Month May 2019

The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick @liz_fenwick #Review

yvonnembee 9 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review for The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick. It was a fabulous surprise when this beautiful book landed on my doorstep a few weeks ago.

Now I have a confession, this is the first book I have read by this author, I do have several on my kindle. Here lies the problem… I am more likely to pick up a physical book, and the ones I have by Liz are on my kindle! I am sure I am not the only one who finds this…Am I?

Anyway, I do digress so…

You can get a pre-order on Amazon UK and Publication Day is for 6th June.

Let’s have a look and see what it is all about…

Sometimes going home is just the beginning…

Boskenna, the beautiful, imposing house standing on the Cornish cliffs, means something different to each of the Trewin women.

For Joan, as a glamorous young wife in the 1960s, it was a paradise where she and her husband could entertain and escape a world where no one was quite what they seemed – a world that would ultimately cost their marriage and end in tragedy.

Diana, her daughter, still dreams of her childhood there – the endless blue skies and wide lawns, book-filled rooms and parties, the sound of the sea at the end of the coastal path – even the family she adored was shattered there.

And for the youngest, broken-hearted Lottie, heading home in the August traffic, returning to Boskenna is a welcome escape from a life gone wrong in London, but will mean facing a past she’d hoped to forget.

As the three women gather in Boskenna for a final time, the secrets hidden within the beautiful old house will be revealed in a summer that will leave them changed for ever.

The Path to the Sea beautifully evokes the mystery and secrets of the Cornish coast, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore.

First things first, look at that cover… I am in love with it and feel I could just walk out onto one of the beaches. Now to try and convey how much I loved this book…

The story is one that tells of 3 generations of women at Boskenna House.

Within the first few chapters, I was struck by the wonderful skill this author has. Her descriptions for the Cornish scenery, the house, the gardens is sublime. It was so easy to visualise everything from the perfect choice of words she used. These descriptions kept flowing wonderfully throughout the story and kept building on what I could already imagine. The lavish parties given in the 60’s with jewellery, clothes and sumptuous food was an absolute delight to read.

The 3 women are Joan, Diana and Lottie, they are very different in character and also temperment. But within these differences I saw some subtle similarities. Joan the Grandmother tells her part of the story in1962, a summer of boats, buffets, sailing, beaches and friends. Diana, Joan’s daughter, was a child in 1962 and through her she told of her days with her father and her adventures. She also has a present day part to play, I disciovered her fears, guilt and some secrets that had been hidden over the years. Lottie is in the present, she is daughter to Diana, she is desperate to find out what is haunting her mother and why her Gran is so cryptic about the past and desperate to keep what she see’s as a failure hidden.

Combining a mix of history, Cold War Politics and family secrets, I felt an ominous shadow surrounding the story and it’s characters. I love stories that build up intrigue and a sense that some people are not willing to share what they know. The mystery, the secrets and also intrigue that is added made this a book that was hard to put down for even a moment. It made me wonder all the while about the “who’s” and “why’s” while I was avidly turning pages.

The chapters alternates between not only the 3 women but, also between their respective timelines. It did not take me long to recognise the time changes or the characters. I soon found that I didn’t pay heed to the headings for these changes as I immediately knew when I was and who I was reading.

There is a great pace to this book and while I wanted to take my time I was also so eager to discover the truths. I found it emotional and by the end I had shed a couple of tears. I found it was so easy to get caught up and to become invested in the characters.

This is a beautifully written contemporary fiction story, that is full of lavish and gorgeous descriptions with a story that gradually reveals it’s secrets.

The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick
gets a Highly and Absolutley Recommended from Me! 🙂

Image and Bio taken from Goodreads.

I was born in Massachusetts and after nine international moves – the final one lasting eight years in Dubai- I now live in Cornwall and London with my husband and a cat. I made my first trip to Cornwall in 1989, bought my home there seven years later. My heart is forever in Cornwall, creating new stories

My debut novel THE CORNISH HOUSE was followed by A CORNISH AFFAIR, A CORNISH STRANGER and UNDER A CORNISH SKY, A Cornish Christmas Carol (novella), THE RETURNING TID and ONE CORNISH SUMMER. All published by Orion in English. There are editions in Dutch, German, Portuguese, French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, Latvian, Turkish, Serbian, Czech and soon Hungarian. My next novel THE PATH TO THE SEA is out in 2019.

