Month February 2020

Belvedere Crescent by Misha Herwin @MishaHerwin #BookReview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Misha Herwin’s latest book Belvedere Crescent. It was published yesterday and I would like to wish a slightly lare “Happy Publication Day to you Misha”, and also thank you for my e-copy of the book which I have honestly reviewed.

Let me show you what Belvedere Crescent is all about…

Abandoned as babies, twins Sadie and Thea have been brought up by their Great-Aunt Jane. When Jane dies, they inherit her house in Belvedere Crescent. The only home they have ever known, it is a place where time slips and slides and what once might have seemed safe is revealed to be full of dark secrets and hidden dangers.

I have only recently started reading this authors books when I read the first two books in her Letty Parker series. Belvedere Crescent is very different from those books and was a really good way of discovering a different writing style.

Belvedere Crescent was a brilliantly atmospheric read as I discovered as I began the book. Twin sisters Sadie and Thea had been brought up by their Great Aunt Jane, not a conventional childhood compared to other children. After Aunt Jane dies the girls are left to deal with the house and its contents and decide what to do with it. The contents of the house go back generations and there is more than meets the eye.

The story is a sad one as the history of the family is gradually told in rather a unique way, it has a chilling side and the house has not been a happy one. Events of the past are merged with the present to tell a tale that is one of grief, sadness and generations of family.

The author has done such a good job of twisting the histories of various family members and gradually unearths the secrets of its past residents. I really enjoyed how the author made the past just as important as the present and still kept the lines clear.

I am aware that this is yet another one of my “vague reviews” and there is so much I want to tell you about and can’t as I would completely ruin the story. The author has successfully injected elements of danger, mystery and suspense into this book and I was absolutely riveted from the first few pages.

If you like a story that has a bit of suspense, family history, secrets, mystery, danger, suspense and then a few other things as well then you really should go and grab a copy of this book. It is a book that successfully dips its toes across a few genres and I thought it was a great read, so much so that it became a “read this in one-sitting book”. I would also definitely recommend it.

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

A Springtime To Remember by Lucy Coleman @LucyColemanauth @rararesources #Giveaway (Open Int) #Romance #BookReview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to once again join a Blog Tour for one of Lucy Coleman’s books, she also write under her own name of Linn B Hatton. A Spring time by Lucy Coleman was a wonderful read and I would like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Tour and also for arranging an e-copy of the book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

How absolutely gorgeous is this cover 😍

Let Lucy Coleman transport you to glorious, sun-drenched France, for the perfect feel-good read. Paris and the Palace of Versailles have always meant a lot to TV producer Lexie. Her grandma Viv spent a year there, but her adventures and memories were never discussed, and Lexie has long wondered why they were a family secret.

When work presents the perfect excuse to spend Springtime in Versailles, Lexie delves into Viv’s old diaries and scrapbooks, and with the help of handsome interpreter Ronan, she is soon learning more about the characters that tend to the magnificent gardens, now and in the past.

In amongst the beauty and splendour of the French countryside, a story of lost love, rivalry and tragedy unfolds. Can Lexie and Ronan right the wrongs of the past, and will France play its tricks on them both before Lexie has to go home? Will this truly be a Springtime to Remember…?

Purchase Links:

Amazon – KOBO – iBooks

I really enjoyed A Springtime To Remember as I followed Lexi to Versailles to film a series about the gardens. She has an interest as her grandmother spent a year here before she got married and yet never mentions it. Ronan is an interpreter whose grandfather worked at Versailles and there is a history that haunts him. Was it fate that brought these two to work together or something else.

I have read a few books by this author and I always enjoy the stories she weaves. A Springtime To Remember had a slightly different feel to it as the author delved into a little of the history of the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. I enjoyed this quite a lot and it was interesting to see how the history, politics, financing and personalities had a part to play in this world famous site. While I did find it really interesting I did feel it took a little of the pacing from the story.

