bytheletterbookreviews

If We’re Not Married By Thirty by Anna Bell @BonnierZaffre @AnnaBell_writes

December 10, 2018November 25, 2018 Sarah Hardy

41zvOJA663L

Book Description:

A brilliantly funny, romantic and effervescent read, If We’re Not Married by Thirty is the irresistible new novel from the bestselling author of The Bucket List to Mend a Broken Heart andIt Started With a Tweet. For fans of Lindsey Kelk and Sophie Kinsella.

Lydia’s not exactly #LivingHerBestLife. She never imagined she’d be here at thirty – newly single, a job that’s going nowhere and her friends all winning at life when she’s still barely taking part. So she jumps at the chance of a free holiday and jets off to sunny Spain.

Then, out of the blue, she bumps into her childhood friend, the handsome and charming Danny Whittaker. She’s always had a crush on him and they soon enter into a passionate holiday romance.

But this relationship could be more than just a fling. Years ago they made a pact that if they were still single when they turned thirty they would get married. But noone really follows through on these pacts . . . right?

Could Lydia’s back-up man really be her happy ever after?

My Thoughts:

Lydia is a character I hit it off with straight away. If she was real, I could see us easily being good friends. With all her friends and family seemingly settled or in the throes of settling down, it leaves Lydia feeling anxious about the lack of direction her life is taking.

The relationship between Danny and Lydia is one that has always been a friendship one. With their mums being best friends, obviously both of them have spent many a time at each others houses and have always been around in each others lives. I loved how both characters had grown up together and felt so at ease around each other.

The author takes us on a fun and entertaining journey with plenty of cringe worthy moments. I loved Lydia and Danny’s mothers as things are far from boring with these two around. I was ever so slightly grateful though that they weren’t my mothers. They mean well though and their hearts are in the right places.

If We’re Not Married By Thirty is one of those books that you won’t want to put down from the moment you pick it up. It made me laugh, smile, chuckle as well as cringe with embarrassment for some of the characters. It really is a fun and feel good read that is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

My thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

If We’re Not Married By Thirty is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan @rararesources @Susan_Buchanan

December 10, 2018November 28, 2018 Sarah Hardy

Book Description:

Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.
Rebecca has just been dumped and the prospect of spending the holiday period with her parents is less than appealing.
Eighty- two year old Stanley lost his beloved wife, Edie, to cancer. How will he cope with his first Christmas without her?
Jacob’s university degree hasn’t helped him get a job, and it looks like he’ll still be signing on come New Year.
Workaholic Meredith would rather spend December 25th at home alone with a ready meal and a DVD box set. Can anything make her embrace the spirit of the season?
The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

My Thoughts:

Oh my goodness, this was such a fabulous read.

The story centres around the Sugar and Spice bakery and café where Natalie takes over while the owner has an operation and recuperates. I think it should be compulsive that all festive reads features cakes and lots of them. Probably not great for your diet but the fabulous sound of the cakes in this story will have you craving them in a big way!

Along with Natalie, we get to meet four other characters who all seem a bit down on their luck for various reasons. I loved getting to know them all better and couldn’t wait to see what the author had in store for them as well as the reader.

The characterisation was superb and you will really get emotionally attached to the characters in the story. So much so that I was very sad to get to the end as this is one of those stories you wish would go on forever.

The Christmas Spirit really is just that. It is way more than just a festive read though. It has everything you would expect from a story set around that special time of year but you also get the true meaning of Christmas as well. It really is a fabulously up lifting read. Loved it!

My thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

The Christmas Spirit is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Author Bio – Susan Buchanan lives in Scotland with her husband and their two children. She is the author of four novels: Return of the Christmas Spirit, The Christmas Spirit, The Dating Game, and Sign of the Times. She is currently working on books five and six: The Proposal and Just One Day.

Susan is also a proofreader, editor and translator, and when not working, writing, or caring for her two delightful cherubs, loves reading, the theatre, quiz shows and eating out – not necessarily in that order!

