Tag Zooloo's Book Tours

A Truth for a Truth by Carol Wyer @carolwyer @zooloosBT #policeprocedural #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for A Truth for a Truth by Carol Wyer. This is the 4th book in this series and I do urge that you read these in order. The main character has a unique something about her! 🙂

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous book.

DI Kate Young’s team is hunting for a killer. What they don’t know…is that the killer is her.

DI Kate Young has known for years that her boss, Superintendent John Dickson, is a violent and evil man. But when she finally confronts him and accidentally shoots and kills him, she’s forced to cover her tracks before anyone can pin his death on her. With revelations about his corruption soon to become public knowledge, Kate sets up a trail of evidence to make it seem that Dickson has conveniently vanished…

But Kate knows the corruption doesn’t end with Dickson. As she heads up the team investigating his supposed disappearance, she also pursues other loose ends. Stanka, the sex worker who supplied the evidence against Dickson, leads her to crucial information on another corrupt officer, DI Harriet Khatri, and her dubious involvement with sex traffickers.

As the noose starts to tighten on Kate, she finds herself targeted by traffickers, the bent cops on her force and even her own team of detectives. Can she stay one step ahead of them all and bring Harriet to justice? Can she trust anyone around her? And can she possibly get away with murder?

MY REVIEW

Oh my goodness this series is amazing. It is one of those that you really should read in order as there is something about its main character that does need to be understood. Detective Kate Young has dealt with some tough stuff while working for Superintendant John Dickson. She has some information about him that she knows will have repercussions if it gets out. Trying to get the final pieces of information and to prove his guilt she arranged to meet him. After a tussle, he gets shot.

Understanding what makes Kate tick is key to this story as well as the ongoing storyline about the death of her husband, the sex traffickers and a girl she saved and befriended is something that is explained in previous books, they are all brilliant reads by the way!

As Kate tries to keep her cool she is also tasked with finding the man she killed. Balancing her emotions is tough and she is constantly walking on eggshells, trying not to slip up, making sure she has covered all the bases. trying to work in an open and honest way with her team and also keeping things secret is pulling her apart.

The investigations that are running and the people involved could make this a very confusing book, that is if I were to try to explain it in more detail. Luckily for us, we have the wonderful ability of the author to keep the lines clear and not muddy the waters. It makes for a story that flows and weaves its way through those involved and brings others into this evolving plot.

This is a tense thriller and the psychological aspect of it is so good. It gives a nice twist to the character of Kate and gives her her own special trait. The others in her team have their roles to play and they also have their own storylines, not as prominent but they are there.

Doubt, distrust and suspicion are evident on every page and this adds to the thrill of the story. Kate herself is someone who you should be able to trust, but she is definitely overstepping the line. Once this would never be an issue, but now… who knows how far she will go!

This is one that will appeal to fans of police procedurals and crime thriller stories. I do seriously suggest reading this in order to be able to get the full realisation of how Kate works and for the ongoing storylines. Another brilliant book in a brilliant series that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author and winner of The People’s Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer’s crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.

A move from humour to the ‘dark side’ in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.

In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.

Carol has had articles published in national magazines ‘Woman’s Weekly’, featured in ‘Take A Break’, ‘Choice’, ‘Yours’ and ‘Woman’s Own’ magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She’s also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.

When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk

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

You Can’t Hide by Emily Shiner @inkubatorbooks @ZooloosBookTours #crime #thriller #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for You Can’t Hide by Emily Shiner. This is a wonderfully twisted story and it had me gripped.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for the invite and for arranging my spot on the tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book from Inkubator Books.

Beth thought she’d escaped her past. But all this time, it’s been waiting for her…
 
Beth and Ian are desperate to have a child. So much so that they decide to sell his family cabin in upstate New York to pay for IVF.
 
When they arrive at the cabin, they meet Ryan, the caretaker. But Ryan is not who he says he is… He’s here because he knows Beth has a dark secret. And now he intends to use it against her.
 
He threatens to tell Ian everything about Beth’s past unless she does exactly what he says.
 
Beth finds herself caught in a nightmarish trap. If Ian discovers what she’s been hiding from him, she’s sure he’ll leave her. She’ll lose everything she cares about, including the chance to have a child of her own.
 
