bytheletterbookreviews

Book Description:

When Lily McDermott walks in to find Marc, her husband of just three months in bed with actress Nadia, life as she knows it is over. Lily thinks things can’t get any worse when she sees photos of her husband and his new lover splashed across the glossy magazine pages, but when she loses her job too, she is at her lowest ebb and turns to baking to soothe her soul. Wounded and broken she has to try and pick herself up again with the help of her best friend Frankie and with her encouragement, Lily decides to turn her hobby into a business and sets up Baked With Love. However whatever Lily does, it seems disaster soon ensues and when handsome stranger Sam comes to her rescue, Lily isn’t quite ready to turn her back on her marriage. 
Can Lily risk opening her heart again or is she destined to allow Marc to shadow her life forever? 

My Thoughts:

As a reader, I think I was just as shocked as Lily when she comes home to find her husband in bed with another woman. My heart really went out to Lily and from that point on I was really routing for her.

The book is filled with wonderful characters. I really liked the good friendship between Lily and Frankie. They are close friends and everything I found myself wanting to say to Lily, well Frankie said and handled it all perfectly. Definitely a woman who anyone would be lucky to call a friend.

Things seem to go from bad to worse when Lily not only loses her husband, but loses her job as well. I loved the idea of the bakery business and of course my mouth was watering with all the lovely mentions of cakes and creations that Lily was coming up with. I would happily have become chief taster for free of charge!

The Girl I Was Before is such a lovely story that I completely lost myself into the story, shutting the real world outside. It’s such an easy read with a lovely leading lady who the reader really gets behind and wants them to be happy. Was so happy to realise that this isn’t the last we’ve seen of Lily as there is a follow onto the book. Can’t wait to see what is next in store for her as well as the reader.

The Girl I Was Before is available to purchase from Amazon. (Please note that link used is an affiliate link).

Book Description:

A chance encounter leads to a gruesome conclusion.

But there is much more to this case than first meets the eye.

Yet another case for determined DI Lorne Warner and her team to solve.

The investigation proves to be a complex one from the outset, revealing not just one murder to solve but several.

Just when Lorne believes she has all the answers, the killer contacts her and makes a terrifying threat.

She’s up against it, mentally and physically…

Will Lorne be able to pit her wits against a killer who isn’t afraid of getting caught?

Grab your copy today.

My Thoughts:

The author certainly knows how to start off a story that ensures her readers will be well and truly gripped. The opening certainly had everything that I would expect and hope for in a crime book and it gives us a taster of just what we can look forward to in the rest of the story.

The case that Lorne and her team find themselves working on holds lots of nasty surprises. I was as intrigued as they were as to the who and why’s. It turns into a race against time for them to solve the case before the death toll goes into double figures. Got to say though, I do love a crime book when it has a high body count!

Not only does Lorna have a lot going on in her work life, she also has a lot going on in her personal life. I like how the author incorporates real life issues that affects a lot of us. It just made me love Lorne even more how she tries to juggle everything in her life and her ever undying strength and out look on life that would put many of us to shame.

Immoral Justice is a fast paced, page turner of a read that had me hooked from start to finish. There are plenty of twists and turns as the case progresses, keeping the reader on their toes and ensuring a thrilling reading experience. Great addition to the series.

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

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

Book Description:

Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.

But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…

Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.

As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.

My Thoughts:

The story starts off when the twins are young children living with their mother. The horrors of the abuse, though only briefly touched upon, was still horrific to read making quite an impact on the reader.

There is no wonder that both sisters have issues and are struggling with trying to get on with their lives. Elizabeth certainly seems to be fairing better than Emily but it was heart warming to read of how Elizabeth has almost become the mother figure to her sister and making sure she watches out for her.

Even though the story starts off being quite a dark and disturbing read, the darkness actually grows and envelopes the reader as we get further into it. I had guessed quite early on, parts of where the story was going. I hadn’t got it one hundred percent right though, so there was still some surprises waiting in store for me.

Phantom Limb really delves into the world of our mind and how we deal with things. I really enjoyed the twin aspect of the story as it adds another level to the story. It’s certainly a story that will consume you and have you gripped throughout. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, then would certainly recommend giving this one a go.

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

Book Description:

Corrupted is the fourth book in the Charles Holborne thriller series, and Simon Michael’s follow up to the bestselling The Lighterman. 

Charles is building his reputation as a brilliant murder trial lawyer and living the good life with partner Sally. But he can’t escape the influences and dangers of the past, and finds himself drawn once more into the orbit of the notorious Kray twins. 

It’s not long before Charles is courting scandal and threats to his very life when investigating a sex ring that involves not just the Krays and the Mafia, but goes to the very echelons of the country’s power. 

Simon Michael brings the past back to life across a beautifully rendered swinging 60s landscape, and delivers a gripping piece of thriller fiction that will excite any fan of the genre.

My Thoughts:

Corrupted is the fourth book in the Charles Holborne series. Personally I would recommend reading in order to get to know the main character better but the author does give enough information from previous books so that you can read them out of order if you so wish.

This was such a sombre read due to the nature of the story. Even though the author doesn’t go into any great detail with the sex ring, it is still very much an uncomfortable read. Teddy, the young lad that Charles finds himself helping, broke my heart. Even thinking about him now whilst writing my review I can’t help but get all emotional.

What I love about this authors books is how he brings the real world into fiction. Everyone knows of the Krays. No doubt they were men at one time that were looked up to and envied. I think this will remind us though of the darker side to the brothers and the atrocities that they were party to.

Corrupted is a dark and enthralling read that kept me turning the pages. Charles as always oozes charm and will certainly appeal to readers. This is a series that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and if you haven’t had the chance to read any yet then I urge you to do so.

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