Category: Blog Tour

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The New Girl-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The New Girl left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, there are some genuine jaw-dropping moments in the story. On the other, it wraps up in one of the strangest endings I can remember.

First the good.

The set-up is excellent. Sophie is the perfect foil. She ran home to her small town after a tragedy occurred while she was in college, but now that years have passed, she wants more than the town (and her long-term boyfriend) can give her.

She is very relatable in that regard.

Things look up for her when she finds her dream job, filled with people who take an interest in her. Everything is too good to be true.

Literally.

Even as Sophie falls into the spell of her new job and new friends, there are hints that not everything is as it seems. And when a blast from her past occurs, her life turns upside down.

Buy link: 
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There are whispers of Sophie’s past woven throughout the story and as her past and present collide, the book really takes off.

Up to that point, I found myself very skeptical of…well, everything. I have “scam” or “unreliable” in my notes at least six times. There are points that I think Sophie should have also realized the convenience and obviousness. But she is so desperate to be successful that she is blind to the details.

Things do get complicated as Sophie starts to put the pieces together but ultimately everything becomes clear.

The one problem I have with the book is the climax and aftermath. After all of the buildup, it all happens in a hurry. I wish there had been more time spent on it. And the prologue seemed like a total afterthought. For me, it was awkward and did not fit with the story.

But I did enjoy the rest of the story and would recommend The New Girl for the masterful gaslighting that occurs throughout.  

Other books by this author: The Wedding, I Know Your Secret

Twitter: @RJ_Heald
Facebook: rjhealdauthor/
Instagram: @ruthheald
Website: https://ruthheald.com/

Author Bio:

Ruth Heald is the bestselling author of psychological thrillers THE WEDDING, I KNOW YOUR SECRET, THE MOTHER’S MISTAKE and THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS, and the relationship drama 27: SIX FRIENDS, ONE YEAR.

Ruth studied Economics at Oxford University and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. She worked at the BBC for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She’s married with two children. Her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives.

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The Ex-Husband-Review-Thriller-Available Now

In the thriller The Ex-Husband, a character states, “Secrets make liars of us all.” In the case of this book (which I hope I convey accurately in this review), there really are no truer words spoken.

Secrets also make everyone paranoid. Some for good reason.

The ex-husband in question is Sam, once married to Charlotte, who is the protagonist. The story unfolds solely from her perspective. After a prologue that details when their marriage was, for all intents and purposes, over, the action proceeds in alternating “then” and “now” chapters.

It is an effective story-telling method because the reader gets to see “in real-time” how much Sam had a hand in his own failures. Let’s just say a conman is always looking for his next con, and that can be in any part of his life.

Charlotte is aware of this in the “now,” but it is easy to see where she got pulled in and how he manipulated her. I’m not going to say anymore, because it really is best to read and discover on your own.

But somebody else is aware of what Sam (and Charlotte) were up to in the past – and they mean to make her pay for it. That’s where the “cat-and-mouse” aspect of the thriller comes in.

All this setup takes some time to relate, and there were a few times I wished the author would get to the point.

After finishing the book, I realized that the long set-up was necessary to build the tension. It would not have been nearly as effective if the author had sped it up. So, yeah, what do I know?  

In effect, the author was setting up the long con for the reader as well as for Charlotte. I loved how the connections between characters were made, but the reader never really knew which ones were important, and which were coincidental.  

Come to think of it, Charlotte didn’t either. Remember that point about liars being paranoid?

Titles for future book review
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Another thing I liked was how Charlotte would narrate what she was saying as true or untrue. That dwindled a bit in the later part of the book as the action took off. I wish it had been a bit more consistent later because I found it gave great insight to her character.

I’ve cruised a lot, and I know several people who have and still do work on cruise ships. Some of the things that the author mentions didn’t ring true to my knowledge. But I’m sure she did her research. Perhaps she is not referring to the bigger cruise lines? Not sure.