Visist Liz on – Goodreads – Twitter – Facebook

I am taking part in the #20BooksofSummerChallenge and I am including One Cornish Summer by Liz on my list. So keep your eye out for my review.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂

#20BooksOfSummer #ReadingChallenge

yvonnembee 19 Comments

I have been seeing various Book Bloggers signing up for the 20 Books Of Summer Reading Challenge and thought why not join as well!

Well the hard bit was choosing 20 books, it didn’t have to be 20 it could have been 10 or 15, if I wanted. But, and I know this is something many readers struggle with, trying to choose a small amount from the mountains of books on my TBR was tough… so 20 it was 🙂

This is a fun challange and the rules are not written in stone, in fact there are not really any rules.

If you wan to take part just choose your books and then link them back to Cathy @746Books. There is a Linky link so you can keep track of not only your own reads but also see others and how they are getting on.

Choose 10, 15 or 20 Books.

The Challenge begins on 3rd of June and finishes on the 3rd September.

So now to my 20 Books…

Now then, the eagle eyed amonst you will notice that there are several books that are the first in a series… yes this is me attempting to catch up with authors that I have been wanting to read for a while.

I think I have a good mix in there and a couple of long ones as well!!!!!

Eeeek wish me luck 🙂

The Comedy Club by Peter Bartram @PeterFBartram #RandomThingsTours @annecater #Review

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for The Comedy Club by Peter Bartram. My thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and also to Peter for my copy of his latest book.

Let’s have a look and see what it is all about…

The Comedy Club Mystery: A Crampton of the Chronicle comic crime adventure

Murder has never been such fun…

When theatrical agent Daniel Bernstein sues the Evening Chronicle for libel, crime reporter Colin Crampton is called in to sort out the problem. But trouble escalates when Bernstein turns up murdered. Colin discovers that any of five comedians competing for the chance to appear on a top TV show could be behind the killing. As Colin and his feisty girlfriend Shirley Goldsmith investigate, they encounter a cast of colourful characters – identical twin gangsters, an Irishman who lives underground, and a failed magician’s assistant. And it’s not long before their own lives are in peril as they battle to crack a code that will lead to a fortune. Join Colin and Shirley for a rollercoaster of an adventure in Swinging Sixties England – where the laughs are never far from the action.

Purchase Link – Amazon

I have read a couple of this author’s Colin Crampton books and it was a pleasure to read about Colin’s latest escapades.

Set in 1960’s Brighton, Colin is a crime reporter for the Evening Chronicle. The murder of Daniel Berstein causes problems for one of Colin’s colleagues who asks for help.

One-liners are aplenty in this book and had me smirking several times. Along with the gags are mentions of songs, films, actors of the day. Their inclusion kept me grounded in the time the novel is set in.

The victim is an Agent for comedy acts, though his shine seems to have lost some of its polish with the death of the Star act, one Max Miller. There is a mystery surrounding this comedian and it gradually comes to light over the story. The murder mystery rolls along at a pace that is suited to the decade of the setting. It keeps Colin on his toes and also means he drags his girlfriend Shirley along for her help.

There is not a huge cast for this book so it is very easy to keep up to speed with who is who and what their role is. Things heat up and the pressure for Colin to get to the bottom of the crime increases and it leads to a serious decision for him to make.

I really enjoyed The Comedy Club. It has just the right amount of humour. think it would have been easy to get carried away with too many gags and it would have taken the edge off of the crime side of the story.

This as a murder mystery with a good cast, a good storyline and the right amount of entertainment. I found myself quickly wrapped up in this and did not want to put it down until I was done! If you like murder mystery novels set in the 0’s then I think you will enjoy this one. It gets a Definitely Recommended from me.

Peter Bartram brings years of experience as a journalist to his Crampton of the Chronicle crime mystery series. His novels are fast-paced and humorous – the action is matched by the laughs. The books feature a host of colourful characters as befits stories set in Brighton, one of Britain’s most trend-setting towns.

You can download Murder in Capital Letters, a free book in the series, for your Kindle from http://www.colincrampton.com.

