Tag: Books On Tour

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Ten Days (Sherratt)-BoT-Psych Thriller-Available Now

What makes a person a psychopath? Can childhood trauma permanently warp a person’s perceptions? What constitutes revenge…and is it ever enough?

All of these questions came to mind, and most were answered, in this page turning thriller. It’s one that you truly have to experience to appreciate the thought that went into crafting this story.

So, as I hate spoilers, this review is going to seem a little cagey as I dance around specifics to get my own points across.

The method of storytelling was very effective. There was a lot of time jumping and several different characters’ points of view. Some were only one chapter long, but they were vital in the course of the story.

If you read the headings at the beginning of each chapter, you won’t be lost. They are a virtual map of where you should be in the story.

I really liked the characters, both Alex and Eva. I know that sounds odd, as one of them is a super-villain, but that’s part of what made this book so good.

Two people, who each experienced a horrific event as a child, who each took a different path to adulthood. The stark differences were clarified repeatedly without the author hitting you over the head.

The psychopathy of making victims feel how the villain felt was one of the most interesting aspects of the story and really made the book unique.

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The claustrophobia felt by one of the characters was palpable for the reader. I could feel the closed in space, the darkness, the feeling of helplessness. Very atmospheric and another aspect that was very well-done.

There were several “whoa!” moments that I didn’t see coming. In fact, after the prologue, I had an idea in my head, but then the author went in a different direction, and I totally followed along. Turns out my initial reaction was correct. Kudos for that red herring, as it lasted for at least a third of the book!

I did think there were a few things left a bit unfinished. Milly seemed to be extraneous, for the most part. I mean, I get why she was included, but I couldn’t quite grasp what Alex wanted from her, unless it was normalcy.

I guess maybe that’s it.

In the course of relating backstory, the author also gives a voice to other invisible victims – children who suffer from horrific abuse and then get lost in the care system. Even though the story takes place in the UK, the same could be said for the US as well.

It is easy to see how a person, desperate for a normal life and people to love, could become warped and misinterpret any perceived slight as a great wrong.

This is a thriller that was well-written with sympathetic characters (even the psychopath). It kept me guessing, had many surprises, and is an excellent page-turner, perfect for a thrilling summer read.

Instagram: mel_sherratt/
Facebook:  MelSherrattauthor
Twitter:  @writermels

Author Bio:My novels take you to the heart of the crime. I write police procedurals, psychological suspense and crime dramas – fiction with a punch. Shortlisted for the prestigious CWA (Crime Writer’s Association) Dagger in Library Award, my inspiration comes from authors such as Martina Cole, Lisa Jewell, Mandasue Heller and Clare Mackintosh.

To date, I’ve sold 1.7 million books. All sixteen of my crime novels have been bestsellers, each one climbing into the Kindle UK top 10 and I’ve had several number ones. I’ve also had numerous Kindle All-star awards, for best read author and best titles.

I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and make liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books. You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk 

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The Shut-Away Sisters (Goldring)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

I am a huge fan of this author. I’ve read all of her books (links to those reviews at the bottom), which have all featured WWII. I was very excited to see that she went further back to WWI for this story.

As with several Historical Fiction novels, there are two storylines, one historical and one contemporary. And, as usual, there is the draw of trying to figure out how the two are connected. In this instance, the connection is pretty clear.

From the blurb and other reviews that recount the plot, the reader knows that Kate (contemporary, 1999) has had a personal crisis and is asked by her father to help clean out his Aunt Florrie’s house, and she is the voice of the historical storyline.

The way Florrie’s storyline is told is clever. It took me a bit to make the connection to an early chapter, but once I did, the story flowed. The method allowed for Florrie’s voice to be clear and her attitudes to color the retelling of her story (which makes sense).

Now that we have the basics out of the way, I want to talk about specific things that jumped out at me.

I found the parallels between Florrie and Kate to be intriguing. As Kate struggles with the stresses of work and rebuilding her personal life, so does Florrie struggle with the events of her time. It’s not a spoiler to say that because of the timeframe, Florrie has to deal with WWI, the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, and post-war troubles.