The section that details Charlotte’s job on a luxury yacht was especially entertaining, as I am a big fan of “Below Deck,” and I totally got that vibe. The opulence also provides a great contrast as she becomes more paranoid.

I also had a “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” feeling in a few parts. That’s all I’m going to say about it in this book review. Read it, and you’ll understand.

I very much enjoyed The Ex-Husband and would highly recommend this atmospheric, twisty thriller.

Another book review for this author: The Last Wife

The Ex-Husband thriller author headshot
Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @KJHAuthor 
Facebook: @karenhamiltonwriter 
Instagram: @karenhamiltonauthor 
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Author Bio: 

Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy and worked as a flight attendant for many years. She has now put down roots in the UK to raise her three children with her husband and she also writes full time. Her books include The Perfect Girlfriend, The Last Wife, and The Ex-Husband, out January 2022.

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Here For You-Review-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Here for You is a psych thriller that keeps you guessing, right up until the very end. There is a lot to like about it.

The main character, Jess, is a bit of an enigma. There is obviously a dark history – she refers to it often – but the reader doesn’t find out the full extent of it until late in the book.

What is clear about her, however, is that she is timid and mousy. Part of it could just be her normal demeanor, but it is also due to events in her past.

In other words, she is a perfect victim of the plot that unfolds against her.

Here for You blog tour schedule
He

There are enough hints throughout the first two-thirds of the book. The reader knows there is something nefarious unfurling – but the full extent of it is not clear until the author is ready for it to be.

And when that happens, hold on, because everything happens very fast.

One of the things I liked about Here for You is that I felt almost as manipulated as Jess. It was easy to see things from her side and feel like it was happening to me too.

However, there are also times where Jess is too needy or mousy. But I suppose that it is a necessary characteristic for everything else to work.

Whenever something seems too easy as a plot point, I am suspicious. And that occurred often in this book. But again, I can’t tell if I am too skeptical or if everything is playing out as planned.

I also thought that the author was a bit too cagey at times. The repeated references to what happened to Jess in the past started to get annoying. The info could have been released a little bit sooner and more sporadically. But that is a minor gripe.

Everything comes full circle in the end, and all questions are answered. It is nice when a story wraps up in a satisfying manner.

All in all, Here for You is a decent psych thriller – and not a bad way to kick off the new year!

Check out The New Family for another great psych thriller read.

Facebook: noravalters
Instagram: nora_valters/
Twitter:  nora_valters

AUTHOR BIO

Nora Valters grew up in the New Forest in the south of England and has lived in London, Manchester, Bournemouth, Oxford and Dubai.

She studied English Literature and Language at Oxford Brookes University before embarking on a career in marketing and copywriting.

Her debut psychological thriller, Her Biggest Fan, was published in October 2020. Her second novel, Now You Know, came out in June 2021. She’s currently writing her third, which will be out soon.

Nora loves to travel and has journeyed around the world. She enjoys exploring new places, painting, hiking, and is an avid reader. She’s also a bit obsessed with dogs…

Nora writes psychological thrillers.

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A Deception Most Deadly-Review-Historical Cozy Mystery-Available Now

A Deception Most Deadly is the first in a new historical cozy mystery series with a quirky heroine. Now, quirky heroines are nothing new to the genre. In fact, it sometimes seems as if that’s a requisite of the genre.

But for me, Cassie Gwynne checks a lot of other boxes.

Cute animals, interesting characters, and a Florida setting.

Honestly, what’s not to like?

The mystery that Cassie finds herself involved in is accurate (if murders can be historically accurate). I thought it was an interesting choice to make the police so inept. That part did seem like a bit of a reach.

I mean, Cassie figuring everything out and giving the police the clues and almost telling them what to do next? That part did not ring true to me.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09M7LM6HSsocial

The author does a great job of capturing the language, manners, and overall feeling of the time period (1883!). However, I think this might actually be a problem for some readers because it is a “wordier” time. The author reflects that in how the characters speak to each other.