The author does a brilliant job of telling the tale of the two main protagonists as they meet and get to know each other. There is that magical feeling of a mutual attraction that this author writes so well. The story takes turns that delved into each of their family pasts as well as events happening in the present. There is turmoil to both parties and I thought they were good reading.

I liked the descriptions of the opulence of the palace and the gardens and they provided a wonderful backdrop to the story. Food is mentioned, well it is Paris afterall!

This is another wonderful story by this author, she takes the reader on a journey that sees family history finally seeing the light of day, personal revelations and realising what is important in life. I deal for romance fans who like a story that has a little history and an all round great read. It is heartwarming and not everything is guaranteed. I would recommend reading A Springtime To Remember.

From interior designer to author, Linn B. Halton – who also writes under the pen name of Lucy Coleman – says ‘it’s been a fantastic journey!’

Linn is the bestselling author of more than a dozen novels – including Summer on the Italian Lakes, Snowflakes over Holly Cove, The French Adventure and A Cottage in the Country. She is represented by Sara Keane of the Keane Kataria Literary Agency.

When she’s not writing, or spending time with the family, she’s either upcycling furniture, working in the garden, or practising Tai Chi.

Living in Coed Duon in the Welsh Valleys with her ‘rock’, Lawrence, and gorgeous Bengal cat Ziggy, she is an eternal romantic.

Linn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the SoA and writes feel-good, uplifting novels about life, love and relationships.

Social Media Links –

Website – Facebook – Twitter

Giveaway to Win a signed paperback of ‘A French Adventure’ and a metal leaf bookmark. (Open INT)

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE VIA – RAFFLECOPTER

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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

Closer To You by Adam Croft @adamcroft #PublicationDay #BookReview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Closer To You by Adam Croft. I would also like to take the opportunity to wish Adam a Happy Publication Day 🙂

Let me show you what Adam’s book is all about…

What if your loved one wanted you dead?

Grace wants to spend the rest of her life with Tom. She needs to. Because otherwise he’ll kill her.

He’s the perfect gentleman. He’s kind, attentive and caring. Her family love him. And he needs Grace dead. But why?

As the feeling grows that Tom is not as perfect as he seems, he begins to slowly and systematically destroy her life. Can she discover the truth and escape with her life?

This is a quick, pacy and riveting 229 pages of intrigue, manipulation and deception. Grace thinks she has found Mr. Right when she meets Tom via a dating app. He is charming, a gentleman and very attentive. He comes across as supportive and compassionate. Grace, it seems has been swept off her feet by him so why are her friends not quite so keen on him?

This is a fast paced read that in some ways mirrors the pace of Grace and Tom’s relationship. Things move quickly and it isn’t long before he has moved in. Things should be rosy, and on the relationship side of things, that is the case. However, work, friends and family relationships all seem to have problems. Things are not going well, there are fraught conversations that seem to appear out of nowhere. Grace is so confused and is so glad that she has Tom there.

This is a clever and quick read that just zooms along and is easily read in one sitting. The author does a really good job of giving the reader a story that is very easy to get caught up in. There are doubts about Tom from the synopsis and also from the reactions and responses from Grace’s close friend and her family. Grace is slowly being manipulated and doesn’t realise until Tom’s attitude changes, subtle changes, but changes all the same.

If you like quick paced, domestic thriller reads then Closer To You is a good book to pick up. The characters are good and I was able to see what the other characters could see, I could understand their frustrations and I could also see the doubt creep slowly in over Grace. For a quick read this does pack a lot of drama and tension. thoroughly enjoyable read and one I would recommend.

With more than half a million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past year.

Following his 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, his psychological thrillers were bought by Thomas & Mercer, an imprint of Amazon Publishing. Prior to the Amazon deal, Her Last Tomorrow sold more than 150,000 copies across all platforms and became one of the bestselling books of the year, reaching the top 10 in the overall Amazon Kindle chart and peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart.

His Knight & Culverhouse crime thriller series has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, with his Kempston Hardwick mystery books being adapted as audio plays starring some of the biggest names in British TV.

In 2016, the Knight & Culverhouse Box Set reached number 1 in Canada, knocking J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also number 1 in Canada.

During the summer of 2016, two of Adam’s books hit the USA Today bestseller list only weeks apart, making them two of the most-purchased books in the United States over the summer.

Before writing full time, Adam had previously worked as an internet marketing consultant, delivery driver and professional actor.

Adam has been featured on BBC Radio, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and a number of other news and media outlets.

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

My Week In Books (w/e 23rd Feb) #BookUpdates #BookNews #BookBlogger #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 9 Comments

Hello to another update of books I have read this week and also a bit about what has been going on.

I did mention a few weeks ago that my short story had been accepted to be part of the next H4H Book Two, Anthology that is due to be released on 16th June. Emma Mitchell has just started to put the word out in various Facebook Book Groups looking for Bloggers to take part in the Blog Tour. For me this is getting so exciting and is also quite nerve wracking. I have just set up my Author Page on Amazon, nothing on there yet though as I have to write a Bio, I swear this is harder than writing my story was 😂

Right then, down to what I have read this week. I was quite surprised at how many books I read when I was writing up this post -6 books read and listened to 1 Audio book… I didn’t realise I had my nose stuck in books for this amount of time! I think the Other Half must have had a very peaceful week without me wittering away at him, it may explain why he not only cooked the Sunday roast but also washed up and cleaned the cooker… note to self – must try this more often 😉😊

Last week I was due to start, and have finished…

Bridge of Lies by Misha Herwin, this is the 2nd in the Letty Parker series and I loved it. I did share my full review in the week so if you want to read that HERE IS THE LINK This book follows Letty and her Associates as they start their new business of solving mysteries and finding missing persons. Its a Young Adult series and you don’t have to a younger reader to enjoy it .😁

Last week I was also listening to, and have now finished…

I love Treasure Island and it is a book I read several times over the years. This version is from Amazon Audible, a dramatisation that was brilliant, the cast and the performance were great and really helped to bring the story to life.

I was delighted when I received and Advance copy of Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins. When I started this book I was not expecting to read it so quick, I really struggled to put it down. It is a slow-burner of a story and completely captivated me. This is a book that is told from the perspective of Dee, a Nanny who is being interviewed about the disappearance of the girl she is looking after. The questions she is asked are leads that take the reader back into Dee’s memories and so a bigger picture is gradually filled in. Brilliant book!

This next book does not have a cover listed on Goodreads as yet. I read The Widow’s Mite by Allie Cresswell for the Blog Tour in mid March. This was a fabulous read that I again did not want to put down. It is the story of Minnie, married later in life and also recently widowed. It tells of how living in a fine house doesn’t mean you have the money to run it. Such a wonderful story even though it is quite sad at times. If I was to put this book into just a few words I would say it, friendship, trust, pride, heartwarming, heartbreaking and wonderful.

From Thailand With Love by Camilla Isley was a wonderful rom-com read that not only had a good dollop of will they/ won’t they tension but had a good story line as well. Winter is a photographer who is on assignment with an archaeological team trying to find a lost city. There is drama from the outset as Winter and team leader Logan clash, but underneath the animosity is a certain amount of attraction. A cracking read and one I really enjoyed. Keep an eye out for the Blog Tour when I will share my full review.

I was offered the chance to read Closer To You by Adam Croft. This is a domestic thriller that I enjoyed, it is quite a short read at 229 pages and is about Grace and the new man in her life, Tom. He is a charming man, a gentleman and Grace is loving life. But as her relationship is blooming her work life, family and friends appear to be failing. She struggles to work out what she has done wrong! A story of manipulation that is a quick and pacy read. Keep and eye out for my review very soon.

Well this had quite a beginning to it, The New Guy by Kathryn Freeman in a sultry, steamy read that is full of sexual tension between two of it’s characters. Sam meets a guy in a bar, they have a one-night-stand, the next day Sam goes to work only to find out that this guy is her new employee. The story that follows had me smirking as the banter between the various characters flowed. This is a rom-com that has a lot more to it than just a quickie, it is a story of trust, friendship, shame, and of course how a relationship between a boss and her new employee is not on the cards. I loved this book.

I have only just read the first couple of chapters of American Dirt by Jeannie Cummins.

Here’s the Synopsis….

Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.

Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.

Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?

Well another week done and dusted, so this ony leaves me to say…

Have a great week ahead and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Bridge of Lies by Misha Herwin @MishaHerwin #YAfiction #BookReview

yvonnembee 3 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for Bridge of Lies by Misha Herwin, this is the second book in The Adventures of Letty Parker series and I have to say I adored it.

Let me show you what it is all about…

Letty Parker and Associates Detective Agency is finally in business. Before they can take on their first case, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s famous suspension bridge is blown up. Letty decides to investigate but getting hired is not as easy as she thought, especially when the Dark Ones have their own plans for her.


Then there is Ma Pountney and her witches, plus The Bear and his gang of villains each determined to stand in Letty’s way. Nothing goes right and one by one Letty’s friends desert her. Even in a city, crowded with folk arriving for the Balloon Festival, Letty finds herself alone.

This is the second book in this series, 12 year old Letty Parker has recently started her own business of finding missing persons and lost things. Letty Parker & Associates has its first job and it comes in by way of one of the associates Mango, the other are Hepzibah, Jeb and Gabriel although he seems to be absent at the moment.

The setting for this story is Bristol and is just as Brunel is building a bridge. Having a historic fact like this is great for helping to set the scene and also keeps the reader well and truly in the time. It is also a great time to use for other things in the story such as Ma Poutney and her witches as there would have still been a lot of superstition and belief in old magical rites and rituals.

As I mentioned, Letty and her team have a new case but this soon gets overtaken buy other events as once again Letty is right in the thick of things. Friendships are put to the test in this story as loyalties are strained.

I really enjoyed this book and it has such a great feel to it while I was reading. The setting and time are great and there is also the inclusion of a fantasy thread with witches, bears, magic, nephilim, gargoyles and other dark creatures. I also found that one character in particular brings a steam punk style with some of his advanced technologies and adds a great additional element.

This is aimed at younger readers at around 8-12 years but I can say I adored it and it didn’t take long before I was engrossed. If you are a fan of YA books that have mystery, magic and mayhem then you really should look at this series. I would definitely recommend it.

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

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds – Living The Dream in rural Ireland by Nick Albert @Nickalbertautho @rararesources #memoir #recommendedreading #Bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review for Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds by Nick Albert. This is a brilliant book to read and I would like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous book.

Let me show you what it’s all about…

Nick and Lesley Albert yearn to leave the noise, stress and pollution of modern Britain and move to the countryside, where the living is good, the air sweet, with space for their dogs to run free. Suddenly out of work and soon to be homeless, they set off in search of a new life in Ireland, a country they had never visited. As their adventure began to unfold, not everything went according to plan. If finding their dream house was difficult, buying it seemed almost impossible. How would they cope with banks that didn’t want customers, builders who didn’t need work, or the complex issue of where to buy some chickens?

Buying links for UK – Kindle – Paperback – Audible (all via Amazon UK) or for Amazon US readers – Kindle – Paperback – Audible

Oh my goodness what a fabulous book this is. Following a diagnosis from his Doctor, Nick needs to drastically change his lifestyle. Stress had been a major part of his job and it has taken it’s toll. Along with his wife Lesley, decide to sell up and start somewhere new with a slower paced lifestyle.

Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds is a fabulous account of the journey this couple made to finally discover a new home and they decide on the move Ireland. This book is great fun to read and it had me smirking so many times. It was great to follow their journey around rural Ireland as they become the latest “blow ins” (newcomers) to a life in rural Ireland.

The first half of the book was great and is written in such an honest way. Mistakes, mishaps and misunderstanding are all laid out. The quirky workings of a different legal system, buyers market and trying to find builders are all really interesting.

The second half of the book had me in hysterics and laughing out loud so many times as I read about the antics of Nick, Lesley and also their dogs and chickens. There were actually a couple of moments where I actually had tears running down my face with laughter! Nick has recounted so many moments so vividly that as a reader I could see what he was telling me.

This book is brilliantly written and I loved the open and honest style in which it was presented. This is a wonderful read about a couple starting afresh in Ireland, getting used to the local flow and way of life. In some ways it is their innocent naivety as they start this new stage in their lives that adds such a wonderful feel to the book and it also had me willing them to succeed. I have never been to Ireland and so I could very much empathise with the couple as they came across many different things. Ireland is a place I would love to visit with my husband, and reading this book has made this a trip change from want to visit, to definitely must visit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a real life stories, and memoirs. To be honest I think this book would appeal to many readers and I would highly recommend it. It is amusing, honest, funny and heartfelt.

I enjoyed it so much that immediately after reading this first book I then immediately bought the second one and I can’t wait to see what happens to them next 🙂

Nick Albert was born in England and raised in a Royal Air Force family. After leaving College he worked in retail management for several years before moving into financial services where he quickly progressed through the ranks to become a training consultant. As a very passionate and reasonably talented sportsman, Nick had always wanted to use his training skills towards creating a parallel career, so in the mid 1980’s he qualified and began coaching sport professionally. After a health scare in 2003 and in search of a simpler life, he and his wife Lesley, cashed in their investments, sold their home and bought a rundown farmhouse in the rural west of Ireland – a country they had never before even visited. With little money or experience and armed only with a do-it-yourself manual, they set about renovating their new home, where they now live happily alongside a flock of chickens, two ducks and several unruly, but delightful dogs.
In 2017 Nick was signed to Ant Press to write a series of humorous memoirs about his life in rural Ireland. Fresh Eggs and Dog Beds (book one) was published in September 2017 and soon became an Amazon bestseller. Book two in the series was published on 1st June 2018 and book 3 in August 2019. Book four is due out in early 2020.
Nick is also the author of the twisty thriller, Wrecking Crew, the first in a series of books featuring reluctant hero Eric Stone.

Visit Nick on his Website – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram – YouTube

See what other Bloggers think by checking out the Tour…

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

Lantern Square Series by Helen J Rolfe @HJRolfe Reviews of Book One and Two #BookReview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share two reviews with you today, they are for Part One and Two of Helen J Rolfe’s Lantern Square Series.

Let me show you what they are about…

SUMMER NIGHTS IN LANTERN SQUARE

This is Part One in a charming new four-part serial from Helen Rolfe, author of The Little Café at the End of the Pier

Since moving to the charming Cotswold village of Butterbury, Hannah has found her true home in the heart of the little community. Previously a high flyer in the city, she now runs her small business, Tied Up With String, from her cottage in Lantern Square.

Her handmade gifts and care packages are the perfect way to show someone you care, and while her brown paper packages bring a smile to customers across the miles, Hannah also makes sure to deliver a special something to the people closer to home…

But as Butterbury glows with the sunshine and sparkling lights of the Summer Fair, Hannah finds herself facing old memories, familiar faces, and perhaps even a new romance…

I am a big fan of this author and I adored her Cafe At The end of the Pier series. Summer Nights in Lantern Square is the first book in a series that I am already falling for.

This author has such a wonderful ability to draw the reader in, she creates amazing characters and provides an idyllic sounding setting.

Lantern Square is set in the Cotswolds village of Butterbury and Hannah is the latest new resident. She doesn’t get off to the best of starts with one of the neighbours, and has a run-in with the local Doctor. But all that aside she starts to settle and finds her feet.

The author makes her books so easy to fall for, the writing is gorgeous and I am eager to see where she goes with the next part.

This is a book that is heartwarming and has a sense of something on the horizon. I adored it and would definitely recommend it.

FALLING LEAVES IN LANTERN SQUARE

Step into the cosy community of Lantern Square…

Hannah went from high flyer in the city to business owner and has never looked back. In the cosy Cotswold village of Butterbury she runs Tied up with String, sending handmade gifts and care packages across the miles, as well as delivering them to people she thinks need them the most.

But when her ex best-friend Georgia turns up and wants in on the action, will Hannah be willing to forgive and forget? With her business in jeopardy, she needs to maintain the reputation she’s established, and discover who she can trust…

So after reading the first book in the Lantern Square series I immediately went onto this second book. Hannah has settled into her new cottage and village life really suits her. She has made friends and is part of the local community helping out whenever she can.

Her move to Butterbury has gone well, her business making up care packages is going on at a good pace, a couple of false starts with her neighbour and the local Doctor seem to have sorted themselves out as well. The past, however, has started to interfere.

Hannah has a past that involves her ex Luke, he has got back in touch with her and they start to chat and become friends. Her oldest friend has also made an appearance to apologise and make amends. Though tentative, Hannah does warm to them both, and things on the outside feel good. Why, oh, why then am I thinking don’t trust them!

This is what I love about this author, she gets your mind racing ahead and looking for the “what ifs”, I mean I don’t know what is coming next, and I know what I would love to happen and I have only just finished the second book. The author has the ability to make me feel for her characters and get concerned about them and what may happen. A little teaser at the end has left me ready to dive straight away into the next story.

If you are looking for a series of stories that completely reel you in and make you care about what happens to the characters then the Lantern Square series is definitely recommended, it is a wonderful read that will have you hooked. 

Helen J Rolfe writes romantic fiction and contemporary women’s fiction and enjoys weaving stories about family, friendship, secrets, and community.

Never miss a release date! Sign up for the newsletter to get new book alerts: HERE

Location is a big part of the adventure in Helen’s books and she enjoys setting stories in different cities and countries where she thinks her readers might like to escape to.

Helen J Rolfe also writes for Orion Books under the name Helen Rolfe.

Born and raised in the UK, Helen graduated from University with a business degree and began working in I.T. This job took her over to Australia and it was there that she finally turned to what she loved and studied writing and journalism. She spent a while freelancing for women’s health and fitness magazines, volunteered with the PR department of a children’s hospital where she wrote articles and media releases, and eventually began writing fiction in 2011. And now, she thinks she may just have found her dream job.

Helen currently lives in Hertfordshire, UK, with her husband and their children.

Helen loves to hear from readers so please don’t hesitate to get in touch. She can be found on – Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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

Stalins Final Sting by Andrew Turpin @AndrewTurpin #Historical #Thriller #BookReview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review for Stalin’s Final Sting by Andrew Turpin. I am a fan of this authors Joe Johnson series, a series that is action packed and is very addictive reading.

Let me show you what it is all about…

The darkest secrets of a Russian oligarch—a legacy from Stalin. A hidden batch of the CIA’s Stinger missiles. And the insatiable Afghan thirst for revenge.
Ex-CIA war crimes investigator Joe Johnson is sucked into an inquiry which delves into the deadly world of Soviet and US undercover operations in Afghanistan during the 1980s—and mysterious connections to current US and Russian politics.
Johnson and his ex-MI6 colleague Jayne Robinson find themselves pursuing a Russian oligarch with strong links to Putin and a past he would rather keep hidden—and also an Afghan mujahideen bent on the most bloodthirsty revenge.
The investigation is thrown awry by Johnson’s crooked former CIA boss, now on the run, and by a miscalculation of the dangers lurking in the Hindu Kush mountains, ridden with heavily armed Taliban insurgents.
The story reaches a raw climax in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Moscow, and Kabul, as Johnson battles to overcome the powerful forces lined up against him, including former KGB agents.

**This thriller comes with a link inside the book allowing readers a COMPLIMENTARY download of a prequel novel in the Joe Johnson series — The Afghan**

This is the fourth book in the Joe Johnson Thriller series, and I have read and loved each one. There is also a mini novel that I would recommend reading before you read this book though, its called The Afghan.

Stalin’s Final Sting sees the main protagonist ex-CIA Joe Johnson take a step back into his past. His current job is investigating war crimes as well as undertaking other investigative work with long time friend and ex-MI6 Jayne Robinson. Together these two have a great network of resources and they are going to need them.

The setting is in Afghanistan, this is where Joe has a history from the late 1980’s during the Russian-Afghan Conflict. His current brief is to do background checks on some of the major players for bids on an extremely lucrative deal. Not a war crimes job, but one that sparks an interest that has links to his past.

There is one thing I recognise with this author and it is the detail and research that goes on behind the book. It is very evident as you read and then at the end of his books you get an amazing few pages of research notes that make ideal pointers for further reading.

The next thing that I find about the books is the fast pacing and it is pure action right from the outset. The author is very good at keeping everything clear and on point.

Now as for the story, for me it felt stronger and more in depth as it addresses some story lines that have been present from a previous book. If you are not up to date with the series then there is enough info to get you up to speed but in all seriousness… just read the series. The story delves into the Russian-Afghan conflict of the 1980’s. It was a brutal period where many innocents were caught up in the conflict. Many were tortured and killed. While the author does go into some details he keeps things to more of a minimum which as a reader I sometimes prefer.

I really enjoy the thrill of this series, it is fast, action packed and things get deeper and deeper as the intrigue and the mystery builds. It is one I sit and read and don’t try to work things out. I never know how the author is going to use his characters and what twists there are up his sleeves.

If you are a fan of historical, thrillers, mysteries and action reads then you really do need to check this series out. It is a brilliantly fast-paced and intensive ride. I would definitely recommend the series as well as this book.

Andrew is a former journalist who has always had a love of writing and a passion for reading good thrillers. Now he has finally put the two interests together.

His first book, The Last Nazi, was published in August 2017, and the second, The Old Bridge, in January 2018. The third, Bandit Country, followed in February 2018. In January 2019 the fourth, Stalin’s Final Sting, was published along with a prequel to the series, entitled The Afghan.

The themes behind these thrillers also pull together some of Andrew’s other interests, particularly history, world news, and travel. They explore the ways in which events and human behaviors deep into the past continue to impact on modern society, politics and business.

All of Andrew’s books draw strongly on these themes. They feature Joe Johnson, an ex-CIA officer and former U.S. Nazi hunter with the Office of Special Investigations, part of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.
Johnson has a passion for justice and a drive to investigate unsolved war crimes in different parts of the world.

Andrew studied history at Loughborough University and worked for many years as a business and financial journalist before becoming a corporate and financial communications adviser with several large energy companies.

He originally came from Grantham, Lincolnshire, and lives with his family in St. Albans in Hertfordshire, U.K.

My Week In Books (w/e 16th Feb) #BookNews #BookUpdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 6 Comments

Well it has been a tad breezy again! I hope you are all alright and still have your roof tiles where they are supposed to be. We have had quite a bit of bashing from the wind and had a whole lotta rain but suffered no effects. I think it was a couple of weeks ago that I replied to a comment saying how I love the randomness of weather in February!!!! Now however I am fed up of being buffeted around.

So what have I read this week…

This time last week I was only just about to start City of Secrets by Misha Herwin and you can read my full review HERE. A brilliant read that I thoroughly enjoyed and left me eager to read the next book. Ideal for Young Readers as well as Adult Readers.

I have now read a few books by this author and so when I saw the invite for the upcoming Blog Tour for A Springtime To Remember by Lucy Coleman I was eager to take part. This book had a slightly different feel to it, there was still all the elements that I love her books but this also had a little more history and info about the setting, the setting btw is the gardens at the Palace of Versailles. Another excellent read and keep an eye out for my review.

“OMG!” and “WOW!” followed by “How the hell am I going to do justice to a review” for Death Unleashed by Steve McHugh as I finished this amazing book. This is the latest in the Rebellion Chronicles and continues on from Sorcery Reborn. I am a big fan of this authors books and I am always delighted to take part in the Blog Tours for his books. This author weaves a fabulous fantasy series that draws together characters from history, legend and mythology and adds a modern day setting. Brilliant series and Awesome book. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.

🔊What I am Listening to 🔊

I am loving this and am a good way through it already it sticks to the book and has a great cast. It is a dramatisation and I do love this style of audio-book.

📚What I’m reading next📚

Having read the first book in this series City of Secrets I was eager to see what happens next to Letty Parker and so my next read will be Bridge of Lies by Misha Herwin. Here is the synopsis…

Letty Parker and Associates Detective Agency is finally in business. Before they can take on their first case, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s famous suspension bridge is blown up. Letty decides to investigate but getting hired is not as easy as she thought, especially when the Dark Ones have their own plans for her.
Then there is Ma Pountney and her witches, plus The Bear and his gang of villains each determined to stand in Letty’s way. Nothing goes right and one by one Letty’s friends desert her. Even in a city, crowded with folk arriving for the Balloon Festival, Letty finds herself alone.
“Bridge of Lies” is the second book in the Adventures of Letty Parker. 

Right then, thats me done for another week.

Keep safe and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

The 24-Hour Cafe by Libby Page @LibbyPAgeWrites @orionbooks #CompulsiveReaders @Tr4cyF3nt0n #24HourCafe #BookReview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for The 24 Hour Cafe by Libby Page. I am joining with Tracy at Compulsive Readers as part of the Blog Tour. I read it way back in November and I can now finally share my thoughts…

Let me show you what this book is all about…

Welcome to the café that never sleeps. Day and night Stella’s Café opens its doors for the lonely and the lost, the morning people and the night owls. It is many things to many people but most of all it is a place where life can wait at the door. A place of small kindnesses. A place where anyone can be whoever they want, where everyone is always welcome.

Meet Hannah and Mona: best friends, waitresses, dreamers. They work at Stella’s but they dream of more, of leaving the café behind and making their own way in life.

Come inside and spend twenty-four hours at Stella’s Café; a day when Hannah and Mona’s friendship will be tested, when the community will come together and when lives will be changed…

I read this book over a couple of sittings and found it such a relaxing book. This book is about the people who visit or work in the 24-hour cafe called Stella’s. It is told in 24 chapters as the clock marks each hour.

There are two main characters, Mona and Hannah. They are friends and also work as waitresses in Stella’s, each works a 12-hour shift and so I got to see the customers that they met of their shift. I really liked how the book was laid out because not only did I get to read about each of the main customers for each hour of the story, I also got details into the lives of Hannah and Mona.

Their backgrounds are told through a series of memories and go through their backstories up until they work at the cafe. It delves into their hopes, dreams, disappointments and frustrations. I did really like both of these characters and their stories. As I said there is a focus on a customer for each hour. Now, this is what I really liked because it was like people watching from the perspective of either Mona or Hannah, and also you get the story from the customer themselves. For me, this worked really well and though it is only a snapshot into a persons life, it is very representative of the cafe life.

So with the customers’ stories, this is almost like a story of short stories that intersperse the main story of Mona and Hannah. Their stories come across as more like short stories as they are not told in chunks instead they are interrupted as customers take priority.

This is a slower read and I liked the quietness of the story, there is drama and emotion throughout the story, it is not overwhelming, it is more subtle than that. The whole book was just one of those books that you can quite happily lose yourself in as I did over two sittings.

A lovely read that I thoroughly enjoyed and was a delight to read. The 24-Hour Cafe is a book I would definitely recommend.

Libby Page wrote The Lido while working in marketing and moonlighting as a writer. The Lido has sold in over twenty territories around the world and film rights have been sold to Catalyst Global Media. Libby lives in London where she enjoys finding pockets of community within the city. Follow Libby on Twitter

See what other Book Bloggers think by checking out their stops on this Tour…