Tag: New Release

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Books On Tour (Review): Her Darkest Hour by Sharon Maas

I’ve mentioned several times that I enjoy historical novels for a few reasons. One, I’m just a big history buff; and two, I like learning new things. Even if I know the overall theme, there’s usually some nugget of previously unknown information to be found.

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In the case of Her Darkest Hour, I knew that the Germans had invaded France and had taken control of most regions, but I did not remember (based on previous studies) the extent to which they turned everything German. And I did not know that they actually built a camp in France. That was very revealing and educational (and I love that).

As to the plot in general, it was somewhat unique among many WWII historical fiction novels in that there was one time period; there wasn’t a contemporary and flashback. That made it easier to follow each of the girls’ stories.

I liked that the families in question were established wine-makers. Their standing in the town made the decisions of the individual members more intriguing. I was a little confused by the family relations at the beginning, but I got them straightened out. I felt a little better about that later in the book when I found out just why everything seemed confusing.

I thought the author did a pretty good job of embodying the spirits of the French people during the Occupation by giving each of the girls (Juliette, Victoire, and Marie-Claire) different perspectives and attitudes. I do wish there had been more of Juliette; I thought that the novel would be more between the three girls. But her story just sort of disappeared for quite a while.

There was certainly plenty else to focus on, and I found Marie-Claire’s story to be indicative of what many women had to deal with when it came to the Germans who took over. I thought that Jacques’ evaluation of her to be accurate, as she never quite reached her potential and made some poor choices that seemed to be based on trying to make herself feel better. She did not seem to be very deep and ended up reaping what she had sown. I can’t say I’m too sorry about that, honestly.

I did think that the build-up took up most of the book, and then a LOT of events happened in the last quarter of the story. Characters came and went, secrets were revealed, and time sped up. Once the story reached early 1942, events went by at rocket speed, with some only receiving a quick mention.

I understand the importance of laying the background, but I wish that it had been a bit more balanced. The events at the end were quite exciting, as were the actions of the girls, and I would have liked more detail of those.  I also felt that a few of the stories were left unfinished or up in the air. It was almost like the author had to wrap it up quickly.

But that didn’t detract from what I learned about the depth of German infiltration into French society (Mein Kampf and German names?!?). It also confirmed that their brand of tyranny and power should never again be allowed to see the light of day.

Post Script: I wasn’t going to add this, but I strongly feel that it needs to be mentioned. It concerns the scene where the Nazis arrived at the chateau and informed Margaux that her livestock, property, and anything she produced belonged to the state. I read that section late at night.

The next morning I woke up to a headline in the news. A legislator in Illinois had proposed legislation that would give the governor the power to confiscate livestock, food, property, clothing, etc. For no other reason except for that he could do so.

I cried.

It was a stark reminder that this type of history should NEVER be repeated. No. Matter. What.

Author Bio
Sharon Maas was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1951 and educated in Guyana and England. After leaving school she worked as a staff journalist at the Guyana Graphic and the Sunday Chronicle in Georgetown.

Sharon has always had a great sense of adventure and curiosity about the world we live in, and Guyana could not hold her for long. In 1971 she set off on a year-long backpacking trip around South America. In 1973 she travelled overland to India through Europe, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and spent two years in an Ashram in South India. 

Website: https://www.sharonmaas.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sharon_maas  
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Books On Tour (Review): The Bride by Wendy Clarke

This book was nothing that I thought it was going to be. That’s a good thing. It was a quintessential psychological thriller. I liked how the book read sort of like it was in three acts.

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The first act established Alice’s character and made it very clear that she was someone on the ropes who was reaching for a lifeline. Act two was Alice’s experiences in the apartment once she arrived. And act three…well, the less said, the more exciting it will be for you when you read it. So I’ll just say that it takes everything you learn in the first two acts and completely twists it.

I thought the prologue was smart; even though it was clear whose memory it was, I still found myself questioning what I knew the further I read. I had to go back and read it a few times to make sure that I still understood it correctly.

The author did a fantastic job of creating doubt throughout the plot as well. At any given time, I wasn’t sure which character to trust and whose motivations to believe. I love it when an author can keep me guessing like that.

I did think that there were a few things in “act one” that seemed superfluous the further I read. I know that they were instrumental in driving Alice to make the decisions that she did, but they seemed a little manipulative because once she arrived at the apartment, they just sort of disappeared. That being said, I also get that it was vital to the plot that she had that break. I felt the same about a couple of other secondary characters; they played small parts, but ultimately only served as pawns.

