Tag Fiction

The Thunder Girls by Melanie Blake #fiction #friendship #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for The Thunder Girls by Melanie Blake. This is a book that I have had on my shelf for a while. It was when Natalie, a fellow Book Blogger, posted her review of this book on her site that I knew I wanted to find my copy and read it.

Jackie Collins for a new generation. The Thunder Girls is a blockbuster novel, filled with obsession, addiction, betrayal and revenge, that charts the rise and fall of an 80s girl band from Melanie Blake, a true insider of the music business.

THE

Chrissie, Roxanne, Carly and Anita, an eighties pop sensation outselling and out-classing their competition. Until it all comes to an abrupt end and three of their careers are over, and so is their friendship.

THUNDER

Thirty years later, their old record label wants the band back together for a huge money-making concert. But the wounds are deep and some need this gig more than others.

In those decades apart life was far from the dream they were living as members of The Thunder Girls. Breakdowns, bankruptcy, addiction and divorce have been a constant part of their lives. They’ve been to hell and back, and some are still there.

GIRLS

Can the past be laid to rest for a price, or is there more to this reunion than any of them could possibly know? Whilst they all hunger for a taste of success a second time around, someone is plotting their downfall in the deadliest way possible . . .

MY REVIEW

This was a fabulous book to read and it was one that took me back to the 80s and mentioned pop stars and bands of the time as well as some of the dodgy fashion trends. The story is based around The Thunder Girls, chart toppers in the 80s but after a massive bust-up, the band members have not spoken in over 30 years. They were a 4-piece band and they were successful.

Each of the women has moved on, they have gone in different directions and all have made adjustments but the bitterness these once good friends had is still very much present. So when Chrissie has to get in touch with each of the other band members, she knows she is going to be in for a rough time. She doesn’t have any other choice in the matter though.

This is a story that dips into the past of the girls and brings up relevant things that build up the story of how they got to the stage they are each at. With fame in the 80s, they were wild, didn’t have any care but had problems. These are not fully revealed until later in the book and when the author reveals them they are shockers.

The author builds a picture and a past for each of the women, some have married, some divorced, some have children and they all try to put on a brave face like a mask. It is when they come together that this mask slips, but who is the one that is going to break and admit mistakes or own up to what happened? These are strong women and over the years they have become a little warier, but they still hold their anger. It is going to be tough for any of them to admit that they made a mistake or show any sign of weakness.

This is the story of the women but also the other important people in their lives. It also gives a glimpse into the scenes behind the stage and how bands are micromanaged. But while you may be thinking this is a nice little get-together you soon realise that there is a subtle but growing idea of something being amiss. There is more to these women and the other characters than meets the eye and when I say things will hit the fan, I really mean it.

This does refer to being a Jackie Collins for a new generation, I was a fan of the original books and I can see that there are some similarities. There is the sly, conniving, backstabber in bitchiness that you got with those books, but this one does go a lot further with the mysterious side of a longer game.

I was surprised by how quickly I got wrapped up in this book, and I pretty much devoured this in two sittings. The women became likeable and I could see why they had gone their separate ways, and it made sense. Putting the past in the past and moving on is a tough one to do, but the author did a brilliant job of weaving a story that did just that. Several twists, and great pacing and is a very addictive book to read.

This is the story of reunion, friendship and moving on and I adored it immensely. It is one I would definitely recommend.

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

They Lie Here by NS Ford @nsfordwriter #mystery #thriller#suspense #fiction #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for They Lie Here by NS Ford. This Author is also a fabulous Book Blogger who I follow and I am always intrigued and interested by her book selections and reviews. It was an easy thing for me to agree to read her 2nd book when she kindly got in touch. When I read it, I had not even seen a synopsis. It is as I wrote my review that I realised how clever this title was!

This book is due for Publication tomorrow, so I would like to take the opportunity to wish you a wonderful Publication Day 🙂 xx

TWO MYSTERIES. ONE CITY. MANY LIES.

