bytheletterbookreviews

Book Description:

You invited him into your life. And now you can never go back… 

Teacher Pippa wants a second chance. Recently divorced and unhappy at work, she uproots her life to renovate a beautiful farmhouse in the countryside, determined to make a fresh start. But Pippa soon realises: your troubles are never far behind.

When Pippa meets blue-eyed Ryan Marks, he is funny, charming, and haunted by his past. He might just be the answer to all her problems. But how well does she really know him?

She knows the story of his life, the pain that stays with him, the warmth of his smile and the smell of his skin. She knows he can make her laugh over a glass of wine.

Pippa can tell truth from lies. She’d know if she were in danger. Wouldn’t she?

My Thoughts:

Pippa works as a teacher as well as being an author. Her first book hasn’t done well but that all changes when she meets Ryan. I really liked Pippa though I did find her quite selfish when it came to her best friend. She is a bit of a free spirit and doesn’t really think of the consequences of her actions. There was just something about her though and her lifestyle that fascinated me.

The story flicks between her blog posts and her journal. I loved the blog posts of an idyllic life of which I’m sure many of us would envy.

Ryan, from first meeting him, I was as fascinated about his background as well as Pippa. Saying that though, there was something about him that worried me also. I definitely had mixed feelings when it came to him. I was torn between wanting Pippa to steer well clear to giving him a chance.

The Proposal is a story that drew me in and held me there. I became fully engrossed and couldn’t turn the pages quick enough wanting to know what was going to happen next. The story certainly takes some unexpected turns and I loved the overall feel that it gave me. I was full of apprehension whilst being thrilled with the direction the story was taking. A very cleverly written book that readers are going to love.

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

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

Book Description:

A policeman on his first murder case
A tattoo artist with a deadly secret
And a twisted serial killer sharpening his blades to kill again…

When Brighton tattoo artist Marni Mullins discovers a flayed body, newly-promoted DI Francis Sullivan needs her help. There’s a serial killer at large, slicing tattoos from his victims’ bodies while they’re still alive. Marni knows the tattooing world like the back of her hand, but has her own reasons to distrust the police. So when she identifies the killer’s next target, will she tell Sullivan or go after the Tattoo Thief alone?

My Thoughts:

The Tattoo Thief flicks between four characters. Marni a tattooist, Francis a DI, Rory, who works under Francis and the killer. The killer even though we get to meet them and see inside their dark and twisted mind, we don’t actually know who it is. Obviously I was trying to guess who but failed miserably.

Marni is quite a strong character and I have to say I loved finding out more about tattoo’s and what a normal working day is like for a tattooist. It really makes for some fascinating reading. Marni has a lot going on in her life without being caught up in a murder case but it made her so much more interesting and I really liked her.

Francis I loved. Such a great character and I really hope there is going to be more books featuring him. I liked how he really invested himself in this case even though higher up think they know better. He comes across as determined and caring and he would certainly someone I would be happy to have working on a case.

The Tattoo Thief is such an original story line that makes for a page turner of a read. It’s a very dark read that will have you on the edge of your seat as they close in on the killer. There was so many heart in mouth moments that horrified yet thrilled me and I couldn’t get enough. It was such a great climax also and didn’t disappoint. Certainly look forward to reading more by the author.

My thanks to Trapeze and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

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

Book Description:

When a chance meeting with a local publisher outside a small bookshop results in all three of her manuscripts being signed, Ruby Wright thinks she has it made. Already she sees images of herself wearing dark glasses, being mobbed by fans clamouring for her latest blockbuster…

Little does Ruby know, but her ditsy publisher is a charlatan who has no more idea about publishing than Ruby does. Pretty soon Ruby is broke.
She has no IT experience so depends heavily on her nerdy flatmate, Hunter, whenever her computer fails her. He has enough of his own issues to deal with—he is studying for his final law exams. She bribes him with a dog she found on the side of the road, then Panforte, which chips his tooth, and a couple of Axolotls until he finally gives in and helps her. But Ruby’s life is filled with disaster… 

What follows is excitement, disappointment, heartache, love and loss as we follow Ruby’s hilarious struggles to maintain her trust and focus in the ever-shifting publishing industry and in people in general.

Purchase here.

Guest Post:

We often think our life has its own way of cruising along on its own pathway and sometimes we just go along for the ride. Well, sometimes that same ‘life’ makes detours and unexpected stops. The trick is to never ever get off the journey. It was designed especially for you so my advice is to simply enjoy it.

You see this past decade or two I have become a rather sedentary person, a writer, of course, so I spent a lot of time sitting on my butt (I am fortunate it is still a small butt), but lately my life’s pathway has taken another turn. It’s called a new lease on life, by some. For me, the journey I was set on simply took another route.