The atmosphere created by the author was the most striking aspect of this book. I loved how she created a claustrophobic feeling even though the actual locations were anything but enclosed. I also like how she used the ships coming and going on the river to illustrate that life was continuing outside even as Alice became more focused inward. That was a compelling juxtaposition.

As I mentioned above, the first two acts really just lay the groundwork for the third. Once you hit that point (and you’ll know what it is when you get to it) hang on, because it gets even twistier. Oh, and the author also resisted the usual “everything is resolved” ending. But I won’t say more.  It was a page-turning read that I tore through in one sitting; it is definitely one to pick up!

Author Bio:


Wendy Clarke started her career writing short fiction and serials for national women’s magazines. After having over three hundred short stories published, she progressed to writing novels. With a degree in psychology, and intrigued with how the human mind can affect behaviour, it was inevitable that she would eventually want to explore her darker side.

In her previous life, Wendy has published three collections of short stories and has been a short story judge for the Chiltern Writers Group, Nottingham Writers Group and The Society of Women Writers and journalists.

Wendy lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex and when not writing is usually dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendyClarkeAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendyClarke99
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Books on Tour (Review): Her Last Mistake by Clara Kovach

Detective Gina Harte is back, and this time the investigation hits a little closer to home than she would like.

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One thing this author does well is setting incredibly detailed scenes. But Ms. Kovach goes a step beyond several other authors and sets active scenes. Not only are static details enumerated, but dynamic moments are as well (the flash of a camera at a crime scene, the sounds of the squad room, etc.). It gives a whole different dimension to reading.

I also like how the people involved in the investigation proceed, especially how they talk things out before an official statement is made, spitballing ideas or general thoughts on the case. This type of discussion is something that happens in real-life investigations, and the author captures it perfectly.  

As to the investigation itself, it’s more personal because aspects of it remind Gina of her own past trauma. These moments do serve to catalyze Gina and drive her to find the killer while adding depth to her character.  However, there were a few times I felt that Gina’s memories bogged the plot down. I wanted to get back to the action of the story.

The crime(s) are pretty gruesome, but not gory. The close proximity of the killer and victims proves that it mostly involves the power the killer feels, and that is detailed in sporadic chapters from the killer’s point of view.

As always, the author does a fantastic job of throwing red herrings and twists in that mimic a real investigation (thinking that it’s suspect A, but maybe it’s suspect B, what does suspect C have to do with it all, anyway?). And just when you think you have it all figured out, you don’t. This author is a master at partial guilt. And that’s all I am going to say about that.

Even though this is part of a series, the sixth to be exact, it can absolutely be read as a standalone. You will just have a better sense of Gina’s (and her team’s) backgrounds if you have read the others.

Author Bio:

Carla Kovach was born in Birmingham, UK and now resides in Redditch, Worcestershire. Author of supernatural drama ‘Flame,’ psychological thriller ‘To Let,’ crime thriller ‘Whispers Beneath the Pines,’ and holiday comedy, ‘Meet Me at Marmaris Castle.’ Carla also writes stage and screenplays, some of which have been produced in the Worcestershire area. Her feature film ‘Penny for the Guy’ is being made and is set for release in 2019.

Her latest book, Her Last Mistake is the sixth book in the DI Gina Harte crime series.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaKovachAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CKovachAuthor
Website: https://griffbuck.wordpress.com/
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Books On Tour (Review): One Mistake by Rona Halsall

Hands down, one of the most zonko crazy psych thrillers I have read in recent memory. And how fitting that a book about how far a woman will go to protect her family is posting on Mother’s Day!

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The set-up was a little bit slow at first, and I thought it was going to be more of an everyday type of story. I could not have been more wrong. In hindsight, I realized that the details at the beginning were vital to build a foundation for the rest of the wild events to rest upon.

Sara also seemed weak at first, but it became apparent that she had been emotionally beaten down by life – first while growing up and then by her marriage. I think many readers will relate to the feeling of doing everything they can for their families only to feel unappreciated. I loved her growth and may have actually pumped my fist with a “YES!” in her final conversation with Matt.

Once the action got going, it was difficult to know who to trust, which was all set up perfectly to keep the reader off-balance. Does James have ulterior motives? Is Hailey more involved than it appears? Can Fiona be too good to be true? Why is Matt such a jerk?