I thought it was terrific, but I could see where some readers might find it challenging. Too bad for them; it is accurate to the era. They liked their words back then. What can you do?

That being said, there are times it did bog down the narrative. Perhaps there is too much of a good thing? I don’t know. I will have to read the next installment to see if it gets to be too much.

For now, I thoroughly enjoyed A Deception Most Deadly and am adding Cassie Gwynne to my historical cozy list!

Check out Death at the Dance (Lady Eleanor Swift) for another cozy historical mystery series.

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Twitter: @essigauthor
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The Night of the Party-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Night of the Party is a psych thriller that just as easily identifies as a crime thriller. The plot centers around a chilling crime. While the police try to figure out “whodunit,” deep secrets come to light, and nobody is safe from shocking revelations.

The blurb pretty much tells the reader what the catalyst event is. “A beautiful girl will be dead by the end of the night.” Kind of gives it away. There is only one character who fits the bill, Libby, the reader instantly knows who the victim is.

Evie, Libby’s mom, is the most sympathetic character. First, there is the shock of her daughter’s death. Then, the investigation reveals more than she ever could have imagined about her family and closest friends.

She is hit from all sides and tries to find her footing. I felt sorry for her. But I was also a little incredulous that she was oblivious to what was going on prior to the incident.

The author does a good job of building the tension and casting doubt on certain characters’ motivations. This is especially true with Libby.

Through flashbacks, the reader learns just how Libby’s mental state plays a part in the events that follow. Turns out that there is a lot more to Libby than meets the eye – and much more than Evie knows.

Her father, Tom, on the other hand, seems to have a better idea of Libby’s frame of mind. I’m not going to tell you why. But it is another example of how far Libby’s mental state has taken her down a dark path.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09JCGTD83social
Apple: http://ow.ly/VIf650Grv9q
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There are a few aspects of the book that don’t work but that is probably personal preference. For example, the author tells the story in a realistic way. Information that one character knows stays with that character until they tell another character.

Within an investigation, that makes sense, because there is no reason for others to know something without someone telling them. However, recounting the information each time it is shared sometimes bogs down the plot. It is repetitive.

Additionally, Una seems like a superfluous character. She is part of a twist toward the end, but she doesn’t have much to do otherwise. Her part could have been more fleshed out.

I do think the author does a great job of making the connections between the characters. The web is complicated and realistic. Although, I did guess a few of the twists early on.

Maybe that is because I read a lot of books in this genre. I always try to outguess the author. Other readers may not see it coming.

Ultimately, The Night of the Party explores how well we really know the people closest to us. In this case, the answer is not at all.

I will also say that this book is not unlike her previous books (see: The Stranger’s Wife). But for some reason, it does not have the “Dan Riley” identifier, even though he is the investigating officer. Not sure why that is.

Instagram: annalouwrites/
Twitter: annaloulondon
Facebook:annalouweatherleyauthor/

About the author

I was born in Hampshire but grew up in London where I still live today with my two children. I was originally a dancer who re-trained after a ‘disco accident’ in Ibiza to become a journalist – I’ve even won some awards, though I don’t like to talk about them – ha! I’ve been a women’s lifestyle writer for over fifteen years and am the former editor and acting editor of the fabulous J-17 magazine and Smash Hits respectively and have written for all the major glossies including Grazia, Company, Marie Claire and More, where I was their resident tell-it-like-it-is advice columnist – loads of fun! I’ve also written for NME, Loaded and Front magazine (I can be down with the lads too!).

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The Italian Island-Review-Historical Fiction-Available Now

The Italian Island in question is Galatea, a small, fictional island off the coast of Italy. It’s a beautiful setting for an ambitious historical fiction story.

