by prejudice, social insecurity and poverty. On paper, you would think that this would mean that the book was somehow despondent and a tale of how life used to be for those who where less well off - living hand to mouth, but this is not the case.

 

Handsworth Times is an uplifting book about the importance of family, friendships and community. Above all else, this book makes you think about what you value most in life - and the answer should always be that of family.

 

The Handsworth Times can be bought from Amazon here

 

About Sharon Duggal

 

Sharon Duggal was born to parents who immigrated from the Punjab, India and she grew up in and around Handsworth, Birmingham. She lived in London for many years and now lives in Brighton & Hove. She is a writer, campaigner, community radio presenter (alongside one of her sons), a daughter, sister, mother and partner, amongst other things. She works in arts and literature development and has an MPhil in Creative Writing from the University of Sussex. The Handsworth Times is her first novel.

 

 

 

The Devil You Know by Terry Tyler

About - The Devil You Know

Every serial killer is someone's friend, spouse, lover or child....

Young women are being murdered in the Lincolnshire town of Lyndford, where five people fear someone close to them might be the monster the police are searching for.
One of them is right.

Juliet sees an expert's profile of the average serial killer and realises that her abusive husband, Paul, ticks all the boxes.

Maisie thinks her mum's new boyfriend seems too good to be true. Is she the only person who can see through Gary's friendly, sensitive façade?

Tamsin is besotted with her office crush, Jake. Then love turns to suspicion...

Steve is used to his childhood friend, Dan, being a loud mouthed Lothario with little respect for the truth. But is a new influence in his life leading him down a more sinister path?

Dorothy's beloved son, Orlando, is keeping a secret from her—a chilling discovery forces her to confront her worst fears.

THE DEVIL YOU KNOW is a character-driven psychological drama that will keep you guessing until the very end.

 

My Review of The Devil You  Know

 

The Devil You Know is a character driven psychological drama that will have you on the edge of your seat. I could not put this book down. Once I had read the first page - I was hooked. If you love intelligent and insightful crime novels, then this is the book for you.

The Devil You Know is delivered from five different viewpoints: those of a mother, a friend, a  daughter, a wife and a colleague. When I first saw the 'list of contents' displaying a series of names, I thought that I would become confused,  with regards to the plot and characters within it. But, this was not the case. Each character is clearly defined with their own unique voice, told via the third person - something that is very difficult to achieve with multiple narrators. Each of them have their own suspicions about the identity of the serial killer who is running rampant in Lyndford - But who is right?

This is extremely clever storytelling, with the author showing, and not telling us the individual story lines. As I made my way through the novel, my suspicions kept changing, with no one character standing out as the killer. I honestly thought that it could have been any one of the five. Even to the very end of the book, I still had my doubts as to whom the killer was - it was that good.

What is so very clever about this book is that we are introduced to the five suspects through the eyes of the people who are closest to them. W are presented with a biased viewpoint - it is not subjective. We feel, think and go through all of the emotions that the mother, friend, colleague etc.,  go through. It is what they believe to be true, it is their suspicions, and this is what we build our evidence upon. So is what they are seeing and building their evidence upon actualy true? That is the clever twist - and I loved it!

So who did I most identify with in the book? Usually one or two characters reach out to me, and I immerse myself in their journey. But with this book, I can honesty say that I identified with all five protagonists. The  wife who is living in an abusive relationship - time and time again I found myself screaming at her to get out and yelling, why are you living with a psychopath? Then there was lovable Steve - the best friend. Again, I asked myself why he was a friend to the man who he suspected of being a killer? Then we have the mother, and I suppose it was with her that I had the most empathy with. As a mother, I suppose that you would do anything to protect your child, your son, but what would you do if you suspected them of killing women? Report your suspicions to the police? But the answer is not so very clear cut. Not without any firm evidence and only suspicions to go on. This is the moral question that we are left to ponder. Then we have the teenage daughter - who suspects that her mother's new boyfriend is the killer. I'll be honest and state that I never liked him from he moment I met him on the page. But could he be a killer? Then  finally we have Tamsin, the colleague. I felt so sorry for her. She thinks that she knows Jake - but does she? This then begs the question, do we ever truly know anyone, even those closest to us?

This book, although a crime novel at heart, and a gritty and raw one at that, is so much deeper. It is a psychological drama that plays on the mind. We constantly question all of the suspects that are presented to us, never quire knowing who is responsible for he atrocious crimes that take place.
 

I highly recommend The Devil You Know. It is a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable psychological drama .