All of those questions (and then some) are answered, but not always in the way you might expect. By the end, I’m pretty sure that Sara was wishing that her initial suspicion about her husband had been correct. I’m not saying more than that.

I will say that this book had one of the strangest plot twists and went to a pretty dark place. Some might find it far-fetched, but I thought it addressed a wide-spread problem that is rarely mentioned. It also illuminated how the digital age has made it so much easier to ruin lives – with literally a click of a mouse.

So, in summary, it starts slow but then zooms off around corners and blind spots to take you on a wild ride. Hang on!

Author Bio:

Rona lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and three guinea pigs. She has been a bookworm since she was a child and now she’s actually creating stories of her own, which still feels like a dream come true. 

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she’s plotting how to kill off her next victim. She also makes sure she deletes her Google history on a regular basis, because… well, you can’t be too careful when you spend your life researching new and ingenious ways for people to die.

She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

To find out more about Rona’s novels, go to www.facebook.com/RonaHalsallAuthor or follow @RonaHalsallAuth on Twitter.

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Blog Tour (Review): Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan

Based on the first chapter, I thought that the book was going to go in a completely different direction. I was expecting flashbacks to how Clare and Becca got to that starting point. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised when the action instead jumped to Flora, with seemingly no connection.

Shortly, however, the connection became apparent, and that is when the book really took flight. The author has a special knack for creating whole scenes that make it feel like you’re watching the action instead of reading it. I was fully immersed.

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I liked the way that the author split the narration between Flora, Izzy, and (later) Clare. Reading the story from the three different perspectives allowed me to compare their personality traits and try to get to the underlying issues that were causing the conflict.

What was most interesting to me was that each of them was ultimately more like the others than they could have imagined. Being able to connect the dots and see each woman’s strengths and weaknesses gave added depth to the story.

I appreciated that the author gave some realism to the males in the story. For the most part, they are relatively tangential characters (even though Jack is a catalyst for it all), but their interactions with the women were natural and not forced. They were typical men, but admitted it and tried to improve where necessary. There weren’t any male-bashing or shallow stereotypes. They were just real.

Ultimately, it is a book about family and all of the ugly stuff that goes with it. Families are never perfect, and they don’t necessarily only connect by blood. They also are not always what you think they might be. The importance of communication is another theme. If the characters had talked with each other, to begin with, a lot of misunderstandings would have been avoided. Of course, then there wouldn’t have been a plot. And it wouldn’t have been as realistic, because those missteps are part of human nature and we have all made them.

This book was emotional but not manipulative, and I could not put it down. Watching each of the characters navigate through the trickiness of death and new relationships was ultimately heartwarming, and I highly recommend it.

Author Bio: USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin.

Romantic Times has described her as ‘a magician with words’ and nominated her books for their Reviewer’s Choice Awards and their ‘Top Pick’ slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. She lives near London with her family. Find out more at www.sararahmorgan.com.

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Twitter: @SarahMorgan_
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Books on Tour (Review): The Happy Couple by Samantha Hayes

It started slowly, but boy did this one take a few turns and end on a completely different note from what it started. Let’s unpack it, shall we?

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Jo was an interesting main character. She began as a very sad figure, trying to keep her life going even as she approached a year since her husband had disappeared. Through the first third of the book, I got the sense that Jo was pretty much just going through the motions (totally understandable given the circumstances).

She decides to take her best friend’s advice and ends up house-sitting in a village near the ocean. I’m not giving away plot points (you know how I dislike that), but there are particular reasons for Jo to pick the house that she does.

And that’s where the fun really starts.

I thought the way the author plotted the story was interesting. I could tell that there was more going on with Jo and that she was hiding secrets. I also didn’t know whether or not to trust Simon at times. I like it when I am kept off-balance like that. But all of the characters’ actions seemed realistic.

I thought the use of red herrings was also effective. There were just enough thrown in that made me question other character’s motives and whether or not Jo was losing it or the only sane one in the story. A few twists were less successful, as they felt a tad forced, and a few I figured out. But I did like the resolutions for all – justice was definitely served. I also liked Suzanne’s character arc. She was the most surprising.

This book twisted in places where I didn’t expect it, which I loved. Just know that there is more than what is going on than what meets the eye. And I enjoyed every minute.

Author Bio
Samantha Hayes grew up in Warwickshire, left school at sixteen, avoided university and took jobs ranging from private detective to barmaid to fruit picker and factory worker. She lived on a kibbutz, and spent time living in Australia and the USA, before finally becoming a crime-writer.

