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Celebrity couple Carly and Mark Anderson are throwing a huge 25th wedding anniversary party at their forever home. Their house has been the basis for their fame and success as well as a safe haven where they have raised their children. But the perfect couple image is fake and the party ends as Mark leaves following the revelation that he has been having an affair and their marriage is over…

The Forever Home is a domestic as well as psychological thriller but also an emotional rollercoaster! We are automatically allied with Carly as she struggles with the aftermath of her husband’s shocking secret.

I felt so angry with how Mark plays the media and expects his reputation to remain untarnished despite his unreasonable behaviour. His mistress is spiteful and selfish which further inflamed my sense of indignation on Carly’s behalf.

Carly gradually reveals the cracks and craters in her marriage as her friendship with her builder develops. She has hidden so much pain from her children and from the press. Mark still has a hold over her and threatens to reveal her secret to the police if she doesn’t support his version of their break up.

The plot is delivered through Carly’s first person perspective, another reason for readers to feel closer to her. She develops a romance with Ryan but is subject to sinister things happening around her home as well as revolting ‘gifts’. There is a threatening atmosphere for Carly to contend with as she lives alone in an isolated location and the weather doesn’t help!

The Forever Home is a brilliant read and I loved how strongly outraged I felt! I have previously reviewed First Date, The Sister In Law and The Empty Nest by Sue Watson.

The Forever Home book description:

You thought you’d always be safe there… you were wrong.

Carly had thought they’d always live there. The beautiful Cornish cliffside house they’d taken on as a wreck, that Mark had obsessively re-designed and renovated – a project that had made him famous. It was where they’d raised their children, where they’d sat cosily on the sofa watching storms raging over the sea below. It was where they’d promised to keep each other’s secrets…

Until now. Because Mark has fallen in love. With someone he definitely shouldn’t have. Someone who isn’t Carly. And suddenly their family home doesn’t feel like so much of a safe haven.

Carly thinks forever should mean forever though: it’s her home and she’ll stay there. Even the dark family secrets it contains feel like they belong to her. But someone disagrees. And, as threats start to arrive at her front door, it becomes clear, someone will stop at nothing. Because someone wants to demolish every last thing that makes Carly feel safe. Forever.

An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller about what lies are hidden in the most beautiful homes. Perfect for fans of Date Night, Gone Girl and The Woman in the Window.

Author Bio:

Sue Watson was a journalist on national magazines and newspapers before becoming a TV producer with the BBC.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue explores the darker side of life, writing psychological thrillers with big twists.

Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sue.watson.39501

https://twitter.com/suewatsonwriter

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/2Sx7grW
Apple: https://apple.co/2Ogai2b

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3v7BtNk

Google: https://bit.ly/3qyYfdl

Professor Stephanie Miller is an eminent scientist resarching climate change. She is newly widowed and has moved house to escape the painful memories of her happy previous life. Her teenaged daughter is not happy with the change. Before they can settle properly into their new life, Stephanie’s character is assassinated on social media in a deliberate attempt to discredit her opinion. Further tragedy ensues when a murder takes place but is Stephanie the real target of a serial killer?

Widow’s Island is a fast paced thriller about cyberbullying and a serial killer! It is the first book I have read by this author but won’t be the last 🙂

Stephanie is a strong woman, trying to care for her teenager as they both cope with their grief. She also has a worthy job, trying to informed the US government about the risks of climate change. I felt so enraged that both Stephanie’s personal and professional lives are under attack. She struggles to keep her cool as all aspects ofher life are opened to scrutiny and I really felt her frustration. Her devastation at the murder of a friend and fears for her daughter were also realistic and caught me emotionally.

The book is written in the third person so that we see the viewpoints of Stephanie and her daughter, the internet trolls, the police and the killer. This gives us insights into multiple actions and the motives behind them. I found the trolling system to be particularly insidious and it had an authenticity which is worrying.

The tension and danger are maintained throughout. There were twists and turns as the cyberbullying and discrediting of Stephanie’s reputation ramps up the pressure. And then we had the physical peril she faces as the serial killer moves closer. Location is important as the island makes the danger more concentrated as there are not many police and little chance of escape.

Widow’s Island was an engaging crime thiller that had me hooked.

Media Pack  Information Sheet:

Title: Widow’s Island

Author: L.A. Larkin

Publication Day: June 3rd 2021

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08Z3WJGWPsocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/7YhP50E0DhN

Kobo: http://ow.ly/FF9u50E0Tmm

Google: http://ow.ly/YrRi50E0Tns

Description:

Someone knows your secret. And they’re coming to find you…

Stephanie Miller is an average working mom. She isn’t perfect, but when her war hero husband dies and her work as a scientist puts her in news headlines, her past laid bare for all to see, she’s determined to make a new life for herself and teenage daughter, Amy. But she fears it’s only a matter of time before the biggest mistake of her life is revealed.

As Stephanie and Amy take refuge on a remote island in Washington, it feels like they’re learning how to live again. But then they come home to graffiti on their garage door, there’s no escaping the hate online, and Stephanie is sure someone is watching from the shadows outside their house.