Social Media Links

Facebook – www.facebook.com/susan.buchanan.author

Twitter – susan_buchanan

Blog – Sooz’s journal – www.susancbuchanan.blogspot.co.uk

Edna’s Death Cafe by Angelena Boden @AngelenaBoden @matadorbooks

December 9, 2018November 26, 2018 Sarah Hardy

41WltQfvmiL

Book Description:

As in life, death is not without its agenda. This is something seventy-nine year old Edna Reid finds out when her partner, Ted, suddenly dies.

To cope with her loss, she sets up a Death Cafe to break down the taboo around death and to encourage other members of the community to discuss it openly. Over tea and cake, the participants hide their fears behind a veil of dark humour.

Religious fanaticism clashes with Victorian spiritualism as Edna’s meetings trigger lively conversations on the fragility of life, anxiety over dying, cost of funerals, and making sure long-lost greedy relatives don’t benefit from inheritances.

Soon, a series of events begin to unfold which threaten to undermine Edna’s livelihood and the Death Cafe meetings. These events just happen to coincide with the arrival of a mysterious stranger into the village.

Who is she and why is she so hostile to Edna?

My Thoughts:

Death Cafe’s is something that is totally new to me. How could I not know they exist? I can really see what the advantage of going to these cafe’s is and it was an advantage to see just what sort of topics would come up by reading about them in the novel.

As much as everyone is getting over a loss, there is also a lot of other details that come up of which most of us put off thinking about. For instance wills, what sort of funerals our loved ones want as well as ourselves. It’s good to have these conversations and get things into place so that it isn’t as hard for the loved ones left behind.

The nature of the book may sound quite a sombre one but it really isn’t. Yes there are some touching moments that may make the eyes fill up, but on the main this is a story about a small community and one lady who is trying to pull everyone together. Add to that some very strange going on’s which adds an air of suspense to it all.

There are a whole bunch of characters which makes for a great mixture. Edna is quite a straight forward talking lady and you can’t help but lean towards her. I also liked Manny who is always on stand by to be Edna’s night in shining armour. There are some that took a little longer to warm to but it all adds to the drama of the story.

Edna’s Death Cafe was an eye opener of a read. I definitely learned something new from reading it. It also gives you food for thought. I think readers will certainly take different parts of this book away with them and I also hope it gives people comfort. There is definitely so much scope for more of Edna and the rest of the characters. I can see them becoming sleuths as you know how it is in small places where everyone knows everyone else’s business? It also had a cosy mystery feel to it so would be great to see more of that side incorporated with the cafe. An enjoyable read and one I would urge others to read.

Edna’s Death Cafe is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Keep Her Close by Erik Therme @bookouture @ErikTherme

December 8, 2018November 28, 2018 Sarah Hardy

Book Description:

Someone took your daughter. And nobody believes you…

Then:
Three-year-old Ally was found alone in a parking lot.
She was barefoot and dressed only in a yellow sundress. In the middle of winter.
What kind of person would abandon their daughter?

Now:
Fifteen years later and Ally has a new family.
But her real father has sent her a letter.
And now Ally is missing.

A gripping twist-filled thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and Teresa Driscoll.

My Thoughts:

Ally is a typical eighteen year old who has just recently left home and is doing her best to make it in the world. Even though her adoptive parents, Holly and Dan are no longer together, you can still feel the tight family unit that they have. All they want is the best for their little girl and I could totally get why alarm bells would be ringing when a letter turns up out of the blue from her real father.

Dan is the type of person who acts first and thinks later. Whilst he may not be the most rationalist of people, there is no doubting his love for his daughter and that he will do anything to find her when she goes missing. As a parent myself, I couldn’t imagine anything worse than a child going missing, even if they are eighteen.

The author had me totally engrossed in what I was reading. I was desperate to find out more about where Ally had gone and to finding out more about her real parents. There are so many twists and turns throughout that had me totally glued to what was happening within the pages. It will have you changing your mind about certain characters as the author very cleverly messes with your head.

Keep Her Close is without a doubt my favourite novel by this author. There were tons of suspense that builds up to a more than satisfying climax. An absolute page turner of a read!