On the other hand, what Ryan wants her to do is so dark and twisted it’s beyond horrifying.
 
Either way, Beth is sure her life is over, she can see no way out. Unless…  Unless she digs deep and finds a part of herself that is willing to do something so awful it doesn’t even bear thinking about…

You Can’t Hide – the stunning psychological thriller perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Freida McFadden, and Daniel Hurst.

MY REVIEW

Well, what an amazing introduction this book is to the author. This is a fabulous book that delves into the life of Beth and her husband Ian, but there is also another storyline and this one does take more of a prominent role at times. I am not going to divulge much about that one though!

Beth is nervous about going to visit the old cabin, it is isolated, and they can only access it on foot as the snowy weather isn’t exactly ideal for a visit. When they get there they discover that someone has been living in it, it must be the caretaker Ryan. Employed by Ian to come in and make sure that everything is ok. Beth isn’t so sure though, it looks like he has made himself very comfy in their cabin and not someone who may spend a night there to check things over.

This, as I mentioned, is one part of the story, the other is the one that has the biggest thriller factor to it, although when the dots begin to join the thrills are huge. You soon get to know the other storyline and the author does an amazing job with this and had me wanting to scream at the main character! Vague? Yep, this was always going to be as I am not going to reveal any spoilers.

The two stories are separate and they have a nervous energy to them. The characters are interesting and the predicaments they find themselves in are very edgy. As I said I wanted to scream at one of the characters, but then I could have quite easily done the same to the other as well!

This is a review that is very hard to write, but if you like very addictive and suspense-filled thrillers then this is a book that I would definitely recommend picking up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author but first served her time as a banker and a teacher. After a lifetime of devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

The App by Stuart James @StuartJames73 @ZooloosBT#psychologicalthriller #crime #thriller #mystery #bookreview

yvonnembee 5 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for The App by Stuart James. This is a brilliant psychological thriller and one that really made me think about the internet and the way we use apps on our phones.

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

The App…

Once you’re in, they’ll never let you leave.

Whatever happens, don’t download The App.

* It will come in the form of a link. Maybe in your DM’s on a social media account, the junk folder of your emails or a WhatsApp message from a friend.

  • You’ll be enticed by the chance of winning one hundred thousand pounds on offer every Friday, wired straight into the winner’s bank account.
  • It’s not a joke.
  • This part is genuine.
  • Someone can and will win the money.
  • But at what cost?

Marty Benson gets the link sent to him by a friend. So what is the harm in looking?
He clicks it, downloads the app and enters a few basic details.
A message prompts him to wait while he’s loaded onto the system.
An hour later, another message.

• Do not delete the app.
• Do not tell anyone outside of your family about the app.
• Send the link to one person who is close to you.

  • Do not throw your phone away.
  • Always narrate while streaming.
    • If you break any of the rules, we’ll kill a member of your family. Then we’ll kill you.

Marty is sent a picture of his wife, who is shopping with her mother in Oxford Street.
As Marty struggles to breathe, he clicks the links and watches the most recent streams, realising what happens within the
app.

Every Friday morning, a person is randomly picked from social media.

They now have a bounty on their head—a death warrant. But they don’t know it.

Their profile appears on the app’s main page; all their details are displayed.

Every app member must play the game at least once a month or face the consequences.

Kill the person randomly selected from social media.

Win one hundred thousand pounds.

As Marty watches the terror unfold and everyone streaming the hunt within the app, he realises he has to do something.

But how do you stop a murder, when everyone could be the killer?

MY REVIEW

So most of us own a mobile, and most of us download apps. So what if you were sent a download to an app from a trusted friend that could potentially bag you a nice sum of money? Sounds good, and yes we all know that you “don’t get ‘owt for nowt” but all that is required is your name. Great, simple, but then after that, you get a message to say you are not allowed to delete the app, talk about the app or go to the police about the app otherwise a family member will be killed. As proof that they are not joking a photo of one of your family members is sent to you, it is recent, and when you look through the links you realise that this is not a joke. You will be expected to kill someone chosen randomly once a month or a member of your family dies.

