Sunday 29 March 2015

Geek Girl 4: All that Glitters by Holly Smale. Reviewed by Ellie


 
 
Description : “My name is Harriet Manners, and I am still a geek.”
The fourth book in the award-winning GEEK GIRL series.
Harriet Manners has high hopes for the new school year: she’s a Sixth Former now, and things are going to be different. But with Nat busy falling in love at college and Toby preoccupied with a Top Secret project, Harriet soon discovers that’s not necessarily a good thing…

I have to be honest and say I haven't read any of the Geek Girl Books before but when I saw this come up on NetGalley I knew I had to request it for my daughter Ellie who is 13 years old and a huge fan and has also read the first three books so a huge thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So over to Ellie for her first review on my blog.

My thoughts : This book is very captivating and made me feel as if I was part of the story, but for it all to make sense you would have to read the first three books.

The main character of the book is Harriet, a teenage super model living a double life. I found Harriet a very likeable character and very realistic. The book starts off quite funny as Harriet get's to school then realises that it's not actually a school day.
Harriet believes that if she starts a new school year with a clean slate she will make some new friends and have a fresh start. Only things don't go quite to plan, not only does her best friend Natalie start ignoring her but her other friend/stalker Toby does as well.
Poor Harriet is left on her own but soon things start to change for the better.

The story kept me guessing and I just couldn't put it down. The only downside is it finishes on a bit of a cliff-hanger but surely that means there will be a Geek Girl 5..?

The book is very well written and easy to understand. The characters are all very realistic and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good un put down able series!

I give this book 5 lovely hearts!


Don't Turn Around by Caroline Mitchell

Description : You don’t know him. But he knows you.

Soon he would be able to touch her, to feel the warmth of her blood. And when the time came, nothing would stop him.
As D.C. Jennifer Knight investigates a routine stabbing in the quiet town of Haven, she is shocked at what seems like a personal message from beyond the grave.

When more bodies are found, Jennifer is convinced the killings are somehow linked. What she discovers is more chilling than she could possibly imagine. The murders mirror those of the notorious Grim Reaper – from over twenty years ago. A killer her mother helped convict.

Jennifer can no longer ignore the personal connection. Is there a copycat killer at work? Was the wrong man convicted? Or is there something more sinister at play …

With her mother’s terrifying legacy spiralling out of control, Jennifer must look into her own dark past in a fight not only to stop a killer – but to save herself and those she loves.

Release Date: 24th April 2015
Publisher : Bookouture
Pre-Order HERE

My thoughts : Wednesday 25th March was Caroline's big cover reveal and I was so looking forward to it. Don't Turn Around is a paranormal Crime Thriller, two of my favourite genres and after seeing the amazing cover I was most looking forward to it's release on April 24th.. Twitter was buzzing with excitement over the cover reveal then Bookouture tweeted that it was available on NetGalley and I immediately went and requested and was so happy to be approved and started reading it straight away. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture.

Don't Turn Around is the first book in the Detective Jennifer Knight series and what a thrilling read it is.
The story is told through the present time but also flips back to when Jennifer's mother Elizabeth was in the police and helped convict the notorious Grim Reaper also known as Frank Foster. Franks story is also told and the story all comes together nicely if not terrifyingly.

Jennifer is a great character, she's had her troubles in the past and not had a great childhood but is trying to get things back on track and is trying to prove that the past is in the past where work is concerned. I loved the connection  Jennifer and her police partner Will have and look forward to seeing their friendship progress in future stories.
Frank Foster the Grim Reaper is a character who is quite vile but in a way you can't help feeling sorry for him.
This is a fantastically written story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and I really didn't want to put it down and was gutted when it ended but what an ending it was and one I didn't see coming at all.

I've really struggled to write a review for this book as it's just so fantastic and I don't want to give away any spoilers to anyone reading this review, I want them to be able to pick up the book and enjoy the terrifying thrills I enjoyed through this book.