The author has struck on a consistent theme. As with her previous books (The Italian Villa and The Lost Village), we have a heroine – in this case, Anna – who goes to Italy at the request of her father.

Well, that is not entirely accurate. Her father was Anna’s ally. After he passes away, Anna finds a note telling her that although he was adopted, he believes that there are family roots in Italy. He urges her to explore them.

And, not having anything else going for her (apparently), she is off to Italy to find her family history. But when gets to the island, she finds that everything is more complicated than just uncovering family connections.

With a touch of poignancy, and a dollop of magic (maybe?), Anna discovers history unfurling right before her eyes. And what she finds out is more heartbreaking than she could imagine.

The author improves upon past books in that she takes a unique approach to the historical aspects of the story…Anna sees them in visions. That’s the best way I can describe it.

It puts the reader squarely in the past, experiencing the events with Mira. This is better than simply hearing about the past from other people.

The Italian Island Blog Tour schedule
Amazon: https://bit.ly/3qOuXK2
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However, it does create an imbalance in the two timelines. For example, the first time it happens to Anna, it is roughly 19% into the book. We are then in the past storyline all the way until 34%.

It enables the reader to become immersed in the past (like Anna). But returning to the present is a jolt. While I like the idea, I wish there is more of a balance between the two.

But it also results in Annie’s character arc being little more than the vessel to tell the story of the past. Yes, it is not a spoiler to say that she discovers her family lineage. And I will add that the byssus adds an interesting facet to that. I’m not giving anything else away.

Unfortunately, the book ended abruptly, and the epilogue seemed to be an afterthought. Plus, after the setup regarding Anna’s mom and her judgmental attitude, it seemed odd that she didn’t figure anywhere in the rest of the book.

It wasn’t that she disappeared. It felt more like she was totally forgotten.

Regardless, The Italian Island is another pleasant read, and I would recommend it, same as the author’s two previous books.

Historical fiction author
Facebook: OfficialDanielaSacerdoti/

Author Bio:
Daniela Sacerdoti is the author of the bestselling Glen Avich series which has sold over one million copies in ebook to date, Sacerdoti’s debut novel Watch Over Me was named the eighth bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015, when she was also ranked as the eleventh top-selling Kindle author. She lives in a small village in the middle of nowhere, with her Scottish husband, two children, a Cocker spaniel and a foundling kitten (who was definitely a witch in a past life).

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Love at First Spite-Review-RomCom-Available Now

Love at First Spite is everything a person could want in a romantic comedy.

Not only is there a winning heroine and swoon-worthy hero, but there are terrific secondary characters who have just enough time in the story to make it interesting. There is also a great setup and even better follow-through in the plot.

Plus, there is an excellent “Dirty Dancing” reference.

Who could ask for anything more?

I love how the author takes “normal” romcom tropes (workplace, opposites, enemies to friends to lovers, revenge) and crafts it all into a believable and winning story.

I admit to being a little upset with Dani at first because I thought she was too negative in her assessments of people, particularly Wyatt. But then I realized that it was a reaction to how Sam treated her, as well as how she perceived her mother and father’s relationship – and then it all made sense.

It is easy to see where there are missed connections between Dani and Wyatt, and the author does a fantastic job of skirting that just enough that the reader knows what is going on even as Dani remains clueless.

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But where the author truly excels is in Dani’s reactions as she realizes what is really going on with Wyatt. In my opinion, any author that can make a reader experience the same “swoop in the belly” that a character feels when they recognize an attraction building has done an excellent job of character development and writing.

In other words, it is awesome to have those feelings right along with Dani – it makes it all more realistic.

As I mentioned before, the secondary characters have just enough to do to make things interesting. Mia and Iris both add comic relief in their own ways, and a stealth scene with Mia and Dani late in the book had me literally laughing out loud.

Of course, the spite that propels the entire plot is well-placed and serves as a platform for the relationships that build. A twist at the end could seem sensationalistic, but actually fit the rest of the story. And I loved how “the girls” dealt with all of it.