I love the psychological taunt of this, the synopsis is brilliant at setting the sense of suspense, tension and dread as the realisation sets in for what is going to happen in this book. A simple app that will make you turn to murder. It sounds unbelievable but when the owner of the app seems to know everything about you and your family then things become serious. We are all aware of people being coaxed into doing things via social media, from the harmless little challenges to the awful and heartbreaking suicides. So, when a story like this comes up I always think to myself, this would never happen in real life. But would it? This is where a story like this works so well and the author has done an amazing job of creating an addictive and dangerous story that is much more than a simple game of cat and mouse.

This is a fabulous story and one that got under my skin, it does have a weird effect as you read it, it makes you think about what you use your phone for, how intrusive social media can be and how easy it is for hackers to get into accounts and manipulate data for their own ends.

A tense and action-filled thriller that starts off at a nice pace but then suddenly screams into a super fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat race against time to save the people that the main characters of the story care about the most. This really had me hooked to the point where I jumped feet and scared the poor dogs to bits when my own phone rang!!!

If you like a story with thrills, action, suspense, mystery and a few bodies, then this is going to be one for you. I adored it and would definitely recommend it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have always loved scary stories, especially ones that shocked me, left me terrified, looking under my bed or in the wardrobe before going to sleep.
There was just a fantastic buzz whenever I watched or read something that took my breathe away.
I remember going to my nan’s house in Ireland as a youngster with my mother and sister, on the West Coast, staying in a cottage, surrounded by miles of fields and my family sitting around the table in the kitchen at night telling ghost stories. Going out and exploring derelict farmhouses in the middle of nowhere. I remember clearly the field at the end of the road was supposed to be haunted by headless nuns. My cousins often remind me of the great times we had, frightening each other and running for our lives whenever we’d see something that didn’t look right.
This is why I love nothing more than to tell a story.
I’m so grateful when people not only read my thrillers but also take the time to get in touch and leave a review. To me, that is the greatest feeling, hearing from people that have enjoyed my work. I know then that I’m doing something right.
I’m 49, married and have two beautiful children. Currently, I’m a full-time plumber but would love nothing more than to make a living from my writing. I hope I write stories and people continue to enjoy them for years to come. That would be completely amazing and a dream come true.

Follow him on –Twitter – Website – Instagram – Facebook – TikTok

Buy Links – HERE

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

Forget Me Not by Miranda Rijks @MirandaRijks @InkubatorBooks @ZooloosBT  #psychologicalthriller #murder #mystery #crime #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 4 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Forget Me Not by Miranda Rijks. This is a fabulously creepy psychological murder mystery.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for my copy of the books and also my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my copy from Inkubator Books.

Six years ago, Helen lost her husband. Now she may lose her life.

Five years ago, Helen’s husband Paul went missing while skiing in the Swiss Alps. His body was never found, but he is presumed dead because no one could have survived a night on that freezing mountainside.

It took Helen a long time to get over her loss, but now she has pulled her life back together – she is an acclaimed interior designer in a loving relationship with a new man.

Even better, Helen has just been offered her dream project, renovating a luxurious chalet in an idyllic location. There’s only one catch – it’s right next to the resort where Paul went missing.

She decides to take the job anyway, convincing herself that a visit to the scene of her great tragedy will actually be good for her, that it will give her a chance to lay old demons to rest.

But soon after she arrives, she makes an utterly shocking discovery and finds herself caught up in a nightmarish web of treachery and deceit where nothing is as it seems.

Only one thing is certain – the mountains want to claim another body…

MY REVIEW

This is such an addictive read and I think it is the first time I have read a book by this author, but I have seen there are quite a few books for me to read and I will definitely be looking at the previous books she has written.

This book is a domestic noir mystery thriller and there is a good amount of twists to keep you on your toes. The story is of a couple going on holiday, but only one of them returns. Paul, the husband is missing and believed to be dead. The Swiss authorities have searched for his body, and after finding a ski they conclude that he has died on the mountain and it is unlikely that his body will be found given the terrain.

This is something that must be awful, not only are you left in limbo, but effectively life is on hold while the required seven years pass before a person can be declared as being dead. This is where interior designer Helen now finds herself. She has a daughter with Paul, but as life has moved on she has now found a new partner in Andrew. They are looking to get married as seven years will have passed.