Kat Green has made a career out of tracking down reclusive former celebrities. When she moves to the quaint English city of Waelminster, she’s on the trail of enigmatic pop star Roskoe Darke, of the band Scorpio Hearts. He hasn’t been heard of since 1985, but she’s confident she’ll find him. However, as the clues become more bizarre and sinister, Kat has to confront the darkness of her own past. Who can she trust when everyone is hiding the truth?

MY REVIEW

After reading this author’s first book I was definitely looking forward to this second one. They Lie Here is such an addictive read and I did read this without looking at the synopsis, I only read that as I think about writing this review.

The synopsis is short and snappy and now I look at it I realise how it gives very little away. It does however have enough to suggest a mystery and secrets from the past.

The story is about Kat, and she has a very isolated life, she constantly moves as she goes from story to story. She researches each of her stories and her latest one is the whereabouts of Roskoe Darke, a member of an 80s band. He mysteriously disappeared and has not been seen, there have been several suggestions as to what happened and some of these do sound plausible. Kat, however, decides to dig deeper.

I adored how this started as a very interesting mystery about a disappearance, but after several chapters, this morphs into something more than I originally expected. Kat is a character who I really liked, a loner who fixates on one project at a time. But what is it about her past that will have relevance to the current timeline of her story? Well, I could tell you but then I would spoil the story so you are going to have to read it for yourself. I didn’t see this twist coming in the story, so it was a huge revelation.

As for what happened to the missing Roskoe, well again I never saw that one either. This was a little different to what I expected but it worked really well. The author injected a clever little side step and it was one that turned this into a much darker and more sinister story.

There are a few characters in this book, enough for the story but not any bystanders. Each of the characters has a purpose and I was never aware of just how or what the purpose was.

The story flits between the 1980s and present-day and this means you keep up to date with the present story while being given details and things from the past to give a larger overall picture. How the two timelines come together was something that I never saw, a lot of the plots and twists, I never saw until the author was ready to let me in on her secrets.

Secrets are quite a large part of this story and as they emerge I started to realise how cleverly the author has played out her storyline. Not all is as it seems with any part of the story, especially with the characters and this adds to the sense of suspicion.

This was a brilliant thriller that has a great mystery and suspense element to it, a great storyline and a wonderful set of interesting and different characters. I adored this book a huge amount, a one-sitting read for me and it is one I would absolutely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

N S Ford is a book fanatic, blogger and cat lover who lives in the UK with her family. She has a First Class degree in English. When not reading or blogging, she juggles her writing time with parenting, working in heritage and playing the piano. She is the author of two cross-genre psychological thrillers, ‘We Watch You’ and ‘They Lie Here’.

Find her on Twitter or her Website

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

Walk by James Rice #netgalley @HodderBooks #fiction #friendship #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review today for Walk by James Rice. This is a title I saw on NetGalley and the synopsis looked interesting. It did take a while for me to get into but I soon found myself wanting to know how it was going to end. My thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for accepting my request to read this title.

Benny thought that it would be him and his dad doing the walk. Just him and his father, hiking through the Welsh countryside like they used to.

Only, when his dad got ill, it became obvious that this would never happen. So Benny was forced to consider other options.

If Benny is honest, he and Stephen haven’t been close since school, but once Benny had drunkenly blurted out the invitation, he couldn’t take it back.

Now Benny and Stephen are on the walk. A walk Benny has vowed to finish, no matter how hard it is. But as food runs low and money runs out, Stephen and Benny find themselves stranded on the edge of the world, far from home, where the possibility of return is becoming increasingly distant…

MY REVIEW

The synopsis for this book intrigued me it was a book that sounded quiet, I do like a quiet book it can be one that makes you think.

The book is essentially two guys walking along Offas Dyke, a route through the Welsh countryside that takes the walkers through the forest, mountain, marshy, and at times very stormy. On the whole, it is told by one of the men, with the other putting in his opinions when needed. One is an artist and the other works as a call centre worker for the benefits agency.

The two men are very different and as the story meanders through the countryside so the story of the men meanders with it. I discovered that they used to be friends, they used to be close but have drifted. With them, their sense of what they feel is important in life has also moved in different directions.

They both have demons and they still need to deal with them. Hopefully talking and walking will help them clear the air and their pasts.

