Friday, 14 March 2025

Mother Howl by Craig Clevenger - #bookreview

 Book Cover of Mother Howl by Craig Clevenger wooden shack in field

The boy watched his father slide a flap of cardboard beneath the stray cat lying motionless in the street. He braced himself for the backyard dig...

***

The Blurb

A compelling literary crime that follows the son of a serial murderer who changes his identity in a bid to escape his past.

The arrest of his father for a series of unspeakable crimes shattered Lyle Edison’s suburban teenage life. There was no way to pick up the pieces, so he ran. Now at last, after years of hiding under a false name to escape his father’s wicked legacy, Lyle has begun to build a future with the woman he loves.

But after an encounter with an unworldly stranger named Icarus who seems to know Lyle’s secrets – a homeless man with a questionable grip on reality who claims to be a messenger for the Divine, Lyle is set on a perilous new path.

Confronting Icarus means coming face to face with his own past, forcing Lyle to make a choice that threatens the fragile facade he has created, with his future and his new family hanging in the balance.


My Review

It took me a little while to warm to this book, but it was well worth hanging in there.

I can sincerely say I haven't read a book quite like this one before. In fact, it would be difficult to place it in a particular genre.

I was engaged at the beginning of this book. It begins during the youthful years of the main character, Lyle who lives a fairly average life with his parents. However, it quickly becomes clear when Lyle's father is arrested for a series of crimes that the book is going in a different direction. Lyle runs away from home at seventeen and adopts a new identity to distance himself from the name of his father.

We are then introduced to a character named Icarus, and this is where I initially struggled. He is some kind of Divine being who has been sent to earth from the titular Mother Howl to help Lyle, that the book took a turn in a very different direction. Icarus is completely different to our image of the traditional angel that sits atop our Christmas trees. He is blunt, rough around the edges and quite frankly appears unhinged. This is where I began to struggle with the book as this is far from my usual reading fare.

I almost set the book aside at this point, but I am very glad I didn't as this turned out to be an extremely compelling book that I couldn't put down. It has a sedate pace which suited it perfectly for this character driven novel.

The author does a great job of bringing the Lyle and Icarus parts of the story together at the end, and it suddenly all started to make sense to me. In fact, I felt the book had a very satisfying ending.

The book is well written, and I do think it is worth reading. Periodically it is good for us to step slightly out of our reading comfort zone, and I am extremely glad I did so with this one.

If you like genre defying book that I recommend this one. Happy reading! 

This book is perfect for fans of Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh and The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.


Book Details

ISBN:  978 1915523037

Publisher: Datura Books

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  300 (paperback)


Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Datura Books

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's


About the Author

Author photo of Craig Clevenger - black and white photo of man looking to his right side

Craig Clevenger was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Southern California, where he studied English at California State University, Long Beach. He divides his time between the Mojave desert and the central coast, where he works at a local library and runs a community writing workshop. 

He is the author of The Contortionist's Handbook, Dermaphoria, and Mother Howl. His essays and short fiction have appeared in the Coachella Review, Black Clock, San Francisco Noir 2, Starlite Pulp Review and the forthcoming Amber Waves of Autumn from Kelp Books. His works have been translated into 30+ languages.

You can also find Craig at:

Author Website

Twitter / X

Facebook

Instagram

BlueSky


(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Wednesday, 12 March 2025

Cat and Dumpling: Home Sweet Home by Nicola Kent - #bookreview


 Meet Cat and Dumpling. Cat is a cat. Dumpling is a dog. Cat likes knitting; Dumpling likes gardening. Cat likes cunning plans; Dumpling likes a quiet life. They are very different, like chalk and cheese!

And this is the story of how they first met...

***

The Blurb

Cat and Dumpling are best friends, but they're very different. Cat is an impulsive dreamer who loves to knit, and Dumpling is a cautious planner who loves gardening. In these chapter books for early readers, the pair's far-fetched schemes and conflicting ideas wreak warm-hearted slapstick havoc, but always with a happy ending and a reassertion that despite their differences Cat and Dumpling will always be the very best of friends.