In the meantime, life has to go on, and when Helen gets a commission to design a chalet in the area where her husband went missing she is doubtful. This commission will however build up her reputation and give her some serious contacts.

The author has created a great sense of suspicion around this story, given that Helen is returning to a place of sadness for her, but the memories are still there. As she has never fully been able to grieve, Helen’s mind plays tricks on her and she imagines that she sees Paul. This is where the psychological side of the story really shines through as Helen isn’t sure if she is imagining things or not. this living in limbo with no body to bury plays havoc with her.

The author does go further as things start to happen to Helen, a sense of being watched, things being cancelled for the commission, deliveries being changed and noises. Being a woman alone in a cabin in the Swiss mountains sounds great, but in all honesty, it would creep me out so I can see why Helen is on edge.

This is a story that got me hooked pretty quickly. I wanted to know what the random mishaps and changes to the schedule were about and all the time there is a sense of something deeper. The area has had people go missing and also people dying, obviously not all are going to be visitors. With locals who have lived in the area for many years, they have a close community.

The story doesn’t have a huge cast of characters, but there is enough to plant seeds of doubt and a sense of mistrust. A very addictive storyline and one that kept me turning the pages and made it a one-sitting read for me. A fabulous story that I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.

Follow her on – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – –Website

Check out the other stops on the Blog Tour…

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

The Mensch by Leopold Borstinski @Borstinski @ZooloosBT #historicalfiction crime #bookreview

yvonnembee 1 Comment

I am delighted to share my review today for The Mensch by Leopold Borstinski. While I am delighted to share I am also sad that this is the final book in the Alex Cohen series. It has been a fabulous series to read and an absolute pleasure to support in the Blog Tours.

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

How can a crooked man ever go straight?
Jewish gangster, Alex Cohen settles down in Florida surrounded by his wife and family. But his past life in the criminal underworld stalks his every move and when a bullet whizzes past his ear, he must decide whether to run or fight.


In his desire to go straight, Alex inserts himself in the East Coast porn film industry, only to find that the tentacles of the mob are clasped tight around his life. With the Feds using new laws to hunt down mob bosses, and rats in his own organization all too ready to testify against him, Alex must clean house before the authorities throw him in jail or the mob kills him to stop him ratting them out.


The seventh book in the Alex Cohen series is a historical thriller novel, which reveals the dying embers of Jewish organized crime in America. Leopold Borstinski’s crime fiction shines a light on the death of the old-style mob in an explosive finale.

PURCHASE LINK – HERE

MY REVIEW

Mensch is a Yiddish term for a person of integrity and honour (according to Google). Could you call a gangster a man of honour or someone with integrity?

In this final book in the Alex Cohen series, the author takes a glimpse, at times of the past, of Alex. From his beginnings when he arrived at Ellis Island to where he is in 1965. He started in The Bowery’s and has gradually emerged into a name that is revered i8n the gangs of the US. The author has had him in the mix and rubbing shoulders and swapping stories with Alfonse Capone, The Kennedys, Fidel Castro and Frank Sinatra.

As the years have passed, Alex has become a husband and a father, he has a close-knit group of friends and business partners. He has worked hard and has put himself in danger many times. and occasionally the lives of his family. He has known a vast number of people and some of them have walked away unharmed!

In this final book, Alex is contemplating his future. He has always said that certain parts of his business will become legitimate and others will go to his oldest and closest business partners and friends. As the author gradually approached the 70s, the once feared name of Alex has started to lose some of its impact. The FEDs have been around for many years, but recently the noose is tightening around the old-style gang bosses. Eager to remain free, there are some who are not averse to turning witness.

Alex has always had a motto and it is one that has been mentioned several times in each book. In this final book, it is mentioned even more. If you have followed the series then you will know to what I refer.

I have enjoyed this series from the very start, following the highs and the lows. The Mensch is a book that feels slower, and it sort of makes sense to me as Alex is starting to slow down. But, that does not for one moment mean he is relaxing and taking things easy. He is getting things in order and this means huge amounts of travelling for face-to-face meetings. I think by slower, I mean he is spending time thinking over the past, the present and the future. Life is going to change, what and when that change will be, well you are going to have to read this one to find out.