Peter began his career as a reporter on a local weekly newspaper before editing newspapers and magazines in London, England and, finally, becoming freelance. He has done most things in journalism from door-stepping for quotes to writing serious editorials. He’s pursued stories in locations as diverse as 700-feet down a coal mine and a courtier’s chambers at Buckingham Palace. Peter is a member of the Society of Authors and the Crime Writers’ Association.

Follow Peter on Facebook – Twitter

See what other Book Bloggers think by following the Blog Tour

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be great 🙂 xx

Edie Brownes Cottage by the Sea by Jane Linfoot @janelinfoot @rararesources #Review

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to be sharing my review for Edie Brownes Cottage by the Sea by Jane Linfoot. A huge thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and also to Jane for my e-copy of this wonderful book.

Those who don’t jump will never fly…

Hurtling through the sky was supposed to be Edie Browne’s flight of independence. But when she falls head over champagne bucket while celebrating her successful landing, her life is changed in an instant. 
 
But starting over has its benefits, and as Edie relearns the basics under the watchful eye of her Aunty Josie and an entire Cornish village of new friends and neighbours, she finds love and joy she never could have imagined in the unlikeliest of places… 

Come home to St Aidan and Periwinkle Cottage for a romance full of love, laughter and friends for life!

Purchase Links: From Amazon – UK – US

There is so much more to this book than first meets the eye. In fact, the same can be said for Edie Browne. The synopsis tells how Edie’s life changed and she has to relearn things, so many things that are taken for granted that are not even thought about until they have been taken away…

I met Edie as she was parachuting from a plane. Then I met her as she is making her way to Cornwall and I gradually got to know her and what had happened to her. She is trying to work out who she is now as she is still reeling from her illness and struggling to find her feet.

Moving to Cornwall with her Auntie Jo gives Edie a chance to leave the hustle and bustle of city life. Instead, she can chill out and adjust to a much more relaxed tempo. In helping herself, Edie also finds that she is not the only one in need of help. Auntie Jo needs help with the house and renovations on that and the barn-yard open some exciting new opportunities. Auntie Jo needs Edie just as much as Edie needs Auntie Jo!

Friendship and laughter accompany this book and is such a large part of it. I loved the crafting community and it is so appropriate for small Cornish villages. The mentions of neighbours and friends helping out and lending a hand is another thing I love about the Cornish community. The author has picked up and used this so well and has wrapped it around and into Edie’s story so well.

The author has used Edie’s illness and highlighted that it is not people of a certain age that have illnesses, it can hit people of any age. The use of the illness defining Edie at the start of the story and her struggle to come to terms with changes was something that really touched me. It is a heartfelt read with an important aspect to it, but also not at all morbid or depressing although the frustration and despair are there, it also has a humour to it that is just the right balance. It gives it a more upbeat feel.

This was a wonderful story with so many things that I thoroughly enjoyed. Some fabulous characters with various backgrounds and stories to them, the Cornish setting is a big thing for me and she was spot on with that. The plot was interesting and also very addictive to read.

Edie Brownes Cottage by the Sea gets a Highly Recommended by Me! 🙂

Jane Linfoot is a best selling author, who lives in a muddy cottage, up a steep hill in Derbyshire, with her family, their pets, and an astonishing number of spiders. Although she loves seeing cow noses over the garden wall, she’s happy she can walk to a supermarket.

Jane grew up in North Yorkshire where she spent a lot of her childhood avoiding horizontal gales blowing off the sea, and wrote her first book by accident, while working as an architect, and renovating country houses. While she loves to write feelgood books that let readers escape, she’s always surprised to hear her stories make people laugh, admits to (occasionally) crying as she writes, and credits her characters for creating their own story lines.

Jane’s garden would be less brambly if she wasn’t on Facebook and Twitter so often. On days when she wants to be really scared, she rides a tandem.

Her latest books include a series of stand alone novels, based around a seaside wedding shop in Cornwall. Cupcakes and Confetti – The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea, Sequins and Snowflakes – Christmas at the Little Wedding Shop, and Bunting and Bouquets – Summer at the Little Wedding Shop, and most recently, The Little Cornish Kitchen. These are all published by Harper Impulse, an imprint of Harper Collins.