In Home Sweet Home, Cat and Dumpling meet for the very first time. They're both searching for the perfect home and have very different needs. Eventually they stumble across the perfect place-the only problem is, they both want the same flat! Can the pair survive as flatmates, or will their differences just be too much to overcome?


My Review

This is a charming book that will appeal to early readers.

Cat and Dumpling are adorable characters. I think the author has done a great job to convey their personalities in so few words. The reader really gets a sense of their differences and similarities.

Children will enjoy this book regardless of whether they have a pet of their own. Cat and Dumpling both demonstrate the quirkiness that a pet can have beautifully.

It is well written for early independent readers, particularly those who are ready to embrace chapter books. Indeed, this would be a perfect book to introduce children to the concept of chapters within a book.

The author has illustrated the book to enhance the text and it does so very well. I like the simple and colourful nature of the pictures.

The book has much to say about kindness, sharing and compromise and is a joy to read.

I am delighted that Cat and Dumpling will be back later this year with the upcoming book, Cat and Dumpling: The Talent Show.


Book Details

ISBN:  978 0192788450

Publisher:  Oxford University Press

Formats: Paperback

No. of Pages:  96


Purchase Details

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK


About the Author

Nicola lives in Hackney, London with her partner, two teenage children, a cat called Firelight and a dog called Milly. 

She grew up in north London and has been writing stories and drawing pictures for as long as she can remember. She made her first picture book in a sketchbook with her mum when she was five. 

When she left school, she studied English and Art at university, and then got a place on a traineeship with BBC Television. She worked as a producer for over ten years, making programmes about subjects as diverse as priceless paintings and problem pets! 

After she had her children, she decided to follow her dream of making books for children and went back to college to study an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. Her debut book The Strongest Mum was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards, and in 2019 she won the Independent Booksellers’ Best New Illustrator Award. 

She is now creating books for children from 0-7, including novelty board books, non-fiction books and early chapter books as well as picture books.

When she is not at her desk she loves reading, brisk walking, going to the cinema and theatre, and cuddling her cat and dog.

You can also find Nicola at:

Author Website

Instagram

Twitter / X

Facebook



(book and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Friday, 7 March 2025

The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Book cover of The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh

I adored my father. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with work-callused hands, his round face perpetually tanned from days outside as a labourer on a building site. On minimum pay, to make a decent income, he needed to work long hours, often seven days a week...

***

The Blurb

A woman with a dark past...

Helen Appleby just wants a quiet life. Recently released from prison for the manslaughter of her partner, she's trying to forget her past mistakes – all of them - to rebuild her life and move on.

When she decides to open a bookshop, she’s certain this is the perfect new start. Here, amongst the quiet shelves of her shop and between the covers of her books, she can hide away from the real world and begin again. The world of books the perfect place to find happiness - even if it is all lies.

But the past can never stay hidden…

As she settles into life as an apparently timid bookseller, it seems that someone is determined to sabotage Helen's new life and ruin everything she's built.

But Helen has killed once before. And to protect her future, she could be willing to kill again...

Don't miss another page-turning, nail-biting read from the queen of psychological thrillers, Valerie Keogh! Perfect for fans of J.A. Baker, Keri Beevis and Nina Manning.


My Review

I am always excited when a new novel by Valerie Keogh comes along. I have read several and they never disappoint. This one was no exception. In fact, a Valerie Keogh novel set in a bookshop is dream reading material for me.

Full of suspense, the book had me gripped from the very first page to the last. 

The main character is Helen who has been recently released from prison for killing her partner, Toby. Her dream has always been to open a secondhand bookshop. Now that she has served her sentence, she embraces her dream and the opportunity for her to start afresh.

Helen was a fantastic character; full of hope for the future but her paranoia threatens it all. On several occasions I found myself questioning how reliable a narrator she was. Throughout the book we are told that there is something darker lurking from her past which is eventually revealed to the reader. I loved the way her character developed throughout the story and the author did a brilliant job in her portrayal of Helen.

The secondary characters each had a vital part to play in the story. As each one comes into her life, we see the potential motive that they might have to bring Helen's new life tumbling down around her ears. In all of Ms. Keogh's novels, she introduces a limited number of characters and therefore, they are well formed and have an significant part to play.