The only problem I have now is, I can't bloody wait for the next book x
I give this a book a terrifying 5 hearts





Wednesday 25 March 2015

Scent of Triumph: A novel of Perfume and Passion by Jan Moran

Publisher :  St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date : 31st March 2015

Description : When French perfumer Danielle Bretancourt steps aboard a luxury ocean liner, leaving her son behind in Poland with his grandmother, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. The year is 1939, and the declaration of war on the European continent soon threatens her beloved family, scattered across many countries. Traveling through London and Paris into occupied Poland, Danielle searches desperately for her the remains of her family, relying on the strength and support of Jonathan Newell-Grey, a young captain. Finally, she is forced to gather the fragments of her impoverished family and flee to America. There she vows to begin life anew, in 1940s Los Angeles.

Through determination and talent, she rises high from meagre jobs in her quest for success as a perfumer and fashion designer to Hollywood elite. Set between privileged lifestyles and gritty realities, Scent of Triumph is one woman's story of courage, spirit, and resilience.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts : Set with WWII as the backdrop we meet Danielle, her husband Max and their good friend Jon aboard the luxury liner heading to England from New York when it's hut by a torpedo and things will never be the same again for pregnant Danielle.

I'm not really a historical fiction reader but when I signed up to NetGalley I made a promise to myself I would try different genres. This has got to be the best decision I've made as I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
 Danielle is a courageous woman. The story tells of Danielle's heartbreak and determination to find her son Nicky who has been lost due to the war. The heartbreak Danielle endures through out the story made me want to weep and as the heartbreak continues I kept wondering how the hell this lady could continue sometimes, but her passion and determination made me feel proud of her, if it's possible to feel proud of a fictional character?

Jan's writing and description made feel like I was travelling the journey with Danielle from France, England, Poland and Los Angles and the way Jan describes the scent's of the flowers and perfumes were amazing and I felt I could actually smell Danielle's creation, the perfume Chimére.

It's been a while since a book has stirred up so many emotions in me, there was passion, love, drama. heartbreak, fear and joy and I just couldn't put the book down. It's one of those books where you need to process the story before starting another.

I really enjoyed Danielle's journey and Scent of Triumph I'd recommend to anyone who loves a good story that sets your emotions running.

I'm giving this book a beautiful 5 hearts

You can buy Scent of Triumph HERE

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Cut too Deep by Marissa Farrar

Release Date : 26th March 2015

Description : Guys like Ryker Russo don't notice girls like Jenna Armstrong.

Constantly on the move, Jenna doesn't want to settle down anywhere. As long as her latest motel room has a television, Wi-Fi

But when her car breaks down, leaving her without a mode of transport to get to the next town, mechanic Ryker seems to show an interest in her. With his muscles, tattoos, and piercings, Ryker has trouble literally written all over him. Jenna can't understand why he would want to be seen with a fat girl like her, and besides, she needs to keep moving. Time is running out and she's terrified if she stays in one place, her past will catch up to her.

, and a vending machine, she will make do. It isn't just Jenna's curves that make her self conscious. Beneath her clothes she hides a secret, one that she is running from.

My Thoughts : First of all I'd like to say thanks to Tracy from TBConFB for sending me a copy of this book for review.
This is the first book I've read by Marissa Farrar and I don't think I've ever read a Romantic Thriller before.

Jenna has had a tough year after a terrible car accident which has left her scarred and scared and un-able to stay in the same place for any amount of time until her car breaks down and there's nothing else for it but to stay in the small town of Arlington until it is fixed.

I liked the fact that this book had romance which makes you feel quite gooey and the thriller side keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Jenna is a character a lot of women will be able to connect with straight away. She's an average overweight, self conscious lady who likes her food. She's very hard on herself but this was a refreshing change from the usual heroines in books who are stick thin and beautiful usually.
There's not a great deal of characters to get to know through the book which was nice. It gives you the chance to get know each one well and they are believable characters too.
I liked the chemistry between Jenna and Ryker, the hunky tattooed and pierced mechanic. I was sitting reading and willing things to happen but Jenna can't understand why a guy like Ryker would like her and I just wanted to reach in, grab Jenna and give her a good shake.
The thriller side of the book keeps you guessing and Garrett, Jenna's horrible ex is a nasty man who made me shiver but a perfect villain.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's a feel good book with drama and thriller thrown in.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes romantic thrillers with believable characters and a hunky mechanic but if like me you've never read a romantic thriller before I say give this one a try, you won't be disappointed.