From sitting and losing myself in dreams at my keyboard, I have done a full turn and am now a pretty active person. Not sporty. No, not not sporty but I do now own tramping boots, have a back pack and sleeping bag, and know how to keep on going through steep bush for 3 1/2 hours without letting up. I am fit! And the views from up there are breathtaking.

From accepting my ‘sedentary’ lifestyle, I have now fully grasped the concept of change, excitement and expectation. More subject matter to write about.

Author bio:

Susan Tarr has been writing for 25 years, drawing on her international travels, work within the NZ tourism industry, and her work in various psychiatric hospitals within New Zealand.

She lived in Kenya, East Africa, for some years where she began her family.
Although she writes from personal experience, she also uses anecdotal information from conversations and other peoples’ stories, resulting in her characters taking on a life of their own and becoming larger than life. She enjoys a wide variety of personalities.

Susan says, “As I write their stories, my characters will often lead me to places I couldn’t imagine. So I relax and let them form as they will. I am passionate about my writing and I usually have three books on the go at any one time.”

It’s fair to say that Flick has had a terrible year. Her beloved father died, she had the wedding of her dreams and only hours after the ceremony her husband ran out on her.

Brenda, fed up of her daughter living like a hermit, decides to drag Flick off to France to stay in a chateau. What could be better than an idyllic escape?

But when they arrive Flick discovers the chateau is all but abandoned.

The only upside of her French escape is the handsome and mysterious neighbour, Nate.

Nate loves his life living in the cottage on the grounds of the abandoned chateau but that is about to be put in jeopardy…

Can Nate and Flick ever learn to come to terms with the past and find love again?

The French Escape is a heart-warming, happy ever after, love story. Follow Flick and Nate’s laugh out loud and emotional journey as they negotiate matters of the heart and learn to trust again.  

My Thoughts:

I have to start by saying what a cover crush I have on this book. It is simply gorgeous and so eye catching. It’s certainly one that jumps out and shouts ‘READ ME’. So of course that’s exactly what I did.

You have to love a story which is set somewhere as fabulous as France, especially when it’s rural France of which is very much brought to life. Something else I love is a great renovation project. I love watching television shows where you see the transformations as they are happening. I fell head over heels with the chateau and had so many images in my head through all the fabulous descriptions. I loved the whole idea of someone leaving a loved one a chateau, so if anyone wants to leave me one, well just so you know, I’d be up for it.

There is a great cast of characters in this novel of which I pretty much adored them all. They have their strengths and all bring something unique to the table. Flick and Nate had to be my favourites though. Both trying to move on with their lives though they both have issues holding them back. You can see the spark from them meeting and I loved seeing that grow and the will they won’t they theme of whether they will get together or not. It makes for a highly entertaining read that I literally could not get enough of.

The French Escape is the perfect feel good read. It transports you to an idyllic setting that I didn’t want to leave. A fabulously fun and uplifting read. Loved it.

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

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

Author Bio:

Book Description:

Her father abused her when she was a child. For years she was too afraid to speak out. But now she suspects he’s found another victim… 

Laura, a young woman struggling to deal with what her father did to her a decade ago, is horrified to realise that the girl he takes swimming might be his next victim. Emma is twelve – the age Laura was when her father took away her innocence.

Intimidated by her father’s rages, Laura has never told anyone the truth about her childhood. Now she must decide whether she has the courage to expose him and face the consequences.

Can Laura overcome her fear and save Emma before the worst happens?

My Thoughts:

The Girl In His Eyes is a story that flicks between Laura, her father and her mother. Having suffered at the hands of her father, Laura is understandably struggling with life. Having kept it a secret for so many years, which sadly so many do, she is almost on a road to self destruction. My heart really went out to Laura. Having to go through something like that is horrible enough but then when you are put in a situation where it could happen again, do you remain silent or do you speak out?

This is a powerful book for survivors of abuse everywhere. I really hope it helps someone. What makes this book stand out is that we not only hear Laura’s voice but her mother, whose world is about to be rocked and her father, who is the abuser. It was interesting to get all perspectives and I think it will have you questioning yourself as to what you would do if you were in the same position. It was very understandable to see the turmoil that Laura is in.

The Girl In His Eyes is a brilliantly written novel. It’s hard to say you’ve enjoyed a novel when it is such a dark subject but I think it’s one that will strike a cord with every reader. It really had an impact on me making me feel an array of emotions. Powerful, hard hitting and an absolute must read.

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

The Girl In His Eyes is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).