Follow Jane on Twitter @janelinfoot, or find her on her Author Page Facebook or her Personal Page Facebook. She’s also on Instagram, and has lots of Pinterest boards relating to her novels.

See what other Book Blogger think by following the Blog Tour

The Gift of Friends by Emma Hannigan #RandomThingsTours @annecater #Review

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to be sharing my review for The Gift of Friends by Emma Hannigan. My huge thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for accepting my request to join the Blog Tour and also to Headline Review for my copy of this beautiful book.

Let’s have a look and see what it’s all about…

Kingfisher Road – a leafy, peaceful street in the town of Vayhill. But there are whispers behind closed doors. Who is moving into Number 10?

Engaged to handsome, wealthy Justin Johnston, Danielle appears to her new neighbours to have the perfect, glossy life. But not everything is as it seems…

In fact, each of the other four women who live close by has a secret, and each is nursing their own private heartache.

But could a gift be waiting on their doorsteps? And, by opening their front doors, and their hearts, to each other, could the women of Kingfisher Road discover all the help they need?

This thirteenth and final novel from the beloved and inspiring Emma Hannigan is a life-affirming, uplifting story that celebrates the strength and joys of female friendship.

Emma Hannigan was the No. 1 bestselling author of eleven novels including Letters to Daughters, The Wedding Promise, The Perfect Gift, and The Summer Guest, as well as a memoir, All to Live For, which was about surviving an eleven year battle with cancer – facing cancer 10 separate times over the course of those years – and remaining strong, positive and warm. Very sadly, we have now lost Emma in the fight against cancer – she passed away at the end of February 2018.

The Gift of Friends went straight to number one on the bestseller lists in Ireland and has remained there ever since.

As I sit and write this review I feel quite emotional. I am so sad that such a talented and amazing author was taken far too soon. Sad also that it is only now I have read one of Emma’s books, though I do have 3 of her books on my kindle, no excuse! Emotional because of the beautiful story she wrote and also for the words in the Acknowledgments. Having read The Gift of Friends I am determined to read the rest of this authors books.

The Gift of Friends is a perfectly wonderful story. I was warmly greeted by the residents of Kingfisher Road, Nancy, Maia, Pearl and Betsey. A wonderful group of women who alternate between being carefree, friendly, loud, sensitive, bold and just a little bonkers, but in a very good way. They are not backwards in coming forwards with advice or opinion, by that I mean they very much say what they think. Poor Danielle is a little overwhelmed by her new home with Justin and also with the 4 women when they introduce themselves in their very exuberant way.

As much as I felt for Danielle, I couldn’t help but smirk as the author described this encounter. This was the start of a story that had me riveted as I got to know about Kingfisher Road and it’s residents. Danielle gradually gets to know these women and friendship forms. Bonds are built upon and she finds that not only are they able to help her settle in, but that she is also able to help them.

As the story unfolds I began to realise that things are not as rosy as they first appear. There is something that is held back by each of the characters. Even though they are very close I began to realise that certain things were kept secret. It was one of those scenarios that showed that we don’t always know what goes on behind closed doors. Not everything is shared, somethings are so deep and so painful that the owner of them wants to keep them buried, rather than talk of the secret they carry.

This book had me with so many “lump in my throat” moments, and at times that lump broke and left me in tears. It was such an emotional read with serious as well as more lighthearted moments and beautiful friendships. I got to gradually discover the truth about the households and their residents.

This story had such an easy flow to it and a wonderful balance between the more serious and also the lightheartedness. It is such a beautiful read and one I would Highly Recommend.

Emma Hannigan was an Irish author and blogger, best known for writing about her experience of suffering from cancer. 

With a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Hannigan’s mother and maternal aunt tested positive for the responsible gene, BRCA1. She also received a ‘positive’ result in August 2005, which carries an 85% risk of developing breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. In 2006, Hannigan underwent a bi-lateral mastectomy (or both breasts removed) and a bi-lateral oopherectomy (or both ovaries removed) to reduce the risk of cancer developing to 5%. However, breast cancer soon developed, “in the neck, shoulder and under my arm”, in 2007. After repeated treatment, a tumor always reappeared. She died at age 45 after her tenth battle with cancer.