As I mentioned, Love at First Spite is a quintessential Romantic Comedy and should not be missed. It sets the bar high for the genre for the rest of the year.

Social Links:
Author Website
Twitter: @AEC_Writer
Facebook: @aecollinsbooks
Instagram: @aeccreates
Goodreads

Author Bio: 
Anna E. Collins is a Seattle-area author who writes stories about the lives and loves of women. Once upon a time she was a teacher, and she has a master’s degree in educational psychology. LOVE AT FIRST SPITE is her first novel.

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My Darling Husband-Review-Suspense Thriller-Available Now

My Darling Husband is one of those cleverly plotted books that a reader lives for.

First, it starts with an interview where the interviewer lays the groundwork for the story to come and then the author drops the reader into the events that precipitate the “main event.”

And it’s off to the races we go.

The action takes place over the course of one day. One horrific day for Jade and her kids. I suppose for Cam as well (the “My Darling Husband” in question). But as he is the one in the interview that opens the story, the reader knows that he survives the incident, whatever that may be.

Even though the reader goes through Jade’s day along with her in “real-time,” there is a nebulous feeling surrounding the interview. This is because there are no real context clues.

Do Jade and her kids survive? Where are they? Where is Cam giving this interview?

We know he feels remorse for how “it” all happened. But other than that, the reader just has to take his word for it as to how things went down – and what precipitated it all.

It is almost like watching a tv show containing flashbacks. The commentary from the interview sets up the action from the past.

It’s effective and requires the reader to actively pay attention.

Buy Links are underneath Author Info

Along the way, the author drops several hints that cast doubt on Cam’s reliability as a narrator of the past event. That’s another reason the interview format works so well.

And then there are Jade’s parts of the story. This is where the real action takes place. They have excellent pace and palpable tension. Her desperation, along with her disbelief that something like “that” could happen, is relatable and not overly dramatic.

In fact, she is much stronger than she thinks she is, and more than how the author sets her up in the beginning. I really liked her character arc and growth.

Because of this, it feels like two books. There’s the detached interview where the reader gains insights, but then there’s the “smack dab in the middle” tension of Jade’s experiences.

What it boils down to is a roller coaster of a ride where the reader is eager to attack each chapter to discern exactly what happened and why. There are surprises, twists, and more than a few gotcha moments.

And I loved the ending. Authors have a tendency to wrap things up neatly, and there are books where that is appropriate. Not to give it away, but let’s just say that it fits the uncertain feeling of the rest of the book.

In other words, you’re still left with questions. It’s a bold choice and it works for the story.

I highly recommend My Darling Husband as a good suspense thriller.

Here is another review for this author: Stranger in the Lake

Facebook: @KimberlyBelleBooks
Twitter: @KimberlySBelle
Instagram: @kimberlysbelle

About the Author: Kimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of seven novels, including her latest, My Darling Husband (December 2021). Her third novel, The Marriage Lie, was a semifinalist in the 2017 Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller, and a #1 e-book bestseller in the UK and Italy. She’s sold rights to her books in a dozen languages as well as film and television options. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Belle divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.

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The New Neighbour-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

The New Neighbour has a great premise and promising start. It doesn’t entirely deliver but is still a good read.

If you got through that sentence, and it makes sense, I’ll try to explain better.

The book starts with an incident in the past (just a few months prior) then jumps to the present day. The plot is linear and easy to follow and has good bones.  

With psychological thrillers, the devil is in the details. That is why The New Neighbour is tricky. There are a lot of details and not all of them are pertinent to the plot.

Green burials, autism, affairs, potential domestic abuse, secrets…there is just a lot going on.

Additionally, and not to give a major plot point away, there is an event that occurs roughly halfway through. It could definitely be considered a “twist,” but it sent the book in a totally different direction.