 

The Devil You Know can be bought from Amazon here

About Terry Tyler

 

 

Terry Tyler's first Amazon publication, 'You Wish', won 'Best Women's Fiction' in the eFestival of Words 2013, while short story collection 'Nine Lives' and family drama 'Last Child' have won other small online awards.

Terry is fascinated by the psychology behind relationships, and this forms the background of all her books. From the 'is my husband/friend/son a serial killer?' fears of the characters in her new release, 'The Devil You Know', to the dark and complex emotional tangles of 'The House of York', to the aspirations of several writers in 'Best Seller, it's all about the characters. And the plot twists...

Terry has a blog on which she writes around many topics (social networking, writing, nostalgia, TV and film).  She also has a book review blog, on which you can find her own reading choices and those she reads as part of Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. She loves Twitter (TerryTyler4) and can also be found on Goodreads and Facebook.

Terry lives in the north east of England with her husband.

Christmas Under a Starlit Sky (A Town Called Christmas Book 2) by Holly Martin

Christmas Under a Starlit Sky 

Step inside a beautiful winter wonderland where love, laughter and cosy nights by the fire will make this Christmas one to remember.

 

Neve Whitaker loves managing the Stardust Lake hotel. She gets to work alongside her wonderful family and she’s spending Christmas on the most enchanting, snow-covered island in Scotland. So why is her heart so heavy this festive season?

 

It might have something to do with the gorgeous actor Oakley Rey, the man she finished with before he left for California and the man she loves more than anything. With Oakley’s career in Hollywood soaring, Neve is convinced she’d only hold him back. She had to end it with him – at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.

 

But now she has a secret she’s struggling to keep, and when Oakley arrives on Juniper Island determined to win her back, Neve is thrown off balance. Will Neve’s fear of having her heart broken again push Oakley away for good, or is it time for her to take a leap of faith?

 

Get swept away by this deliciously sweet and heartwarming tale, and spend an unforgettable Christmas on Juniper Island.                        

 

 

My review of Christmas Under a Starlit Sky

 

Oh where do I start with this book, other than to say that I loved it? It is such a cosy, warm and fluffy read that makes you feel all gooey inside and that anything in life is possible. This really is the perfect feel good book. There is nothing about this book that I didn't like.

Firstly we have Neve and Oakley. In the previous book Neve left Oakley as she believed that their two lives were not compatible, mainly due to the fact that he was a rising Hollywood star. However, at the beginning of this book, Oakley returns and he wants Neve back. Now Oakley is a handsome and dashing character who you just can't help but love. I  really enjoyed reading about this couple and how they fizzled off each other. Throughout the book it was plainly obvious to everyone that they were meant for each other, but would fate allow this because of a secret that Neve was keeping from him? That was the real question.

 

For me, the real surprise in the book and whom I loved the most, were the supporting characters of Dan and Ivy, and for me they stole the show. They too have their own secrets to keep.  Dan who has been brought in to help Neve manage the Stardust Lake hotel (I just love the name) over the Christmas break is simply adorable and from the very first moment that I met him, I couldn't help but love him. Ivy, who is a painter and who runs a local shop, meets Dan quite by surprise one day and their quite unexpectedly their journey begins. Now the chemistry between these two characters and how they interacted with each other was lovely to see unfurled on the page.

This book features many colourful and memorable characters whom you meet along the way. They all help to create a sense of community in the small snow covered island. That is what I truly loved about this book, that everyone looked out for each other and cared for each other. This type of close knit community is so very hard to find in the real world.
 

So, yes, I adored this story. Grab a crocheted blanket and a mug of hot chocolate when you curl up with this book. It is the perfect romantic Christmas read.
 

Christmas Under a Starlit Sky is published October 19th by Bookouture and can be bought via Amazon here

 

About Holly Martin

 

Holly lives in sunny Devon in a little white cottage by the sea. She studied media at university which led to a very glitzy career as a hotel receptionist followed by a even more glamorous two years working in a bank. The moment that one of her colleagues received the much coveted carriage clock for fifteen years’ service was the moment when she knew she had to escape. She quit her job and returned to university to train to be a teacher. Three years later, she emerged wide eyed and terrified that she now had responsibility for the development of thirty young minds. She taught for four years and then escaped the classroom to teach history workshops, dressing up as a Viking one day and an Egyptian High Priestess the next. But the long journeys around the UK and many hours sat on the M25 gave her a lot of time to plan out her stories and she now writes full time, doing what she loves.