There is a commonality in the way that each woman handles their particular issues. I liked this, because family has always told Kate that she looks like Edith, but it is clear that her mettle is solely Florrie.

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I thought that the historical timeline was much more fleshed out than the contemporary one. In spite of all of the tribulations, there was a lyrical sense to Florrie’s account of history, and those chapters lulled me right into her world.

In other words, there is sometimes a jolt between contemporary and historical timelines in books of this genre. That wasn’t the case for me here. Each time we went back to Florrie, it was literally like stepping back easily into time.

The author did a phenomenal job of recounting the little things of the period. Yes, WWII and the 1918 Spanish Flu were horrific, but so where the countless repercussions that each of them caused.

Men who didn’t want to fight in the first place and then who weren’t released from service post-war, families that were dealing with the double hit of war and illness…not to mention the longer-lasting after-effects of war, including mustard gas.

But where the author really excelled was the slow mental decline of a person who could not face reality. I don’t want to say too much and give away an excellent part of the story. But the way the sisters are written showed two very different approaches to dealing with adversity.

Kate’s storyline seemed almost inconsequential at times, and I think that might have been on purpose. While living in Florrie’s house, she gets to know the people of the neighborhood and realizes how trivial and superficial her knowledge of people can be.

Indeed, it’s a realization that should wake us all up – previous generations have faced much more challenging times and come through them. Although, given the events of the past in this book, not everybody came through them intact and better off.

I know I’m kind of rambling but points just keep popping into my head that I think are important. For example, around WWI, it was important for young women to find a beau and get married young.

But what happens to a woman when her chosen suitor goes off to war? And what happens when that war almost decimates a large portion of the male population? What is a woman supposed to do then? Again, Florrie and Edith have two very different approaches.

I did think that the end of both storylines seemed rather abrupt. The event that essentially ends Florrie’s part (and finally ties the two time periods together) served its purpose in that there was a sense of resigned fatefulness for her – there was nothing more that could be said or done…so there wasn’t. It became what it ended up being.

I promise that all makes sense in the book.

For Kate, it also seemed a tad hasty. I would have liked to see a comeuppance of her sisters-in-law, for example. As it was, they (and her brothers) just sort of faded away. The same could be said with Florrie’s brother. Although, the reader does have to make some connections to realize his importance in the story even though it isn’t specifically spelled out.

This is probably the longest review I have written. I have so much more to say about this book, because each time I think about it, I find some other parallel, or something else that struck me.

I guess that’s the sign of a really good book – it continues to make you think long after the last page has been read. This definitely qualifies.

My reviews of other books by this author: My Name is Eva, Burning Island, The Girl Without A Name

Facebook: suzannegoldringauthor
Twitter: @suzannegoldring

Author Bio:
Following an eventful career as a public relations consultant, specialising in business and travel, Suzanne Goldring turned to writing the kind of novels she likes to read, about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Whether she is working in her thatched cottage in Hampshire or her seaside home in North Cornwall, Suzanne finds inspiration in the secrets hidden by everyday life.

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The Girl Who Couldn’t Leave (Miller)-BoT-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

I’m of mixed feelings about this book.

On the one hand it was a pleasant story about overcoming fears, finding friendships, and learning to trust people. I really enjoyed these aspects of the story and thought they were very well done. Let’s talk about those first.

Fiona is a recluse who never leaves the house and does not interact with anyone. If she were an older lady, chances are that nobody would blink an eye at the behavior. But Fiona is quite young to be this isolated. Something happened that caused her to be so.

The reader doesn’t find out what exactly that is until very late in the book. More on that in a minute.

Fiona has given nicknames to her neighbors (as she has never met any of them). Long story short, a single mum needs an emergency babysitter for her two-year-old and Fiona reluctantly agrees.

Fiona’s growth as she realizes she starts to look forward to the toddler’s visits was nice. It was a good icebreaker for Fiona to realize the importance of human interactions.

From this starting point, Fiona expands her horizons. Her journey is interesting and there are some legitimate uplifting and heartwarming moments along the way.

