tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74283224345883974602024-02-08T03:31:08.809-08:00Hooked From Page OneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-80801593602549515802017-09-05T01:31:00.000-07:002017-09-05T01:31:59.480-07:00Hooked From Page One has moved! I'm excited to announce that I have launched a new website for my blog and that I have finally joined Wordpress. You can find a link to my new website by clicking the link below:<br />
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https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpress.com/<br />
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I will still keep all of my previous content that I have published on this blog but any future posts will be published on Wordpress. I would love it if you could give my new site a follow, it would be great to see you there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-21353180695891209542017-08-30T22:50:00.000-07:002017-08-29T22:50:32.612-07:00Road to Publication - Laura Marshall On my blog today, I'm excited to be welcoming Laura Marshall, bestselling author of Friend Request onto my blog to share her Road to Publication.<br />
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<img alt="Image result for Laura Marshall friend request" height="400" src="https://api.curtisbrown.co.uk/media/60083/show/square" width="400" /></div>
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<b>Do you find that inspiration strikes you in specific places or do ideas come to you everywhere?</b></div>
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<i>I often get ideas when I am doing something else rather than trying to write - particularly if I am walking somewhere alone or out running (something I don't do often enough!). Inspiration also tends to strike me when I'm in the bath, and I often find myself having to get out and find a pen and paper before I forget whatever it is I've come up with.</i></div>
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<b>What do you usually do after you get the first spark of a fresh idea, is it straight to the computer to write the first chapter or straight to a notebook to start planning? </b></div>
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<i>A bit of both. I like to have at least a vague plan - to know where I'm going, even if I don't know how I'm going to get there. But sometimes if there's a certain scene that's nagging at me to be written I'll just sit down and write it and see where it goes. Often something will happen that I hadn't planned and wasn't expecting.</i></div>
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<b>How long does you first draft usually take to write?</b></div>
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<i>I wrote the first draft of Friend Request in about five months (whilst working as well). The first draft of my second book is still a work in progress and I think it's going to take me longer even though I'm now writing full time. It's definitely very different writing something that you know will be read!</i></div>
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<b>Do you celebrate when you finish your first draft and if so how?</b></div>
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<i>I honestly can't remember if I celebrated with Friend Request. This time I think a glass of something will definitely be required!</i></div>
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<b>Is it straight to editing or do you leave your manuscript a while before you pick up the red pen?</b></div>
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<i>With Friend Request, I was lucky enough to get my agent not long after I finished my first draft, so the first edits I did were hers. This time, I'll be sending it to her and to my editor, so I'll probably leave it alone while they are reading it and then set to work on their edits when I get them.</i></div>
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<b>How long do you spend editing before your book is handed over to the printers?</b></div>
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<i>With Friend Request, I did three rounds of edits with my agent before she felt it was ready to submit to publishers. There were then several rounds of further edits with my editor before it was ready to go out into the world.</i></div>
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<b>At what point, prior to publication do you ind the nerves start to kick in or do you not get nervous in the approach to publication?</b></div>
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<i>I definitely started to feel nervous when the proof copies went out and I knew ACTUAL PEOPLE were reading it! It's a very strange feeling as a debut author - no one had ever read what I'd written before, and I hadn't really imagined anyone ever would. Waiting for those early reviews was a nail-biting time! </i></div>
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<b>How does it feel when the early reviews start to come in?</b></div>
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<i>I was very fortunate in that the reviews were positive, so it was absolutely wonderful. To read that people had enjoyed the book that I had written was the most amazing feeling. I just hadn't realised before what an amazing community of bloggers and reviewers there is out there - that they had taken the time to write about my book and how it connected with them - it was just awesome. I feel incredibly grateful.</i></div>
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<b>How long do you wait after finishing your book before starting on your next project? </b></div>
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<i>I started Book 2 pretty much straight away, but I had a few false starts before I settled on the idea that I'm now working on. </i></div>
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<b>And finally how do you celebrate publication day? </b></div>
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<i>For Friend Request, I had not one but two book launches - one in my local Waterstones and one in London. I figured I was only going to be launching my debut novel once in my lifetime, and I'd certainly waited long enough for it, so it deserved to be done in style! Both launches were wonderful celebrations with family and friends, wine and cupcakes with mini edible versions of my book on them! </i></div>
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Thank you so much Laura for taking the time to answer my questions, you can purchase Laura's debut novel Friend Request by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Friend-Request-addictive-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B01LWTZ751/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503497373&sr=1-1&keywords=Friend+Request">HERE</a> </div>
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You can follow Laura on Twitter by clicking here: <i> </i><a href="https://twitter.com/laurajm8">@laurajm8</a></div>
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<img alt="Friend Request: The most addictive psychological thriller you'll read this year by [Marshall, Laura]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51j-9wc-v1L.jpg" /></div>
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<b>ABOUT THE BOOK </b></div>
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Maria wants to be friends. </div>
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But Maria is dead...isn't she? </div>
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When Louise Williams receives a message from someone left long in the past, her heart nearly stops. </div>
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<b>Maria Weston wants to be friends on Facebook.</b></div>
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Maria Weston has been missing for over twenty-five years. She was last seen the night of a school leavers' party, and the world believes her to be dead. Particularly Louise, who has lived her adult life with a terrible secret. </div>
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As Maria's messages start to escalate, Louise forces herself to reconnect with the old friends she once tried so hard to impress. Trying to piece together exactly what happened that night, she soon discovers there's much she didn't know. The only certainty is that Maria Weston disappeared that night, never to be heard from again - until now....</div>
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<b>THE ADDICTIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER THAT EVERYONE'S RAVING ABOUT - perfect for fans of <i>He Said/She Said</i>, <i>The Couple Next Door</i> and <i>I See You</i>. </b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-52784856923124833652017-08-29T11:44:00.000-07:002017-08-29T11:47:04.077-07:00My Husband's Wife by Jane Corry Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51P2%2BDV4wOL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
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<b>BLURB</b><br />
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<b>FIRST COMES LOVE. THEN COMES MARRIAGE. THEN COMES MURDER.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What if your life was built on a lie?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When lawyer Lily marries Ed, she's determined to make a fresh start. To leave the secrets of the past behind.<br />
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But when she takes on her first criminal case, she starts to find herself strangely drawn to her client. A man who's accused of murder. A man she will soon be willing to risk everything for.<br />
<br />
But is he really innocent?<br />
<br />
<b>And who is she to judge?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
MY HUSBAND'S WIFE is a thriller with so many twists you won't be able to put it down, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Clare Mackintosh and C. L. Taylor.<br />
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<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">My Husband’s Wife is the debut novel by Jane Corry. I’ve
been wanting to get around to this book for a while and I was so pleased when I
finally started reading it, I’m now keen to read her second book, Blood
Sisters. Set across two timelines and from the viewpoint of two characters, it
is a tense, fast paced read that’ll keep you turning the pages. Jane Corry is
an author who I’ll definitely be watching out for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The first half of the book is set in 2001. Lily and
her husband, Ed are newlyweds and have just spent their first year together as
a married couple. Lily works as a lawyer and has just been handed a case which
may well be the breakthrough case of her career. She has to decide if the man,
who wants her to represent him, is innocent and if she will take him on. Can
she trust him? And why does Lily suddenly begin to grow attached to this man? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Meanwhile, we meet Carla, a young Italian girl who
lives with her mother in the next door apartment to Lily and Ed. Carla is
looked after by Lily and Ed every weekend and soon a strong friendship begins
to grow between them and Ed, a budding artist, begins to paint her every time
she is there, which Ed almost becomes obsessive about. Fast forward fifteen
years and Carla, now in her early twenties, is travelling to London to study
law, she is also keen to meet up with her old friends. Ed has had huge success
from one of his paintings, a picture of Carla from when she was a young girl
and Carla feels that she should be entitled to some of his success as well. But
what follows are a series of dramatic events, one of which will end in
bloodshed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There were so many intriguing characters in this
book. Ed and Lily fascinated me from the beginning, Jane adds a lot of tension
in their relationship and she kept me on my toes as I tried to guess what was
going to happen to them next. I never expected the road which Jane took us down
in the second half of the book, it was an excellent twist. In the first half of
the book we also meet a character called Larry who is seeing Carla’s mother. I
enjoyed trying to work out what his role in the story was; I found him to be one of
the more mysterious characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When we move fifteen years later, Jane really does
take us on a whirl wind of a ride. There were so many surprises in the second
half of the book; I couldn’t stop reading until I had put it down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A gripping debut from Jane Corry, a talented writer
who is one to watch. I can’t wait to read her next book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publisher: Penguin</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Publication date: 25th August 2016</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Print length: 544 pages</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241256488/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=0241256488&pd_rd_r=GSEHHTWB1HMF0W68NS80&pd_rd_w=Ze8Xz&pd_rd_wg=PSpkK&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=TFE8KXXTPXX1MKST8FZH&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=187bec3b-0822-4044-bbe9-441718232b3f&pf_rd_i=desktop">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-80274226521974598702017-08-26T04:19:00.000-07:002018-09-17T15:04:16.576-07:00The Collector by Fiona Cummins Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51quvA7zxPL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
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Mo Hayder meets Thomas Harris in <i>The Collector </i>by Fiona Cummins - the gripping follow up to <i>Rattle.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Jakey escaped with his life and moved to a new town.</b><br />
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His rescue was a miracle but his parents know that the Collector is still out there, watching, waiting . . .<br />
<b>Clara, the girl he left behind, is clinging to the hope that someone will come and save her.</b><br />
<br />
Life has fallen apart for Clara's mother as she starts to lose hope.<br />
<br />
<b>The Bone Collector has a new apprentice to take over his family's legacy.</b> But he can't forget the boy who got away and the detective who had destroyed his dreams.<br />
<br />
<b>Detective Etta Fitzroy's life collapse when the Collector escaped.</b> With Clara still missing, and a new wave of uncannily similar murders beginning, will she be able to find him again?<br />
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<b>The Collector is back and this time he has nothing to lose . . . </b><br />
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<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">For those of you who read and loved Rattle you
really are in for a treat with <b><i>The Collector</i></b>, and if you haven’t read Rattle
yet, well you better get your skates on because you do not want to be missing
out. Fiona Cummins writing is utterly
gripping, so when you start this book, you best make sure that you don’t have
any plans for the rest of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I read Fiona Cummins debut novel Rattle towards the
end of last year. It was one of the creepiest books that I’ve recently read, and it made
my top ten books of 2016; I was pressing it into the hands of everyone I
knew. So I was so excited when <b><i>The
Collector</i></b> was posted through my letterbox, and Fiona Cummins has done it again.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">In <b><i>The Collector</i></b> we follow off from where Rattle
left off. If you haven’t read Rattle yet, please stop reading here as I don’t
want to spoil the story for you. Jakey Frith has escaped the clutches of The
Bone Collector, and he and his family are starting a new life in Leigh on Sea.