This is a series that is one for those who like historical fiction that is based around the gangsters of the US. From an unknown immigrant to one who has associated with the rich, the famous and the notorious. A fab series and a brilliant finale in this final book. It is one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Leopold Borstinski is an independent author whose past careers have included financial journalism, business management of financial software companies, consulting and product sales and marketing, as well as teaching.
There is nothing he likes better so he does as much nothing as he possibly can. He has travelled extensively in Europe and the US and has visited Asia on several occasions. Leopold holds a Philosophy degree and tries not to drop it too often.
He lives near London and is married with one wife, one child and no pets.

Follow him 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

The Memories of Blood by Guy Cross #GuyCross @ZooloosBT 

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to be one of the Book Bloggers opening the Blog Tour today for The Memories of Blood by Guy Cross. This is a wonderfully creepy psychological thriller that I really enjoyed.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Blog Tours for my spot on the tour and for arranging my copy.

From the notebook of Gregory Rook: “Sacramental power is born from extremes: obsession, desire, passion, pain, ecstasy, desecration… True holiness transcends morality…”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A stormy night; a hit and run and Stephen Porter unleashes a train of events that delivers him—and his family—into the clutches of a terrifying dark magician…

… whose magick works through the medium of blood – and the innocence of children.

Stealer of souls, shapeshifter devil, how can he be defeated?

The answer lies in the memories of Jonny Sorrell, a teenage boy who has no idea they form the key to ending Rook forever.

The question is, will he realise in time?

PURCHASE LINK – HERE

MY REVIEW

This is a wonderful book that definitely has some creepy moments in it. The cover describes this as a psychological horror, and in some way, I do agree, but I would say more psychological than horror. Although there are some nerve-wracking moments and very tense spooky scenes. I don’t read as much horror now as I did when I was a teenager, I think I was much braver then!!!

This is a book that is set around a family, a patient in an institute and has its roots in the past.

The author has used the characters to good effect. Most are actually likeable, but there are exceptions. As the synopsis states, this does use the innocence of children for the blood magick to work, rituals and basically abuse. While the author doesn’t go into detail, thank goodness, the implications are there.

This does have some things in it that I do associate with horror, a priest, a doctor, a family with children, a psychiatric institute and also a remote setting. I suppose it could be seen as slightly stereotypical, but for me, this was great as I found things easier to imagine and associate with as there was a familiarity about some of the aspects.

The characters are really well used, they are a mix of good, bad and evil. There are some characters that randomly appear, this adds to the psychological aspect of the story and it also gives a tense mysterious atmosphere to the story.

I finished reading this book in bed, I had to finish it to make sure things were safe! I told you I wasn’t very brave 🙂

This does have a strong psychological thriller feel to it, and a good horror vibe without being too much horror. I thought it was intriguing and wasn’t sure how things were going to pan out or how some of the characters would be used. I have to say that even though it did creep me out at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is one I would definitely recommend.

Guy Cross has been painting and writing from ever since he can remember, leaving a career in teaching to pursue his true loves: writing, painting and making music. His writing is psychologically deep and very dark, reflecting his love of the arcane and occult. Gothic horror is his speciality. 

Check out the other stops on the Tour…

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

Marriage Unarranged by Ritu Bhathal @RituBhathal@ZooloosBT @SpellBoundBks  #romance #chicklit #bookreview

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am delighted to be one of the Book Bloggers opening the tour today and to share my review today for Marriage Unarranged by Ritu Bhathal. This was a fabulous read that took me into the life of Aashi, her family and her friends. A chick-lit with an Indian twist!

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of the book via NetGalley from the publisher Spellbound Books.

It all s̶t̶a̶r̶t̶e̶d̶ ended with that box…
The year 2000 and Aashi’s life was all set.
New Millennium, exciting beginnings, new life.
Or so she thought.
Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after.

But then Aashi found the empty condom box…

Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged.

Old images erased, new beginnings to explore.

And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets?
A stranger who’s hiding something…
Coming Summer 2023, book 2 in The Rishtay Series

PURCHASE LINKS – AMAZON UK – US

MY REVIEW

This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I need to read more. I loved the journey I was taken on with the story of Aashi, her brothers Bali and Sunny, also her best friend Kiran.