The New Neighbour blog tour schedule

I feel there are two different stories, and the author couldn’t decide which one to actually write. So, they become one.

Again, without giving anything away, I kept expecting that twist to be the catalyst for more. And it was…just nowhere near in the way I thought it would be.

In retrospect, maybe that is all because I expected more out of the initial story. But because of the choices, it almost seems as if the first half was a waste of time because the pieces put in place are (for the most part) not followed through upon.

This is a twisty review, but I guess that’s what the book did to me. There is a hard time separating because it really does feel like two different stories to me.

I like where the author was going in the first half and would have been happy if that had panned out. I like the twists in the second half. There were enough that the story was redeemed.

I just wish that either one had been a complete story. I think it would have been more linear and there would have been more meat in the plot.

But that is all personal opinion. Other readers may have a completely different experience. That is why I ultimately recommend The New Neighbour.

Plus, I am a long-time fan, so I will always look forward to reading the next book from this author. Don’t believe me?

Check out these reviews as well: The Arrangement, Roses are Red, Deserve to Die, What She Knew, The Influencer, The Visitors, You Are Mine

Facebook: MirandaRijksAuthor
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Twitter:  MirandaRijks

Author Bio 

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

Miranda is the author of psychological thrillers. This is her fourteenth novel with Inkubator Books.

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The New Friends-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

The New Friends is an engaging thriller that serves as a cautionary tale: be careful of who you befriend – especially while on vacation.

While it is a good rule of thumb to follow, it feels like it is a little too simplistic in the telling of the actual story. In that regard, the first half is better than the second half.

The setup of the story is excellent. Jamie and Becky are “every people.” They work hard at their jobs, scrimp to save for a vacation, and make the best out of the situation they are in. In other words, relatable for many people.

Unfortunately for them, this also means that they are easily intrigued by what they want but can’t have.

Enter Phil and Mel.

You can guess the overall arc of the story from the blurb. But there are a few subtleties to mention as well.

The New Friends blog tour schedule
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Friends-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B09N3SSFH1
Amazon US  https://www.amazon.com/New-Friends-gripping-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B09N3SSFH1

Everybody wants something they don’t have in this book. Jamie wants a comfortable lifestyle where he doesn’t have to work as hard. Becky wants a family and stability. Mel wants friends. And Phil wants bigger marks.

In this regard, Phil and Jamie are very similar in their desires, as are Becky and Mel. It is interesting that the men seem to be more interested in the material while the women focus on the emotional/personal.

I did not put that together while reading, however. It only occurs to me as I am writing this review.

Another thing I am realizing is that there are many more parallels between the characters than I originally thought. Phil will stop at nothing to continue his con, but Mel also will stop at nothing (including sacrificing herself) to stop Phil.

Where everything is a little unclear is in the character motivations. I am still uncertain as to why Mel has an attack of conscience. Why now? Why this couple?

Jamie and Becky seem happy with their lives and give no indication of desiring more prior to meeting Phil and Mel, so Jamie’s insistence also seems to come from left field.

These are a few reasons that I think the first half is better than the second. The author seems to have given more thought to the build-up than to the aftermath.

The second half of the book is rushed, and nothing is fleshed out as well as in the first half. The moments that are supposed to be the most thrilling fall flat.

Actually, one of the most compelling scenes occurs without the reader seeing it at all. We only learn the details from what a character tells us. This is a huge misstep. Action should be in “real-time.”

It also all wraps up very quickly with (again) a narration of events instead of full scenes that the reader gets to experience.

Ultimately, this is repeated often enough that it became disappointing. It is also what kept The New Friends from being four stars or higher.

However, there are some good moments, and I still recommend The New Friends.

You can also check out The Passenger by this author.

Facebook: danielhurstbooks
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Twitter: dhurstbooks

Author Bio 

Daniel Hurst writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him. Daniel writes psychological thrillers. The New Friends will be his fourth novel published with Inkubator Books.

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