I particularly liked Fiona’s interactions with another neighbor because they illustrated that all people have problems to deal with and it’s how the individual chooses to address their issues that defines their self-worth.

And sometimes that self-worth can only expand if we help others who need it most. (At least that’s what I got out of it).

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While I thought that the themes and messages of the story were highly worthwhile, I am not sure that all of the mechanisms used to convey those messages worked.

One particular subplot about a neighbor’s personal escapades (that everyone could hear) was amusing but didn’t serve much purpose (other than to drive home that everyone has issues).

Likewise, the events that propel Bethany to rely on Fiona seemed contrived, as did the relationship that developed. I don’t mean that in an entirely negative way, it just felt heavy-handed while other parts remained lighter.

And the events that propelled Fiona into seclusion? I expected something much bigger and sinister. While I think that the idea of the event was a good one, the actual retelling of the details made it seem like Fiona was weak and just couldn’t deal. That could have used some tweaking for it to be more suspenseful and threatening.

In all, it just seemed like the author was trying to do too much, especially at the end where the pandemic is mentioned. In fact, the entire last chapter served as a wrap-up that I could have done without. It actually felt quite preachy and took me away from the gentleness of the book.

Which is a shame, because I think there were some good messages to be found. It was quite obvious that the pandemic had an influence on the plot. I just didn’t like that the author didn’t seem to trust their own intuition and felt the need to add unhelpful details into the story to slam points across.

Other readers may have a completely different experience, and I would certainly recommend they give it a try.

Instagram: katylittlelady/
Twitter: @katylittlelady

Author Bio:

When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren’t full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with Carina UK. Her debut novel, Waiting For You, came out in March 2016.

Catherine was a NHS physiotherapist, but for health reasons she retired early from this career. As she loved her physiotherapy job, she decided if she couldn’t do that she would pursue her writing dream. It took a few years and a couple of babies, but in 2015 she won the Katie Fforde bursary, was a finalist in the London Book Fair Write Stuff Competition and highly commended in Woman magazine’s writing competition. Since then she’s had four novels published.

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A Mother’s Lie (Mercer)-BoT-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

(Formerly titled Safe From Harm)

I am finding it hard to define this book.

It’s classified as Women’s Fiction and has the ubiquitous “emotional page-turner” tag line. There was certainly a lot of emotion in it.

But there were also family secrets and a hint of mystery as well. I guess you could say that it’s a well-rounded book.

As I mentioned in a recent review of another book, there have been a lot of female characters who run away from their problems to live in a small cottage on the coast. Ali is no exception. More on her in a minute.

I found myself thinking about how healing the sea can actually be for some people. Is it the waves and tides going in and out that allow people to imagine their problems being swept out with them? Is it the isolation that allows for introspection and the ability to take a deeper look at an issue?

Is it just those negative ions that make our brains happier?

I don’t know, but it’s a popular location.

In Ali’s case, we know that she is pregnant, and her husband has said some things that have caused her to escape to her grandmother’s cottage on the coast. There she meets neighbors Meg and Michael (and baby Jem) who seem like the perfect family.

Emphasis on seem.

In fact, nothing is as it seems in this book. Ali has secrets that she doesn’t share with Meg, even as their friendship grows. Meg keeps secrets from Ali – it’s quite apparent that there are some hidden issues, the extent of which only fully come to light late in the story.

As Ali comes to grips with her pregnancy (also late revelations about this), she does a lot of thinking. And I mean a lot.

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I hate to admit it, but I was gripped by her musings. I was fascinated with how she pieced things together in her mind to justify her actions, and how her perception was clouded by what she actually wanted to be true.

Interspersed here and there are flashback chapters with Ali’s grandmother, Violet. I found the parallels between her and Ali to be interesting as well. Violet’s self-imposed exile made sense in the larger context.

Her interactions with Meg also showed that you never know when someone is going to touch a chord in you, allowing you to forgive yourself and move forward. I liked that message. A lot.

The aforementioned late revelations didn’t all work for me, especially in relation to Meg and Michael. They felt too convenient. A blast from Ali’s past also seemed manipulative and didn’t seem to fit the story. Maybe I just missed the point of that one.