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Keep her Close is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Author Bio:

Erik Therme has thrashed in garage bands, inadvertently harbored runaways, and met Darth Vader. When he’s not at his computer, he can be found cheering for his youngest daughter’s volleyball team, or watching horror movies with his seventeen-year-old. He currently resides in Iowa City, Iowa—one of only twenty places in the world UNESCO has certified as a City of Literature.

Author Social Media Links:

Website: www.eriktherme.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ErikTherme

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/7831573.Erik_Therme

Facebook: www.facebook.com/erik.therme

Nici’s Christmas Tale by Jean Gill @writerjeangill

December 8, 2018October 26, 2018 Sarah Hardy

Book Description:

A stand-alone short story in the multi-award-winning Troubadours Quartet series
1157: Aquitaine At midnight on Christmas Eve, while the blizzard blasts snow through every crack in the castle walls, Nici the Shepherd’s Dog stands guard in the sheepfold.
Beside him as usual are his pack and the flock they protect but this night is not usual at all. A small boy braves the snowy night, seeking the protection of his great friend while he is banned from his parents’ quarters in the castle.
Nici recalls other times and other dangers, his trials and failures, the reasons why he ran away with a young girl, now the little boy’s mother. He would still give his life in a heartbeat for Lady Estela. And yet, on this snowy night, he cannot help her. So, while he waits and comforts Estela’s son, he tells his own puppies the story of a dog’s life.

My Thoughts:

Nici’s Christmas Tale is a short story in the Troubadours Quartet series. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series so can definitely say it reads well as a stand alone.

The story is set at Christmas where Nici tells his pups a story of when he was younger. I could actually feel the cold more when reading this story and it’s a good little read to curl up with a blanket and a nice hot drink. It’s a story that would appeal to young adults and adults a like.

It certainly left me intrigued as to what the other books in the series are like as I enjoyed the time period of when the story was set.

Nici’s Christmas Tale is a story that is ideal for fans of historical fiction and who are looking for a festive read. I liked how the main character was an animal and how it is suitable for a wide age audience as some books with animals definitely tend to be for more younger readers. A captivating short story.

My thanks to Anne Cater for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Nici’s Christmas Tale is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jean Gill is a Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with two scruffy dogs, a beehive named ‘Endeavour’, a Nikon D750 and a man. For many years, she taught English and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Wales. She is mother or stepmother to five children so life was hectic.
Publications are varied, including prize-winning poetry and novels, military history, translated books on dog training, and a cookery book on goat cheese. With Scottish parents, an English birthplace and French residence, she can usually support the winning team on most sporting occasions.
Sign up to Jean special readers’ group at http://www.jeangill.com/for exclusive news, offers and a free book.

Twitter @writerjeangill

#CoverReveal Dead Inside by Noelle Holten @KillerReads @nholten40 #DeadInside

December 7, 2018December 4, 2018 Sarah Hardy

Mega excited to be sharing with you this evening the fabulous cover for Dead Inside by Noelle Holten which will be published on the 31st of May 2019. You can of course, pre-order your copy below right now for ONLY 99p/99c!

Universal Buy Link: mybook.to/DeadInsideUK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Inside-gripping-terrifying-thriller-ebook/dp/B07HNS6LYHUS: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Inside-gripping-terrifying-thriller-ebook/dp/B07HNS6LYH

**Yes, this is how excited I am right now!**

Before I tell you more about the book and that all important cover, here is a bit more about the author herself. Whilst you will find out a bit more about Noelle, what it doesn’t tell you is the amazing person that she is. I first came across Noelle in a book group where we were both avid readers. We struck up a friendship and both started our blogs around the same time. Noelle is one of the hardest working and awe inspiring people that I know. She is also one of the most positive people. She really is a fabulous role model and am so proud to call her my friend. Can’t begin to tell you how excited I am that her debut novel was snapped up by Killer Reads. Anyway, will stop waffling on now and let you read about her for yourself.

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle’s hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the #booklove via her blog.
Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Connect with Noelle on Social Media here:
Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholtenauthor/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Noelle-Holten/e/B07HZ685TL
Blog FB page: https://www.facebook.com/crimebookjunkie/
Instagram: @crimebookjunkie

**Yep, that’s my #BBFF! Couldn’t be prouder.**

So now you know a bit more about the #Legend that is Noelle Holten, below you can find out what the all important book is about and boy does it sound great!