But The Bone Collector has returned, and he has never forgotten the boy that has
escaped. But Clara Foyle has never been rescued, and the police are beginning to
lose hope that she’ll ever be found, the most they can hope to discover is a body
for her parents to bury. But Detective Sergeant Etta Fitzroy is determined not
to let Clara’s parents down. She knows she is running out of time. Can she
find Clara before it’s too late, and can she finally bring The Bone Collector to
justice? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fiona is a master of tension. The chapters are short
and snappy, and each one leaves you demanding more. Each chapter is headed with
the time which was a great way of adding to the tension, reminding the reader
that time is running out for the detective and that the detectives are racing against the clock to find Clara and The Collector before he strikes again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The villain in this book is seriously scary; Fiona
had me holding my breath on several occasions, particularly in those final
scenes. I really felt for Jakey Frith and Clara Foyle. Jakey is determined to
help his friend, even, though he knows, it may cost him his life. He is an
incredible character who I think will stay in the minds of many readers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">The Collector</i> once again showcases some excellent writing from Fiona Cummins. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance reader copy
to review. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Publisher: Macmillan</div>
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Publication date: 22nd February 2018</div>
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Print length: 400 pages</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collector-Fiona-Cummins/dp/1509812709/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503742332&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=Fiona+Cummisn">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-35256946649416504032017-08-23T23:14:00.000-07:002017-08-22T23:15:15.789-07:00Road to Publication - Patricia GibneyToday I'm thrilled to be welcoming Patricia Gibney, bestselling author of the Lottie Parker series onto my blog today to share her Road to Publication.<br />
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<img alt="Image result for patricia gibney" src="http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/image-library/land/1000/p/patricia-gibney.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></div>
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<b>Do you find that inspiration strikes you in specific places or do ideas come to you everywhere? </b></div>
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Ideas can hit me at anytime, anywhere. I always carry a notepad and pen, and the notes app on my phone is perfect for jotting down things also. I'm one of those people who feel that once I write something down then I won't forget about it. However, I often get inspiration while I'm driving and that is a little awkward. I have to keep repeating it to myself so that I can remember it once I stop the car. I also keep a pen and notepad by my bed - just in case my nightmares contain some inspiration and quite often they do!</div>
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<b>What do you usually do after you get the first spark of a fresh idea, is it straight to the computer to write the first chapter or straight to a notebook to start planning?</b></div>
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I am a terrible planner so when I have the general idea, theme or plot, I get a few thousand words written on the laptop. Then, as a plan forms while I'm writing I do a rough outline on Scrivener. I also have a large whiteboard - which is great for doodling on! When I bought it, my intention was to use it for information graphs, with all my plots and characters to surprise me, so I know the reader will be surprised. </div>
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<b>How long does your first draft usually take to write?</b></div>
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I was five years writing The Missing Ones! I used to write a bit, leave it for a few months, go off painting or doing something else and come back to it. I couldn't begin to add up how long I spent sitting down actually writing. I was a master at procrastination.</div>
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Now that I have a contract with Bookouture with very tight deadlines, I can write a first draft in two to three months.</div>
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<b>Do you celebrate when you finish your first draft and if so how? </b></div>
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No celebration for me. It is just the beginning of the process and I know it is just a first draft. The really hard work is just about to start!</div>
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<b>Is it straight to editing or do you leave your manuscript a while before you pick up the red pen?</b></div>
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About half way through the first draft I usually stop and edit the work to date. I sometimes get stuck in 'the murky middle' and I find going back over it at least once, helps me. When the full novel is complete I try to start straight away to edit. Once I have the ending, and as I'm not a planner, I need to start an edit immediately.</div>
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<b>How long do you spend editing before your book is handed over to the printers?</b></div>
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Bookouture provide me with an editing schedule. Structural, line and copy edits followed by proof reading. </div>
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The manuscript will be read by professional editors, so I have the opportunity to fine tune it and perfect the novel as best I can throughout the edit schedule. </div>
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<b>At what point, prior to publication do you find the nerves start to kick in or do you not get nervous in the approach to publication?</b></div>
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Once the book goes up on NetGalley, I get the heebeejeebies. Because it is the first time anyone (other than my editors) will get to read it, I get really nervous until the first reviews start coming in. I know it is in my control at that stage, but it is like bringing your child to their first day at school . . . anticipation, nerves and terror!</div>
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<b>How does it feel when the early reviews start to come in?</b></div>
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Waiting for the early reviews is a terrifying time for me. Once they start coming in, I get a sense of how the novel is going to be received. I know there is nothing else I can do at that stage, so I just start the next book and try to make it even better than the previous one. I also know my books are not for everyone as they are crime books, exploring dark and disturbing themes. Inevitably some people will pick them up and dislike them, resulting in less than positive reviews and I can absolutely understand that. But the good reviews fill me with a sense that maybe I can actually write a damn good story. </div>
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<b>How long do you wait after finishing your book before starting on your next project?</b></div>
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I start almost immediately. I'm writing a crime series featuring Detective Lottie Parker, so at least I have a starting point. It is not a totally blank page. I toy with ideas and themes and then I dive straight in. </div>
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<b>And finally how do you celebrate publication day?</b></div>
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My books are published digitally so publication day is a surreal experience for me. I usually have to do loads of social media work to promote the book and then I have to keep up with the blog tours.</div>
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Two weeks after The Missing Ones was published, I held a launch party to celebrate with my family and friends and townspeople. It was fantastic. I didn't have time to organise one for The Stolen Girls but I'm currently planning one for The Lost Child on October 27th. </div>
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Thank you so much, Patricia for taking the time to answer my questions. You can purchase her latest novel: The Stolen Girls by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stolen-Girls-gripping-thriller-Detective-ebook/dp/B071Y84BQK/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1503312192&sr=1-3&keywords=Patricia+Gibney">HERE</a></div>
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Follow Patricia on Twitter by clicking here: <a href="https://twitter.com/trisha460">@trisha460</a> </div>
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<img alt="The Stolen Girls: A totally gripping thriller with a twist you won't see coming (Detective Lottie Parker Book 2) by [Gibney, Patricia]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Au1qVQ0PL.jpg" /></div>
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<b>ABOUT THE BOOK</b></div>
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<b>The young woman standing on Lottie's step was a stranger. She was clutching the hand of a young boy. 'Help me,' she said to Lottie. 'Please help me.'</b><br />
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One Monday morning, the body of a young pregnant woman is found. The same day, a mother and her son visit the house of <b>Detective Lottie Parker</b>, begging for help to find a lost friend.<br />
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Could this be the same girl?<br />
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When a second victim is discovered by the same man, with the murder bearing all the same hallmarks as the first, Lottie needs to work fast to discover how else the two were linked. <b>Then two more girls go missing.</b><br />
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Detective Lottie Parker is a woman on the edge, haunted by her tragic past and struggling to keep her family together through difficult times. Can she fight her own demons and catch the killer before he claims another victim?<br />
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<b><i>The Stolen Girls</i> is a gripping and page-turning thriller that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of Rachel Abbott, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni.</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-11664862499297643062017-08-17T04:49:00.001-07:002017-08-17T04:49:19.380-07:00The Doll House by Phoebe Morgan Book Review <img alt="The Doll House: A gripping debut psychological thriller with a killer twist! by [Morgan, Phoebe]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5168zmN6fdL.jpg" /><br />
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<b>You never know who's watching... </b><br />
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Corinne's life might look perfect on the outside, but after three failed IVF attempts it's her last chance to have a baby. And when she finds a tiny part of a doll house outside her flat, it feels as if it's a sign.<br />
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But as more pieces begin to turn up, Corinne realises that they are far too familiar. Someone knows about the miniature rocking horse and the little doll with its red velvet dress. Someone has been inside her house...<br />
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How does the stranger know so much about her life? How long have they been watching? <i>And what are they waiting for...?</i><br />
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<b>A gripping debut psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming. Perfect for fans of <i>I See You </i>and <i>The Widow</i>.</b><br />
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<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
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The Doll House is the debut novel by Phoebe Morgan. It is atmospheric, dark and unsettling in places, perfect for fans of Clare Mackintosh and Tammy Cohen. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and if you're a fan of stories about sisters, you must read this.<br />
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Corinne and her husband Dominic are desperate for a baby. They have been trying for a few years to get pregnant and they are just about to embark on their fourth round of IVF treatment which could be their last hope. Corinne's sister, Ashley is fraught with worry that her partner maybe having an affair; her daughter Lucy is beginning to distance herself and now Ashley is receiving strange phone calls from an anonymous caller. Meanwhile, Corinne is starting to find objects that she believes come from the doll house her father built for her and her sister. Is someone stalking their family and if they are what do they want?<br />
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The Doll House was a gripping read. Phoebe's writing draws you into the story and keeps you hooked. I genuinely cared about her character's whilst I was reading. When Corinne was trying for a baby, I actually felt myself go tense when she was taking the pregnancy test which is the sign of great writing, Morgan's prose makes you want to read on and you won't be able to stop until you have turned the final page. I also really felt for Ashley as she battled to keep her daughter from slipping away from them and when it seemed that her world was toppling in on her.<br />
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Phoebe also introduces us to a mystery character who's viewpoint the book is also told from. Phoebe creates a great sense of mystery here and she had me wondering who this person was in connection to Corinne and Ashley.<br />
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The ending of this book was brilliant, I thought I had it worked out what was going to happen but Phoebe managed to totally surprise me. Her writing had me gripping the end of my seat and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. You won't be forgetting this one in a hurry.<br />
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A really enjoyable read. Phoebe Morgan is a talent to watch and I'll be keeping an eye out to see what she does next. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to read.<br />
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Publisher: HQ Digital<br />
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Publication date: 14th September 2017<br />
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Print length: 355 pages<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doll-House-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B072TVPN1N/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502737933&sr=1-1&keywords=the+doll+house+phoebe+morgan">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-2635008424650866642017-08-16T23:41:00.000-07:002017-08-18T06:48:34.838-07:00Road to Publication - Gillian McAllister I'm delighted to be welcoming Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of Everything but the Truth onto my blog today to talk about her road to publication.<br />