See what other Book Bloggers think by following the Blog Tour

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

Not Having It All by Jennie Ensor @Jennie_Ensor @bombshellpub #Review

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Not Having It All by Jennie Ensor. My huge thanks Heather at Bloodhound Books and Jennie for my copy and also spot on the BLog Tour.

Let’s see what the book is all about…

Neuroscientist Bea Hudson fears she is a bad mother and that her career will be thwarted by family life. When her husband suspects Bea of having an affair with her best friend, a chain of events is triggered, leading to a crisis in Bea’s life.

Bea Hudson, a neuropsychologist living in Godalming, is struggling to cope with the challenging behaviour of her obsessive husband Kurt and their disruptive four-year-old daughter Fran. On top of this, her boss is pressuring her to get results from her research. Bea has her work cut out.

Things come to a head when Kurt goes away on an extended business assignment. While sacking staff and drinking heavily, Kurt’s insecurities run amok and he becomes convinced that Bea’s close friend Madeleine is seducing his wife and unduly influencing his daughter.

Meanwhile, childless artist Madeleine sees her friend torn between the demands of work and offers to help with Fran. But when she reveals a startling desire to her unsympathetic therapist Mr Rowley, he advises her to focus on the attention of Colin, a man she met in a lift.

Can Bea survive the demands of her career and the turmoil in her marriage without having a breakdown? Can Madeleine survive Kurt’s anger and find happiness with Colin? And can love survive marriage, middle-age, alcohol and ambition?

Not Having It All is about a scientist torn between her stalling career and the demands of her family. With themes of trust, deception and obsession, it is a mercilessly playful take on modern friendships, relationships and family life.

How on earth does Bae Hudson juggle being a neuropsychologist on the brink of a breakthrough with being a wife, mum and friend? Well, I soon found that it isn’t easy for her as I read Not Having It All!

Bea is fraught and struggling. A serious career and research means she has to spend time at work to be seen as someone serious about her career. If she reduces her hours she could very easily be side-lined and her funding may disappear. Her husband also has a demanding job, often working away from home for periods. This time he is in Turkey because “he is the best man for the job”. With both of them in full time careers the housekeeping and looking after Fran, their daughter falls to Polish au pair Katie.

Along the way, I also met Madelaine, Colin, Nigel and Allie. They all have roles to play in one form or another. It seems they are also having some sort of crisis in their lives. This is at times a hilarious read as it includes such a cross-section of people. Whether they are having a midlife crisis, feeling guilty about working too much or feeling downright unappreciated, they all seem to be having problems of some sort. Life can be a pain sometimes as pressures easily mount, making mountains out of molehills and often just needed to be looked at from a different perspective or to have recognise the struggles of others. The author has taken everyday worries and wrapped them into a fabulous story that held my attention.

I liked the format or this book as it is told in journal entries, notes or emails from each of the respective characters. It felt that it added to the busy lives of those concerned. Yes, it is unusual but, it worked very well as I got to see different sides to each of the characters. It also meant that the story moved along at a good pace but also that it didn’t feel rushed.

I really enjoyed Not Having It All. I liked how it reflected today’s modern and fast world and also was upbeat and had a good level of humour that kept it from falling into a more serious read. I loved that I actually laughed out loud on several occasions.

Not Having it All is one I would Definitely Recommend.

Jennie Ensor lives in London and has Irish roots. During a long trip overseas she obtained a Masters in Journalism and began her writing career as a journalist, covering topics from forced marriages to accidents in the mining industry. Her debut novel BLIND SIDE was published by Unbound in 2016. In January 2018 her short story ‘The Gift’ was placed in the Top 40 of the Words and Women national prose competition. Her poetry has appeared in many UK and overseas publications, most recently Ink Sweat and Tears. She sings in a chamber choir.

Links

Author website & blog – Author Facebook page – Twitter –  Instagram: 

Blind Side on Goodreads: 

Blind Side on Amazon

See what other Book Bloggers think by following the Blog Blitz

NOT HAVING IT ALL: a brazen comedy about the perils of midlife to be published 28 May 2019 by Bombshell Books


Paperback launch: Waterstones, London – Crouch End, 7-9pm Tuesday 11 June. Free entry. To reserve seats email crouchend@waterstones.com or call the bookshop on 0203 551 9706

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be great 🙂

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten @nholten40 #KillerReads #DeadInside #Review

yvonnembee

I am so excited to be sharing my review for Dead Inside by Noelle Holten. If you are a Book Blogger then you cannot have missed the buzz around Noelle’s debut novel Dead Inside. I for one have been so eager to read this book and have had it on pre-order ever since the ink went live back in October. I was fortunate to get an eARC via Killer Reads and my huge thanks to them for accepting my request to read this outstanding book.