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

‘Kept me hooked … excellent pace and a very satisfying ending’ Angela Marsons

When three domestic abuse offenders are found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered. And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the finger of suspicion points at Lucy and the police are running out of time. Can Maggie and her team solve the murders before another person dies? And is Lucy really a cold-blooded killer?

Told you didn’t I? I can not wait for people to be able to read this fab book for themselves! So, I know I’ve kept you waiting long enough so let’s have a big drum roll please and enjoy lets all appreciate this brilliant book cover.

Bloodhound Books Christmas Cracker Blog Tour – Guilty Innocence by Maggie James @Bloodhoundbook @mjamesfiction

December 7, 2018December 4, 2018 Sarah Hardy

I am delighted today to be re-sharing with you all, my review for Guilty Innocence by Maggie James as part of the Bloodhound Books Christmas Crackers Blog Tour. Enjoy!

Book Description:

When Natalie snoops through her boyfriend Mark’s possessions she finds more than she bargained for. Mark was once convicted of a brutal killing. Heartbroken by what she has discovered, Natalie’s dreams of a future with him collapse.
However, Mark was not the only person sentenced for the murder of two-year-old Abby Morgan. His former friend, the violent and twisted Adam Campbell, was also convicted and Adam knows more about the murder than he will admit.
When circumstances thrust Mark back in contact with Adam, the past comes back to haunt him. Can Mark ever break free from Adam? Will the truth ever come out?

My Thoughts:

Guilty Innocence is quite a hard book to review. Why you may ask? Well that would be the subject matter. This really is not going to be for every one. As soon as I started it, it reminded me instantly of the Jamie Bulger case. It is one that will certainly intrigue the reader without a doubt but the actual murder of little Abby was hard going I have to admit. I will say a big BUT though, as it is without a doubt my favourite book by this author and is one that readers should give a chance as, apart from the murder, it is an emotionally charged read that will have the reader struggling to put down.

There is something that has always fascinated me about killers, sometimes it makes me feel a bit of a freak but I think it is normal that people want to know why someone would take another persons life and what makes them do it. Mark though isn’t a brutal killer and he wants to clear his name. Mark I took to straight away. You can tell instantly he is a genuinely nice guy who has been dealt a really bad hand from life. A day doesn’t go by that he doesn’t think of Abby and the devastation that it has left behind. He desperately wants a normal life but can’t see how he will ever have it. My heart really went out to him as I wondered if he would ever find that peace that he was desperately in search for.

Natalie I have to admit got on my nerves. Don’t get me wrong, finding out your boyfriend is a child killer certainly can not be easy. Yes she has her issues also which I could relate to but because of them she is highly insecure and it sometimes made me wonder what Mark even saw in her.

I really had no idea where the author would go with this story line. I couldn’t possibly for see any happy endings in this type of book and wondered what the whole outcome would be. I have to say she took me totally by surprise and in a very good way. I won’t go into the ending as the less you know about it the better but I will say for me, it was just brilliant, totally loved it.

Guilty Innocence is a heart wrenching roller coaster of a read. From the opening chapter, the author commandeered my attention and with a hard hitting story line I was well and truly captivated throughout. Bravo!

My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

Guilty Innocence is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link)

Author Bio:

Maggie James is a British author who lives in Bristol. She writes psychological suspense novels.

Before turning her hand to writing, Maggie worked mainly as an accountant, with a diversion into practising as a nutritional therapist. Diet and health remain high on her list of interests, along with travel. Accountancy does not, but then it never did. The urge to pack a bag and go off travelling is always lurking in the background! When not writing, going to the gym, practising yoga or travelling, Maggie can be found seeking new four-legged friends to pet; animals are a lifelong love!

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MJamesFiction/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjamesfiction

Goodreads Author Page:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/828751.Maggie_James

Blog: http://www.maggiejamesfiction.com/blog

Website: http://www.maggiejamesfiction.com