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<b>Do you find that inspiration strikes you in specific places or do ideas come to you everywhere? </b></div>
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<i>I think perhaps I'm not really a typical author in this way. I tend to get one idea a year, like clockwork, in the dog days of the summer/early autumn, and then I write that and only that. Novels are made up of more than one concept, though, and I do see and write things down often. I went to the cinema last Friday, for example, and I saw a boy, maybe nine, at the Pic N Mix. He turned to his Mum and said, 'I'm just amazed at all the choice!' - he - and his backstory, which I invented - went straight into my novel. </i></div>
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<b>What do you usually do after you get the first spark of a fresh idea, is it straight to the computer to write the first chapter or straight to a notebook to start planning?</b></div>
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<i>Oh, no. That would be a disaster for me. I'm not a very instinctive plotter, and there's no way I would hit all the plot beats if I didn't plan. I need a pretty intense structure and a clear way forwards, otherwise my characters go for endless coffees and long walks where they 'think things through.'</i></div>
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<b>How long does your first draft usually take to write?</b></div>
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<i>3 months. I don't allow any more. I'm a big fan of getting it down and fixing it later. This - I have observed - is the single biggest barrier to aspiring writers, and I don't wish to let myself get caught up in the perfectionism. As Hemingway said, you have to go straight on through to the end of the damn thing.</i></div>
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<b>Do you celebrate when you finish your first draft and if so how?</b></div>
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<i>I have a week off, usually. Or, I used to, but usually, there are a whole load of things to do. Often my edits come on the previous book. Or there is a backlog of articles, emails I said I would send, VAT returns...I try to consume some popular culture, too, to up the well. A film (I watched The Godfather after I finished the first draft of my second novel, Anything You Do Say, and it really influenced a subsequent draft), some TV, books, though I am never not reading a book.</i></div>
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<b>Is it straight to editing or do you leave your manuscript a while before you pick up the red pen?</b></div>
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<i>I do tend to go straight to editing. I was always in such a rush, when I started out: to finish, to send to agents, to get published...I found it quite disheartening to be told to wait a few weeks. I have not ever really found (contrary to most advice, and so I am wary of saying this!) that I can see my manuscript with clearer eyes thanks to a break, either. The method I do swear by for this is producing a 'visual' of the book, either using tables on the computer or index carding each scene; anything that allows you to see the narrative. That is how I fix my first draft. </i></div>
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<b>How long do you spend editing before your book is handed over to the printers?</b></div>
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<i>Oh, God. How long's a piece of string? I used to do a rough first draft, a structural edit for my second draft, a polish for my third, and then a read-through on my Kindle. These days, the process is a bit more complicated. With book two, I did two structural re-writes of my own, because one part of the narrative wasn't behaving itself. With book three, I have multiple narrators, so I had to slot in an edit where I concentrated on their (hopefully!) distinct voices. As I tackle more ambitious projects, the drafts seem to multiply. After this, I send to those 'in the know', and of course I get more edits then. I do one or two structural rewrites with my editor, then copy edits, then page proofs, then proof-reader queries. After that, I never look at it again. Barely even a quick flick when I receive my author copy, so paranoid I am that it will contain a horrendous error I failed to spot! </i></div>
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<b>At what point, prior to publication do you find the nerves start to kick in or do you not get nervous in the approach to publication?</b></div>
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<i>Well, to be honest, I am the sort of person who can be nervous about opening a packet of crisps, so I am always in some heightened state of whatever. I used to wonder why some writers were terrified of publication, though (because I was jealous of them and couldn't see past that) and then, when my own approached, I realised: it's because we are worried it won't sell and/or it will be awfully received. So the first few weeks of it being out for review are especially tough (my God, I was obsessed with Goodreads the December just gone; I took up swimming so I had an hour a week in which I wasn't checking it). And the week of publication, and the first sales figure day, of course. Those are very tough. Exciting and scary, together.</i></div>
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<b>How does it feel when the early reviews start to come in?</b></div>
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<i>Ha, well, it's funny. I have high hopes it'll be different for my second because really, most published novels will have some five stars, lots of four and three, and some two and one. The pattern hardly varies and I hope I retain the perspective of that when my second is out. However, the first few bad reviews do sting. Like overhearing bad things said about yourself, only nobody will give you any sympathy. I think Sarah Perry once said, if you could walk down a corridor with the doors open, and in every single room somebody was gossiping about you - would you not stop to listen? And you do. And it hurts a little bit. But it is also often - more than often - very nice, too. And there is the paradox of being a novelist. </i></div>
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<b>How long do you wait after finishing your book before starting on your next project?</b></div>
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<i>I'm not very good at not writing. Writing a novel is sort of my thing. In the past, when I was a full-time lawyer (I am now part time) I would reach stages where I absolutely had to take a break, and I was craving an evening of television, a wasted day, a trip to the opticians in which I could sit quietly in the darkness and not be typing. Life is on more of an even keel now, timewise, and so I don't think I will need a month of almost catatonic downtime when I deliver. I will be finishing book three in September and I'll probably start planning book four in October.</i></div>
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<b>And finally how do you celebrate publication day?</b></div>
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<i>Well, in March, my novel was very well placed and I spent the entire day visiting all of the shops that stocked it. It was such fun, to see it in the wild, and I didn't stop getting goosebumps for months. Now, when I see it in Waterstones, it's like seeing an old friend, and I merely nod to it. I also had a launch, which I would recommend for marking the occasion, but probably not for general stress levels. This time, my novel's coming out in two stages - November for Kindle and January for paperback - so I think it will be somewhat watered down, which is welcome, really. It is intense when you 'come out' in fiction to the entire world on one day. This year, maybe I'll take a bath, a walk, and stay off my sodding Amazon ranks.</i></div>
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Thank you so much, Gillian for taking the time to answer my questions. You can purchase Gillian's debut book Everything but the Truth by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Everything-but-Truth-Gillian-McAllister/dp/1405928263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501790523&sr=1-1&keywords=Gillian+McAllister">HERE</a></div>
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You can follow Gillian on Twitter here: <a href="https://twitter.com/GillianMAuthor">@GillianMAuthor</a></div>
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<b>ABOUT THE BOOK </b></div>
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<b>Do you ever check your partner's phone?</b></div>
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<b>Should you?</b></div>
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<b>Are you prepared for the consequences? </b></div>
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<b><i>Everything but the Truth</i> is Gillian McAllister's stunning breakthrough thriller about deceit, betrayal and one woman's compulsive need to uncover the truth.</b></div>
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It all started with the email.</div>
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Rachel didn't even mean to look. She loves Jack and she's pregnant with their child. She trusts him.</div>
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But now she's seen it, she can't undo that moment. Or the chain of events it has set in motion.</div>
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Why has Jack been lying about his past? Just what exactly is he hiding? And doesn't Rachel have a right to know the truth at any cost? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-76352246999966017982017-08-16T11:06:00.003-07:002017-08-16T11:06:31.466-07:00The Special Girls by Isabelle Grey Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51FbqxhgzlL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
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<b>They are called the 'special girls.' How are they special and why are they chosen?</b><br />
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A doctor is found beaten to death in woods close to a summer camp for young women with eating disorders. The camp is run by the charismatic Professor Chesham. DI Grace Fisher is called in, but is quickly pulled from the investigation - to head up a cold case inquiry involving Chesham himself.<br />
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Some years earlier, one of Cheshem's patients made allegations that he sexually assaulted her.<br />
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As Grace uncovers the lies that led to the doctor's murder, she discovers the full extent of the damage done to the special girls - and the danger they are still in.<br />
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<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Special Girls by
Isabelle Grey is a very current read. Her book deals with very emotive themes,
especially focusing on historic child abuse. The harrowing, sad fact is that
there are people out there who do get away with these heinous crimes which has
become all too apparent in the world today. And some even take their secrets to
their graves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">DI Grace Fisher of the
Essex police force is called in when the body of Tim Merrick, a psychiatric
registrar is discovered in a wooded area near a camping site used by the
hospital he works for. Every year, Tim Merrick’s boss, Ned Chesham, takes a
group of young girls to the camping site; the young girls who he is trying to
help are suffering from anorexia and eating disorders. A short while after the
body of Tim Merrick has been found Grace is called in by the Met to head up a
team investigating historical sex abuse which could be linked to her current
case. But when the Met appear to brush the results of the investigation under
the carpet Grace is determined to get to the bottom of the allegations, no
matter what it might cost her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Special Girls is
the first book by Isabelle Grey which I have read and it certainly won’t be my
last. Isabelle’s writing is highly addictive; I found the scenes in which her
writing shone was the police interview scenes. The action here is in the
dialogue and Isabelle writes this really well, I could feel the tension of the
officers who were asking the questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I enjoyed reading about
the relationship that Grace has with her colleagues. I don’t want to say any
more about the plot as I don’t want to spoil the story but I thought her
relationship with one other police officer in particular was very well done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ll definitely be
catching up on the first two books in the series and I’ll be keeping an eye out
for the next one. If you’re looking for
an exciting new crime series with very addictive writing then I highly recommend
Isabelle Grey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Quercus</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publication date: 6th April 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Print length: 384 pages</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Special-Girls-gripping-thriller-shocking/dp/1786480956/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1502787797&sr=1-1"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Special-Girls-gripping-thriller-shocking/dp/1786480956/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1502787797&sr=1-1">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-22905771056639898472017-08-13T23:46:00.000-07:002017-08-14T02:56:33.038-07:00The House by Simon Lelic Book Review <img alt="The House: The brilliantly tense and terrifying thriller with a shocking twist - whose story do you believe? by [Lelic, Simon]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mnopWTRuL.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The hear-stopping thriller about a husband and wife who are hiding something from each other, and from you...This book won't let you go until you've found out the truth. Perfect for fans of Erin Kelly, Gillian Flynn and Fiona Barton.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Whose story do YOU believe? </i></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Londoners Jack and Syd moved into the house a year go. It seemed like their dream home: tons of space, the perfect location, and a friendly owner who wanted a young couple to have it.<br />
<br />
So when they made a grisly discover in the attic, Jack and Syd chose to ignore it. That was a mistake.<br />
<br />
Because someone has just been murdered outside their back door. And now the police are watching them.<br />
<br />
<b>THIS STORY IS THEIR CHANCE...</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>TO PROVE THEY'RE INNOCENT.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>OR TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Wow, what an incredible psychological thriller. The House by Simon Lelic surpassed all my expectations. This book is definitely one for you to put on your reading list.<br />
<br />
This book is told from two perspectives: Sydney and Jack, a couple who have just moved into their dream home, well Sydney's dream home. Sydney hopes that this will be their chance to settle down together and she expresses hope that this will be their 'forever house.'<br />
<br />