When someone close to Stephanie is murdered in cold blood, she knows her worst fears have come true. Someone knows the truth. And she must become the fighter her husband always knew her to be if she is to protect her daughter, and everything left in the world that she loves.

An absolutely nail-biting thriller from bestselling author, L.A. Larkin. Perfect for fans of Rachel Caine, Lisa Regan and Gregg Olsen. An addictive, unputdownable, up-all-night read.

Author Bio:

L.A. Larkin is a crime-thriller author, published by Bookouture. Her latest novel, Widow’s Island, is now available for pre-order and is described as “an absolutely nail-biting crime thriller with a heart-pounding twist.”She is also the author of Prey, Devour, Thirst, and The Genesis Flaw and she writes a funny dog detective mysteries under the pseudonym of Louisa Bennet.

Lee Child described Widow’s Island as, “Fast and immersive – a really fine thriller”.

C.J. Carver described Widow’s Island as, “Dark and menacing, Larkin’s characters are heart-wrenchingly real”.

Peter James, “Intrigue in spades”.

Marie Claire, “‘Written with pacy cinematic style, this chiller thriller will reel you in”. (Thirst)

Good Housekeeping, “Brilliant!”. (Devour)

James Phelan, “‘L.A. Larkin is a world-class thriller writer”.

Literature Works, “Exciting, original and utterly captivating”.  (Devour)

Bookseller + Publisher, “Exciting, compulsive reading” (The Genesis Flaw)

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LALarkinAuthor

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/lalarkinauthor

Website:     https://lalarkin.com/

Mia Moretti arrives in Tuscany, excited but anxious. She has finally been given the all clear from her cancer and now wants to follow her dream of painting. She meets and falls in love with Luca but will her fears about the future get in the way?

Her Tuscan Summer is a warm novel about love and hope. It has an important message about not taking our lives for granted, to challenge ourselves to make the most of every day.

Mia has been through an awful few years and has lost the ability to paint. Now she uses art as a therapy, to capture and appreciate the beauty of life. Yet her fears about her illness and her future leave a shadow hanging over her. The link between physical wellbeing and mental health is strongly emphasised.

The book is written in the first person so we are witness to Mia’s hopes and fears. She falls in love quickly and completely with Luca, a man who has experienced grief and equally understands how precious life is. The first half of the book is a simple love story but then there is a twist halfway through which causes the couple to evaluate their future.

The landscape and culture of Italy is wonderfully brought to life and is almost the third main character in the book! The food, the art, the lifestyle combine to provide a backdrop to the plot.

Her Tuscan Summer is an emotional book with an important message about appreciating those we love. I have previously reviewed A Child of my Own by Vanessa Carnevale.

Her Tuscan Summer book description:

Author Bio:

Vanessa Carnevale is an Australian author of women’s fiction. She is also the host of Your Beautiful Writing Life retreats held in Tuscany and Australia.

Vanessa loves to travel, and spent several years living in Florence, Italy, a place she considers her second home. She lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Her previous novels, THE MEMORIES OF US and THE FLORENTINE BRIDGE are published by HarperCollins and have been translated into German and Slovenian. Vanessa’s third novel will be published by Bookouture in August 2020.

You can connect with Vanessa on Instagram and Facebook or via her websites: www.vanessacarnevale.com | www.yourbeautifulwritinglife.com

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3bRE464

Apple: https://apple.co/3rjTHrF

Kobo: https://bit.ly/39f1bpT

Google: https://bit.ly/3coexCe

Glaswegian Jamie Gray is head of the Blood Brothers, offering a protection racket on the Gallowburn estate. His gang are respected for removing drugs and keeping the peace. But the peace is shattered when Jamie’s dad is released from prison and tries to start drug trafficking from another Glasgow gangster Toni McVey. Meanwhile Jamie is embroiled in the court case against his girlfriend’s father and alleged murderer but Allegra is secretly waiting abroad for him…

Bad Blood throws you into the action straight away and doesn’t let up! This is the second book in the series but the first that I have read. There is a continuance of plotlines from the first book and the author catches us up quickly.

Jamie is an intriguing lead character. His actions are questionable but he has a sense of honour that makes him likeable. He is devoted to his Blood Brothers as well as his family and girlfriend Allegra. The arrival of his dad makes him consider his role in the community but he attempts to stay true to his mum’s values. He seems quite mature but is in fact only in his early 20s.

Being a gritty crime thriller, there is violence, and danger is never very far away. I admit that I did get a little weary of the frying pan wielding and eyeball gouging references. However they did show that strength of reputation is important to maintaining position!

I enjoyed the dialogue which had an authentic feel and fully evoked the Scottish accent. This helped to reinforce the setting and brought the characters to life. The book is written in the third person so that we can see multiple perspectives, both the characters we like and those that are trying to destroy them.

Bad Blood is a compelling gang crime thriller and I hope to read the first in the series as well as find out what happens next! Absolutely loved it!

Bad Blood book blurb:

If you can’t trust your family, who can you trust…?

Glasgow gangster Jamie Gray and his fellow Blood Brothers rule the Gallowburn Estate with an iron fist. No one messes around on their turf without consequences.