I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars
To pre-order this book CLICK HERE

Saturday 21 March 2015

Everlast A Brainrush Thriller (The Everlast Duology Book 1) by Richard Bard



Description: A gifted boy forced to grow up too fast... A father who will do anything to protect him... A madman bent on destroying them both.

In Amsterdam, a visionary scientist is laying the groundwork for a cybernetic life-extension project that will transfer individual consciousness to a personalized avatar. Halfway around the world, his brilliant grandson is secretly planning to use the same technology to infiltrate the world's most secure networks. But the scientific advances necessary to perfect the brain-to-computer interface are slow in coming, too slow for the aging founder of the Everlast foundation--who may die before realizing his dream of immortality--and too slow for his ruthless grandson, who will stop at nothing to attain the recognition that is his birthright.

Caught in the middle are Jake Bronson and his seven-year-old son, Alex, whose combined mental gifts might provide the key to leapfrogging the impasse.

Everlast (Book One): When Jake's family and closest friends are simultaneously abducted in a globally coordinated kidnapping scheme, he races across two continents in his search for them, unaware his hostage son and teenage siblings have crash-landed in the jungles of South China, where they must find every ounce of their courage and wits to survive the wilds and escape the ruthless drug lord who is hot on their heels. Can a seven-year-old boy learn to kill to save his family?
 
My Thoughts : First off I'd like to say thank you to The Book Club on Facebook who sent me this book for review.
 
I went into this book completely blind as I'd never heard of Richard Bard the author or the Brainrush books, so I really didn't know what to expect at all. And to be quite honest if I'd read the description before hand I don't think this would have been a book I would have bought as I'm not really into scientific stories so I'm glad I was given the chance.

From the beginning this story had me hooked, it was a page turner and once I got peace and quiet I whizzed through it as I couldn't put it down.
Although this is a great read I presume there are books before this one that tell the story of Jake and his family and how they come to be in the situation they are in and I felt like I was missing something and playing catch up a lot of the time.
This is no fault of the authors though and this is a well written story and a fast paced thriller. The characters are interesting and the description through out the book takes you right into the action. I was punching the pillow at the end of the book as it finishes on a cliff-hanger  so was very pleased to see the second book Ephemeral was available and I can't wait to get stuck in and continue the story.
 
I have given this book 4 stars
To buy these books click below
      

Tuesday 10 March 2015

Disobey by Jacqui Rose

Description :  Bad things are going down in Soho. Someone’s going to have to pay the price…

Alfie Jenkins breaks a lot of rules. When he sets up an illegal casino in Soho there’s bad will all round and soon Alfie and those closest to him become embroiled in an all-out war with a dangerous gang.

Unfortunately this gang is a deadly enemy to have. When Alfie’s teenage niece Chloe is kidnapped and there are rumours she’s been enslaved in a sex gang it becomes a terrifying race against time to save her. Will Alfie be able to right wrongs, build bridges and protect his family, whatever the cost ?

Publish Date 12th March 2015 

My Thoughts:
First off I'd like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Avon for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To start with I found this book quite difficult to get into. Set in Soho this story introduces you to the "Faces of London" the men that run Soho, Alfie, Vaughn, Johnny, Frankie, Tommy and Del. I'm not sure if it was because I was tired when I started this book but I felt quite overwhelmed with the characters and getting to grips with them at the beginning. After reading a few chapters and getting some sleep I picked it back up again and I'm glad I did.
The Faces have all come together and put their differences aside to sort out the problems hitting the streets of Soho. The Triads that have taken over the neighbouring China Town hold a grudge and these men are not to be messed with. Mr Lee and his right hand man Lin are horrible men and reading some of the things they do in the story, even now they make my skin crawl. Alfie's to blame for Soho's troubles but he wont admit it even to himself, there's always an excuse.