The plot is appropriately paced for it's genre. It was fast paced enough to make it a quick read but equally had enough going on in the plot to provide depth. I felt the ending was satisfying and I was pleased by the way the author concluded the book, particularly regarding Helen's self-awareness.

If you enjoy psychological suspense books with a darker edge, I guarantee that this one will keep you gripped. Another triumph of a book from Valerie Keogh and I hope you enjoy it every bit as much as I did.

My Other Reviews of Books by Valerie Keogh

The Wives

The Mother

The Mistress

The Nurse


Book Details

ISBN:  978 1805494508

Publisher:  Booldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  288 (paperback)


Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US


About the Author

Author photo of Valerie Keogh. Woman looking into camera with hand under her chin.

Valerie Keogh is the best-selling author of The Nurse. She lives in Wiltshire with her husband and a huge black cat, Fatty Arbuckle. She grew up reading Agatha Christie and initially wrote crime novels - she now writes psychological thrillers.

The Little Lies was shortlisted for the Crime Fiction Lovers Award 2021

Valerie has a BA in English and an MA in American Literature.

She is currently published with Boldwood Books.


You can also find Valerie at:

Facebook

Twitter / X

Instagram

Author Newsletter


graphic for The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh woman reaching for book amongst bookshelves


Book Banner for The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh


(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own?

Thursday, 6 March 2025

Death of a Dancing Queen by Kimberly G. Giarrantano - #bookreview

 

Death of a Dancing Queen by Kimberly G. Giarratano A Billy Levine Mystery book cover pink feathers

Starla Wells lit a cigarette and slipped into the shadows. She pressed a spiked heel against the brick exterior of the building, and her bent knee revealed a slender thigh and a garter belt with a tiny dagger tucked underneath...

***

The Blurb

After her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, Billie Levine revamped her grandfather’s private investigation firm and set up shop in the corner booth of her favorite North Jersey deli hoping the free pickles and flexible hours would allow her to take care of her mom and pay the bills. So when Tommy Russo, a rich kid with a nasty drug habit, offers her a stack of cash to find his missing girlfriend, how can she refuse? At first, Billie thinks this will be easy earnings, but then her missing person's case turns into a murder investigation and Russo is the detective bureau’s number one suspect.

Suddenly Billie is embroiled in a deadly gang war that’s connected to the decades-old disappearance of a famous cabaret dancer with ties to both an infamous Jewish mob and a skinhead group. Toss in the reappearance of Billie’s hunky ex-boyfriend with his own rap sheet, and she is regretting every decision that got her to this point.

Becoming a P.I. was supposed to solve her problems. But if Billie doesn’t crack this case, the next body the police dredge out of the Hudson River will be hers. 


My Review

I have heard it said that this book is similar to Veronica Mars. I am not familiar with this television series so can not compare. What I can tell you is that this is a very good book and I enjoyed it immensely.

Billie Levine is an excellent character and highly likable. She is 25, feisty and has attitude. She is a Jewish Private Investigator who has taken the business over from her retired grandfather. She lives with him, her brother, David and her mother. Between them they are sharing the care of her mother who has Alzheimers. However, they are struggling but cannot afford to have her cared for in a dedicated facility. This aspect of the story was sad but I suspect that it is a situation which many readers will be familiar.

There is a great plot to this book too with a mystery that Billie is trying to solve.  She is trying to locate a missing young woman who is fascinated by true crime. In doing so, she also gets involved in investigating the murder of another young woman years before. The author brings both strands of this story together really well and I was completely gripped by it.

The story involves a Jewish gang and a skinhead Nazi mob. There was so much going on in this book that it made for fast paced and fascinating reading. It was definitely a book which made me play the 'just one more chapter' game which kept me up past my bedtime.

There were many secondary characters all of which were well portrayed. There were many but I did not get confused by them at any point as the author does a great job in bringing both characters and plot together.

I am thrilled that this is the first in a three book series. I am looking forward to spending more time with Billie.