After discovering her fiance isn’t quite the man she thought he was, Aashi makes the decision to break up the relationship. Aware of the possible embarrassment and shame that she may bring on her family worries her. It is so good that she has an understanding family and her best friend.

Deciding to use the honeymoon holiday rather than cancel it, Aashi and her brothers and Kiran make the journey to India. A trip that brought surprises and new experiences as well as new contacts.

This is such a wonderful story and it was interesting to see the author had put a list of the Punjab terms for the different family members. I have to say that as I got to know each of the family members and also others in the cast it soon became easy to understand them. This list of terms also includes that they may refer to non-related people as well.

This was a fabulous story and one that was full of so many things I know nothing much about. Understanding the family and the traditions as well as how things are gradually changing was great, also the food. mmmm… it sounds amazing. The one thing that I really appreciated knowing was the way the characters reacted when they arrived in India. The distinct smell and the colour overload were something that I had not even considered.

While this is a story about family and friends, it is also one about working out what makes the characters tick. There is a wonderful romantic tension, and nothing is straightforward. I do like the referrals back to tradition and how the rest of their families would feel. Even though each character has a choice, they are always resp[ectful of their families and how things will appear. Family is the core of the story in some ways and it was great to discover this.

As the story gradually progressed from home to India and then back home again I was taken on a whirlwind of a tour. Had some giggles and laughs as well as feeling for some of the characters. Aashi especially. It seems that Aashi transformed when she was allowed to be herself, and this was a subtle but amazing thing to watch.

How things worked out at the end was so appropriate and I felt it kept within the traits of the characters and it just felt really right.

I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, as this one was the first. A story that I think fans of romance and contemporary fiction are going to love. I know I did and I would definitely recommend it.

The only problem with this book that I had, is that I have to wait until next year before I can read the second in the series!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ritu Bhathal was born in Birmingham in the mid-1970s to migrant parents, hailing from Kenya but of Indian origin. This colourful background has been a constant source of inspiration to her. From childhood, she always enjoyed reading. This love of books is credited to her mother. The joy of reading spurred her on to become creative in her writing, from fiction to poetry. Winning little writing competitions at school and locally encouraged her to continue writing.
As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and teacher, she has drawn inspiration from many avenues to create the poems that she writes. A qualified teacher, having studied at Kingston University, she now deals with classes of children as a sideline to her writing! Ritu also writes a blog, www.butismileanyway.com, a mixture of life and creativity, thoughts and opinions, which was awarded first place in the Best Overall Blog Category at the 2017 Annual Bloggers Bash Awards and Best Book Blog in 2019.
Ritu is happily married and living in Kent, with her Hubby Dearest, and two children, not forgetting the fur baby Sonu Singh.

Follow her at – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – TikTok – Website

Check out the other stops on the Tour…

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

Black is the Colour by Seamus Connolly @seamusconnolly_ @ZooloosBT @SpellBoundBks #thriller #crime #debut #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to be one of the Bloggers to open the Tour today for a Debut Author and share my review. Black is the Colour by Seamus Connolly was a brilliant read and if you like twisted thrillers then have a look at this one!

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloos Book Tours for my spot on the Tour and for arranging my copy via the publisher Spellbound Books.

It has been almost three decades since the brutal murder of a young father took place on the streets of Glasgow.

Fleeing the country as a child Cal Lynch returns to Scotland a man, a lawyer, determined to exact vengeance on the gangster who killed his father and tore his family apart.

His desired retribution would be complex and challenging. He had dreamed, trained and prepared for the day of his return.

Falling in love was not part of the plan.

As Cal’s revenge on Eddie Quinn draws ever closer, what happens next will leave him broken and fighting for his very existence.

Black Is The Colour is a gritty gangland tartan noir thriller set against the turbulent backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain.

PURCHASE LINKS – AMAZON UK – US

MY REVIEW


What an absolutely fabulous read this book was. If I didn’t need to go to work I would have easily read it in one sitting.

From the synopsis, I knew this was going to be a thriller, I didn’t realise just how twisted it would get though. Cal has returned to Scotland, he has a plan and one that he has thought about for many years. He has revenge on his mind and he knows who he has in his line of sight. As a solicitor, Cal is able to use his experience and also the law to get what he needs to get. Or, so he thinks. Things don’t go all his way and there will be a price to pay along the way.