But when Jamie’s erstwhile dad, Jason Gray, reappears after many years away – some of them spent behind bars – the Blood Brothers are drawn into the murky and dangerous world of the toughest gangster of them all – The Queen of Glasgow, Toni McVay.

Toni is the head of the most powerful organised crime family in Scotland and, as the psychotic leader enjoys scooping out the eyeballs of those who displease her, Jamie has no option but to do her bidding.

With the love of his life Allegra still missing, his enemies closing in, and his family’s safety at risk, Jamie Gray faces the battle of his life.  But with his father’s bad blood running through his veins, and the bravery and brains he has inherited from his mother Jackie, Jamie has all the tools he needs to survive.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3bT43dH

Author Bio:

Heather Atkinson is the author of over fifty books – predominantly in the crime fiction genre.  Although Lancashire born and bred she now lives with her family, including twin teenage daughters, on the beautiful west coast of Scotland.   Her new gangland series for Boldwood, set on the fictional Gallowburn estate in Glasgow began with Blood Brothers in December 2020.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/booksofheatheratkinson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherAtkinso1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercrimeauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/HeatherAtkinsonNewsletter

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heather-atkinson

Trigger warning: this book deals with child murder

Nine year old Charlie is left alone playing in the street when she vanishes. Sadly she is found dead soon afterwards. Then another girl Macy disappears and the police face a race against time to find her. Police detective Morgan Brookes  and her sergeant Ben Matthews are determined to bring her home safely…

The Hiding Place is a tense and engaging police thriller, the third book in the Morgan Brookes series. I have previously reviewed One Left Alive and The Killer’s Girl. There are mentions of events in previous books, particularly relating to Morgan’s family life but no big spoilers.

I love the main two characters Morgan and Ben. they have a lovely relationship with each other as well as natural feeling banter with their colleagues. Morgan and Ben continue to have a romantic frisson but in this book she embarks upon a relationship with a journalist. Big warning bells sounded! Ben is deeply concerned and instantly distrusts Fin but is he jealous and not thinking straight? Or is he right and Morgan is being duped?

The case itself is deeply unpleasant. An abduction and death of a child is hideous but handled sensitively by the author. The police and forensic team are devastated by the work they must carry out. The autopsy scene is difficult to read due to the emotion of the characters as well as the appalling situation.

Third person narrative is used throughout which gives us insight into multiple perspectives including Morgan, Ben and missing girl Macy. Once again Morgan acts independently, following up on a hunch that her superiors disagree with. There are not a whole host of suspects which made it quite easy to guess the murderer so the enjoyment was in watching the action unfold.

The Hiding Place was a very enjoyable police procedural and thriller. I have also reviewed Last Light, The Girl in the Grave and The Girls in the Lake by Helen Phifer.

Media Pack  Information Sheet:

Title: The Hiding Place

Author: HELEN PHIFER

Publication Day: June 1st 2021

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08XVYDCLJsocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/8r4850DPN5b

Kobo: http://ow.ly/1gmn50DPN2D

Google: http://ow.ly/yNii50DPN81

Description:

The little girl peered down the dark alleyway. She knew she wasn’t supposed to take this shortcut and her mother would kill her if she found out, but it was raining and all she wanted was to get home quickly. She stepped forward, not seeing the silent figure following her into the dark passageway…

When nine-year-old Charlotte Standish goes missing from her street in the small town of Rydale Falls, it sparks a media frenzy. Detective Morgan Brookes leads a frantic hunt for the girl, but little Charlie seems to have vanished into thin air.

Chasing up a lead at Charlie’s school, Morgan is chilled to learn that this isn’t the first time a child has gone missing on this street. Another girl disappeared fifteen years ago, and Morgan is the only one who thinks the cases could be related. But in the moment that she takes her eye off Charlie’s case to investigate the link between the two girls, another child, Macy, goes missing.

Then Morgan gets the call she was dreading, Charlie’s lifeless body has been found in a local park, lying in the shadow of a large tree. Morgan has let one girl down, but she refuses to give up on Macy. Determined to find an overlooked clue, she retraces Macy’s last steps. She’s getting close to the truth when her partner, Detective Ben Matthews, is attacked outside Morgan’s home. Is a twisted killer isolating Morgan from her team? And how long does Macy have left to live? Morgan must solve the case before more innocent lives are taken…

A nail-biting, unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night, for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Patricia Gibney.

Author Bio:

Helen Phifer is the #1 Bestselling crime and horror novelist of the Annie Graham, Lucy Harwin and Beth Adams series. Helen lives in a small town in Cumbria. Surrounded by miles of coastline and only a short drive from the beautiful Lake District. She has always loved writing and reading since the days she learnt how to in infant school. She loves reading books that make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and make her afraid to go to the toilet, alone in the middle of the night. She is eternally grateful to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, James Herbert and Graham Masterton for scaring her senseless in her teenage years. Unable to find enough of the scary stories she loves to read, she decided to write her own.

Author Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Helenphifer1

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/helenphifer

Twitter:      https://twitter.com/helenphifer1

Website:     https://www.helenphifer.com