What I really liked about this book is the unique way in which the story was told. The story is narrated through Sydney and Jack's thoughts and it is written in diary format. There isn't a lot of dialogue used in the book but I thought this worked really well, Simon's writing was utterly gripping and he gave both Sydney and Jack really unique voices.<br />
<br />
Not long after signing the paperwork and moving into their new home, Jack makes a grisly discovery in the attic which he tries to shield Sydney from. From this point on, events begin to spiral out of control and when Sydney makes friends with a girl next door called Elsie the novel really does take a darker turn. Simon pulls some excellent twists out of the bag with this one.<br />
<br />
This is one of the best psychological thrillers that I have read. I highly recommend that everyone picks it up and reads it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a copy to read.<br />
<br />
<br />
Publisher: Penguin<br />
<br />
Publication date: 18th August 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 342 pages<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MZ6DDGL/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=B01MZ6DDGL&pd_rd_r=6A33TV1E3KPJ3JTX9MM1&pd_rd_w=5JD8K&pd_rd_wg=L5wAf&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=XZZXZ3VRSTVMKZ9ANYMK&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=e586113b-1187-49e7-b25c-760581bc9374&pf_rd_i=desktop">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-17727739768462175382017-08-13T01:57:00.001-07:002017-08-13T02:04:06.593-07:00The Betrayals by Fiona Neill Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51s%2BlbDvFJL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
After seven years of silence a letter arrives for Rosie Rankin from the woman she once counted as her closest friend. Lisa is writing to reveal she has been diagnosed with cancer and wants to see Rosie one last time to share a secret she doesn't want to carry to her grave.<br />
<br />
Told through the yes of four members of the same family, The Betrayals takes an unflinching look at contemporary family life.<br />
<br />
When Rosie's best friend has an affair with her husband the repercussions reverberate through the years. The arrival of a letter from the woman who betrayed her threatens to open up all the old wounds. Her daughter, Daisy's, fragile hold on reality begins to unravel and her teenage son, Max, blames himself for everything that happened. Her brittle ex-husband, Nick, has his own version of events.<br />
<br />
As long repressed memories bubble to the surface, the past has never seemed more present and the truth more murky.<br />
<br />
Sometimes there are four sides to every story.<br />
<br />
Who do you believe?<br />
<br />
The moving story of a family destroyed by a secret that has travelled down through the years, The Betrayals, explores the nature of memory and desire and asks whether some things can ever be forgiven.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The Betrayals is the first book by Fiona Neill which
I have read. Fiona explores a family’s troubled relationship in this book and
it makes for a gripping read. If you’re a fan of family dramas you definitely
need to give this book a go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What I found really interesting about this book was
learning about the different perspectives that the character’s had of one
another and how their memories of past events differ. Fiona tells the story
from the view point of four characters: Daisy, Max, Nick and Rosie. Daisy is
shocked in the beginning of the novel when she picks up a letter that is from
her parent’s old friend, Lisa, who her Dad left her mother for. Why does Lisa
want to get in touch now and why does she want to rake up the past that Daisy
would much rather leave behind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Fiona did a brilliant job with her characters in The
Betrayals. Every one of them had their own unique voice and I enjoyed getting
to know them all, they are all very different to each other and it was
interesting to delve into the family dynamics. What I also found interesting
was how their memories of past events differed from each other and this is
something we can all relate to and it shows how the mind can choose what to
remember and what to block out. This is the case when the story flicks from
past to present before the two families, Lisa’s and Nick’s split. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">For me, the character’s whose voice was the main
pull of the story was Daisy. Daisy is a sufferer from OCD. A few years ago she became
very ill and had to see a counsellor, now she fears that she is having a
relapse, especially after reading the letter written by Lisa who she believes is
the trigger for her illness. I thought that Fiona wrote about the subject of
OCD really well. I think we all have those moments where we have to do things a
certain way or we can’t sleep at night unless something is checked and checked
again. It was really intriguing to see how OCD can develop into a severe
illness. I thought it was very believable how Daisy’s OCD affected the rest of
her family, particularly her brother Max. This was one of the gripping aspects
of the novel which added a lot of tension as Max struggled in places to come to
terms with his sister’s illness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Whilst I was reading I wasn’t sure at all how this
novel was going to play out. But I did not see the ending that Fiona had in
store for us coming which was really chilling. The only criticism I would have is that I was expecting there to be a more climatic ending between the two families but overall I thought the ending was really well done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and I am sure that I will be picking up another book by Fiona Neill in the future . Thank you to Ellie Hughes at Penguin for sending me a
copy to read. The Betrayals is out now! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Publisher: Penguin</div>
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Publication date: 10th August 2017</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Print length: 416 pages</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Becoming-Strangers-Fiona-Neill/1405923458/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502570769&sr=1-1&keywords=the+betrayals+fiona+neill">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-83632706032981205132017-08-09T23:18:00.000-07:002017-08-09T00:34:58.881-07:00Road to Publication - Fiona Cummins Today, I'm delighted to be welcoming Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of Rattle to my blog to share her road to publication.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for fiona cummins" src="https://panmacmillan.azureedge.net/pml/panmacmillancorporatesite/media/panmacmillan/author%20photos/fiona-cummins.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Do you find that inspiration strikes you in
specific places or do ideas come to you everywhere? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Ideas come from everywhere and anywhere. I might
overhear a conversation, or read something that sparks the kernel of an idea,
or witness an argument or an accident. I plunder my own life for things that
have happened to me, or an idea might spring from a late-night drinking session
with a friend. I once got into a heated exchange at a gig with a stranger, and
his put-down was brilliant. It stung at the time, but I later jotted it down to
use in a book.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>What do you usually do after you get the first
spark of a fresh idea, is it straight to the computer to write the first
chapter or straight to a notebook to start planning? </b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>I think about it for a
while, to see if the central conceit is strong enough, and whether there is
enough to sustain a novel-length piece of fiction. I might jot down a few
ideas. Mostly, though, I practise writing the first line in my head. I don't start
a new book until I'm happy with that.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>How long does your first draft usually take to
write? </b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>I tend not to think in drafts. I'm not a writer
who bashes out a first draft in six weeks. I try to edit as I go along, mainly
because I hate editing with a passion (although Trisha Jackson, my editor at
Pan Macmillan, is fantastic). I guess it takes me about a year to eighteen
months to complete a book that I'm proud of. I aim to turn in as polished a
manuscript as possible.</i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Do you celebrate when you finish your first draft
and if so how?</b></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i>Cold beer. Loud music. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Is it straight to editing or do you leave your
manuscript a while before you pick up the red pen? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>I'll leave it for a bit (depending on how tight
my deadlines are) and then I'll reread. My agent will have read it by this
point, and my editor too. Then it's back to work.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>How long do you spend editing before your book
is handed over the printers?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">How long is a piece of
string? With </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rattle</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> it was a few months. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Collector</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
didn't need as much editing.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>At what point, prior to publication do you find
the nerves start to kick in or do you not get nervous in the approach to
publication? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>I am always nervous, and I don't think that will
ever change. Writing novels is very exposing because everyone has an opinion. You
quickly discover that you cannot appeal to everyone's tastes. But readers who
have paid good money for your work are entitled to expect a quality piece of
fiction. All you can do is write the best book you can at a given time in your
life.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>How does it feel when the early reviews start to
come in? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Depends on the reviews.
But it is ALWAYS fantastic when a reviewer you respect has something nice
to say. And it is particularly encouraging when the first reviews are
positive. When the proofs of </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rattle</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> went out, I was so churned up
inside I could barely eat or drink. But Karen Sullivan from Orenda sent me
the loveliest message – it was the first feedback I'd received – and I
began to relax a little after that.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>How long do you wait after finishing your book
before starting on your next project? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm always thinking about my next book. I'm
writing Book Three at the moment, but I've got an idea for Book Four that is
marinating in the back of mind. I'll probably give myself a month or so to
clear my head, but there's always work to be done – copy edits on the most
recent book, or on foreign editions; conversations about marke</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ting; interviews and
blog pieces to write; heading off to crime festivals <s>to get drunk</s> to appear
on panels and meet readers, booksellers, bloggers and other authors...</span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>And finally how do you celebrate publication
day?</b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rattle</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">'s publication day
fell on my daughter's seventh birthday, so I made sure it was all about her. We
went out for lunch AND dinner. I didn't feel cheated, though, as I'd had my
launch two nights previously at my local independent book store before heading to
my favourite bar where I'd hired a band to play until late. It was the best
night. I'm hoping to do something similar for the launch of The Collector.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you so much, Fiona for taking the time to answer my questions. You can purchase her debut book Rattle by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rattle-serial-killer-thriller-start-ebook/dp/B01JGCRCCG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501833835&sr=1-1&keywords=Rattle">HERE</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You can follow Fiona on Twitter here: <a href="https://twitter.com/FionaAnnCummins">@FionaAnnCummins</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Rattle: A serial killer thriller that will hook you from the start by [Cummins, Fiona]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5169oLb1lmL.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>ABOUT THE BOOK </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>A serial killer to chill your bones</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>A psychopath more frightening than Hannibal Lecter.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
He has planned well. He leads two lives. In one he's just like anyone else. But in the other he is the caretaker of his family's macabre museum.<br />
<br />
Now the time has come to add to his collection. He is ready to feed his obsession, and he is on the hunt.<br />
<br />
Jakey Frith and Clara Foyle have something in common. They have what he needs.<br />
<br />
What begins is a terrifying cat-and-mouse game between the sinister collector, Jakey's father and Ella Fitroy, a troubled detective investigating a spate of abductions.<br />
<br />
Set in London's Blackheath, <i>Rattle </i>by Fiona Cummins explores the seam of darkness that runs through us all; the struggle between light and shadow, redemption and revenge.<br />
<br />
It is a glimpse into the mind of a sinister psychopath. And it's also a story about not giving up hope when it seems that all hope is already lost.<br />
<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-54753206806831281652017-08-08T11:08:00.001-07:002018-09-18T05:03:07.201-07:00Little Girl Lost by Carol Wyer Book Review <img alt="Little Girl Lost: A gripping thriller that will have you hooked (Detective Robyn Carter crime thriller series Book 1) by [Wyer, Carol]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBwISvVfL.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Her breath rose and fell in fearful gasps but it was too late. She could already see what she dreaded most. The back seat was empty.</b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Her little girl was gone.</i></b><br />
<br />
<b>Abigail</b> lives the perfect life with her doting husband and adorable baby <b>Izzy</b>. But someone knows a secret about Abigail and they want the truth to be told.<br />
<br />
When Izzy is snatched from a carpark, it becomes a case for <b>Detective Robyn Carter</b>. Someone has been sending threatening messages to Abigail from an anonymous number. What is Abigail hiding?<br />
<br />