This is s set in the criminal world in Glasgow. While Cal has been away and made himself a name and a career he has never forgotten his roots. This is something that the author brings into the story and it is great to see. Cal knows the streets, and the people and thinks he knows what he is getting himself into. Plans, well on paper they are always great and even if you think you have all the alternatives covered, well there is something that will go awry.

This is a tense thriller and mystery novel and considering it is only around 180 pages long, the author has certainly made for an addictive story. This is one that is dark, it has unexpected twists and not everything is black or white.

I really liked getting to know Cal and some of the other characters. It doe shave that feel that there could be more to come in way of a series. I do hope so as I think there is the potential for much more.

There are a good amount of characters and I think the balance is about right for them, they are there because they are needed. Again there are some who I do think would make for great recurring characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a well-paced story with plenty to keep you thinking and guessing. A couple of great curveballs to keep you on your toes and I look forward to reading more from this author. It is one for crime, thriller and mystery fans and one I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Seamus Connolly is a Scottish based author who has recently published his first novel – Black is the Colour. Brought up in the West of Scotland he combines gritty reality and great humour within his fiction writing.
Seamus is currently drafting a follow up to his debut novel which promises to keep readers enthralled with twists and turns to keep the pages turning.

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A Kinder City by Peter Taylor-Gooby @PeterT_G @ZooloosBT @matadorbooks #dysopian #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for A Kinder City by Peter Taylor-Gooby. This is a fabulous read and one that fans of dystopian are going to enjoy.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloo’s Book Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour.

The City is governed by the grim law of profit and loss. No exceptions, no place for compassion, pleasure, the warmth of friendship or the ardour of love. David, an Enforcer committed to the Law, meets Sarah, a villager from outside, and begins to understand that a different, more joyful, life is possible.


A Kinder City tells the story of their tangled relationship and of how they fall in love, and their struggle against Franklin, the richest man in Market World. If the only law is the market, why not sell everything – and that includes the air we breathe, the land we stand on, the water we drink? No exceptions. His giant factories spew forth the road beasts – the huge machines that devastate the lands beyond the City in pursuit of yet more wealth. Not content with cloning animals, he traps horses in exoskeletons and works them to death. Torn between her growing passion for David and her revulsion at the City that he is pledged to protect, Sarah turns her back on him.


In despair, he confronts one of the convoys supplying Franklin’s mills and releases the horses trapped within the giant trucks. Pursued by terrifying security guards they escape to the Broken Lands and witness at first-hand the desolation that results from ruthless strip-mining and industrial farming driven purely by greed and the misery of the remaining villagers. In their struggle to survive and return to the City they discover the power of their love for each other. Sarah challenges Franklin to his face and, helped by David, sparks off a rebellion among the poor of the City. Together they defeat Franklin. He must learn what it means to be destitute and alone in Market World. The possibility of building a kinder City lies within their grasp.

PURCHASE LINKS – AMAZON – UK – US

MY REVIEW

This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I really enjoyed A Kinder City. It is a dystopian novel that had a very good message behind it.

David is an Enforcer for Market World, a company that has been set up for the benefit of people. It is supposed to be a fair system where everything has a price and no bartering, swapping or donations are acceptable. Transactions are via a wristband, the equivalent of a smartwatch. Your wristband is your account, therefore you are your account. David lives and works in the city, everything is regulated, ruled and runs on time.

When he meets Sarah, a villager he attempts to show her how good the city is. She is very different to him, and while she sees what the city has to offer she knows what is happening outside the city. An eye-opener for David and he starts to see that Market World and the man who runs it, Franklin, are not quite the be-all and end-all.

I really enjoyed this book, so much so that it became a one-sitting read for me. It is a dystopian style thriller and one that did also feel like a Young Adult read as well. Very addictive reading!

The landscape that the author built up showed a contrast between a city where things run smoothly, but behind the facade, something more sinister is lurking. Some are aware of this, but not all. In some respects, this is a political thriller as Franklin wants his dream and his vision to encompass everywhere and everything. His policies do not take into account the impact he is having on the environment and the people outside the city. He produces machines that pollute and destroy but give the greatest profits. Sounds a little familiar doesn’t it?