This is a slower-paced story and one that I wasn’t sure about initially, it felt a little disjointed and I didn’t really feel I could gel with the two men. Gradually, however, they grew on me and I got to see how they thought, what they thought, and their opinions and views on many things in life. As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is a quiet story, but that doesn’t mean it is without its louder moments.

This went from a book I wasn’t sure about to one that I really knew I had to finish to understand the whole story and of course to see how things ended. This is one for those who like a story about life and discovering what is important. It is one that I really enjoyed after a shaky start and I would happily recommend it.

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

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke @AnneHerries @rararesources #histfic #bookreview

yvonnembee

I am delighted to share my review for A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke. Yes it has a Christmas cover, yes it is only September, but Christmas is not the only thing in this gorgeous book.

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

Synopsis…

A brand NEW festive read from Rosie Clarkes’ bestselling Mulberry Lane series.


1949

Peggy and Able Ronoscki’s seaside cafe in Devon is thriving and their twins Fay and Freddie are growing up fast.
To pursue her daughter’s destiny, Fay must train in London and Peggy is faced with a dilemma of moving the family back to London once more.

Meanwhile, Peggy’s elder daughter Janet has her own troubles. She fears her husband is having an affair and Is desperately unhappy.

Peggy is torn two ways and can only hope that a reunion with her friends at Christmas can help resolve her problems.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/2T4OS6m

My Review…

What an absolutely lovely book A Reunion at Mulberry Lane was to read. This is the 6th book in this series but the first one I have read. It does work very well as a stand-alone.

I met several characters who are family and friends of Peggy and Able. These two have left Mulberry Lane, also known as The Lanes, to run a cafe. They work hard but do miss their family and friends back home. It is set just after the end of WWII and the effects of the war are still being felt there are those who are suffering from we now know as PTSD and have a very hard time adapting. But on the whole, it is a time when people are gradually getting back to how things used to be, there are still some food shortages but the country is getting there.

The family and friends of Peggy are a wonderful group and there is an obvious bond between these characters that have been built up over the previous books in the series. The sense of belonging and having people to turn to for support and also the reactions when news is shared gives a wonderful feeling for the reader.

The storyline is a gentle one as such because it is one about the everyday lives of people who work hard and support each other. There is a wonderful feeling of belonging and being loved between the characters and this is what makes this book so special. There are some fabulous characters that I have met and I soon found myself getting to know them and remembering them.

Considering I have come to this series quite late on, I was surprised and also delighted at how quickly I found myself invested in this book. There are mentions of things that have happened in the past and the author gives just enough to make me aware but without giving too much away.

While this book works very well as a standalone I do wish I had begun this from the very beginning as I think the reading journey with the resident of The Lanes would be wonderful. I really enjoyed this book and I think readers of historical fiction and family sagas will absolutely adore this if you haven’t read any of the books I would say read from the beginning as I think this would be a wonderful series to settle down with. I Would definitely recommend A Reunion at Mulberry Lane.

About the Author…

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series.  She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner.  She lives in Cambridgeshire.

Social Media Links – Newsletter Sign Up – Website – bookbub – Twitter

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland @JessicaRedland @rararesources #romance #summerreading #coverlove #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review today for Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland. My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this absolutely gorgeous book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

How gorgeous is that cover? 😍

Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow


Can love really be found when you stop looking for it…?

As Samantha Wishaw watches the love of her life marry another woman, she’s ready to give up hope of finding her happy ever after.

But when a chance encounter leads Sam to find friendship in Thomas – a lonely, grumpy elderly widower living at derelict Hedgehog Hollow – her life is about to change forever.

Glad to have a distraction from family feuds and match-making, Sam vows to fulfill Thomas and his wife, Gwendoline’s, dreams of restoring Hedgehog Hollow to its former glory, and to open a hedgehog rescue centre.

Throwing herself into the task at hand, little does Sam realise that the keys to love and happiness may also be found at Hedgehog Hollow, when she least expects it…

Escape to Hedgehog Hollow this summer with top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland for the perfect uplifting, feel-good read.