Robyn's instincts tell her that there's a connection between Izzy's abduction and two murder's she is investigating. But the last time she acted on impulse her fiance was killed. To break this case and earn her place back on the force, she must learn to trust herself again - and fast. Robyn is on the hunt for a ruthless serial killer. And unless she gets to the twisted individual in time a little girl will die . . .<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Gripping, fast-paced and nail-bitingly tense, this serial killer thriller will chill you to the bone. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Little Girl Lost</i></b> is a captivating opening to a new crime series by Carol Wyer introducing Detective Robyn
Carter. I have been meaning to get round to this book for a while and having
read rave reviews, and after seeing it a lot on social media, I was so excited when I
finally got round to it, and it didn’t disappoint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Robyn is taking a break
from police work by helping out a former colleague with his new private
investigator agency. When they receive a call from a concerned woman, who is
searching for her husband, Lucas Matthews; Robyn is concerned enough to
approach her own colleagues back at the station, to persuade them to open an official police
investigation into his disappearance. What starts out as a strange disappearance
soon turns into something very disturbing, that Robyn and her friend never thought could be happening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Carol’s writing was
really pacy and addictive. There are some unsettling scenes
in this book which may put some readers off, but the majority of this book was
really enjoyable. I really enjoyed trying to work out what was going to happen,
you can see all the pieces of the jigsaw laid out in front of you, but when
Carol slots that final piece into place it is really surprising. The book was
expertly plotted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Robyn is an intriguing
character. She has suffered from a recent trauma which she is still reeling
from, I found her relationship with her former colleague interesting and I'm looking forward to finding out more about her. With the third book on the way this year, I’ll be
reading the second one very soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An excellent start to what promises to be an exciting new series, this is a must read for crime fiction lovers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Bookouture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publication date: 19th January 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Print length: 412 pages</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Girl-Lost-gripping-Detective-ebook/dp/B01M9ETOCA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502112201&sr=1-1&keywords=little+girl+lost+by+carol+wyer">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-12829456345197023672017-08-07T08:02:00.000-07:002017-08-07T08:02:10.927-07:00The Missing Twin by Alex Day Book Review <img alt="The Missing Twin: A gripping debut psychological thriller with a killer twist by [Day, Alex]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51cv8iTekjL.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>A unique, exciting psychological thriller that will tug at your heartstrings, and keep you guessing until the very last page!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Can she find her sister before it's too late?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A missing girl . . . a secret to be uncovered. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Edie and her identical twin Laura have always been best friends. So when Laura surprises Edit at the Mediterranean holiday resort where she is working, Edie can't wait for the partying to start! But then, Laura vanishes without trace...<br />
<br />
At the same time, in a country on the other side of the sea, Fatima and her twin daughters set out on a harrowing journey that only the strongest - and luckiest - survive.<br />
<br />
Edie and Fatima's lives are worlds apart, but now, there paths are set to collide, with devastating consequences. When Fatima hovers on the brink of survival, Edie must risk her own life to save her, and finally discover the truth about her missing sister.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Missing Twin is an
exciting debut novel by Alex Day. It is a brilliant read, that’ll keep you
guessing and turning the pages to find out what will happen next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Edie and Laura are
twins. Edie has been living and working on a Mediterranean island and is
thrilled when her sister turns up out of the blue to surprise her. After Laura
arrives they both hit the town but the next morning, Edie discovers that Laura
is missing. Filled with anxiety for her twin, she is desperate to find her
sister, but her boyfriend, Vuk, warns her against approaching the police. Who
can she trust to help her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, Fatmia is
fleeing her country which has been torn apart by war. She is desperate to reach
mainland Europe and begins the dangerous journey with her two children to find
safety. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was intrigued by both
of the stories in this book. Fatima’s story was heartbreaking, it really makes
you think about what is going on in the world today with the refugee crisis and
Alex writes her story incredibly well. I was always looking for clues to see
how the stories could possibly be connected but when I thought I had worked it
out but I was completely surprised by the ending which Alex had in store for
us, the ending of the book really blew me away.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A great read from Alex,
a book that I highly recommend, I’m looking forward to seeing what she does
next. This book deserves to be huge! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy to
read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: Killer Reads</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publication date: 18th August 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Print length: 400 pages</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Missing-Twin-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B072TYXKLB/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1502049208&sr=1-1&keywords=the+missing+twin+alex+day">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-87746352185684238072017-08-06T01:34:00.003-07:002019-01-06T06:19:11.353-08:00The Girls in the Water by Victoria Jenkins Blog Tour <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51kf5sq2QbL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I'm thrilled to be taking part in The Girls in the Water blog tour today, the first book in an exciting new crime series.<br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Two gone. One whose past could kill her.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When the body of Lola Evans is found in a local park on a cold winter's morning, <b>Detective Alex King and her new recruit Chloe Lane</b> are called in to lead the hunt for the killer.<br />
<br />
Days later, a second girl goes missing. It seems the two shared a troubled history, and were members of the same support group. Who is the monster preying on these vulnerable girls?<br />
<br />
As the detectives start to piece together the clues, Chloe realises that <b>she too is in danger</b> - as she uncovers secrets about her own brother's death which someone will kill to keep hidden.<br />
<br />
<b>Alex and Chloe are soon fighting for their lives, and in a race against time to reach the next victim before it's too late...</b><br />
<br />
Chilling and totally compelling with an utterly suprising twist, <i>The Girls in the Water</i> is perfect for fans of <b>Robert Bryndza, Sarah Hilary and Patricia Gibney. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img alt="Victoria Jenkins" height="384" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91CZH568dVL._SY200_.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
Victoria Jenkins lives with her husband in South Wales, where she writes crime fiction and teaches English. The Girls in the Water is her debut novel, the first featuring Detective Inspector Alex King and Detective Constable Chloe Lane. The second book in the series will be published in late 2017.<br />
<br />
twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/vicwritescrime">@vicwritescrime</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<br />Wow, what a brilliant way to open a new series.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Girls in the Water</i></b> is the first book in an exciting new crime series by Victoria Jenkins featuring DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane. The novel is fast paced and will keep you gripped to the edge of your seat. It won't take you long to finish this one.<br />
<br />
When the body of a young woman is pulled out of the water at a local park, DI Alex King fears they may be facing a new serial killer. Her worst thoughts are confirmed when another body is found, the second woman has been killed in similar circumstances, and the team now know that they have a new, twisted killer at large who they must stop before the killer kills again.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The Girls in the Water</i></b> is a promising start to this new series. I loved Victoria's characters, Alex and Chloe. Chloe comes from a tragic past, and she is trying, with the help of Alex to find out the truth of what happened to her brother several years earlier who died after his girlfriend was suspected of committing suicide. Chloe's backstory for me was the main pull of the story. I wanted to find out more about her, and I really felt that I got to know her character well as I was reading the book, perhaps a little more than Alex, but with the promise of more books to come I'm sure we'll get to know a lot more about her.<br />
<br />
There were plenty of surprising twists and turns throughout the book, a couple of the twists I did manage to guess, but that didn't spoil the story for me. The ending was really tense, and Victoria's writing made sure I continued reading until I had turned the final page.<br />
<br />
I'm interested to see where Victoria takes us next with Alex and Chloe; this was a really good debut with great characters that will keep you hooked. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the book to read and to Kim for asking me to take part in the blog tour.<br />
<br />
Publisher: Bookouture<br />
<br />
Publication date: 1st August 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 352 pages<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Water-completely-gripping-Detectives/dp/1786811995/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501934166&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Girls+in+the+water"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girls-Water-completely-gripping-Detectives/dp/1786811995/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501934166&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Girls+in+the+water">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="640" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DGSRVoWUMAADCTt.jpg:large" width="404" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-29736050493204493032017-08-05T06:37:00.000-07:002017-08-05T06:37:40.138-07:00Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516zOtZXaML._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In 1998 Maryanne Doyle disappeared and Dad knew <u><b>something</b></u> about it?<br />
Maryanne Doyle was never seen again.<br />
<br />
<b>WHAT I ACTUALLY KNOW.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In 1998, Dad lied about knowing Maryanne Doyle.<br />
Alice Lapaine has been found strangled near Dad's pub.<br />
Dad was in the local area for both Maryanne Doyle's disappearance and Alice Lapaine's murder - <b><u>FACT CONNECTION?</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><i>Trust cuts both ways...what do you do when it's gone?</i> </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sweet Little Lies is
the debut novel by Caz Frear and it was the winner of the Richard and Judy
Search for a Bestseller competition. I can certainly see why the book won. Frear’s
prose is sharp, witty and absorbing, a stunning debut, I’m hoping we’ll hear
more from Cat Kinsella soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When the body of a
young woman is found in Lemington Square, Detective Constable Cat Kinsella has
no idea the trouble it’ll rake up for her. In 1998, when Cat was living in
Northern Ireland, a young woman disappeared, now she has been found nearly
twenty years later, murdered. But what is more concerning for Cat, is what has this young
woman’s disappearance and murder got to do with her father? Is her father a
suspect? Could he be responsible for her death? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I thoroughly enjoyed
reading this book. I loved Cat’s voice and her sense of humour; she had me
laughing out loud throughout the book, which is what made this book feel so
fresh. I love a crime novel that can make me laugh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The killer hook for this novel is that you don’t expect your father to
become a suspect in a murder investigation nearly twenty years after a woman
disappeared. Caz has created a gripping story line; I enjoyed learning about Cat’s
relationship with her father, there is a lot of tension in their relationship
and they have some rocky moments throughout the book which made for some gripping reading. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was surprised by the direction which Caz
took us after the body of the young woman was found. The novel is tightly plotted and I really liked how everything slotted into place, I didn't see that ending coming. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Caz has created a cast of exciting new characters in crime fiction and Caz is an exciting new voice; I can’t wait