What I really liked, however, was how Ali came to her conclusions about her husband’s attitude and realized what was really important. Sometimes it’s hardest to forgive, but only after we put ourselves in someone else’s shoes can we truly understand their point of view.

Because of the way Jon is written, I spent most of the book not understanding him and thinking he was a cad. It was amazing how the author got me to switch that opinion with a few simple words. Well done on that.

This is certainly an emotional book, and there may be some issues that other readers find difficult to manage. Not having any relatable experiences, I was able to read it and really take in the characters. I definitely recommend this book.

Facebook: leahmercerauthor/
Twitter: @LeahMercerBooks
Instagram: leahmercerauthor
Website: www.leahmercer.com

Author Bio: Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a master’s in journalism, she soon realised she preferred anything other than reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in London and returned to writing… fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running and visiting historic houses with her husband and their son.

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The Guilty Wife (James)-BoT-Mystery Thriller-Available Now

This book definitely grabbed my attention and held it – I read it in one sitting, which is very unusual for me these days.

I don’t know exactly how to classify it. The tag says it’s a psychological thriller, but I found it to be more of a mystery thriller – almost a whodunit and why. That being said, there were certainly a lot of mind games being played – and that goes for a majority of the characters.

First and foremost were Daniel and Tansy. They were both really pieces of work. In some ways, I felt that they actually deserved each other. Their lack of morals certainly fed into each other, and they were the epitome of “like attracts like.”

And Tansy was so well-written that I found myself having visceral reactions to her. Like I wanted to be able to slam her on social media.

Which was weird in a good kind of way.

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I liked how the author broke everything into sections. We got to see things from different characters’ points of view. This added to the depth of the plot line and gave important backstory without it feeling like we were being told. It was all in the action.

And there was a lot of that. The juxtaposition of the idyllic beach resort and the horrible events that occurred were effective. Trouble in paradise, indeed.

I thought that the conceit of Pippa’s situation was interesting but didn’t exactly do anything for the plot itself. It seemed more like a mechanism for propelling her into the thick of the story. But it didn’t bother me. I did like how Daniel’s side of the story mirrored Pippa’s own experiences to an extent.

The way all the information rolled out was completely natural and made sense. There was never anything that was jarring or seemed out of place. Even the switches in point of view were smooth. It was all well-crafted into an intricate spider web of lies and deceit – from many angles.

The author also includes some very astute commentary on social media. None of it is particularly overt per se, but the meaning is crystal clear: social media allows for people to lie through their teeth and often get away with it.

To paraphrase Daniel’s observation, influencers are led to believe they are important simply because people believe whatever they have to say, and those same people often don’t see through the fakeness. I don’t know if that’s more of an indictment of influencers or their followers. But it was searingly accurate.

I did think the wrap up was a bit on the weaker side and kind of felt like the author didn’t exactly know what to do with Pippa and Jim. But that didn’t really bother me either. I still enjoyed the book immensely and would highly recommend it.

One side note: The original title for the book was Happily Ever After. I actually think that was a much better title than this one. There is actually only one wife in the book (well, technically two), but it isn’t solely about her.

“Happily Ever After” covered more of the characters and their situations, and the sarcasm in it (given those situations) was effective. This is one case where I wish they had left the original title in place.  

Facebook: alison.james.90226628
Twitter: AlisonJbooks

Author Bio:

Born in the Cotswolds, Alison spent most of her formative years abroad. She studied languages at Oxford, then became a journalist and author, returning to university after her two children to take a law degree. After a three-year stint as a criminal paralegal, Alison worked as a commercial copywriter and then a TV storyliner, before coming full circle to write fiction again.

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The Butterfly Garden (Anderson)-BoT-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

The description of this book caught my eye for the “family secret” aspect. I’ve come to realize that I enjoy reading what authors come up with as desperate or “awful” enough to have been kept a secret.

Sometimes, they are totally worthwhile, and I’m left speechless by the way everything has been crafted. Other times, they don’t seem to live up to the hype of the story.

I’m happy to say that this book falls firmly in former category. But more on that in a minute.