Purchase Link –Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link)

Wow-what an amazing read this was. I started it as I got in the bath, 2 hours later I decided I really need to get out the bath! I then got dry, warmed up in PJ’s and then finished reading the book, it was that good!

This is the story of Samantha and her life, the people in her life and how she is treated. She has not had the best relationship with some of her family and when her cousin, who is also best friend marries her ex-boyfriend, then things take a real turn after the ceremony.

But in some ways, this leads Samantha to what will be the best fresh start she will ever have. It will also bolster her confidence, give her some well-deserved respect and make her realise that she is as good as everyone else.

This is a story that is so full of emotion, and not just the happy ones either. There were times where I was so frustrated at how Samantha was being treated, she is such a nice person and has the biggest heart, but this is just what some people need to take advantage and to manipulate.

Samantha has the sort of determination to crack even the grumpiest person and make their lives better for it. Thomas was just what she needed and without realising it, he needed her as well. Their relationship was very special, it brought back forgotten happy memories for both.

This is as much about the bond of friends and family as it is about making changes to life. It’s about taking opportunities and chances and running with them. Most of all it is about fulfilling a long lost dream and surrounding yourself with positive and special people.

A gorgeous book full of beautiful descriptions and it was an absolute pleasure to read. A romance with a whole lot of heart and soul and one I would absolutely recommend.

Jessica Redland is the author of nine novels, including The Secret to Happiness, which are all set around the fictional location of Whitsborough Bay. Inspired by her hometown of Scarborough she writes uplifting women’s fiction which has garnered many devoted fans.


Social Media Links – Instagram – Twitter – Facebook – Website – Blog – Bookbub – Mailing List sign-up

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

The Place We Call Home by Faith Hogan @GerHogan @Aria_Fiction @BOTBSPublicity #BOTBSPublicity #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reading The Place We Call Home by Faith Hogan and I am delighted to reshare my review of this wonderful book as part of the Blog Tour for the publication of the digital version.

Let me show you what the book is all about…

Welcome to Ballycove, the home of Corrigan Mills…

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Irish countryside the famed mills have created the finest wool in all of Ireland. Run by the seemingly perfect Corrigan family, but every family has its secrets, and how the mills came to be the Corrigan’s is one of them…

Miranda and her husband were never meant to own the mills, until one fateful day catapults them into a life they never thought they’d lead.

Ada has forever lived her life in her sister’s shadow. Wanting only to please her mother and take her place as the new leader of the mill, Ada might just have to take a look at what her heart really wants.

Callie has a flourishing international career as a top designer and a man who loves her dearly, she appears to have it all. When a secret is revealed and she’s unceremoniously turfed out of the design world, Callie might just get what’s she’s been yearning for. The chance to go home.

Simon has always wanted more. More money, more fame, more notoriety. The problem child. Simon has made more enemies than friends over the years, and when one of his latest schemes falls foul he’ll have to return to the people who always believe in him.

Ballycove isn’t just a town in the Irish countryside. It isn’t just the base of the famous mills. It’s a place to call home.

Best-selling author, Faith Hogan returns with a family tale of love, loss, secrets and finding yourself.

Purchase from Amazon UK (this is an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no cost to you)

Well I have to say that the imagery that this author has created in this book is exceptional, I loved reading the sections about the mills, the countryside and life that Miranda experienced as a child.

Then add the present-day settings as Miranda, the owner of Corrigan’s Mill, is starting to feel her years, her health is not as it once was. In the wings her three children try to work out what their mum is going to do with a lucrative business and also worry about her remaining years and their futures.

These timelines have been brilliantly woven to create such a wonderful stroll through the Irish countryside and community as I was transported into the Corrigan family through the years.

This is such a gentle read and it was an absolute pleasure to disappear between the pages and discover a life that has had it’s up’s and downs over the years. Miranda was a lovely character and I soon warmed to her in her childhood and admired her resilience in her adult years. She brought up three children who are very individual and very different characters.

Ada is the more serious one, Simon is always looking for the next big deal and Callie a big name in the fashion world. Each child has a good life and in theory, they should be happy, but each one seems to have a crisis and this is what finally brings them home and together again. It is only Ada who has remained at home over the years.