to see what she does next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher: Zaffre</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publication date: 29th June 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Print<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Little-Lies-Bestseller-Competition/dp/1785763350/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501854236&sr=1-1&keywords=sweet+little+lies+caz+frear"> length: 480 pages</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Little-Lies-Bestseller-Competition/dp/1785763350/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501854236&sr=1-1&keywords=sweet+little+lies+caz+frear"><br /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweet-Little-Lies-Bestseller-Competition/dp/1785763350/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501854236&sr=1-1&keywords=sweet+little+lies+caz+frear">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-31953071709283074832017-08-02T00:30:00.001-07:002017-08-02T00:30:20.440-07:00Road to Publication - Angela Marsons I'm excited to be launching a new feature on my blog today called Road to Publication and I'm delighted to be welcoming Angela Marsons, bestselling author of the Kim Stone series, published by Bookouture to my blog.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Angela Marsons" height="300" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51fx9txuqFL._UX250_.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Do you find that inspiration strikes you in specific places or do ideas come to you everywhere?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Inspiration normally comes to me from either a subject I feel strongly about or a theme that I want to explore. There has to be a reason for researching the subject and something I want to learn about. My last book Dead Souls focused on Hate Crimes, a subject that has been gradually gnawing away at me for years.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>What do you usually do after you get the first spark of a fresh idea, is it straight to the computer to write the first chapter or straight to a notebook to start planning?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I normally get an idea for a book while working on a book so I get a fresh notebook and just jot down any quick notes so that the idea doesn't get away from me. Often I will have to keep the notebook with me as once the ideas start to come entire plot lines and characters will also start to run around in my mind. It means I'm always eager to work on the next.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=edc8135b13&view=fimg&th=15d9326a01b91002&attid=0.0.1&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ9Jg-16eDeAZVCk5mCVM7fM8lqLYmRejJpUeW8m3H0QIbAe2YmO2LI1CCqrHx69B9UmxxCDZrmIizx3D9zeC-raDuSqmMuHqqirS2idp3SYveEZE2RSRB-fC-M&sz=s0-l75-ft&ats=1501422806227&rm=15d9326a01b91002&zw&atsh=1" />Angela's writing desk.<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>How long dos your first draft usually take to write?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>My first draft is written in long hand with pencils and A4 notepads. I've tried working straight onto the computer but it just doesn't work for me. My creative brain just switches off. The first draft will normally take around three months although Silent Scream poured out of the pencil and the first draft was written in 1 month while I was also working full time. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Do you celebrate when you finish your first draft and if so how?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I don't normally celebrate a first draft as my mind is already onto the second draft with ideas of what I'm going to add, remove and measures to improve it. The second draft is the stage where I throw entire plot lines and characters away.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Is it straight to editing or do you leave your manuscript a while before you pick up the red pen?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I may just take a day but very rarely more than that as I'm eager to make it all better and whip it into shape.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>How long do you spend editing before your book is handed over to the printers?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I do three full drafts of the book before it goes to my editor. As I write two books a year the whole process from starting the first draft and submission is 6 months so as soon as the book is written I am editing it for the rest of the time available. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>At what point, prior to publication do you find the nerves start to kick in or do you not get nervous in the approach to publication?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I am constantly nervous! I worry that my editor won't like it and that I have gone seriously off course. Once we've worked together to shape it and fine tune it I begin worrying about if the reviewers and bloggers are going to like it and then I start to worry about if the wonderful, faithful Kim Stone readers are going to like it. And then I start to worry about the next ....</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>How does it feel when the early reviews start to come in?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>It is like winning the lottery, to be honest. My editor says 'you never write the same book twice' so there is no guarantee that people who liked the last book will like the next book. Every book is a different journey so the nerves never go away.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>How long do you wait after finishing your book before starting on your next project?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>I normally try and take a couple of weeks off once I've sent a manuscript off to my publisher but there is always a notebook close by as my mind is already thinking about the next.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>And finally how do you celebrate publication day?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<i>Publication Day is like a manic Christmas Day which is always fantastic. I love social media but have to limit myself due to my writing schedule so on Publication Day I allow myself to just chat on Twitter and Facebook and enjoy people's reactions and responses to the newest Kim Stone adventure. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
Thank you so much, Angela for taking the time to answer my questions. You can purchase Angela's latest Kim Stone novel Dead Souls by clicking <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Souls-gripping-thriller-Detective-x/dp/1786811618/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501424086&sr=1-4&keywords=dead+souls+angela+marsons">HERE</a><br />
<br />
You can follow Angela on Twitter here: <a href="https://twitter.com/WriteAngie">@WriteAngie</a><br />
<br />
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<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51AV6I3aKgL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>ABOUT THE BOOK </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The truth was dead and buried...until now.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When a collection of human bones in unearthed during a routine archaeological dig, a Black Country field suddenly becomes a complex crime scene for <b>Detective Kim Stone</b>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As the bones are sorted, it becomes clear that the grave contains more than one victim. The bodies hint at unimaginable horror, bearing the markings of bullet holes and animal traps.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Forced to work alongside Detective Travis, with whom she shares a troubled past, Kim begins to uncover a dark secretive relationship between the families who own the land in which the bodies were found. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But while Kim is immersed in one of the most complicated investigations she's ever led, her team are caught up in a spate of sickening hate crimes. Kim is close to revealing the truth behind the murders, yet soon finds one of her own is in jeopardy - and the clock is ticking. Can she solve the case and save them from grave danger - before it's too late? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>An addictive, sinister crime thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seat. </b></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-41152799642846047542017-07-30T09:16:00.002-07:002017-07-30T09:23:25.190-07:00The Birdwatcher by William Shaw Book Review<img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/513W%2B5ms7wL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Sergeant William South has always avoided investigating murder. A passionate birdwatcher and quite man, he has few relationships and prefers it that way.<br />
<br />
But when his only friend is found brutally beaten, South's detachment is tested. Not only is he bereft - it seems that there's a connection between the suspect and himself.<br />
<br />
For South has a secret. He knows the kind of rage that killed his friend. He knows the kind of man who could do it. He knows, because Sergeant William South is a murderer.<br />
<br />
Moving from the storm-lashed, bird-wheeling skies of the Kent Coast to the wordless war of the Troubles, <i>The Birdwatcher</i> is a crime novel of suspense, intelligence and powerful humanity about fathers and sons, grief and guilt and facing the darkness within.<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Birdwatcher is the
first book by William Shaw which I have read, I was so excited when I finally
got round to reading it. I was captivated by the opening paragraph, which has
to be one of the best openings to a book I’ve read. ‘There were two reasons why
William South did not want to be on the murder team. The first was that it was
October. The migrating birds had begun arriving on the coast. The second was
that, though nobody knew it, he was a murderer himself.’ How can you fail to be
hooked? Bravo on the great opening, William! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The novel is told over
two timelines, in the present day when William South is serving as a police
officer in Kent and when he is growing up in the 70s in Northern Ireland during
the troubles. I found both timelines gripping, but particularly when William is
younger. In the present day one of his closest friends has been found murdered
and William finds himself reluctantly caught up in the investigation when the
new DS, Alexandra Cupidi asks for his help. She is using the fact that William
knew the man who has been murdered to the case’s advantage in the hope of
finding a quick resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I loved Alex’s
character, personally I think she was my favourite character in the book, I’m
hoping that William may return to Alex in a later book as I would like to find
out more about her. Her daughter Zoe was also interesting, particularly as she
began to develop a friendship with William through bird watching. I really
liked the use of William South’s hobby in this book which added a sense of calm
to the story, which is probably what William South sometime needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A really great read, a
must read for crime lovers, this book is perfect for you to take away on
holiday, I’ll certainly be looking out for more of William’s books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publisher: riverrun</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Publication date: 9th February 2017 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Print length: 400 pages</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birdwatcher-William-Shaw/dp/1784297240/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501431095&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Birdwatcher"><br /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birdwatcher-William-Shaw/dp/1784297240/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501431095&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Birdwatcher">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-75774678429798963802017-07-28T13:32:00.001-07:002017-07-31T06:48:07.644-07:00All the Wicked Girls by Chris Whitaker Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/518k7j1-tYL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>'Raine sometimes complains that nothing exciting is ever gonna happen in Grace again. Daddy told her careful what you wish for.'</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Everyone loves Summer Ryan. A model student and musical prodigy, she's a ray of light in the struggling small town of Grace, Alabama - especially compared to her troubled sister, Raine. Then Summer goes missing.<br />
<br />
Grace is already simmering, and with this new tragedy the police have their hands full keeping the peace. Only Raine throws herself into the search, supported by a most unlikely ally.<br />
<br />
<b>But perhaps there was always more to Summer than met the eye . . .</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>For fans of <i>The Roanoke Girls</i> and <i>Fargo</i>, <i>All the Wicked Girls</i> is a gripping crime novel with a huge heart from an exceptional talent. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I absolutely loved
Chris Whitaker’s debut novel Tall Oaks and I couldn’t wait to see what he had
install for us next and All the Wicked Girls didn’t disappoint. It is even
better and much darker than Tall Oaks; I think it has to be one of my favourite
reads of this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All the Wicked Girls is
set in the fictional small town of Grace, Alabama. A giant storm cloud hangs
above the town which panics the residents into thinking that something evil is
brewing. And then Summer Ryan goes missing, a model student with a talent for
music. Summer’s sister Raine is distraught and puts every effort in to finding
her sister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chris Whitaker is
seriously one of the best writers in the business at the moment; it’s hard to
believe that this is only his second book. His characterisation skills are
excellent, when you turn the final page; you have that feeling that you have
got to know every character really well and for me, good characterisation is
one of the most important aspects that make up a good story. We need a
character who we can get behind and Chris has definitely got that here with
Raine. I could feel her agony as she searched to find the truth as to what
happened to her sister and I was rooting for her to find her, it was clear that
Raine would use any means to make sure that her sister was safe. Chris is an
expert in giving the reader the sense that every character in his book has a
secret, it makes for a gripping read, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The setting of the
fictional town of Grace was really well done, I really felt as though I was in
America’s Deep South, although the town was fictional I had no trouble at all imagining
it as a town in this area. Chris captured the mood and the atmosphere of the
town really well, particularly when the people who live there are dealing with
a crisis, you can begin to see cracks in relationships forming and a society
beginning to fall apart as they fight to find answers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another brilliant book
by Chris, All the Wicked Girls is a book I predict will be huge. It’s definitely
one of those books that you don’t want to end. The only problem is now that I’ve
finished is that I have to wait for Chris’s next book; I can’t wait to see what
he does next. Thank you to Emily Burns at Bonnier Zaffre Books for sending me a
copy to review. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
Publisher: Zaffre<br />
<br />
Publication date: 24th August 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 448 pages<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785761528/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i4?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=1785761528&pd_rd_r=B618XPJBDNJ902T3YR60&pd_rd_w=dEYKz&pd_rd_wg=4zIA5&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=X6ZW9827MRCPFFZYYR5E&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=e586113b-1187-49e7-b25c-760581bc9374&pf_rd_i=desktop"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1785761528/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i4?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=1785761528&pd_rd_r=B618XPJBDNJ902T3YR60&pd_rd_w=dEYKz&pd_rd_wg=4zIA5&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=X6ZW9827MRCPFFZYYR5E&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=e586113b-1187-49e7-b25c-760581bc9374&pf_rd_i=desktop">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-81548695008848905732017-07-24T11:02:00.001-07:002017-07-31T06:44:38.640-07:0099 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51M4DMkiLhL._SX351_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Two girls go missing, decades apart. What would you do if one was your daughter?<br />
<br />