I’m also interested in how the characters react to the aforementioned secrets. Are they totally surprised, and does it set off a new chain of events? Or do they accept it and continue as is, simply holding on to new knowledge.

Again, this one falls in the former category.

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I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Erin or Maggie. The author did a great job of making their characters fairly unlikeable in the opening chapters. I think this worked because it made their eventual friendship (not a spoiler) that much more poignant.

Erin was a young girl at odds, and she had to return to her village with her tail tucked between her legs. We all can relate to that feeling of having messed up so badly that nothing will ever be right again.

I thought her growth was exciting to watch (read?). She drew on her strength before she even realized she had any. A pivotal moment with her parents catapulted her into action that (at first glance) seemed like a childish tantrum, but actually showed depth of feeling and helplessness.

And that’s when family secrets are the most interesting.

I liked how Erin lived vicariously through Maggie and vice versa. I also liked how Maggie’s story (including the secrets) was relayed. There was even a meta touch near the end that I enjoyed.

I don’t want to give away any plot points, because it was enjoyable to discover them on my own (and I want to give readers that opportunity). But I will repeat how much I enjoyed Erin’s journey.

I will also say, though, that it took me a bit to understand the title and the symbolism of the butterflies. The author was very subtle with this, which I appreciated. In fact, it really wasn’t until I sat down to write this review that all of the different ways occurred to me.

There are a lot of books out there with taglines about being emotional page-turners. I think the sign of a really good one is when I don’t go in expecting to feel anything but find myself nodding in agreement at a character’s actions or tearing up unexpectedly.

Once again, this book delivers in both of those cases. It’s a well-written, compelling story with regrets and new beginnings. And it should go right on your TBR list.   

Twitter: @MSophieanderson
Facebook: sophieandersonfiction

Author Bio:
Sophie Anderson enjoyed a career in TV production in London before working with her husband to set up an online software business where she wrote the marketing content. But neither scratched that creative itch to tell a story, so she enrolled on a writing course and wrote her first novel The Butterfly Garden. She lives in Sussex with her husband, four children, a cocker spaniel and two cats.

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The English Girl (Mitchell)-BoT-Historical Fiction-Available Now

This book had easily one of the most thrilling openings I have ever read.

I think maybe because it is one of the first times that at least part of the historical events in the book took place in a time that I actually remember. The fall of the Berlin Wall is etched in my mind for many reasons.

One, the 80s were a pivotal time for me, and the fall of the Wall was a pinnacle of Western achievement and diplomacy. I have clear memories of Reagan’s impassioned speech, and of watching the coverage when it actually came down. The euphoria from the people of Berlin was palpable even through the television screen.

Secondly, I had visited Berlin with my parents only 5 years earlier, and we had taken a tour from West Berlin to East. Even as a young teen, I recognized the difference in the two cities. It was noticeable in everything from the architecture to the faces of the people.

So (back to the book) the opening involving Tiffany in West Berlin in November 1989 was something instantly relatable to me.

What was interesting, however, was that after that introduction, the reader is catapulted back to England in October 1946. And it takes a very long time to get around to what the two time periods have in common.

That’s no complaint because the storyline set in 1946 was absolutely fascinating. I’ve never made a secret of how much I enjoy learning new things from historical fiction, and this one certainly fits the bill.

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I think the author did a phenomenal job of covering how English townspeople would have felt having a POW camp in their midst. There were sympathizers, people who were angry, and people who just wanted to move on. Every perspective that I could think of was covered by a townsperson in some way.

There was a lot going on in this town as well. For example, the person in charge of the camp was obviously suffering after-affects of the war. His wife had other interests. A young man who had been unable to fight realized the depths people would go to so that he remained safe. A woman struggles with her feelings about a prisoner in the camp.

I don’t want to say too much, but it all made for compelling reading. I never felt like the story jolted too much around and each plot thread seemed to take place accordingly and in the flow of the story.

I was especially taken by Fran. She is central to many other threads. There was something about her that I just liked. I could see myself making the same decisions she did and having the same thoughts and feelings. I also liked Martin for these same reasons.