This is a family that should be strong together but are actually fractured. They have had opportunity and chances and yet can’t seem to see what they have. As hard as it is for Miranda to try and keep them all happy, and even with her health, they seem as distant with each other as ever.

This is such a wonderful story that opens old wounds and confronts new ones that are still raw, resentment and anger are as rife as frustrations and honesty start to make themselves shown. It is an emotional book and I did have the odd watery eye moment, but this is not what I would call a heartrendingly sad book. There are heartbreaking moments, but the story is also heartwarming as realisations are finally acknowledged.

This was a terrific read and one that I sat and read in one sitting. It was a story that drew me in and had me totally captivated with the gentle pacing and also the compelling storyline. This is a really good read and one I would definitely recommend.

13/04/2018 Author Faith Hogan with her dog Penny at her home in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Photo : Keith Heneghan

Faith Hogan is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of five contemporary fiction novels. Her books have featured as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown up women’s fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.

Faith’s latest book, The Place We Call Home is published in January 2020.

She writes crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan – Her Sisters Bones is available now!

Faith gained an Honours Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree from University College, Galway.

She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She’s a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger – except of course when it is raining!

You can find out more about Faith on her website Facebook Twitter Instagram

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour… 


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

Coming Home to Heritage Cove by Helen J Rolfe @hjrolfe @rararesources #promopost

yvonnembee

I have a promomotional post today for Coming Home to Heritage Cove by Helen J Rolfe. It should have been a book review but my organisational skills have let me down as I didn’t write this one in my diary! My huge apologies to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and also to Helen. So a promo post today with a review by the end of the week.

Let me show you what this book is all about…

Welcome to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship, and the perfect place to fall in love this summer…

Melissa rushes back to Heritage Cove when Barney, the man who’s been like a father figure to her since she was a little girl, ends up in hospital. After an absence of five years, her return isn’t going to be easy, especially when she bumps into Harvey, the love of her life and the man she’s never been able to forget.

For reasons he couldn’t explain at the time, Harvey changed his mind about going with Melissa to start afresh as they’d planned, and life moved on for the both of them. But with Melissa back in the village and determined to stick around to help Barney, they can’t avoid each other forever. Melissa knows she let so many people down by staying away for so long, but she and Harvey blame each other for what happened and neither of them is willing to admit to being in the wrong.

When Barney insists on cancelling the Wedding Dress Ball, the charity fundraiser he holds every year in the stunning barn on his property, Melissa and Harvey realise they’re going to have to pull together. Otherwise the man they once knew might be gone forever. And when they unearth a secret Barney has never shared with anyone, they go in search of answers to not only ensure the ball runs this summer, but to bring back the Barney they know and love.

Back in the cove after all this time, Melissa gets to see the life she left behind and it’s time to deal with what it was that drove her away in the first place.

Beneath the summer sunshine in Heritage Cove, the sea sparkles, the heat rises and new love, reconciliations and the answers to an old love story could bring changes for everyone.

Purchase Links – Amazon UK – US

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

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.

Follow Helen on – Website – Twitter – Facebook – Instagram

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

Handcuffs, Truncheon and a Polyester Thong by Gina Kirkham @GinaGeeJay @zooloo2008 #AuthorTakeover #Bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am absolutely delighted to share my review of Handcuff’s, Truncheons and a Polyester Thong by Gina Kirkham. This is a book I have had on my TBR for a while and when I knew Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Diary had her #AuthorTakeover featuring Gina I knew it was the perfect opportunity to pick up this book. And the title appeals to me 😁

Over the past few days Zoe and Gina have featured, extracts, Q&A’a, Behind the story features and so much more. There are interviews, reviews and it has been brilliant reading them. Please head over and have a giggle at the antics of Gina and her alter-ego Mavis Upton you will not regret it.

So, let me show you what the book is about…

Will have you laughing out loud and is hugely entertaining. This is a book that oozes charisma and character, one you will not be able to put down – Nikki’s Books4U 

Meet Mavis Upton. As mummy to 7-year old Ella, surrogate to far too many pets and with a failed marriage under her belt, Mavis knows she needs to make some life-changing decisions. It’s time to strike out into the world, to stand on her own two feet … to pursue a lifelong ambition to become a Police Officer. I mean, what could go wrong? 