Publication Day for the ebook is due for 31st May.

And… in case you wondering, yes there is another book to follow Dead Wrong and yes i have it on pre-order as well 🙂 … Roll on November 2019.

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

Wow!

Wow!

WOW!!!

Where to start!

When I see a book written by someone that has worked or works in the area that the book is set in, my interest twitches up an extra notch. This means that I kind of expect some extra details or the author will try to impart some of that experience onto the page of the story.

When you read Noelle’s career resume I think you will agree it is impressive. As I started to read the story I became aware immediately that she had very successfully transferred her experiences into an extremely gripping read.

Lucy is a deliberate dual personality character. By this, I mean that she has her career persona and then her at home as a wife persona. The contrasts, or the reasons behind having these two faces soon becomes apparent as the story emerges. As a Probation Officer, Lucy needs to be strong, she cannot afford to get caught up with her clients. She is aware that while this works very well at work, she knows it will not work at home. Knowing this, she reacts and responds accordingly!

Maggie is one of the investigators who has been brought in as a murder has been reported. She is apprehensive as she starts to work with a new team and she soon begins to find her feet and settle into her role. Now I have to say that there is something else about this character that has intrigued me. I am beside myself to see what is revealed in the next book!

The thing I liked about this book, well actually there was lots of things I loved, not just liked. Hang on! Scrap that!!! I loved everything about this book! The story is set out in very quick chapters that flitted back and forth between the main characters. It meant that the pace was good and had me eager to read what would happen to each character, I wanted to know about everyone all at the same time!

This was a read that had two main storylines that were intermingled in an absolutely brilliant way. There is that of the investigation into the murders. Then that of Lucy with her job and home life. Along the course of the reading, I found these gradually merged and meandered into each other. It left me with such a feeling of suspense, trepidation and also fear. Yes fear for one of the characters, what would happen, would it happen… I know I’m not being helpful, but I am petrified of giving spoilers!

I have to mention other characters in this book they are colleagues, friends and if you are a Book Blogger you will discover they are somewhat familiar!

I am just going to stop here and get to the very basics! If you want a hard-hitting crime thriller then you seriously need to get this book. A fabulous story that is the beginning of what I feel will be an amazing writing career.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten gets an Absolutely and Highly Recommended from Me!

Photo & Bio from Amazon UK

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at http://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and was a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the booklove via her blog. 
Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Many thanks fo reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood @Authormary @panmacmillan @EllisKeene #Review #Giveaway

yvonnembee 27 Comments

I am delighted to be sharing my review for The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood. Whether this author writes as Mary Wood or as Maggie Mason I absolutely adore her books. The latest is another book that had me in tears yet again! Mary just manages to create characters that I care about and I cannot help but feel for.

Mary is generously running a Giveaway. To be entered into this just comment below. All comments on my Blog require my approval. Once I have approved your comments Mary will then be able to see them and enter you into her draw.

This Giveaway is run by Mary and she will get in touch with the winner direct. Me And My Books is not responsible for the Giveaway or the dispatch or the prize.

Now then, let’s have a look at The Abandoned Daughter and see what it is all about 🙂 xx

Voluntary nurse Ella is haunted by the soldiers’ cries she hears on the battlefields of Dieppe. But that’s not the only thing that haunts her. When her dear friend Jim breaks her trust, Ella is left bruised and heartbroken. Over the years, her friendships have been pulled apart at the seams by the effects of war. Now, more than ever, she feels so alone.

At a military hospital in France, Ella befriends Connie and Paddy. Slowly she begins to heal, and finds comfort in the arms of a French officer called Paulo – could he be her salvation?

With the end of the war on the horizon, surely things have to get better? Ella grew up not knowing her real family but a clue leads her in their direction. What did happen to Ella’s parents, and why is she so desperate to find out?