When eight-year-old Grace goes missing from a sweet shop on the way home from school, her mother Emma is plunged into a nightmare. Her family rallies around, but as the police hunt begins, cracks begin to emerge.<br />
<br />
What are the secret emails sent between Emma's husband and her sister? Why does her mother take so long to join the search? And is Emma really as innocent as she seems?<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, ageing widow Maggie Taylor see Grace's picture in the newspaper. It's a photograph that jolts her from the pain of her existence into a spiraling obsession with another girl - the first girl who disappeared . . .<br />
<br />
This is a gripping psychological thriller with a killer twist that will take you breath away.<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every so often a book
comes along with a twist that really knocks you for six. 99 Red Balloons by
Elisabeth Carpenter is one of those books. It is a psychological thriller that
is filled with suspense from the first page and the writing and the characters
keep you turning the pages. I’m sure that this book will be a big hit this
summer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two girls go missing,
decades apart, what if your daughter was one of them? Eight-year-old Grace
Harper disappears outside a sweet shop in her hometown of Lincoln. When ageing
widow, Maggie Taylor hears about Grace’s disappearance on the news she is
immediately taken back to the time of her own granddaughter’s kidnapping more
than thirty years ago. Is it possible that the two cases are connected? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I really enjoyed
reading this book. It’s one of those books that you just have to keep reading
until you turn the final page, there was a great use of tension throughout the
book and then Elisabeth delivered that twist. I love those moments when you’re
just totally taken aback by what you just read that you have to put the book
down for a bit to process it. The author really did surprise me. I’ll be
telling everyone I know to read it just so that I can discuss it with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book is told from
multiple perspectives and I really liked the unique voices that Elisabeth gave
to everyone of her characters, particularly to Stephanie and Emma, I found it
interesting to see how their relationship as sisters played out in the wake of
Grace’s disappearance, particularly as I didn’t like their mother at all. I
really liked how Elisabeth constructed her plot which I thought was really
clever which is why I won’t say anything more about it here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A brilliant debut novel,
Elisabeth Carpenter has created an intriguing and suspenseful read. I’ll be
keeping an eye out to see what she does next. Thank you to Netgalley and the
publishers for providing me with a copy to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
Publisher: Avon<br />
<br />
Publication date: 24th August 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 352 pages<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Balloons-chillingly-psychological-stomach-flipping/dp/0008223513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500917299&sr=1-1&keywords=99+red+balloons">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-27457668058296572282017-07-21T01:35:00.001-07:002017-07-21T01:35:08.565-07:00The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane blog tour <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51tgyfwXkYL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<br />
Today I'm delighted to be hosting today's blog tour stop for The Art of Fear by Pamela Crane.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A life no girl should endure. A father no daughter could love. A twist no one would predict.</b><br />
<br />
From award-winning author Pamela Crane comes a terrifying tale of small-town secrets and murder.<br />
<br />
Ari Wilburn's life ended long ago - the day she watched her little sister die in a tragic accident and did nothing to stop it. Crippled with self-blame and resented by her parents, she stumbles through life ... and onto an unexpected clue that casts doubt on whether the death was accidental.<br />
<br />
Now a psychological wreck, Ari joins a suicide support group where she meets Tina, a sex-enslaved escapee who finds her long-lost father dead. Suicide, police ruled it. But Tina suspects foul play. As a bond develops between the women in their shared loss, they're dragged into playing a dangerous game with a killer.<br />
<br />
Faced with a murderous wake-up call and two possibly linked deaths, Ari's investigation puts her next on the killer's list. But she's never been one to back down from a fight.<br />
<br />
<b>Needing closure, Ari must face her demons and the killer behind them ... or lose everything she loves.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img alt="Displaying Pamela Crane author pic.jpg" height="298" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=edc8135b13&view=fimg&th=15d279c4194b425d&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_j4wrx0wh1&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ-OoJ86PGcbiJmLfy76IukYAqnEetPz01gw5xcSgkRVTBoFHo4hyVGZU2tRGTthjhnpkoKPeysGpA0glM7NHDXwcRPmImVEjo--OkQPRag0yJrxarP-lulETUk&ats=1499608322516&rm=15d279c4194b425d&zw&sz=w1366-h662" width="400" /><br />
<b><br /></b>
Pamela Crane is a professional juggler. Not the type of juggler who can toss flaming torches in the air, but a juggler of four kids, a writing addiction, a horse rescuer, and a book editor by trade. She lives on the edge (ask her Arabian horse about that - he'll tell you all about their wild adventures while trying to train him!) and she writes on the edge. Her characters and plots are her escape from the real world of dirty diapers and cleaning horse stalls, and the masochist in her thrives off of hurting her characters to create an entertaining tale.<br />
<br />
She is the author of several best-selling and award-winning thrillers. To pick up a copy of a FREE book and other prizes, or to find out more about her chaotic existence, visit her website at <a href="http://www.pamelacrane.com/">www.pamelacrane.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This novel jumped right
out at me when I was asked if I would like to be involved in the blog tour. I knew
that as a fan of gritty crime thrillers that it would be right up my street and
it didn’t disappoint. Pamela has woven a clever and intriguing story which will
have you gripped right from the first page.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Art of Fear is the
first in an exciting new series by Pamela Crane. In the novel we meet Tina and
Ari. Both women have had traumatic pasts and they soon build a friendship after
they first meet at a suicide support group. Ari is determined that they will
both get justice for what happened to them and makes it her mission to uncover
the truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I really enjoyed
reading this book. Pamela pulls you into her story and she has created a cast
of intriguing characters who will keep you gripped. I really liked Ari, she was
a strong female lead and I especially liked her determination to get justice
for herself and Tina even though she has only known Tina for a short while. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pamela writes about
some dark themes in this book including sex and child trafficking. I found Tina’s
story heartbreaking at times to hear what she has been through and that it is
all down to the skill of the author who really makes you care about her
characters and their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A really enjoyable read
this is a series that I am keen to follow; I’m looking forward to reading
Pamela’s next book. Thank you to Thick as Thieves Publicity service for the
advance copy of this book and for organising the blog tour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publisher: Tabella House</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Publication date: 18th July 2017</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fear-Little-Things-That-Kill/dp/1940662087/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500546872&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Art+of+Fear">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
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<img alt="Displaying Pamela Crane Blog Tour Poster.jpg" height="479" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=edc8135b13&view=fimg&th=15d279c4194b425d&attid=0.2&disp=inline&realattid=f_j4wrx0xb2&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ9-lQumbNzz_8pwEWY8Xcu-L_gUzOND_mL4GBnVMhCGw7nhnQBaVJXQeCgRJSjpo_AT91r1TcCo0tcpdgcV2pNmK3BkjX-vgoYyOy5MEbUMl7PilXEnm_Mh_L0&ats=1499608322516&rm=15d279c4194b425d&zw&sz=w1366-h662" width="640" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-80827251332208124522017-07-20T09:59:00.001-07:002017-07-20T09:59:51.112-07:00Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Q11F4GW-L._SX309_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>A MISSING GIRL. A BURIED SECRET.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
From the acclaimed author of <i>I Found You </i>and the Richard & Judy bestseller, <i>The Girls</i>, comes a compulsively twist psychological thriller that will keep you gripped to the very last page.<br />
<br />
<b>She was fifteen, her mother's golden girl.</b><br />
<b>She had her whole life ahead of her.</b><br />
<b>And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet.<br />
<br />
But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter.<br />
<br />
Because his daughter is the image of Ellie.<br />
<br />
Now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.<br />
<br />
<b>What really happened to Ellie? And who still has secrets to hide? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then She Was Gone is
the first book by Lisa Jewell which I have read. It tells the tale of a
distraught mother who fights to find answers as to what happened to her
daughter who went missing ten years before. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In Then She Was Gone,
Laurel is still searching for her daughter, Ellie ten years after she
disappeared. The police believe that her daughter ran away and eventually she
has to accept that as the only possible scenario. Surely that’s what the
evidence points to. Ten years later, Laurel is finally ready to start moving on
with her life although she has never truly left her daughter behind. And when
she meets someone who she falls head over heels in love with she can finally
see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is only when she meets his daughter
Poppy, who is the spitting image of her daughter who went missing does she
begin to question what really happened to Ellie and the truth finally begins to
unravel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We hear the voices of
both Laurel and her daughter, Ellie who went missing ten years ago. Lisa gives
us an insight into Ellie’s mind in the days leading up to her disappearance
whilst in the present, Laurel and the rest of her family are rocked when the
police uncover a significant piece of evidence. It is soon after this point
that Laurel first meets Floyd who she falls head over heels in love for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There were definitely some
chilling scenes in this book, particularly when the novel was told from Ellie’s
perspective; I can imagine that some of these scenes must’ve been hard for Lisa
to write. There was one character in the book who really gave me chills. The
ending of this book really was heartbreaking and so well done. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lisa Jewell’s latest
novel really had me gripped all the way through and I wanted to find out what
had happened to Ellie, Lisa has woven a gripping and intriguing tale which
keeps you guessing right up until the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A fantastic read, five
stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with
a copy to read. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Publisher: Century<br />
<br />
Publication date: 27th July 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 432 pages<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Untitled-1-Lisa-Jewell/dp/1780896417/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500397967&sr=1-1&keywords=then+she+was+gone+lisa+jewell"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Untitled-1-Lisa-Jewell/dp/1780896417/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500397967&sr=1-1&keywords=then+she+was+gone+lisa+jewell">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-12360575183215234312017-07-19T01:06:00.000-07:002017-07-19T01:32:12.279-07:00The Other Twin by Lucy V Hay Blog Tour <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41AwVyvfATL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I'm delighted to be taking part in The Other Twin blog tour today, a fantastic new novel published by Orenda Books.<br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When India falls to her death from a bridge over a railway, her sister Poppy returns home to Brighton for the first time in years. Unconvinced by official explanations, Poppy begins her own investigation into India's death. But the deeper she digs, the closer she comes to uncovering deeply buried secrets. Could Matthew Temple, he boyfriend she abandoned, be involved? And what of his powerful and wealthy parents, and his twin sister, Ana? Enter the mysterious and ethereal Jenny: the girl Poppy discovers after hacking into India's laptop. What exactly is she hiding, and what did India find out about her? Taking the reader on a breathless ride through the winding lanes of Brighton, into its vibrant party scene and inside the homes of its well-heeled families, <i>The Other Twin</i> is a startling and up-to-the-minute thriller about the social media world, where resentments and accusations are played out online, where identities are made and remade, and where there is no such thing as the truth...<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<img alt="Displaying Lucy Hay author photo.jpg" height="640" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=edc8135b13&view=fimg&th=15ceeb41668335e5&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ-3zCEC6GSlxzSCqmskFwZFA4G-8K6vUzprOpeyYpdb2rLygZahORHUwEtcD_onEcDIeb3byBZHya60P6XNe5BDmmUpXG-SR5tPAzt6bGH6piMNme2t6MwA3BQ&ats=1499520501386&rm=15ceeb41668335e5&zw&sz=w1366-h662" width="638" /><br />
<br />
Lucy V. Hay is a novelist, script editor and blogger who helps writers via her Bang2wite consultancy. She is the associate producer of Brit Thrillers Deviation (2012) and Assassin (2015), both starring Danny Dyer. Lucy is also head reader of the London Screenwriters' Festival and has written two non-fiction books, <i>Writing & Selling Thriller Screenplays</i>, plus its follow-up <i>Drama Screenplays</i>. She lives in Devon with her husband, three children, six cats and five African Land Snails.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Other Twin is the
debut novel by Lucy Hay and Orenda Books have found another winner! Set in
Brighton, Poppy is left distraught when her sister India falls from a bridge
and is killed by a passing train. The police rule India’s death as suicide but
Poppy is convinced that there is another explanation to India’s death and she
sets out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth to find out what really
happened to her sister. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers then you won’t