Holly has been writing for 7 years. She was shortlisted for the New Talent Award at the Festival of Romance. Her short story won the Sunlounger competition and was published in the Sunlounger anthology. She won the Carina Valentine’s competition at the Festival of Romance 2013 with her novel The Guestbook. She was shortlisted for Best Romantic Read, Best eBook and Innovation in Romantic Fiction at the Festival of Romance 2014.

Follow her on Twitter @hollymartin00

 

                   

Beetlebrow by Ben Parker

 

 

Beetlebrow (taken from Amazon)

 

Beetlebrow, the first book in The Beetlebrow Trilogy, is an intricately plotted, emotional and intensely engaging story about two teenage girls, Beetlebrow and Pook, thrown together in a life or death adventure taking place in a sinister, hostile and threatening world. The two will need all their resourcefulness to succeed in a daunting quest: to deliver a cryptic, vital message to the distant eastern city of Dalcratty. The growing love Beetlebrow and Pook feel for each other brings them closer together as they confront challenge after challenge, not the least of which is an encounter with the citizens of Essum, whose morality and culture is founded upon interpreting a half-finished painting. After you read Beetlebrow, your life will never be quite the same.

 

 

My Review of Beetlebrow

 

I gave to be honest and say that when Ben first approached me about reading his book, I had my reservations. This book is completely out of my comfort zone, as it is a YA/LGBT/adventure novel But I like to challenge my reading habits and, so I told Ben that I would give it a go. And I am so very glad that I did. Beetlebrow is an epic romp of a story that is fast paced and beautifully written.

 

What really struck me with this book was the way in which Ben had managed to create an entirely new world that I could, see, taste and smell. The absolute poverty and base desire to simply survive on a daily basis was told with such humility and compassion that I instantly befriended Beetlebrow and happily went with her on her journey throughout the pages of the book. As a mother, I also wanted to reach out and tell her that everything was going to be okay.

 

Beetlebrow is the central character in the book, who together with Pook, begin an adventure to deliver a cryptic message to the city of Dalcratty. What I enjoyed most about this book was their story, which was one of friendship brought about by necessity, the necessity to survive. Although this book is about a lesbian relationship, the focus is very much upon young love, teenage love, those feelings that we all have when we meet someone for the first time and do not know what to say, do or how to act, and this is what Ben beautifully portrays through his writing, that of the unknown. The way in which Ben writes about their feelings towards each other, and in particular Beetlebrow's difficulties in articulating those feelings, is very raw and poignant.

 

Their relationship, and in fact the role of women, is portrayed very strongly within the book. They are living in male dominated times, with women forced into prostitution and begging just to be able to eat. Both Pook and Beetlebrow are strong female leads, who, together, will not allow men to dominate them. They are strong willed and opinionated and ultimately survivors. I loved them.

 

The only slight downside for me with this book, was that I would have loved to have known more about Pook, about her story, but perhaps this will be revealed within the second book in the trilogy.

 

Beetlebrow is a wonderful debut novel about the strength of women and survival within the bleakest of circumstances. I very much look forward to reading more by Ben Parker. 

With thanks to the author and Conrad Press for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.



 

About Ben Parker

 

Ben Parker was born in Ealing, London, in 1983. He studied English literature at Southampton University, achieving a BA and MA, before moving to Kent in 2007. He suffers from clinical depression and anxiety problems, which is probably a little obvious from the tone of "Beetlebrow", but he thinks that from this debilitating illness, the desire to struggle onwards is made more palpable, as he strives to write with originality and verve.

"Beetlebrow" is Ben's first novel. After ten years of trying to get publishers interested in what he'd written, he finally found James Essinger, who was willing to take the challenge of representing his latest book, "Beetlebrow". Around the same time, James was starting The "Conrad Press", a small publishing firm based in Canterbury, and since Ben always preferred the local to the national, he was very pleased that they wanted to publish "Beetlebrow" as part of "The Conrad Press"'s first releases.

Ben enjoys jazz, dub reggae and ambient music. Being a vinyl nut, he's very pleased to be aged 33 and a third :)

You can follow Ben on twitter at @bjcparker

Beetlebrow is available to buy from Amazon here

I had heard so many good things abut this book, so when I was browsing the shelves in my local library and spotted it, I knew that I had to read it. I devoured this beautifully written book quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Abut Falling (Taken from Amazon)

Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.

Jo’s secret could smash apart the ‘normal’ family life she’s fought so hard to build.

Lydia’s could bring her love - or the loss of everything that matters to her.