Supported by her quirky, malapropism-suffering mum, Mavis throws herself headlong into a world of uncertainty, self-discovery, fearless escapades, laughter and extra-large knickers. And using her newly discovered investigative skills, she reluctantly embarks on a search to find her errant dad who was last seen years before, making off with her mum’s much needed coupon for a fabulous foam cup bra all the way from America. 

Follow Mavis as she tackles everything life can throw at her, and revel in Gina Kirkham’s humorous, poignant and moving story of an everyday girl who one day followed a dream. 

Hilarious…real life and so touching, a fabulous read! – Christina Green 

Purchase link – Amazon UK

Oh my goodness this is such a hilarious read. The author has used her own experiences in the Police and gave them to her alter ego – Mavis Upton and adds a little fiction.

The story starts and within a few pages I knew I was going to love this book. Mavis finally does something about her dream job and joins the police. A series of mishaps, some good friends and she has made it.

Now out in the real world her training has provided her with the knowledge to do her job, but her naivety still leaves her open to some of the in-jokes. She does however stand her own and makes her mark.

This book had me giggling, chuckling and laughing out loud so many times. It is just what the doctor ordered for brightening up any day. This is a book that is like a series of anecdotes, some of which you can see coming and others catch you out of the blue. Both sorts are funny no matter how they are delivered.

As this is a story based on experience it does have a semi autobiographic feel but it also has some fiction, but it is so easy to read. A book that readers who like humour, funny stories and just want a good giggle would really enjoy. I thought it was excellent and I would definitely recommend it.

Image taken from Gina’s Author Page on Amazon UK

Gina was born during the not-so-swinging 50’s to a mum who frequently abandoned her in a pram outside Woolworths and a dad who, after two pints of beer, could play a mean Boogie Woogie on the piano in the front room of their 3-bed semi on the Wirral. Being the less adventurous of three children, she remains there to this day – apart from a long weekend in Bognor Regis in 1982.

Her teenage years were filled with angst, a CSE in Arithmetic, pimples, PLJ juice, Barry White and rather large knickers. Marriage and motherhood ensued, quickly followed by divorce in her early thirties and a desperate need for a career and some form of financial support for herself and her daughter. Trundling a bicycle along a leafy path one wintry day, a lifelong passion to be a police officer gave her simultaneously an epiphany and fond memories of her favourite author Enid Blyton and moments of solving mysteries. 

And thus began an enjoyable and fulfilling career with Merseyside Police. 

On reaching an age most women lie about, she quickly adapted to retirement by utilising her policing skills to chase after two granddaughters, two dogs and one previously used, but still in excellent condition, husband. Having said goodbye to what had been a huge part of her life, she suddenly had another wonderful epiphany. This time it was to put pen to paper to write a book based on her experiences as a police officer. 

Lying in bed one night staring at the ceiling and contemplating life as she knew it, Gina’s alter-ego, Mavis Upton was born, ready to star in a humorous and sometimes poignant look at the life, loves and career of an everyday girl who followed a dream and embarked upon a search for the missing piece of her childhood.

Follow Gina on Twitter – Blog – Amazon

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

The Price by Kerry Kaya @KerryKayaWriter @BOTBSPublicity #BOTBSPublicity #thriller #crime #BookReview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The Price by Kerry Kaya. This is my first time reading this author and it will definitely not be the last time! I would like to thank Sarah at Book On The Bright Side Publicity for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this brilliant book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

For most of his life Fletch has looked out for his younger brother Spencer and he will do anything and everything he can to protect him. Together they work for notorious East End gangster Billy King. Across the water in South London is Billy’s rival George Bannerman and the two firms are locked in a bitter turf war.


Amid murder, drug deals, and rival firms, Fletch is harbouring his own secrets and it’s only a matter of time until those secrets are revealed, and when you break the rules you have to pay the price.  