Having to weave various threads, the author has created a world that shows the difference between working for profit and gain against working with and for nature. This is something that is very relevant in today’s world and I think this is what really works so well for this book.

I really enjoyed the various threads in this story, a chance to discover the truth for David, political wranglings, the hope that Franklin can be stopped and that there is a possibility that all could fall down and even more hardships are incurred by those who do not live or work by the cities rules.

I really think this is a book that would appeal to many readers. It has the political intrigue of business against people, there is a thriller element and environmental issues. A tense story that I adored and I would definitely recommend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter Taylor-Gooby is a sociologist. He has published widely and made many TV and radio appearances. His novels deal with issues that matter – love, money, power and environmental disaster. He has worked on adventure playgrounds, in a social security office and as a teacher. He loves walking, cycling, writing and talking to his children. 

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Blood Sentence by Keith Nixon @knntom @GladiusPress @ZooloosBT #crime #policeprocedural #thriller #bookreview

yvonnembee 2 Comments

I am delighted to share my review today for Blood Sentence by Keith Nixon. This is the first book in the DI Jonah Pennance series and I am so glad that I have started this one at the very beginning. Pennance is a character that I really liked and I can’t wait to read more. Also, the name choice is so good as well.

My huge thanks to Zoe at Zooloo’s book tours for the spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my e-copy of this fabulous crime thriller.

Three bodies, one suspect. That suspect is you…

When the unidentified corpse of an apparent suicide victim is found hanging above a complex pattern of forty photographs of children, Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance of the Met’s specialist Sapphire Unit is brought in to investigate.

A post-mortem reveals the suicide was murder, and Pennance realises he knows the man. But as the body count rises, all the signs point to a care home in Kent – a place that Pennance is all too familiar with.

The problem is the only person connecting the victims is Pennance – and he has a solid motive for wanting them dead… Can Pennance prove his innocence?

Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, and Peter James Blood Sentence is the first book in the explosive series featuring Detective Inspector Jonah Pennance.

MY REVIEW

WOW! What a brilliant read this book was. It is the first book in the DI Jonah Pennance series and what an opener it is.

When Pennance is dragged away from a crime scene in London to go to Anglesey, he isn’t expecting to find that he is a connection, not that he is connected to others. I have to be really careful here, it would be so easy to make a slip up in this review and reveal details!!!

Pennance, well he is mystified and so was I. I mean how could he be connected to two bodies, one a suicide in Wales and a murder in London. He works for the Sapphire Unit of the MET, it’s the department that deals with sex crimes, so it becomes more and more intriguing.

Pennance is a bit of a closed book, the only person who he seems to really get on with is a work colleague, Smithson. The relationship between them is friendly and supportive and I am glad it is a friendship rather than a relationship as it means that Pennance has someone to turn to. Why would he need someone to turn to I hear you ask! Well the more you learn about him the more you realise the complexities of his character. Yeah, I know, vague!

The author has created a wonderfully intense and twisted police procedural that has some really dark scenes, it is twisted around one main plot, but it isn’t straightforward. It also has subplots that keep you on your toes and makes for very addictive reading.

Pennance is a character that comes across as cold, so having a sidekick as such makes a good balance. You do get to learn more about him and his past and I think there is possibly more to come out, I definitely think there are more layers to him for the author to tease out, there is definitely the potential from this reader’s opinion.

This is a crime thriller, it has a very mysterious feel to it and it kept me reading. It feels wrong to call a book exciting when it deals with murders and crime, but exciting it is as it is the start of a new series, and I think it is going to be a very good one. I will be keeping my eye out for more.

Ideal for those looking for something new in police procedures. It’s got plenty of twists, some unexpected turns and all in all a fab read. It is one I would definitely recommend.

About the author

Keith Nixon is the best-selling author of sixteen novels and one million words in print, including the Margate based Solomon Gray series of over 250,000 copies in circulation and reached no.1 on Amazon in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

Keith lived near the gritty seaside town of Margate, where many of his novels are based, for 17 years before relocating to the edge of the Peak District with his family where he lives today. Keith works in a senior sales role within a high-tech industry and has regularly travelled all over the globe.
His novels are published by Gladius Press and Bastei Lubbe (German)

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