Grandmother, mother and daughter – three women whose lives are falling apart. But one summer’s day, a single dramatic moment will force their secrets into the open.

Can they save each other from falling?

My Review

This was such a beautiful book to read. The emphasis was very much upon the relationship between women, how women support each other and what different generations of women can teach each other. All of the three main characters, Honor, Jo and Lydia, are likeable, strong and feisty women who know their own mind. Each have their own secret (which I won't give away) and it is through the telling of their individual stories and unique voices, that you realise what each of their secrets is doing to them. The strong message within the book is that it is only by confiding and trusting in others that you can truly adapt and enjoy life.

Honor is the grandmother, and Jo's mother-in-law, and at first I admit that I did not like her much. But as her story developed, and I began to find out who she truly was, she gradually grew on me and by the end she was by far my most favourite of the three. Jo I found to be the weakest link, as at times I wanted her to wake up and see what was going on around her. But I empathised with her as a busy mum of two pre-schoolers, and then having to deal with a teenage daughter. The scene where she travels by bus with the two younger children had me in stitches and was vey similar to when I used to travel by bus with my two boys in their younger days. I still carry tubs of cheerio's with me, just in case. But throughout the story we soon realise that Jo is tackling her own demons and is simply doing the best that she can.

Lydia I really admired. A teenage girl coming to terms with her newly adult self and all of the associated life changes that are to take place. Her voice, for me, was the strongest. I could hear her talking to me through the pages. She was heartfelt and authentic; beautifully captured in that moment between childhood and adulthood.

I love this book. I love the fact that the entre narrative discuses how strong women are and that they are even stronger when they support each other. The bonds between grandmother, mother and daughter are also fully explored, as is the delicate relationship between mother and daughter-in-law.

This book really was like a breath of fresh air and will make you evaluate the relationships that you have with the important women in your own life.


Falling was published on 28th July by Black Swan

No Turning Back byTracy Buchanan

 

While browsing the shelves in my local Sainsbury's I spotted this beautiful book cover, and thought that I recognised it. I did! A few days previously I had read a post about it on twitter, and at the thought that I really must read this book! So of course I popped it into the shopping trolley. 

Book description taken from Amazon

You’d kill to protect your child – wouldn’t you?
FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF My Sister’s Secret
When radio presenter Anna Graves and her baby are attacked on the beach by a crazed teenager, Anna reacts instinctively to protect her daughter.

But her life falls apart when the schoolboy dies from his injuries. The police believe Anna’s story, until the autopsy results reveal something more sinister.
A frenzied media attack sends Anna into a spiral of self-doubt. Her precarious mental state is further threatened when she receives a chilling message from someone claiming to be the ‘Ophelia Killer’, responsible for a series of murders twenty years ago.

Is Anna as innocent as she claims? And is murder forgivable, if committed to save your child’s life…?

My Review of No Turning Back

 

At the beginning we are quickly introduced to Anna and her daily morning radio show. I instantly liked her, and this I felt was very important. To really enjoy the book and to empathise with Anna, you have to like her. 

The crux of the book, for me, was that as a mother I would do anything to save my child, and this means ANYTHING. I have two young sons and throughout the book I kept placing myself in Anna's position and wondering if I would have done the same thing to protect my child. Instinctively I told myself yes, of course I would have done the same as she did. But underneath is a rumbling current of uncertainty. It is a hypothetical question... the correct answer is yes, but in reality, who knows? And this is the ethical dilemma which the author so eloquently explores.

Throughout the book I agreed with most of the decisions that Anna made. I did question some of the risks that she took, thinking that at times she had completely overstepped the mark, but I understood why she did what she did, and for that I could forgive her mistakes.

Although this book is dubbed as a thriller, I actually found that the heart of the book was about the relationships between women. The mother and daughter bond, the granddaughter and grandmother bond. These family dynamics were beautifully explored and portrayed, while not being over sentimental.

The book did live up to its theme of being a suspenseful thriller, as throughout we are left hanging as to who has been committing these awful crimes, past and present. Hand on heart I had the suspect completely wrong. I was gripped until the very last page.

This is a thriller with lots of heart and a truly enjoyable read.

 

No Turning Back was published on 28th July 2016 by Avon Books

About the Author (taken from Amazon)

Tracy Buchanan lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, their little girl and their one-eyed Jack Russell. Tracy travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and has always been drawn to the sea after spending her childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family, a fascination that inspires her writing. She now dedicates her time to writing and procrastinating on Twitter.