This is the first time I have read a book by this author and I absolutely loved it. The author starts her story in the past in the first chapter, it sets the scene for what is to follow. What followed was an addictive one sitting read for me as I followed the brothers of Fletch and Spence, they work for local gangland boss Billy.

I really liked how the author focused on the relationship of the brothers rather than violence in this story, although the main focus is Fletch. He has a bit more savvy and has more front to him. Although there are mentions of violence, it wasn’t that brutal in the reading.

The brothers are loyal to each other and their Mum, things in the past were tough and it is now that things seem to be working out. Only thing with being part of a gang is that there is always another gang that wants to make a move.

The story took various turns that I found really intriguing, not just a straight forward rival gangs read, but something with much more heart and human interest to it. Getting to know the brothers through the story was a good way to make a reader kind of connect to them, but even though I really liked them there was always that air of danger about them.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story, a brilliant read that wasn’t what I expected and I found it really hard to put down. I think this book would suit various readers, especially those that want a crime read that has a slightly different angle top it. I am looking forward to reading some of the previous books by this author, and as for this book, well I would definitely recommend it.

Kerry Kaya is a British gangland crime Author, born and raised on the outskirts of East London.

She is an avid reader and has a passion for books. From an early age she began writing stories, and in her later years those stories went on to become full length novels and novellas. 

Kerry lives with her partner and Daughter.

Follow Kerry on Twitter – Facebook – Instagram

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

The Wave by Virginia Moffatt #TheWave @aroomofmyown1 @0neMoreChapter_ @damppebbles #damppebblesblogtours #Bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review for The Wave by Virginia Moffett. My huge thanks to Emma at damppebbles blog tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for my e-copy of this book.

Let me show you what it is all about…

Tonight they’ll share their darkest secrets, but tomorrow, there is no escape…

A devastating tsunami is heading towards the Cornish coast. With no early warning and limited means of escape, many people won’t get away in time.

While the terrifying reality of the news hits home, one young woman posts a message on Facebook, ‘With nowhere to run to, I’m heading to my favourite beach to watch the sunset, who wants to join me?’

A small group of people follow her lead and head towards the beach; each of them are harbouring their own stories, and their own secrets.

As they come together in the dying light of the Cornish sunset, they will discover something much more powerful than they ever imagined. But there is no escaping the dawn … the wave is coming…

Here are the links so you can buy your own copy – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Harper Collins – Waterstones – WHSmiths – Foyles – Hive

Well this was an addictive read. A deadly tsunami is due to hit coastal areas around the world. The author has chosen to focus on a cove in Cornwall and as it is a county I live in it was so easy for me think of many of the covers near where I live.

The story focuses on a handful of people and they are introduced in a very clever way. The first person posts a status on Facebook, it is seen by the person who mentions it to a third and so on. This is how the small group of strangers find themselves on a remote beach facing the inevitable.

Each person tells their own story of how they came to be there. It is told in the present tense and so there is a little repetition but from each ones own perspective. For me this was a good way to get to know the characters and what made them tick.

The group come together, there are cross words, but there is also the understanding that they are all going to die together as the wave hits. There is a sort of resolve to the group, this almost makes the story come across not as emotionally charged as I thought it possibly would be. The inevitability of their situation I suppose. While there is emotion it is understated, and I realise it is how each of the characters hold back the tears and overly emotional blubbering. There are nerves, tensions, times of calm, as well as fun and laughter, there is contemplation and thoughts of if things could have been differently in the past. Call it wishful thinking if you like, but what it boils down to is working out who is important and how to make peace and say that final goodbye.

I was totally captivated by this book and it made me think about what I would do if I heard the news of an impending tsunami. A wonderful read that had me mesmerised and one that I would definitely recommend.

Virginia Moffatt was born in London, one of eight children, several of whom are writers. ‘The Wave’ is her second novel. Her previous publications are ‘Echo Hall’ (Unbound) and ‘Rapture and what comes after’ (Flash fiction collection published by Gumbo Press). She also writes non fiction. Virginia is married to Chris Cole, Director of Drone Wars UK. They have two daughters at University and a son still living with them in Oxford.

Follow Virginia on – Twitter – Facebook – Website

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