I thought one scene set around Christmas time was especially poignant and illustrated the human side of war that is so often forgotten. Germans and townspeople alike were in a new world and were able to see each other for the humanity (at least most of them did).

In the course of this, the author also makes some stark points with perspectives that are thought-provoking (What makes a soldier? Were all Germans bad? Can individuals be held accountable for a whole country?). There was a lot of depth here, but it was never preachy or overdone.

Honestly, this was just a good solid story, with many threads, that gave the reader insight to the people in a small town in England in 1946/47. And it was very well done.

Oh, and we don’t get back to Tiffany until the end. Have the tissues ready. There’s a lot that happens in the end to wrap everything up, including a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” reference to an earlier event that was subtle and touching.

A thoroughly satisfying and excellent story.

Twitter: @SarahM_writer

Author Bio:

Sarah grew up in Norfolk and studied law at Cambridge University which led to a career as a barrister, working mainly in the field of human rights. After nearly twenty years she was tempted off-track by a creative writing course at the Open University and fell in love with making up stories instead of constructing arguments. Three years later she completed, with distinction, an MA in Creative Writing – Prose Fiction at the UEA.

Now she lives in Norfolk again, this time with her husband and three almost-grown-up children, where she combines writing with some legal work – and thanking her enormous number of lucky stars.

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The Perfect Stepmother (King)-BoT-Psych Thriller-Available Now

If the definition of a psych thriller is that it keeps the reader guessing until the last pages, then this one definitely qualifies.

The book starts with a tragic event and then immediately goes back in time to the months prior, working its way back to the present event, which occurs roughly halfway through.

It’s interesting, because the backstory section seemed much longer in the actual reading of the book. I was surprised when I went back to the book to check for this review.

I guess that’s a testament to the writing, that something was actually more condensed that it originally seemed to be.

Anyway, the author does a good job of sowing the seeds of doubt about Maria (the title stepmother) right from the beginning. Whether it is from Lily’s (the adult daughter) point of view or a well-placed reaction or thought from Maria herself, there are hints at the underlying secret throughout.

Lily was well-written and the perfect foil for Maria’s secrets. Were Lily’s reservations about Maria legitimate or was she still grieving over her mother’s death? This wasn’t heavy-handed or overdone, but just enough to cast doubt on Lily’s motivations.

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Maria is the perfect embodiment of “if someone is too good to be true….” But the author didn’t make that obvious either. Was she as bad as she seemed to think, or was she being targeted for some unknown reason? Again, lots of little clues but no clear path.

When answers to the questions are slowly revealed, the full backstory becomes apparent, and the author wisely still leaves it up to the reader to determine the fault in the matter. I particularly liked that the author allowed the reader to draw their own conclusions.

A couple of twists felt heavy-handed and I’m not sure they were worthy of the story as they were more contrived than the main current. And the end felt a little cartoonish.

But I did like the growth in the characters – there was a depth to both Maria and Lily that showed their progress as individuals and in their opinions of each other that made them more human.

Also, on a possibly odd note, I really liked Seb. I kept waiting for him to be a typical throw-away character or to be a cad in some way. I won’t say why I liked him, but I want to thank the author for writing him the way he was.

As mentioned, the author does a good job of keeping motivations and reasons for events hidden until just the right moment, which keeps the reader turning pages – making it a great beach read to pass the time.

FACEBOOK:  KarenKingAuthor
TWITTER:   karen_king

Author Bio:

Karen King is a multi-published bestselling author of fiction for both adults and children. She has also written several short stories for women’s magazines.

Currently published by Bookouture and Headline. Karen has recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture to write psychological thrillers. The first one will be out in November, and the second one in 2021. She is also contracted to write three romance novels for Headline, which will be out in 2021 and 2022

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Secrets of Magpie Cove (Kerr)-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

This was a pleasant read that didn’t have many surprises or twists, just a good, solid story in a charming setting.

Right off the bat I enjoyed Lila’s choice of profession. I watch a lot of cooking shows, and I feel like this background actually gave me a lot of insight to her character.

I liked the set up. I am a sucker for quaint, small towns with a quirky cast of characters. Some of them in this book were more normal than others, but they were still entertaining.