Her writing career began when she won a short story competition in 2003 and her sixteenth novel, THE HAPPY COUPLE is out 6th May. Her novels are family-based psychological thrillers, with the emphasis being on ‘real life fiction’. She focuses on current issues and sets out to make her readers ask, ‘What if this happened to me or my family?’ And you’ll always find a BIG twist at the end of her novels!

Website: www.samanthahayes.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor
Twitter: @samhayes
Instagram: samanthahayes.author
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Blog Tour (Review): The Secrets of Love Story Bridge by Phaedra Patrick

After quite a few psych thrillers, I was in the mood for a change of pace, and this book fit the bill nicely. It took a little while to get into, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.

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I had a difficult time understanding Mitchell at first, as he was a little bit of an enigma. I couldn’t get a grasp on his character, because at times he seemed old and doddery, but I knew from the description (and his daughter) that he wasn’t as old as he came across. As his backstory became clear, so did his character. I loved the symbolism of how he enjoyed his job cutting locks (and how that related to his own broken heart).

I enjoyed the way the plot unfolded. A few different things were going on, but they all sort of related to each other, or at least influenced other events. It was an effective way to illustrate how easy it is to touch others’ lives and how one small event can set off a ripple effect for many people.

Back to Mitchell for a minute – I was satisfied to see his character grow throughout the story as he learned the importance of personal connections. It would have been easy to keep him uptight, but showing him reawaken was heartfelt and moving.

I also liked the secondary characters and how Yvette’s part of the action wove them all into the story. I was drawn in by Mitchell’s heroics, captivated by the letters he received, and eager to unravel the mystery that connected it all.

Do yourself a favor, take some time, and read this uplifting book about second chances.

Phaedra Patrick is the author of The Library of Lost and Found, Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone and The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper, which has been published in over twenty countries around the world. She studied art and marketing, and has worked as a stained-glass artist, film festival organizer and communications manager. An award-winning short story writer, she now writes full-time. She lives in Saddleworth, UK, with her husband and son.

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Books On Tour (Review): The Sister-In-Law by Sue Watson

I must be lucky because this is the second book I have read in less than a week set in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. Picture it, a beautiful villa with a pool and terrace, overlooking the ocean, with a little town nearby to shop and eat delicious food. It’s the perfect vacation getaway.

Until it isn’t.

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Clare hopes that this family vacation will help put her family back on track, but the arrival of her brother-in-law with his new wife puts a screeching halt to that. The whole family has secrets and someone is bent on exposing them, with Clare as a particular target.

The author did a great job of wratcheting the tension, and I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the beautiful, serene setting and the family’s infighting. There were a lot of foreboding moments, and hints of darkness to come, as the story is told as a memory. So, there were more than a few “had I known” statements, but they were dropped casually and were never jarring.

I also thought that the characters were an interesting mix of personalities. Each of them was realistic. They also each had a few moments where their actions surprised the other characters, proving that even family members are not always who one thinks they are. I thought that Clare was the most interesting. Because of her own family history, she is insecure and longs for the stability of a family. This makes her an easy target (and boy, did she pick the wrong family).

Once the battle lines were established, it seemed as if the story dragged a bit (through the middle). However, I think that was due more to my impatience that I had established theories and I wanted to get to the good stuff to see if I was right. I understand that the author needed to make character motivations crystal clear. It was deliciously unnerving to read a few such moments, only because the character was so disturbing. I could feel the viciousness and knew there was a lot going on.

I hope that all makes sense.

I liked this book so much that I read it pretty much in one sitting while I was supposed to be doing other things. I don’t feel guilty about that at all.

Author Bio

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has written fifteen novels – many involving cake – which have been translated into several languages and involved tough ‘cake research.’ Sue is now exploring the darker side of life with her thrillers OUR LITTLE LIES, THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR, THE EMPTY NEST and THE SISTER-IN-LAW. Writing in this new genre doesn’t involve the deep research of baked goods and Sue’s hoping the change in direction will be reflected on the weighing scales.

Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her husband and teenage daughter in Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – okay, procrastinating, eating and watching ‘My 600lb Life,’ on the sofa.

Website; http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/
FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/suewatsonbooks
Twitter @suewatsonwriter
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Blog Tour (Review): The Heirloom Garden by Viola Shipman

I like books where I learn something new, in addition to a great plot, of course. The Heirloom Garden fits the bill in both cases. And just take a look at that gorgeous cover!

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I liked the main plot of the book. Iris lost her family in the 1940s and has since become a hermit, tending only to her flowers (and boy does she have a lot of them). Abby and her family rent the house next door (owned by Iris) but are dealing with their own set of problems. Through a few events, the two women forge a bond that develops. It is an emotional and uplifting story.

I liked Iris and her story the best. She was an interesting character, and the way she dealt with loss and her life after WWII felt realistic. A lot of her perspectives seemed familiar, as they sounded like things my grandmother used to say. I also know that I have eaten in her kitchen, right down to the table and chairs that matched the countertops, and everything being color-coordinated. Those descriptions brought back great memories for me.

Additionally, Shirley’s comments on her husband’s return from the war were especially real, as that same thing happened to my grandfather. He died before I was born, but my mom still tells stories of how different he was when he came back from the South Pacific. I think that is true for a lot of men.

It certainly was true for Cory. His experience was certainly similar to that of men returning from WWII. However,  they didn’t have the diagnosis of PTSD in the 40s and 50s. I thought this was a good parallel to be made, and it connected the two families nicely. Less successful were Abby’s attitudes about feminism and the workplace. While I recognize that chauvinistic attitudes still exist, the ones described seem more fitting to the 1980s or 90s than to the book’s setting of 2003. That note didn’t hit for me, nor did her reluctance to let Lily play with dolls (but that’s another issue altogether).

I learned more about the cross-breeding and care of flowers than I ever thought I would. I understand the need to highlight Iris’s intelligence and passion, given her past renown.  It did get a little bit heavy at times, sometimes going for more than a few pages. I loved the detail (because I love learning), but there were times that it detracted from the story. I wanted the plot to move along.

Ultimately, however, there was a strong message that family is always with you. I also thought a sub-message was “family is where you find it” as the relationship between Abby and Iris progressed. I loved how Iris honored her family going back generations, and how much importance she put on traditions. People are quick to create their own sets of memories these days, and I wish that more people cherished the items and memories of their past. Iris is someone I would love to know in real life.

Author Bio

Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse, a popular, award-winning memoirist. Rouse chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his writing. Rouse is the author of The Summer Cottage, as well as The Charm Bracelet and The Hope Chest which have been translated into more than a dozen languages and become international bestsellers. He lives in Saugatuck, Michigan and Palm Springs, California, and has written for People, Coastal Living, Good Housekeeping, and Taste of Home, along with other publications, and is a contributor to All Things Considered.

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This review is part of the Harlequin Trade Publishing 2020 Spring Reads Blog Tour. Come back on April 30th for my review of The Summer Villa – the last book until we head into summer reading!

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Books On Tour (Review): Can You See Her by S.E. Lynes

What began as a poignant story seemingly about a middle-aged woman who felt invisible to everyone quickly evolved into something darker and more insidious that had me turning pages to finish this in one sitting. It was just that good.

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Full disclosure, this review may seem like I am talking in riddles, but for this book, I really do NOT want to give anything away. There are so many little bits that could ruin it. So I am going to be as vague as possible while still trying to illustrate how excellent the book was.

I will admit that the first few chapters took some getting used to, as the stream of consciousness that was Rachel’s retelling of events was hard to follow at times. However, once I got to “know” her, it became easier.

The story is told primarily from Rachel’s point of view as she speaks with…someone. These chapters alternate with transcripts of police interviews of other characters. The timeframe is unclear, but it all appears to be part of an investigation. Of what, I cannot tell you.

Rachel is an infinitely relatable character. Even as her real story remains unclear through most of the book, every middle-aged woman can relate to the feeling of being invisible to those closest to her. That likability made it challenging for me to get a grip on her actual personality. It seemed like I was off-balance, changing my theories every other chapter.

The author also offers a searing analysis of the place that hate and revenge have taken in our society. The line between the two is blurred, and the ease at which people can slip between them is eye-opening.

As I mentioned above, this book was an absolute page-turner, with twists and revelations right up to the very last page. By far, one of the best psychological thrillers (in the truest definition of the genre) that I have ever read.

Author Bio
After graduating from Leeds University, S E Lynes lived in London before moving to Aberdeen where she worked as a BBC Producer. In 2002, she moved to Rome with her husband and two young children. In 2007, after the birth of her third child, she returned to the UK and gained an MA in Creative Writing from Kingston University. Currently, she writes novels and teaches Creative Writing at Richmond Adult Community College.

Twitter: @SELynesAuthor
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