want to miss this one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Other Twin is an
utterly engrossing read, it is hard to believe that it is a debut novel as the
characters are all so well developed and I could picture the Brighton scenery
clearly in my mind. I really felt as though I connected to Poppy’s character as
she fought to uncover the truth and I was rooting for her throughout the story
especially as she faces many challenges along the way. The other characters in
this book were also engrossing and I found Poppy’s relationship with her ex
boyfriend, Matthew intriguing and this was also a good source of tension on the
book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book deals with
some very current themes in the world today and for me this was what made the
novel standout. Lucy constructs these themes around her plot really well, particularly
how she opens up the mind to the struggles faced by the LGBT community. It
really made me think at how people in this community must feel at certain times
and her book reminds us how we must treat everyone in this world as equal. She
also deals with the issue with social media in her book and she reminds us of
how careful we have to be online. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ending of this book
was a corker, there were some particularly chilling moments and I raced through
the final pages. This is definitely a novel which will have you gripped to the
end of your seat. As I read the final chapters there were moments when my jaw
dropped open as Lucy pulled the plot together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Other Twin is an
engrossing and compelling read. I can’t wait to see what Lucy does next. If you
enjoy a thought provoking and twisty read, this novel is definitely one for
you. A brilliant debut, Lucy is certainly a writer to watch. Thank you to Anne
Cater and Orenda Books for sending me a copy to review and for organising the
blog tour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Publisher: Orenda<br />
<br />
Publication date: 3rd July 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 250 pages<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Other-Twin-L-V-Hay/dp/191063378X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499521428&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Other+Twin">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE</a><br />
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<b>FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR </b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<img alt="Displaying Other twin blog tour poster new.jpg" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=edc8135b13&view=fimg&th=15ceeb41668335e5&attid=0.2&disp=inline&safe=1&attbid=ANGjdJ8deTsLsNb6UO0-C8FnCPZwx4GVPKqSUUCBtvbam1Eo_0WNAhjR2TcaTCLD-GTWhZqnZEd9HN8optVn94Ffshx1OY5kVW4s7Gp-Q5w8nJBNALglibaUJBi_-rc&ats=1499520501386&rm=15ceeb41668335e5&zw&sz=w1366-h662" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-66816147536586363712017-07-17T03:02:00.001-07:002017-07-17T03:02:19.170-07:00The Chalk Man by C. J Tudor Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41DP8nKLB7L._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Looking back, it all started on the day of the fair and the terrible accident. When twelve-year-old Eddie first met the Chalk Man.<br />
<br />
It was the Chalk Man who gave Eddie the idea for the drawings: a way to leave secret messages between his group of friends.<br />
<br />
And it was fun, to start with, until the figures lead them to the body of a young girl.<br />
<br />
That was thirty years ago and Ed thought the past was behind him. Then he receives a letter containing just two things: a piece of chalk, and a drawing of a stick figure. As history begins to repeat itself, Ed realises the game was never over . . .<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Everyone has secrets.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Everyone is guilty of something.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>And children are not always so innocent. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Chalk Man is a
novel that everyone is going to be talking about a lot in the coming months. It
is going to be one of the biggest book launches of 2018. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have been desperate
to read The Chalk Man since I first heard about it. One of my work colleagues
has a brother who works for Penguin and occasionally he brings a lot of books
into work that his brother has been given by the publishers. In amongst the
books I saw the spine of The Chalk Man and I made a beeline for it, no one else
had a chance to even have a look at it before I spirited it away but don’t
worry they’ll all be hearing about it a lot now that I have read it. Sold
already in 39 countries and hotly competed for in a nine way auction in the UK,
there is no question that this book is going to be a hit. I thoroughly enjoyed
reading it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The book is told over
two different time periods, in the 1980s and in the present day in 2016. I’m a
huge fan of novels which are told over different times and I love trying to
work out what is going on and how the two timelines will come together, it’s a
great source for leaving cliff hangers as well and C.J. Tudor does this really
well. I loved the opening of this book which is so chilling. C.J. Tudor pulls
you into the story on the first page and doesn’t let you go until you have
reached the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the 1980s Ed is twelve
years old and has a great friendship with Hoppo, Mickey, Fat Gav and Nicky. But
not everything is plain sailing for them and on the day of the terrible
accident at the fair, when a young girl known to Ed as Waltzer girl has a
horrific accident on a Waltzer cart and is rushed to hospital, things really do
begin to take a dark turn for the group and things are never quite the same again.
In 2016, Ed is in his forties and lives alone with his lodger, a girl in her
twenties called Chloe. It is in the present day that the truth about what
really happened when they were kids begins to unravel. I don’t want to say too
much more about the plot because I don’t want to spoil it for readers but it
has to be a contender for one of my top reads of this year. C. J. Tudor
delivers a stomach flipping twist at the end of this book which I did not see
coming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I really liked all the
characters in this book and C.J. Tudor made them all feel real, especially Ed,
the main character who I think was definitely my favourite although I really
liked his gang of friends as well and once I started to get to know them all I
really wanted to find out more about them. For me, a book has to have great and
compelling characters to pull you into the story and this book certainly does. Once
I finished the book I really wanted to know what happens next. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The author also
explores some interesting themes in this book, some of them are quite dark and
there are some scenes in the book which are a little gory. C. J. Tudor writes
these scenes really well and she really makes you feel for her characters as
they find themselves in new predicaments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I will be raving about
this book a lot prior to its publication in January next year. Really, really
excellent. You won’t want to miss this book! Mark the 11<sup>th</sup> January
2018 in your diaries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
Publisher: Penguin (Michael Joseph)<br />
<br />
Publication date: 11th January 2018<br />
<br />
Print length: 352 pages<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0718187431/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i3?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pd_rd_i=0718187431&pd_rd_r=6NJHV0V06MSA45VRDKW0&pd_rd_w=BFBHo&pd_rd_wg=nXgH3&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=X7FT5XP84CNF4YWF8ADQ&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=16f14aeb-bd11-4e9e-8c26-9ca0139074ee&pf_rd_i=desktop">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-24704433543011456482017-07-13T08:52:00.000-07:002017-08-01T00:39:33.822-07:00Little Sister by Isabel Ashdown Book Review <img alt="Little Sister: A gripping, twisty thriller about family secrets and betrayal by [Ashdown, Isabel]" src="https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51vYePyDyEL.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
After sixteen years apart <b>Jessica and Emily</b> are reunited. With the past now behind them, the warmth they once shared quickly returns and before long <b>Jess</b> has moved into <b>Emily's</b> comfortable island home. Life couldn't be better. But when baby <b>Daisy</b> disappears while in Jess's care, the perfect life <b>Emily</b> has so carefully built starts to fall apart.<br />
<br />
<b>Was Emily right to trust her sister after everything that happened before? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>MY THOUGHTS </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Little Sister is the
first book by Isabel Ashdown which I have read. I have seen this book a lot on
social media and I couldn’t wait to start reading it. Set in the Isle of Wight,
Isabel tells the story of a family whose life is ripped apart when their young daughter
Daisy goes missing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Emily and James
return home from a night out at a party on New Year’s Eve, their world is
turned upside down when they discover that their daughter, Daisy is missing.
Emily’s sister, Jess was babysitting for the night and is distraught to learn
that Daisy disappeared in her care. Jess’s memory of that night, before Emily and
James returned home is patchy. What happened in those missing hours that she
struggles to put together? What happened to Daisy and where is she now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is a powerful
novel by Isabel Ashdown. Isabel deals with the trauma of a family in the wake
of a tragedy in her latest novel and she does this incredibly well,
particularly when she explores Emily’s trauma after losing her daughter. I also
thought that Isabel painted the scenery really well. I last went to the Isle of
Wight eleven years ago on a school trip and reading Little Sister brought all
the memories back. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to go back to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought that Isabel
explored the relationship between Emily and Jess brilliantly and I found it
interesting to learn about their past and how it has affected them in the
future. She delivers a brilliant ending to this book. I won’t say too much more
about the plot here but the direction the book takes really will take you by
surprise. There are some shocking revelations in this book and one twist in particular
made my jaw drop open, only a small handful of books have been able to do that.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Isabel hooks her reader
from the first page, I was quickly absorbed by the story and it didn’t take me
long to finish. A real page turner, I can’t wait to see what Isabel does
next. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
Publisher: Trapeze<br />
<br />
Publication date: 27th April 2017<br />
<br />
Print length: 384 pages<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sister-gripping-thriller-betrayal-ebook/dp/B01CERDEFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1499853225&sr=1-1&keywords=Isabel+Ashdown">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428322434588397460.post-79187011391094093952017-07-11T10:31:00.002-07:002017-07-11T10:31:43.189-07:00Fire Damage by Kate Medina Book Review <img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41eXONK-4CL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<b>BLURB</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
To find a killer, she must unlock a child's terror . . .<br />
<br />
The first in an exciting new crime series featuring psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn - a brilliantly complex character who struggles with a dark past.<br />
<br />
'The girl knows,' he whispered . . .<br />
<br />
Four-year-old Sami is deeply traumatized, and its up to psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn to unlock his terrifying memories. She needs to find out who 'the girl' is - but nothing can prepare her for the truth about what haunts him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Jessie's former patient Captain Ben Callan, is investigating the suspicious death of an officer in Afghanistan - the problem is the only suspect refuses to talk.<br />
<br />
When a dead body washes up on a Sussex beach, Jessie's and Ben's cases converge. Soon it's clear that the mystery in Afghanistan began with a secret much closer to home. And a desperate killer will do anything to keep it buried . . .<br />
<br />
<b>MY THOUGHTS</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve had Fire Damage by
Kate Medina on my TBR list for a while but because of other commitments I haven’t
been able to get round to it as quickly as I would have liked, so I was so
pleased when I finally started reading it last week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fire Damage is the
first book in the Jessie Flynn series. Psychologist, Jessie Flynn has been
assigned to a case where it is her job to get to the bottom of a little boy’s
trauma. Four-year-old Sami’s father, Sergeant Major Scott has been seriously burnt whilst he
was serving in Afghanistan and seeing his father in this condition has left
Sami seriously traumatized. Jessie is left feeling frustrated when his family
come forward with little information and sometimes she has to resort to
desperate measures to get that information, to understand what is going on in
Sami’s world. But what she does not realize is how big this case really is, is
it possible that the discovery of a burnt corpse, washed up on a Sussex beach
could be linked to Sami’s case? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I really liked Jessie’s
character in this book. She has an interesting back story which she finds
difficult to re visit and I thought that Kate wrote her emotions really well,
particularly when she was reliving parts of her earlier life. I thought that
this was particularly well done when Kate explored Jessie’s relationship with
her mother. I liked as well her determination to get to the bottom of Sami’s
case, no matter what it’ll cost her in doing so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The ending of this book
was brilliant; Kate had me on tenterhooks as I was waiting to find out what
happened next, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Really excellent writing.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This was a brilliant
first book in the Jessie Flynn series. Original and intriguing characters and a
twisty plot that’ll keep you hooked. This is a crime novel that you do not want
to miss. I can’t wait to read the next book! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
Publisher: Harper Collins<br />
<br />
Publication date: 24th March 2016<br />
<br />
Print length: 384 pages<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fire-Damage-gripping-thriller-Thriller/dp/0008132283/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1499712006&sr=1-1">CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE </a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02716123682584304724noreply@blogger.com0