Of course, things can’t stay idyllic forever. There has to be conflict. In this case, it comes in the form of grumpy (or is he?) city guy, the son of the deceased owner of the shop that Lila works in.

It sounds complicated, but it’s very straightforward.

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Apple: http://ow.ly/vlFF50DPVb7
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Serafina, the deceased owner, was a pillar of the community and her café was central to town. Lila wants to carry on in Serafina’s memory. Her son, Nathan, has other ideas. Of course, this causes many arguments between the two.

However, it is also clear (mainly because Lila even mentions it) that there is an attraction between the two of them. Who will win out?

I thought the author did a good job of keeping things believable and not too heavy. Even the unconventional was not unusual and was just part of the fabric of the town.

Honestly, there’s not a lot to unpack – it’s truly just a pleasant story and a nice easy read.

If I had to be picky about anything, it’s that Lila was yet another heroine who suffered a personal loss and ran away from everything she knew ending up in a small town. It’s not really a complaint, only it seems like I’ve read an awful lot of books with this plot point in them lately.

Just an observation.

This is definitely a great way to spend an afternoon, with a visit to Magpie Cove.

FACEBOOK: kennedykerrauthor/
TWITTER: @KennedyKerr5

Author Bio:

Kennedy Kerr is a British fiction author. She adores beaches, lochs and stone circles, and loves writing about small communities, mysteries and family secrets. She has a very cuddly cat called Twinkle who spends her days sleeping: Kennedy aspires to having Twinkle’s nap schedule one day.

Kennedy also loves cooking and baking all types of food, which is almost as much fun as eating it. Her favourite foods include (but are not limited to) Indian food, Victoria sponge, breakfast pastries with coffee and sushi. The only thing she’s not particularly keen on is artichoke, and she’d eat it, anyway

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The Child in the Photo (Wilkinson)-BoT-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I have mentioned many times how much I enjoy this author’s work. Although I still think that After the Accident is the highwater mark, this book kept me turning pages.

Which, actually, was a little weird because I never really connected to any of the characters or felt immersed in the story. It was more like I was a fascinated outside observer.

I don’t know why it struck me like that.

Anyway, the author did keep me guessing and wondering who was behind what event and how their motivations may have worked into the situation. In that regard, I didn’t figure much out before it became apparent in the story.

That being said, there were some misses as well..

Some of the red herrings were good, but others seemed thrown in just to create doubt. That’s fine, but I would have liked them to have a little more depth.

For example, take Hope’s ex-boyfriend (Aki) and his new girlfriend Angel. I know why the author set them up in the story, but I think it could have been more fleshed out. A pivotal moment involving Angel, essentially at the climax of the story, almost seemed like more of an aside.

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Conversely, I thought that what happened to Stephen would have much more bearing on the story. I also had to suspend disbelief a few times. It seemed very strange that in the course of everything that happened in the past (that trickled into the future) nobody ever thought to really involve the police.

Also, I thought that for all that Hope was hit with, she was WAY too trusting of people. I think I would have been super-cautious about every little thing and every person I came in contact with would be suspect. And the ending seemed very abrupt.

I guess that’s the thing for me with this book. There was a lot of untapped potential in it. I almost felt like this was an earlier book that the author wrote and returned to, because other recent books have been more put together.

I know the review seems like I didn’t like the book, but I did. And it certainly kept me guessing. I just don’t know if it was for the right reasons. Other readers may have a completely different experience with it. You should definitely pick it up and try it.

Facebook: KerryWilkinsonBooks
Twitter: @kerrywk
https://kerrywilkinson.com/

Author Bio:

Kerry Wilkinson is from the English county of Somerset but has spent far too long living in the north. It’s there that he’s picked up possibly made-up regional words like ‘barm’ and ‘ginnel’. He pretends to know what they mean.

He’s also been busy since turning thirty: his Jessica Daniel crime series has sold more than a million copies in the UK; he has written a fantasy-adventure trilogy for young adults; a second crime series featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter and the standalone thriller, Down Among The Dead Men.

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