The Abandoned Daughter by Mary Wood is the second book in The Girls Who Went To War series.

The Abandoned Daughter is available in ebook and paperback now.

This is the second in the Girls Who Went To War series and while I have not yet read the first book it has no way marred my reading of The Abandoned Daughter. Though I will say I will be buying the first.

The author does put her characters through the proverbial mill and also characters that I care about. Elle is such a lovable and sweet character and my goodness does she have so much thrown at her. Pain and suffering seem to follow her, just I thought she was going to have a happy life something goes wrong. A phrase that I have heard many times and also that the author used in her book was the one about “God only gives you what he knows you can deal with”. This is something that does sum up Elle to a tee. Even so, how a person could deal with losing so much!

The story is not just about Elle, it is about her friends and her time as a nurse. I should explain that the story begins as World War I, Elle is a nurse at the battlefield hospitals. After the war ends and Elle returns home things at first start to go well. There is mention of the struggle that returning troops found and this I found very interesting. Many soldiers finding themselves homeless, ill and well… lost.

The struggles at home take on a different route to what I expected, but thank goodness for Rowena. Everyone should have a Rowena in their lives and I adored her. The author adds so many social and economic problems for the time to her stories. It is such a useful thing as not only does it fit with the setting of the book it also highlights the struggles of others.

Elle is such an amazing character who really is pushed to the limits of endurance. I had my heart in my mouth so many times as I wondered how or if she would cope with everything.

This author is an absolute delight to read. She creates characters that I care about with plot lines that touch the heart. Emotional is something I expect and tears from me seem to be a given whenever I read her books. She creates stories that keep me eagerly turning pages and often until the early hours of the morning.

If you love historical fiction and family sagas you will love Mary Wood and also Maggie Mason.

The Abandoned Daughter is a book I would Highly Recommend.

Mary married young and now, after 54 years of happy marriage, four children, 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, Mary and her husband live in Blackpool during the summer and Spain during the winter – a place that Mary calls, ‘her writing retreat’. 

After many jobs from cleaning to catering, all chosen to fit in with bringing up her family, and boost the family money-pot, Mary ended her 9 – 5 working days as a Probation Service Officer, a job that showed her another side to life, and which influences her writing, bringing a realism and grittiness to her novels 

Mary first put pen to paper, in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2010 that she finally found some success by self-publishing on kindle. 

Being spotted by an editor at Pan Macmillan in 2013, finally saw Mary reach her publishing dream.

When not writing, Mary enjoys family time, reading, eating out, and gardening. One of her favourite pastimes is interacting with her readers on her Facebook – Website – Twitter

Mary welcomes all contact with her readers and feedback on her work.

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The Hunted by Tarn Richardson @TarnRichardson #free #ebook

yvonnembee 2 Comments

If anyone asks me about my favourite books, I always mention The Darkest Hand Trilogy by Tarn Richardson. This is fabulous Dark Fiction that absolutely blew me away. A blend of historical fiction, fantasy and religious conspiracy.

Why am I letting you know about this, I hear you ask!

Well Tarn Richardson also has a novella, a prequel to the series and it’s called The Haunted. It is an amazing action packed, full speed intro to Poldeck Tacit and the best bit is that it’s FREE!

Yep!

You heard me right!

A FREE download over on Amazon!

Do yourself a favour go and get a copy. It is 48 pages long so grab a coffee and have a read.

In the bustling streets of Sarajevo in June 1914, the dead body of a priest lies, head shattered by the impact of a fall from a building high above. As the city prepares for the arrival Archduke Franz Ferdinand, grim-faced inquisitor Tacit Poldek is faced not only with the challenge of discovering why the priest has been killed but also confronting other menaces: the demon rumoured to be at large in the city and the conspirators of the Black Hand organisation who plan to assassinate the Archduke. 


With terrible danger only ever one step away and his private demons silenced only by a strong drink, THE HUNTED introduces us to the damaged soul that is the unorthodox Catholic inquisitor Tacit Poldek. It is a world both like and unlike our own but in which the Inquisition, is alive and well yet existing in the shadows; in which history is poised to take dangerous and unpredictable paths; where evil assumes many horrific forms, from werewolves to the institutional slaughter of the trenches; and the threat to humanity (in all senses of the word) – and to love – is ever constant.