 If you like the sound of this book you might also enjoy The Redeemer and The Associate both of which are by Victoria Goldman. The title links will take you to my reviews.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1915202420

Publisher:  Datura Books

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  344 (paperback)


Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Datura Book Publications

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones


About the Author

Author photo of Kimberley G. Giarratano - woman in black jacket

Kimberly G. Giarratano is an author of mysteries for teens and adults. Her debut novel, Grunge Gods and Graveyards, won the 2015 Silver Falchion Award for Best YA at Killer Nashville. A former librarian, she is currently an instructor at a SUNY Orange County Community College and a reviewer for BookPage. She is also the chapter liaison for Sisters in Crime. 

Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Kim and her husband moved to the Poconos to raise their three kids amid black bears and wild turkeys. While she doesn’t miss the Jersey traffic, she does miss a good bagel and lox.

You can also find Kimberley at:

Author Website

FaceBook

Instagram

BlueSky


(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Reading Round Up for February 2025


With February being the shortest month it seems to have passed by so quickly.

I don't know about you but I am longing for the spring to arrive now. In fact, as I sit writing this the sun is shining. It is still extremely cold though and there was a thick frost on the garden this morning.

I was unwell for part of February and had a whole week when I didn't blog. I am still playing catch up as some of the books that I read during that time did not get reviewed.

I hope that you all had a good February. What did you read?


My February Reads


My Heart is Hurting by S.E. Reed


This was a wonderful book that will have you reaching for the tissues. It was my favourite read of the month. You can find my review here.

The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani


This is a very heartfelt story which tugs at the heartstrings. It is well worth reading and you can find my review here.


The House of Echoes by Alexandra Walsh


I love a dual timeline novel. It provides me with the perfect reading combination - historical fiction and contemporary. You can find my review here.

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey


This was a fabulous book, and I read all of it's 476 pages in two sittings. If you would like to read my review you can find it here.

New Arrivals on West India Dock Road by Renita D'Silva

This was a lovely historical saga set in London's East End and was full of colour. You can find my review here.


The Midlife Trials of Annabeth Hope by Alice May

This is a fabulous rom-com of a book. You can find my review by clicking here.


The Contest by Jeff Macfee

This reminded me of The Hunger Games.


Fervour by Toby Lloyd

This was well written but I found it rather depressing.


Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti

I read this as part of a read-along. It was a fun book to read and I enjoyed it.


Mary I: Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir

As always, the author wrote a cracking tale of Queen Mary I. I recommend all the books in this series.


Books I Am Partway Through

The Undesirables by Sarah Wise

The Bookseller by Valerie Keogh

Death of a Dancing Queen by Kimberley G. Giarratano


(all opinions are my own)

Monday, 3 March 2025

The Mid-Life Trials of Annabeth Hope by Alice May - #bookreview

 

pink and green book cover of the mid-life trials of annabeth hope by alice g may

Beth paused in the doorway of the counselling room. A waft of lavender air freshener caught in her throat. The cramped room with peeling paint couldn't be more tired. Yet it was a vast improvement on the waiting room, where the smell of damp and despair had seeped into her bones...

***

The Blurb

Two very different worlds are about to collide. 

Feisty country girl Annabeth Hope has sworn off men since her ex abandoned her. Juggling three resentful step-teens, a hyperactive toddler, a smallholding, and a herd of rescued llamas, she has her hands full. With the roof about to collapse on her crumbling New Forest home, she is desperate to find a way to hold her patchwork family together. The last thing she needs is an attractive distraction moving in next door. 

Burnt-out inner-city doctor Rick Mahon has left London and his medical career behind in a moment of professional crisis. A malpractice lawsuit is on the horizon, and the cancel culture mob are snapping at his heels. His plan to stay under the radar is thrown off course when he meets his new neighbour and sparks start to fly. 

Annabeth and Rick couldn't be more different, but maybe they hold the key to each other’s happiness…


My Review

This is a lovely rom-com novel that was a joy to read.

I was delighted to meet the author recently when she was leading an art workshop. I have previously read and reviewed her art book, How to Draw and Giraffe and you can find my review by clicking here.

The main character, Beth is struggling to make ends meet since her husband left her and abandoned his three teenage children and their young daughter. The teenagers are antagonistic and their rural house needs significant and expensive renovation work if they are to continue to live there.

The last thing that she is looking for is romance but when handsome doctor, Rick moves into the house next door there is an instant attraction between them. He is facing challenges of his own and has escaped London, and a whole load of problems to lie low in the countryside.

They are both fantastic characters and the author has done a great job in portraying them. Both of them are under extreme pressure. I loved Beth's character. She is a feisty character but who is feeling overwhelmed by her situation.  However,  she is also endlessly patient with her step-children who seem to think that everything is her fault. I loved these two differing sides to her character.

Rick, on the other hand, seems at a loss concerning what to do about his life. I enjoyed observing what a different character to Beth he was but also how they complemented each other so well. There is a will they/won't they thread running throughout and I was rooting for them all the way. 

The author has done a marvellous job with this book. She understands her characters very well and has written a believable and engaging plot. She also demonstrated the challenges of rural living and did not paint a picture postcard perspective that so many of us have of the countryside.

I loved her writing. It was easy and enjoyable to read and she is clearly a good storyteller. I am looking forward to reading more of her books. In fact, I am on the upcoming blog tour for her book, The Resistance Girls on 28th April so please keep an eye out for that.

In the meantime, I highly recommend this book which is ultimately full of hope and optimism. I am sure you will enjoy it every bit as much as I did.


Book Details

ISBN:  978 1835740590

Publisher:  The Book Guild Ltd

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  352 (paperback)


Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

The Book Guild Publishing

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

Blackwell's


About the Author

author photo of alice g may

Alice G. May is a multi-tasking mother with four not-so-small children.

She is married to (probably) the most patient man on the planet and they live in what used to be a ramshackle old cottage in the New Forest.

Alice loves nothing more than to share her love of painting and writing with others.

In 2014, Alice's house started to fall down before her eyes.

What followed was an extraordinary journey that changed Alice's view of the world, and life in general, forever.

In 2016, following a 20 year career as a GP surgery manager, Alice changed direction to focus on writing and painting.

Inspired by true-life events ‘The House That Sat Down’ Trilogy wouldn’t leave her alone until it was written.

You can also find Alice at:







(book courtesy of the author)
(all media courtesy of her website)
(all opinions are my own)
(bookshop.org affiliated)

My Heart is Hurting by S. E. Reed - #bookreview #blogtour

 

girl holding up a heart book cover of my heart is hurting by S. E. Reed

My name is Jinny Buffett.

J-I-N-N-Y... not Jimmy and definitely not Jimmy Buffett.

Everyone in Hollywood knows who Jimmy Buffett is because of the huge, flashing neon signs and music blaring... That's where my Mama works every, single, stupid night for two reasons...

***

The Blurb

Jinny Buffett is lonely…

She’s never had the comfort of a white picket fence with a loving family. Her subsidized apartment in Hollywood Florida echoes with the void of her dead Daddy, and the nights drag long into twilight while her Mama works the block outside the Margaritaville resort.

It’s idealistic Ms. Fleming, who’s brave enough to come knocking first. She wants to see Jinny rise up and use her ace scores to escape the wheel of poverty, convincing Jinny to start a school book club, where she finds the friends and boyfriend she never knew she needed.

But when her Mama spirals out of control and threatens her entire existence, it’s Jinny’s Everglade ancestors who arrive in a mist of magic, bringing the swamp and hope with them.


My Review

There are very few books that have me reaching for the tissues but this one did. It was so moving and heartfelt and I was completely swept up in the issues of the main character.

Jinny, the main character has an old head on young shoulders. She is fifteen and lives with her chaotic mother who leaves her alone for weeks at a time. Jinny is lonely and desperately in need of help and guidance. However, she hides her situation from adults as she doesn't want to be taken into care if the authorities discovered that she is alone.

Whilst reading this book I felt that the author portrayed Jinny superbly. She seemed to completely inhabit her character, so when I read in the Afterword that much of Jinny's experience had been her own I was not at all surprised. However, she wrote in a way that allowed her readers to really get alongside her characters. I was almost experiencing Jinny's feelings and emotions with her, some of which resonated with me personally. There were a great cast of secondary characters, all of whom were there for Jinny and who were able to recognise issues in Jinny even though she was not revealing them.

The book is aimed at a young adult readership but it was a fantastic read for this not so young adult too! It oozed with authenticity whilst having an element of magical realism. Jinny takes comfort and courage from her deceased father's ghost and his family who she has never known. This elevated the book to another level. This book is so much more than the tale of a troubled teen.  I don't think I have ever found myself rooting for a character so much as I did with this one.

I had not come across this author before being offered the opportunity to read this book for the blog tour. I would love to read more of her work. Perhaps you have come across her before? Either way, I would highly recommend this book to you.

Book Details:

ISBN:  978 1958531259

Publisher:  Wild Ink Publishing

Formats:  e-book and paperback)

No. of Pages:  180 (paperback)


Purchase Links






About the Author

photo of author s.e. reed

S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways.

Winner of the 2024 Florida Book Awards and the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People.

Additionally, she's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest.

You can also find her at:





My Heart is Hurting was the 14th place finalist in BBNYA 2024!
About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads

BBNYA 2024 Finalist Badge



(ARC and media courtesy of The Write Reads)
(all opinions are my own)

Friday, 28 February 2025

The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani - #bookreview



The Blurb

Celine’s life is spiraling out of control. She’s in danger of losing the beloved equestrian farm that was her childhood home. Her distant husband, Eric, is devoting a suspicious amount of time to a stunning new colleague. Then her young son, Brian, receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. As her life falls apart, she faces an impossible fight

Felicity has uprooted her career and her teenage son, Justin, to get closer to Eric. She’s tired of keeping his secrets―that Eric’s frequent “business trips” have been time spent with her and Justin. Felicity is determined to get her happily ever after, even if it means confronting Celine at a delicate time.

But when Brian’s prognosis worsens, and a transplant from Justin becomes his best chance at survival, Felicity must make a wrenching decision about her son’s well-being―and Celine must accept that the “other woman” is her only hope.

In another life Celine and Felicity might have been friends. Can they put aside the pain between them to do what’s best for their families―and their own futures?


My Review

This is a very heartfelt story which tugs at the heartstrings.

It is an extremely moving story about the main character, Celine who is about to lose it all; her business, her husband and her beloved son. Losing a child is every mother's nightmare, and this made Celine very relatable and definitely made me count my lucky stars that my own children grew up to become healthy young men. Her circumstances seem overwhelming, particularly as she discovers that her husband has another family. Add to that a business that is going to be taken away from her, and her life certainly seems to be spiralling out of control.

Most of the chapters are written from Celine's perspective, but the occasional chapter is written by Felicity who is the 'other woman' in this scenario. She was a very interesting character and I very much enjoyed observing how the circumstances allowed her to mature and become more self-aware.

It is a very thought provoking read and it was impossible not to question myself as to how I might react in this situation. She was enduring a truly awful set of circumstances. Celine demonstrated courage, bravery and determination and I admired her for that. 

It was well written with a clever emotive plot which the author brought to life on the page extremely well. As a reader, this book takes you on quite a roller coaster of emotions. It reminded me of novels that I have read by Jodi Picoult and if you enjoy her fiction then I think you will like this one too. It was immersive to read and although its themes were challenging ones it was ultimately a story of hope and positivity. I thoroughly recommend this book.

Book Details:

ISBN:  978 1662509735 

Publisher:  Lake Union Publishing

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  333 (paperback)

Purchase Links





About the Author

author photo of sejal badani

Sejal Badani is the Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Secret and Trail of Broken Wings. She is also a Goodreads Best Fiction award and ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship finalist whose work has been published in over fifteen languages. When not writing, she loves reading and traveling. Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran are always playing in the background.

You can find Sejal at:








book and kindle photo of the sun's shadow




(ARC courtesy of the publicist)
(media courtesy of the author's website)
(all opinions are my own)
(bookshop.org affiliated)

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey - #bookreview #blogtour

 

book cover of The Housemate by Sarah Bailey nine lighted windows with three women

Through the dust and faded bird s**t on the windscreen of her Mazda, Oli Groves watches the cops huddled next to the letterbox of 28 Paradise Street, St Kilda...

***

The Blurb

The new standalone thriller from the award-winning writer of the bestselling Gemma Woodstock trilogy.

Three housemates. One dead, one missing and one accused of murder. 

Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade. 

Melbourne-based journalist Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Olive is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.

As Oli and Cooper unearth new facts about the three housemates, a dark web of secrets is uncovered. The revelations catapult Oli back to the death of the first housemate, forcing her to confront past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface again.

What really happened between the three housemates that night? Will Oli's relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger? And could her suspicion that the truth lies closer to home threaten her happiness and even her sanity?

A riveting, provocative thriller from the bestselling author of The Dark Lake, Into the Night and Where the Dead Go.


My Review

This was a fabulous book, and I read all of it's 476 pages in two sittings.

Ten years prior to the main narrative of the book, Oli Groves was a junior reporter and was covering the brutal murder of Evelyn Stanley, one of three student housemates in Melbourne. Another of them, Nicole disappears that night and the other, Alex is arrested for the murder.

The main character Oli is now a more seasoned reporter and is paired up with a podcaster, Cooper Ng. I loved reading how this pair worked together. Oli feels like she is babysitting him, whilst Cooper is slightly in awe of her. It was an interesting working relationship to observe.

Oli was an interesting character, and I found her engaging. She lives with widower, Dean and his twin daughters. Being with Dean is all she ever wanted but the case she is investigating is causing Oli to have doubts about the relationship. She was a well-rounded character with many attributes and flaws. I loved her determination and doggedness in seeing the case through to the end.

It is full of twists and turns, and every time I thought I had worked out what was going on, something else would come along and challenge me to revise my thinking. Perfect in a book of this genre. This one kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I could not put it down. It has an exciting and fast moving plot and was very quick to read.

It is a compelling and gripping novel and I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary mystery fiction.


Book Details:

ISBN: 978 1915523648

Publisher:  Datura Books

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  400 (paperback)


Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon AU


About the Author

sarah bailey author photo woman signing books

Sarah lives in Melbourne, Australia with her partner, three children and cat.

As well as writing books, Sarah is the managing director at advertising agency VML, overseeing the Melbourne and Sydney offices. 

You can also find Sarah at:

Author Website

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(book and tour graphics courtesy of the publisher)

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

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Monday, 24 February 2025

Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow by Peter David - #bookspotlight #blogtour


I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this delightful looking book.  Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow by Peter David is a fantasy story aimed at a middle grade readership.

The Blurb

Buddy is no ordinary teddy bear.

He’s a Knight, crafted by The Nameless Wizard himself, and sworn to protect his Person, 10-year old Mieya, from all the Things-That-Go-Bump-In-The-Night.

When Mieya is cursed into a magical sleep, it’s up to Buddy and his friends Esteban the Bard, Sasha the Warrior-Princess, and Copper the Butterfly to journey across The Realm-Under-The-Bed and find the one responsible.

But this is no ordinary Quest. The Realm is a dangerous place, filled with jungles, deserts, lightning storms, and Monsters. But worst of all is The Queen of Sorrow who waits for them in her dark castle in the crags. To break her curse, Buddy will need more than his skill with a blade, Esteban’s witty songs, or Sasha’s ferocious might.

He’ll need Heart.


Book Details

ISBN: 979 8227115102 

Publisher:  Peter D. Hartog

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  168 (paperback)


Purchase Link



About the Author:




A native son of Massachusetts, Peter has been living in the Deep South for over 25 years. By day, he’s an insurance professional, saving the world one policy at a time. But at night, well, no one really wants to see him fighting crime in his Spider-Man onesie. 

Instead, Peter develops new worlds of adventure influenced by his love of science fiction, mysteries, music and fantasy. Whether it’s running role-playing games for his long-time friends, watching his beloved New England sporting teams vie for another championship, or just chilling with a movie, his wife, two boys, one puppy and three cats, Peter’s imagination is always on the move. It’s the reason why his stories are an eclectic blend of intrigue, excitement, humor and magic, drawn from four decade’s worth of television, film, novels and comic books.





(media courtesy of The Write Reads)
(all opinions are my own)