Throughout the book we get to know Lola, who owns the café. An older lady who I would say is the mum of Soho. We meet Franny, Alfie's other half and Casey, Vaughn's other half. These women have been brought up in Soho and have balls and wont stand for any nonsense from the men. Chloe-Jane is Alfie's 17 year old niece,  who just want's to be part of a family and be loved but she's not had a good childhood and her Uncle Alfie just doesn't want to know.

Disobey is a gritty, hard-hitting thriller with murder, sex gangs but also family. Family that may not be through blood but family that stick together even though bridges need to be built and many wrongs have been done. There's twist and turns in the story the keep you turning the pages.

I've read a couple of Martina Cole's books and this is quite similar, I'd say it's not a book for the faint hearted and if you like hard hitting thrillers this is definitely for you.

I'm giving this book 3 stars.

 


Click here to buy Disobey

Friday 6 March 2015

Creature Comforts by Trisha Ashley

Description :
Izzy has broken off her engagement to her feckless fiancée Kieran and returned to her childhood home – the sleepy village of Halfhidden.
She soon realizes that life in the village is anything but peaceful – for one thing she’s living with her mad aunt Debo and her pack of dogs, and for another, Izzy has a lot of unanswered questions.
When she was a teenager, Izzy was involved in a terrible accident, involving various inhabitants of Halfhidden. As she sets out to discover what actually happened on the night of the accident, she realizes that her painful past is actually standing in the way of her future happiness. So when a handsome stranger comes to Halfhidden will she let love back into her life?

My thoughts : First of all I'd like to say thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollinsUK & Avon for giving me this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is the first Trisha Ashley book I've read and I was drawn to it by the title and the lovely cover. This was another fast read book as I just couldn't put it down.

The story is set in a little village called Halfhidden and Trisha's description of the village throughout the book from the pub, the walkways to the Gallery and the Lady Spring to name a few are great and I actually felt like I was drifting off and becoming part of the community the more I read on.

Izzy the main character who narrates the book, I took to straight away. She has a great personality and her determination to seek out the truth of what really happened on that fateful evening back when she was 16 shows her bravery.

I really like how a lot of the chapters started off with her dream and giving snippets of what happened as she remembered through her dreams and also the hunky Rufus sometimes featured in them.
All the characters are well described and your not over whelmed even though there are a few to get to know.

Creature Comforts is a truly lovely story, with love, romance, secrets, lies, some mad dogs and a crazy mum thrown in now and again. It absorbs you and you forget about the world around you.


 


Click here to buy Creature Comforts

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Silent Scream An edge of your seat serial killer thriller (Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series Book 1) by Angela Marsons

Description:

Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…


Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?

My thoughts: This book has been No 1 in the charts for a while now and my newsfeed has been filled with how much people have loved Silent Scream so I was desperate to read it and see what everyone was so excited about and I wasn't disappointed one little bit.

From the beginning this fast paced story had me thrilled and gripped and sometimes in books you find there's a little bit of a lull somewhere in the middle but this book just kept going and going and yet again my will power to not rush through the book failed and I just had to keep reading.

The main character Detective Kim Stone is one tough, no nonsense lady, she's cold but very efficient and also likes to bend  the rules if she thinks it  will help the case even though she gets in trouble by the boss for it. She's very driven in her job and throughout the book we find out about her childhood spent in the care system and how she uses her own experiences to help within the case. There's no romance for Kim in this book which I felt gave me a chance to find out about Kim as a Detective and her passion for the job.

There are so many twists and turns in this story I found myself  always guessing who the murderer could be, thinking I had it right to find out I was wrong. It keeps you guessing right to the end and actually gave my kitten an almighty scare at 1.20 this morning when I let out a squeal at the end.
This book is one of those books where you can't say "right at the end of this chapter I'm going to get some sleep" because I just couldn't put it down.