THE HUNTED is the FREE prequel to Tarn Richardson’s gritty and compelling DARKEST HAND TRILOGY featuring the brilliant but flawed inquisitor Tacit Poldek.

Amazon UK Link

Happy Reading folks!

Never Be Broken by Sarah Hilary @sarah_hilary #RandomThingsTours @annecater #Review

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to be sharing my review today for a fantastic book. Never Be Broken By Sarah Hilary is the 6th book in the DI Marnie Rome series. Though I have not read the previous books, I have to say this is bloody brilliant and has left me wanting to read the previous ones. My huge thanks to Anne Cater for aloowing me a spot on the Blog Tour and for organising me a copy of Never Be Broken.

The compulsive, gripping and twisty new London crime novel featuring DI Marnie Rome, from award-wining novelist Sarah Hilary


Children are dying on London’s streets. Frankie Reece, stabbed through the heart, outside a corner shop. Others recruited from care homes, picked up and exploited; passed like gifts between gangs. They are London’s lost.


Then Raphaela Belsham is killed. She’s thirteen years old, her father is a man of influence, from a smart part of town. And she’s white. Suddenly, the establishment is taking notice.


DS Noah Jake is determined to handle Raphaela’s case and Frankie’s too. But he’s facing his own turmoil, and it’s becoming an obsession. DI Marnie Rome is worried, and she needs Noah on side. Because more children are disappearing, more are being killed by the day and the swelling tide of violence needs to be stemmed before it’s too late.

NEVER BE BROKEN is a stunning, intelligent and gripping novel which explores how the act of witness alters us and reveals what lies beneath the veneer of a glittering city.

Now I have not yet read any of the previous books in this series, please notice the word YET! After reading Never Be Broken I will definitely be going back to the beginning. Because I have not read the others it means I can say that it does work well as a stand-alone, BUT I would advise reading these in order if you have not yet done so. While this is a brilliant book, I got little snapshots of past stories. These intrigued me a huge amount and made me wish I had read in order…

This is the 6th in the DI Marnie Rome series, though Marnie is obviously the main character for the series, Never Be Broken focuses more on DS Noah Jake. It has such a dramatic start that immediately grabbed my attention. From that point on I was hooked and eager to know everything. The two main characters of Marnie and Noah are wonderful, I was able to pick up the chemistry between these two colleagues that comes with a series. As I got to know more about Noah my heart really went out to him, I got invested in his character and cared about what was going on with him.

Marnie and Noah are working a case in the Muswell Hill area of London and it leads them to a notorious estate. A residential tower block known for its drugs, crime and gangs. But in amongst this is a small community of those who care. Now as much as this story is about the investigation and also Noah, there is also a very topical point being made. It is about knife crime. A very poignant acknowledgement is made at the end of the book.

Don’t think that this book is all about knife crime, it is about Noah dealing with so much in his personal life. About Marnie being a supportive boss and friend, Noah’s home life and the investigation as well. There is quite a lot going on in this book and all these things were woven together so well. I found that I worried about what could possibly happen next as my mind worked overtime.

Marnie and Jake are such good characters to read. I loved the care and compassion from Marnie and the way that Noah thinks he can cope. His conversations are moving and also heartbreaking… I am not telling who these conversations are with though!

This is a hard-hitting book for so many reasons. As well as the murders and investigations, the author has also included social and economic aspects for the residents, knife crime, racism, grief and anger. I realise I make this book sound very bleak and in some ways it is, but the author has absolutely nailed this by making a convincing, real feeling and addictive read. She has for me written an absolute cracker of a read and this is why I will be buying and reading the previous 5 books in the series. And also why it gets a Highly Recommended from Me!

Sarah Hilary’s debut, Someone Else’s Skin, won Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year 2015 and was a World Book Night selection for 2016. The Observer’s Book of the Month (‘superbly disturbing’) and a Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller, it has been published worldwide. No Other Darkness, the second in the series was shortlisted for a Barry Award in the US. Her DI Marnie Rome series continued with Tastes Like Fear, Quieter Than Killing and Come And Find Me. Follow her on twitter @sarah_hilary.

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Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx