Month October 2021

Midnight In Everwood by M.A Kuzniar @HQstories #fantasy #MidnightInEverwood #PublicationDay #bookreview

yvonnembee 10 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for a gorgeous story, Midnight In Everwwod by M.A Kuzniar. Also, I would like to wish the author a very Happy Publication Day for such a wonderful book.

I virtually attended an online event and saw an interview with this author. I immediately knew that this was a book I wanted to read and so immediately popped it on my wishlist. The amazing folks at HQ Stories sent me a surprise copy through the post!

A spell-binding retelling of The Nutcracker, filled with enchanted toys, decadent balls, fierce feminine friendships and a forbidden romance. For fans of The Toymakers, Caraval and The Bear and the Nightingale.

There’s nothing Marietta Stelle loves more than ballet, but after Christmas, her dreams will be over as she is obligated to take her place in Edwardian society. While she is chafing against such suffocating traditions, a mysterious man purchases the neighbouring townhouse. Dr Drosselmeier is a charming but calculating figure who wins over the rest of the Stelle family with his enchanting toys and wondrous mechanisms.

When Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate set for Marietta’s final ballet performance, she discovers it carries a magic all of its own. On the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, she is transported to a snowy forest, where she encounters danger at every turn: ice giants, shadow goblins and the shrieking mist all lurk amidst the firs and frozen waterfalls and ice cliffs. After being rescued by the butterscotch-eyed captain of the king’s guard, she is escorted to the frozen sugar palace. At once, Marietta is enchanted by this glittering world of glamorous gowns, gingerbread houses, miniature reindeer and the most delicious confectionary.

But all is not as it seems and Marietta is soon trapped in the sumptuous palace by the sadistic King Gelum, who claims her as his own. She is confined to a gilded prison with his other pets; Dellara, whose words are as sharp as her teeth, and Pirlipata, a princess from another land. Marietta must forge an alliance with the two women to carve a way free from this sugar-coated but treacherous world and back home to follow her dreams. Yet in a hedonistic world brimming with rebellion and a forbidden romance that risks everything, such a path will never be easy.

PURCHASE LINK – Amazon UK –

MY REVIEW

This is a retelling of the Nutcracker story, I am always a little dubious when it comes to retellings. The story of the Nutcracker always reminds me of Christmas, especially Christmas Eve, it is a fantasy, magical fairy tale that I adore. So, did Midnight in Everwood live up to my expectations? It most definitely did!

Straight from the outset, this book felt right, Marietta is a young girl who lives a life of privilege. Her parents have allowed her to attend ballet classes, but it has been known that this will not be something that they will support her in. She is, after all, a young woman with responsibilities, who needs to marry into the right position that will allow her parents to live in the upper echelons of society.

There is a newcomer to the neighbourhood, a mysterious and enigmatic man, an inventor of toys and mechanical creations of wonder. Mr Drosselmeier is enchanted by Marietta and he wants her to become his wife. Through one of his creations, she is transported into another world, where she is trapped.

I absolutely adored everything about this story, it has a gorgeous magical feel to it with wonderful descriptions that gradually built a vivid image in my mind as I read the story. Everwood is all glittery, sugary sweet with magic. All this glamour and glitz is a front, there are whispers, rumours and hints that all is not as it should be within this wonderland. The King is tyrannical, overbearing and greedy.

The story of the Nutcracker is one I love, there are hints of the original story and I could see the inspiration in this version. If you have not read the Nutcracker, well, it really doesn’t matter as this is a retelling of the story.

The author uses Marietta so well in this version, a strong upright young woman who has dreams of a future. She does not want to be wed to someone who will dictate to her or see her as a possession. She does not want to become a pawn for her parents to rise up through the ranks of society.

This is a wonderfully magical story. It is an adult fairy tale, a fantasy and I loved it. It was everything I hoped it would be, and dare I say a bit more as well. I would very definitely recommend this one.

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

Ouija by Zoe-Lee O’Farrell @QuestionPress #Horror #Debut #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Debut Author Zoe-Lee O’Farrell and her book Ouija. This is the second book in the Question Mark Horror series where different authors write a short story. I have to say Ouija was fabulous reading.

The only thing for certain is the deaths were no accident.

Rayner High School once a prestigious school stands in ruins after such a terrible event.

A year later, a group of friends return to the abandoned school and their nightmare begins.

Something wants to get out and won’t take NO for an answer…

Ouija is Book 2 in a new series brought to you by Question Mark Horror. For fans of Point Horror, Christopher Pike & Nicholas Pine.

You can read my Full review for Camp Death by Jim Ody HERE

MY REVIEW

When a group of teens decide to visit an old, abandoned school you just know there is going to be trouble. Of course, there are rumours about what happened to the school and in particular one day when the school becomes the thing of nightmares.

WOW! What a debut for this author. This is an absolutely cracking read that I adored. Following the teens, I gradually learnt more about them and also about what happened in the school the previous year. The title of the book obviously gives a big clue as to what brings that past to the present. Yep, an Ouija board!

As I have gotten older, I have become a bit of a weedy wuss when it comes to horror, and considering Ouija is aimed at a YA audience it still left me feeling a little uneasy as I was reading it. I mean, abandoned schools and an Ouija board are major no-nos in my book. Thank goodness this author is braver than me as she has worked some wonderful atmospherics into this story.

It definitely has a sinister feel to it and this deepens the further the story goes. Things start to weird as if they weren’t weird already, and they get more intriguing and dangerous. This author has woven a creepy, series and very addictive tale.

If you are a fan of horror, especially teen or YA horror then this is one you really want to pick up. I had a great time reading it and I would definitely recommend it.

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

We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza @HQstories #contemporaryfiction #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza. I was sent an advanced copy of this book via the publisher HQ Stories and my thoughts are my own.

Not every story is black and white.

Riley and Jen have been best friends since they were children, and they thought their bond was unbreakable. It never mattered to them that Riley is black and Jen is white. And then Jen’s husband, a Philadelphia police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed black teenager and everything changes in an instant.

This one act could destroy more than just Riley and Jen’s friendship. As their community takes sides, so must Jen and Riley, and for the first time in their lives, the lifelong friends find themselves on opposing sides.

But can anyone win a fight like this?

We Are Not Like Them is about friendship and love. It’s about prejudice and betrayal. It’s about standing up for what you believe in, no matter the cost.

MY REVIEW

I have been looking forward to reading this book since watching an online event. This book is quite a powerful read, it brings together two characters who have been friends from childhood and now find themselves doubting each other.

This book is about race and racism as well as murder. When a 14-year-old boy gets shot by a police officer, it hits the headlines. The boy, Justine is Black, the police officers are white. The news reporter, Riley, is Black. One of the police officers wives is Jen, she is pregnant and white. Riley and Jen are friends and this is going to test their friendship.

This is a very addictive story. Firstly there is the murder of Justine, an innocent boy on his way home. Then there is the story of the police officers, well more of Kevin who is Jen’s husband. Also the story of the friendship between Riley and Jen.

I really liked the story of the friendship of the closeness that had built up between the two girls. Over the years they had drifted apart but are still close. Jen does think she is racist, and Riley doesn’t confront people when comments are made about colour.

The story is a very timely one, showing bias, injustice, prejudice, social differences and perceptions. The story has a great flow to it, it is emotional and poignant. Given that this is a co-written book, I thought the authors did a fabulous job and it didn’t feel like a co-written book as the authors gelled together so well.

This is is a poignant, powerful and emotional read. I found it very difficult to put down as I needed to know how everything would pan out for the women and for their friendship. Would justice be served, would the right thing be done and how would the story end. This would make a good book club read as I do think there are several talking points, and the book does have some great questions at the back.

If you are looking for a story that is very relevant, one with great characters and is emotional and addictive reading then you might well want to look this one up. One for those who liked, mystery and thriller as well as contemporary fiction storiers. . I really, really enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend it.

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

My Week In Books (w/e 24th October 2021) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Welcome once again to my weekly round up of book I have read over the past week. It has been another good week for reading and I have read some amazing books…

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I received a copy of We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza from the publisher HQ Stories as part of one of their recent promotions. This is a story that is about race, friendship, loyalty and trust. A brilliant story that I found to be very addictive as I followed the two main characters of Riley and Jen. Full review will be later this week.

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If you like gritty gangland, crime thrillers then have a look at The Score by Kerry Kaya, this is the second book in the series and it is brilliant. A brilliant storyline about a father being released from prison trying to reconnect with his grown up children, only to find himself in the middle of something else. Addictive with some toe-curling scenes, great characters and plenty of twists. Full review will be part of the Blog Tour.

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I already have A Secret Gift by Amanda James on pre-order, and I also had the chance to read an advance copy via NetGalley. Mandy is one of the authors who I will automatically read, and once again she has created such a wonderful story that had me hooked from the very beginning. This is the story of Joy, a young widow who is still trying to get over the loss of her husband. Plodding through life and going through the motions but not quite living life to the full. A gorgeous story with some fabulous characters and something rather special. I Should have my review for this one up later this week.

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Broken Girls by Joy Kluver is the second book in the Detective Bernadette Noel series and wow what a story this one was. This is not one for the faint-hearted, it is brutal, gripping and addictive. I would suggest reading the first book before this one, although they can be read as standalones. Bernie has her work cut out as she tries to make her points and opinions heard, not always easy when your boss doesn’t really have your back or when it feels like he is dragging his feet. A brutal crime, plenty of twists and some good character development continued from the first book. I cant wait to read the next book.

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I have had She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan on my TBR for a while now and I decided that I was ready to read it. Wow, this is an amazing story, it is set in Mongolian occupied China, and I do love this era of history. The author has used history as the basis of the story but has reimagined it with a young peasant girl taking the identity of her brother Zhu. It follows her journey as she refuses to be nothing and to achieve greatness. Greatness was something her brother was supposed to achieve, so she has decided to achieve it herself. Set in the 1300s this is a historical fantasy and it is a fabulous book, I cant wait to get my hands on the next one.

There we go, 5 books this week and such a great range of genres, all excellent reads and I loved them all.

Take care, stay safe

Happy Reading,

All the best

Yvonne xx

No Child of Mine by Olga Gibbs @olgagibbsauthor @ZooloosBT  #NoChildOfMine #ZooloosBookTours #dystopian #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for No Child of Mine by Olga Gibbs. This was a fabulous dystopian thriller that had a strong Orwellian feel and I really enjoyed it.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book.

“No Child of Mine” is a story of a father’s journey to save his child from a totalitarian regime, who is in order to bury the truth prepared to exterminate an entire generation.


57th Year of the true leadership of The Ordained Liberating Party; or Year 2273 by the old calendar.


“The Collapse” took millions of lives and most of the country’s farming lands, bringing the surviving population of the island to the brink of starvation.

Out of the aftermath of the chaos and anarchy, a new state had emerged, known as The Federation Britannia, run by the single and unopposed Ordained Liberating Party.


The division of the country’s orphanages for children of “the true citizens” and children of “the enemies of the state” began the clearance of the questionable element, and bloody years of the Age of Cleansing had finished the purge, leaving behind a perfectly obedient electorate that marched every year in the Liberation Day parades, praising the Party’s leadership and following the Party’s every directive.

The rule of the Party is absolute. Its tool of compliance, the State Security Unit, is feared.

Tom isn’t a frightened follower, he is a true believer. He loves the Party with all his heart. He trusts in the Party’s wisdom. The Party had raised him, rewarding his devotion and love with a lucrative engineering job, and after the approval for the Procreation licence, it also granted him a family.

But the unexpected midnight visit by the State Security to his flat, questions asked and blood samples collected, unsettles Tom more than he likes to admit, and the following day, whilst investigating the “black uniforms” interest, Tom witnesses the State Security troops, led by the familiar officer, marshalling the children from his daughter’s nursery, packing them into trucks and taking them into the unknown.

At that moment Tom is forced to make a decision: either to follow the Party directive and to surrender his child into its plenary care or to protect what he loves and run.


But there’s nowhere to run. There’s no escape from the island or from the complete control of the Ordained Liberating Party.

PURCHASE LINKS – Amazon UK or US

MY REVIEW

I do enjoy a dystopian thriller that has an opening that sets the tone of the story to follow. No Child of Mine sets that tone so well in the opening pages.

In a state-run system, everything and everyone is controlled for the betterment of the population and for the good of the country. It has been 57 years since the birth of The Federation of Britannia, there had been years of crime and chaos and now there is peace and law-abiding citizens. People work and are given incentives to better themselves.

As I read this book I was immediately reminded of Orwell’s 1984, the state-run country, the timings, the Big Brother-style ruling and the obedience of the citizens. It gives the reader a dark, atmospheric and intriguing read.

But within this story, there is something more sinister going on. Not immediately obvious but I knew something wasn’t right. I mean why round up children? They are the future in this story. What followed was something that I didn’t expect, but that I found completely compelling.

I really liked this story, it gave a mundane dreariness to the people that are subservient with the monotony of their lives. Tom is the main character and he believes wholly in the state system, he had been brought up on it and trusts it completely. SO, why would he suddenly doubt what he has known and trusted?

The author has woven a wonderful tale, one full of mystery, suspense and intrigue. Having a single ruling party for this story and for the actions that follow was brilliant. I admit it is not a society I would ever want to live in, but reading a story about it makes a really interesting read.

This is one for those readers who like dystopian novels, especially those with the Orwellian influence. I think this one has been done very well indeed and I found it to be really addictive and I adored it. I would definitely recommend it. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olga Gibbs is a mental health expert who has experience of working with disturbance in adolescents and young people. Using her Masters in Creative Writing, she explores taboo topics such as borderline personality and social effective disorder, effects of abuse and insecure attachment in young people and the inner world which is so rarely spoken about. She was born and raised in USSR and now lives in UK. Olga Gibbs is also a creative writing coach and mentor. Please visit author website for more information on upcoming books.

Follow her on – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter


Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour

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

Camp Death by Jim Ody @QuestionPress #YAFiction #horror #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Camp Death by Jim Ody. This is the first book in a new series from Question Mark Horror.

The place had a gruesome past that nobody wanted to talk about…

Camp Deathe is now a great place to spend the summer. Ritchie soon finds a group of outsiders like himself. Teenagers who ignore the organised activities, and bunk off in the old abandoned cabins deep in the woods. The cabins that have a history.

The campfire monster stories were meant to just scare them. Nobody expected them to come true. Then one of the teenagers disappears in the middle of the night.

Something is watching them. It hides in the woods and hunts at night.

Ritchie will have to uncover the secrets of the camp, and understand his own problems in order to survive.

Camp Death is Book 1 in a new series brought to you by Question Mark Horror. For fans of Point Horror, Christopher Pike & Nicholas Pine.

MY REVIEW

It has been many years since I last read any horror books, in fact thinking about it it was when I was a teen and was fascinated by James Herbert, Stephen King and Dean Koontz!

As I have recently read a couple of this authors books I decided to give this new series a go. It is mentioned that this series is similar to the Point Horror books. I have seen these but have not read them, so I don’t know how they do compare.

The story itself definitely had that teen vibe to it, as I followed the story of Ritchie as he discovers that his family is going on a retreat. This is a camp that is called Camp Deathe, and as you can see from the cover the final “e” has been scrubbed out! So even before I got into the story there is a sinister look to the book.

The story was one that I really enjoyed, it does have a horror feel to it as I gradually got to hear the rumours of events from the past. The author has created a nicely paced story that is really intriguing and one that definitely kept me reading. This is definitely aimed at the teen market rather than the hardcore horror readers, but if like me, you haven’t picked up a horror book in a while it does make a great genre switch option.

This does have that sinister, series atmospheric feel to it, movements and shapes blurred and fleeting. It all adds to a great read. It is one I really enjoyed and has left me already looking forward to the next book in the series, which also happens to be my next read.

This is a book that was a quick read, and one I would happily recommend.

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

A Home in the Sun by Sue Moorcroft #contemporaryfiction #NetGalley @AvonBooksUK #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for A Home in the Sun by Sue Moorcroft. I requested this book from the publisher Avon Books via NetGalley.

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Home is where the heart is…but what if your heart is broken?

When Judith loses her partner, she loses her life in Malta too – including the beautiful view from her sun-warmed balcony of the sparkling blue waters of Sliema Creek.

Back in England, Judith finds a spare room in her sister’s house where she grew up – but with it comes a whole host of family dramas.

Nursing a broken heart, Judith knows she must find happiness again – and rebuild her life on her own terms. Could an island in the sun be the answer she is looking for?

A wonderfully escapist summer read, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Carole Matthews.

MY REVIEW

When I am looking for something in the contemporary fiction genre to read this author is one that I know will make me feel good while reading it.

A Place in the Sun starts in Malta, it’s where Judith has come to live and work after the breakdown of her marriage. She loves the place and feels settled. Even more so when she meets and falls for a local. After a tragic accident Judith feels alone and unwelcome so returns to her home in England.

It is when she is back living with her sister and trying to come to terms with her loss that she decides what she wants to do with her life. The first job is moving back into her cottage, not as straightforward as she had initially hoped.

The author has once again woven a gorgeous story of love, loss and starting over. The gorgeous setting of Malta is overshadowed by grief, but the author transports the author into Judith’s story as she begins her life again, back where she started. Everyone has a past, Judith is no exception, she has confrontations with her ex, deals with her sister and worries about her stepson and mum. Even though Judith is trying to heal she is looking out for others.

The author creates a character with Judith who comes across as strong, motivated and determined but is actually vulnerable and riddled with doubts. The storyline was quite a refreshing one as it has various turns and dilemmas that I wasn’t expecting.

One thing is for sure, that you cant deal with the future until you have comes to terms and accepted the past. This is something that only Judith herself can work out. Where is home, where does she feel she can settle, can she deal with the memories or will she hide her feelings while she is busy helping others out!

A gorgeous story with a fabulous cast of characters, some that you will love and some that really need a lesson in manners and respect. This is one for those who love contemporary fiction and romance stories. It is one I would definitely recommend.

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

Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan #NetGalley #nonfiction #crime #history #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Murder: The Biography by Kate Morgan. I requested this e-book from the publisher Harper Collins, via NetGalley. It was a book I had planned to read over the summer! Better late than never.

Totally gripping and brilliantly told, Murder: The Biography is a gruesome and utterly captivating portrait of the legal history of murder.

The stories and the people involved in the history of murder are stranger, darker and more compulsive than any crime fiction.

There’s Richard Parker, the cannibalized cabin boy whose death at the hands of his hungry crewmates led the Victorian courts to decisively outlaw a defence of necessity to murder. Dr Percy Bateman, the incompetent GP whose violent disregard for his patient changed the law on manslaughter. Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in England in the 1950s, played a crucial role in changes to the law around provocation in murder cases. And Archibald Kinloch, the deranged Scottish aristocrat whose fratricidal frenzy paved the way for the defence of diminished responsibility. These, and many more, are the people – victims, killers, lawyers and judges, who unwittingly shaped the history of that most grisly and storied of laws.

Join lawyer and writer Kate Morgan on a dark and macabre journey as she explores the strange stories and mysterious cases that have contributed to UK murder law. The big corporate killers; the vengeful spouses; the sloppy doctors; the abused partners; the shoddy employers; each story a crime and each crime a precedent that has contributed to the law’s dark, murky and, at times, shocking standing 

MY REVIEW


This is a really interesting book to read, it documents the history of murder from when it became a recognised crime to what we see today in courts of law in the UK.

There is quite a long introduction that gives a glimpse into the research that has been brought to this book. The author, a lawyer herself, has covered many aspects and crimes to give quite a comprehensive and detailed background as to what constitutes murder. She differentiates between murder and manslaughter and how manslaughter has various differences when it comes to the courts.

This is a well laid out book, there are little stories and snippets of news from the previous centuries to add evidence. These are also really interesting in their own right and could lead you onto further reading if you were interested in learning more.

I really enjoyed this book, it is quite serious but at times there is some humour to it especially when it comes to some of the documented accounts. This is a book that will appeal to fans of history, criminal history and law in the UK.

I enjoyed this and I would happily recommend it. 

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

My Week In Books (w/e 17th October 2021) #booklove #bookupdates #mygarden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly round up of books I have read along with some more garden updates as well. As the weather has been pretty good down here in Cornwall, Me and He have been getting on with more tidying up in the garden. For a while now we have both hated the bottom corner of the garden, an old metal shed that used to be the goose house had become a general dumping site. You know when you get stuff and not sure if you want it or not, so you hang onto it just in case! We decided enough was enough and, well you can see for yourself in the next couple of photos.

Before…

After – not only did the rubbish from the shed go, but also the shed as well. This means I have more space for planting 🙂

The ground still needs digging over properly, but I have put a couple of plants in already, new Victoria Plum tree as well as a few other plants that were being lost in the main flower bed. A slightly better photo from a different angle below…

Now, for the books I have read…

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When I am looking for something that is more light-hearted, but still has a great story line then Sue Moorcroft is one of the authors I go for. A Home in the Sun was a book I had on my list for reading in the summer, but it kind of got away from me. This was a gorgeous read as well as being very addictive. I am not saying too much about this one as my review will be out later this week.

I am on the blog tour for Fool’s Gold by Gillian Godden today, so you can read my full review on my Blog.

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I do love a dystopian thriller and No Child Of Mine by Olga Gibbs was a fabulous read. It has a strong Orwellian feel to it, it is a political thriller and a book that I enjoyed everything about. Full review at the end of the week as part of the Blog Tour.

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I do like non-fiction books about nature, the natural world and beyond. The Northern Lights – A definitive guide to Auroras by Tom Kerss was a wonderful softback book that I received through Amazon Vine. This book is a very informative and useful guide for all things Aurora. A history based on theories in centuries gone all the way through to modern science and thoughts. Every page has at least one photo of a person from history, a shot of auroras or of a chart or diagram. This is a fabulous little book for those like me who have an interest in the natural phenomenon. You can read my full review on Goodreads HERE

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At the beginning of September this year I virtually attended an online event held by HQ to showcase their #NewVoices. One of the authors was M A Kuzniar and she was talking about her book Midnight In Everwood. As I listened to her talk about her book I just knew it was one I wanted to read. One day a proof copy dropped through the letter box, my husband looked on rather bemused as I hugged the book, gave a few strangled squeals and danced with the book! (He isn’t a book reader, dear of him, so he doesn’t get it 🙂 ) This week I got a break in my reading schedule to pick it up and read it. I LOVED IT! This is a gorgeous retelling of the Nutcracker, Now, I love this story and I also adore the story of the Nutcracker. This is a magical and gorgeous book that loosely follows the original story and I could see the influences in Kuzniar’s retelling. Of course, as soon as I had finished it I went straight onto YouTube to watch The Nutcracker Ballet. Today I wondered if our newly refurbished theatre in Truro would be showing any ballets. Well, would you believe they have the St Petersburg Ballet performing the Nutcracker!!!! I can’t book tickets for this yet, but I do believe I may be going to watch this one in January 🙂

That’s me done for another week,

Once again another mixed bag of genres and styles.

Have a great week ahead,

Stay safe, Happy reading

Love Yvonne xx

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

Fool’s Gold by Gillian Godden @GGodden #FoolsGold @rararesources @BoldwoodBooks #boldwoodbloggers #NetGalley #crime #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Fool’s Gold by Gillian Godden. I read the first book in this series a couple of months ago and thoroughly enjoyed it so I was delighted to join the Blog Tour for this second book.

You can read my full review of the first book HERE

My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book via NetGalley.

A new life…

With their wretched life in Liverpool behind them, Julie and Ralph Gold head to London for their next big break. Julie’s had enough of slumming it, she’s ready to quit their life of crime and go legit.


The same old game…
But it seems their reputation had beat them to it, and the underworld is already bubbling with news of the their arrival. And as much as Julie tries to go straight, the more people underestimate them and treat them like fools. And there is only so much Julie can take…


One last trick.
So when they are offered one final big job, Julie knows they should say no. It’s risky and could cost them everything they have. But it could also be their last chance to make it big.
And when fools rush in, the Golds take the spoils.


Read what happens next for Julie and Ralph Gold in another gripping story by Gillian Godden.


Purchase Link – HERE

MY REVIEW

I read the first book in this series, Gold Digger, earlier this year and I loved it. While it did take me a few pages to get back up to speed with the main characters, I soon found myself immersed in the shady world of Ralph Gold and Julie.

Ralph has made the commitment and asked Julie to marry him. If you have read the first book you will know the background to these two characters, neither has had the best of life but they are gradually getting there. Let us say they are not exactly legit and in some ways, it adds to the appeal of the characters given their backgrounds. The author has taken two characters, thrown enough bad stuff at them, and yet they have found each other and are planning for the future.

Ther plans involve Julie organising a wedding, setting up legit business premises and also working with Ralph and also taking part in a heist that is due to happen just before they get married. Yes, just a normal day for this couple!

This was such a welcome return to two fabulous characters and I adored getting back up to speed with them. Ralph has a more influential role with his Italian crime boss. There is a lot of respect between them, but there is something that is being held back. While Ralph trusts Don Carlos completely, Julie is still in the getting to know his stage, and like most people, she doesn’t completely trust him. Especially when he holds the reins for this latest huge job that could set the Golds up for life.

I do like the contrast between Ralph and Julie, she is bold, brassy, opinionated and I think she is brilliant. Ralph is more dark and brooding, but together they make a glamourous couple. Weaving the elements of their past stories in with their current and future lives makes for a very addictive read.

This is one that like a gangland thriller story, there is some humour between the characters and also some dodgy characters. It is not an overly dark story, but there are obvious dark moments. It is twisted and just a great read. With a bit of a teaser for the next book. It is one I would definitely recommend. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gillian Godden is a brilliantly reviewed writer of gangland fiction as well as a full-time NHS Key Worker in Hull. She lived in London for over thirty years, where she sets her thrillers, and during this time worked in various stripper pubs and venues which have inspired her stories.


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