This book is fantastically written and is one of my favourites this year. I would highly recommend this to crime fans and really look forward to reading Evil Games (Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller series book 2) which will be published May 29th 2015 which I have pre-ordered yay.
Pre-order yours here or to buy Silent Scream Click here

I give this book a definite 5 star rating



Sunday 1 March 2015

Stranger Child by Rachel Abbott

Description : One Dark Secret. One act of revenge.

When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident.

Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie.
Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis.
Emma’s life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?

When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.

They say you should never trust a stranger. Maybe they’re right.

Going back to my earlier post in February you will see I came across Rachel Abbott in January and after reading her third book first by accident I immediately got the first and second book to read.
I was hooked and totally delighted to find out book number four Stranger Child was due for release on February 24th, I instantly had it pre-ordered.
On the day of release Rachel Abbott had a launch party on Facebook and I was privileged to attend. I have to say it was great fun with competitions, party games and Rachel also made time to answer some questions. Rachel is genuinely a lovely, lovely lady.

It didn't take me long to read this book even though I was determined to make it last as long as I possibly could. I've now realised I have no will power what so ever because from the first page I was totally hooked and new it wasn't going to take me long.
I'm not sure how Rachel does it but again this book is totally different yet carrying on the story of DCI Tom Douglas (who I have to say I have a major soft spot for). We find out some of the unanswered questions from the previous book and Tom is as delightful a character as ever.

I felt many emotions during this book and wanted it to last for ever but was so desperate to find out what happened next. There's lots of twists and turns in the story and it had me wondering what I would do in Emma's situation if my child had been abducted.

I'm giving this book 5 stars as it's just a fantastic story and so well written and Rachel's attention to detail takes you right into the story and leaves you wanting more.

I'm so looking forward to book number five.

 





What Jennifer Saw by Hal Schweig

Description : Jim Harris, a wealthy businessman and philanthropist, and his wife, Mary Beth, along with their four beautiful children, are beloved as the "Jack and Jackie" of Monroeville, Missouri, a small town which considers itself "The Camelot of the Midwest." The murder of Jim Harris in time reveals the moral decay festering beneath this family's golden surface. Following the murder of her husband, Mary Beth Harris has metamorphosed suspiciously from a mousy hausfrau doting on her family to a newly energized vamp hurrying to a secret rendezvous with a mysterious lover. Her 24-year-old son later discovers a letter from her paramour, written shortly before his father's murder, and begins to agonize over the unthinkable. Self-absorbed, Mary Beth fails to recognize the desperate plight of her 15-year-old daughter, the ethereal Jennifer, who witnessed her father's murder, but is suffering post traumatic stress syndrome and cannot recall it. A brilliant but maverick psychiatrist, Dr. Timothy Adler, wrestling demons of his own, is brought in to treat her and discovers she is also in the grip of Multiple Personality Disorder. He gambles everything on one high-risk roll of the dice to decipher her psyche, which harbors a grotesque melange of angry "personas," one of whom holds the key to the identity of the killer and also possesses shocking knowledge about the murder victim as well. Dr. Adler knows that his battle against the cunning and malevolent alter egos who wish to possess Jennifer's soul must be successful, or else she may rapidly descend into madness and even death.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the description for this book and seeing the cover picture I was really excited to read this book and after the first chapter or so I really thought it was quite promising but sadly it's quite a muddled story. One minute you're in the Dr's office with Jennifer and the next minute it's jumped to Lt Braun, so I found myself a few times going back and checking I hadn't missed something.

A few of the characters in the book have some sort of mental disorder, with Jennifer having Multiple Personality Disorder which is quite an eye opener at some points it just seemed a bit crazy to me sometimes and hard to believe.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good story and I found myself wanting to find out what happened next but I feel if the story had a few tweaks and a bit more structure it would be a fantastic book and also a bit more about the main character and a little less about some of the others would be nice.

It has some shock factors and I will never look at a teaspoon in the same way again.

It will be interesting to see how this writer progresses in the future as the story is definitely there it's just the writings not on the same level which is a real shame.



Buy your copy here