Crikey, what a captivating book! I was absolutely spellbound by every page.
Seventeen year old Lauren Sykes, daughter of notorious crime boss Kyle, goes on the run after she shoots Charlie Perrin, the son of another crime organisation leader. Now both families are hunting for her to let honour be satisfied.
She turns to her father’s former employee Harry but when their safe house is found, Harry sacrifices himself to let Lauren escape. She is able to call the number that Harry gave her and is picked up by an undercover cop whose own life in now in danger. Meanwhile DI Toby Clarke believes there is a cover up going on and that the crime groups have infiltrated the police itself.
The danger that Lauren and those protecting her are facing feels very real and this drama and tension is maintained through the whole book. There is violence and brutality but it is in no way gratuitous or excessive and fits in with the plot, tone and style of the book.
I enjoyed the different characters and viewpoints shown through the third person narrative. Our sympathies and fear are with Lauren throughout the book but I found myself gripped with anticipation worrying about those helping her particularly Harry and Pat/Petra.
I think the family dynamic and organised crime gangs were chillingly good and believable whilst the characters were well written. The moral issue of Pat being undercover was interesting and Toby was a man first and a cop second, doing what is right rather than what is good.
Overall, Safe was an excellent read and I believe it is the beginning of a new series so I look forward to more!
SAFE by Jane Adams
DISCOVER A BRAND-NEW BRILLIANTLY GRIPPING SERIES FROM A BESTSELLING AUTHOR
All her life, all Lauren Sykes wanted to be is safe.
Her father murdered her mother and gets away with it. He tries to force Lauren into marriage with vicious criminal Charlie Perrin. But then Lauren kills him. Now she’s on the run.
SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD LAUREN HAS MADE A VERY DANGEROUS ENEMY – HER OWN FATHER
It was self-defence. Perrin had tried to force himself on her. But the details don’t matter. Now she has two criminal families, the Sykeses and the Perrins, are after her. They will kill her for defying them.
The one person Lauren trusts is killed by her father’s men. Now her only hope is undercover cop Petra Merrow. Lauren has no choice but to trust her. It’s that or die.
THERE ARE NO SAFE HOUSES FOR LAUREN
Even the police can’t trust each other. A corrupt cop threatens them both. Merrow’s cover is blown. She calls on DI Toby Clarke to help protect them. But can he be trusted?
Perfect for fans of C.L. Taylor, Clair McGowen, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney and Mark Billingham.
JANE ADAMS
“I am the author of more than thirty published crime novels. The first, The Greenway, was nominated for both the Authors’ club award and the CWA John Creasey for best debut novel.
I’m constantly amazed at where life has taken me. Writing had never been on my ‘possible careers’ list, but once stories take root in your brain, they just have to be told – and I feel very fortunate that people want to read them.
In addition to writing I teach creative writing, read and mentor for The Literary Consultancy, am a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and FRSA.”
BOOKS BY JANE ADAMS
THE DETECTIVE MIKE CROFT SERIES
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THE GREENWAY
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THE SECRETS
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THEIR FINAL MOMENTS
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THE LIAR
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DETECTIVE MIKE CROFT BOOKS 1-3 BOX SET
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THE COMPLETE DETECTIVE MIKE CROFT BOX SET
LINKS
Twitter: @janeadamsauthor
TRIGGER WARNING: this book contains a sexual assualt
Alice has her career and love life sorted. But an allegation about her boss results in her losing her job. She immediately falls into a new role in a rundown pub, earning a pittance but much happier. Until her boyfriend Joe suggests they take in a lodger to help with the rent. Only problem is that he wants his ex Zoe to move in…
As it turns out, Alice’s life wasn’t so perfect before. Her new permanent job was a result of a sexual assault that she was too scared to report and never told Joe about. This is gradually revealed over the course of the book and is a dramatic element that contrasts with the light hearted tone of the rest of the book.
Our sympathy is immediately with Alice as she tries to negotiate a change in career as well as her fears for her relationship with the arrival of Zoe. It is easy to identify with Alice’s doubts about trusting Joe and Zoe but there is also a potential love entanglement for Alice which muddies the moral absolutes.
The plot is delivered through a humorous narrative which feels very natural and easy to read. The characters are all interesting and engaging. Despite the sexual assault, the majority of Just Saying is warm and feelgood, entertaining and enjoyable. The happy ending for a certain peripheral character left a tear in my eye…
Media Kit:
Title: Just Saying
Author: Sophie Ranald
Publication Day: July 3rd 2020
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Description:
I almost gave up on love. My ex, who called his private parts ‘Nigel’, was enough to put me off men forever. But then I met Joe.
Alice thought she’d found Mr Right. Her blue-eyed boyfriend Joe gives her butterflies, makes her bacon sandwiches when she’s hungover, and doesn’t have a nickname for any of his body parts.
She should have known it was too good to be true. Because one day, Alice and Joe bump into Zoe. According to him, Zoe’s ‘just an old friend’. But Alice saw the way they froze, and heard the strange note in Joe’s voice when he said her name.
Then, out of the blue, Zoe needs a place to live. And Joe has the bright idea of inviting her, and her fluffy ginger cat Frazzle, to stay with them.
Alice tries her hardest not to feel threatened. But the thing is, Zoe doesn’t survive off microwave meals, or go days without washing her glossy copper-coloured hair, or accidentally get mascara in her contact lenses.
Joe’s ex might be pretty much perfect, but there’s no way that Alice will let Zoe steal him. She’s on a mission to prove that three (four, if you count the cat) is definitely a crowd…
This fabulous, feel-good page-turner is for anyone who has ever got a little too drunk and checked out their partner’s ex! (We’ve all been there…) Fans of romantic comedies by Sophie Kinsella and Lindsey Kelk, and TV shows like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin, will love this utterly relatable read.
Author Bio:
Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s. As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she’d never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t It?) seemed to write itself. Her second, third and fourth novels followed. Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion, finance and running. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and Purrs, their adorable little cat.
To find out about Sophie’s forthcoming releases and get access to free books and special offers, sign up to her newsletter at sophieranald.com or
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The glamour of showbusiness provides the backdrop to Murder at the Playhouse, the third book in the Kitty Underhay series. An actress wanting her big break is found dead on a golf course and Kitty’s love interest Captain Matthew Bryant is the prime suspect. Can she clear his name…?
Helena Dixon’s lead characters have not really spoken since their argument at the end of the last book. However, when Kitty discovers that Matthew has been wrongly accused of murder she springs to his defence. The police’s case against him is circumstantial as he was the last person to admit to seeing the victim alive. But when another body is found, Matthew has a definite alibi. Together they set about finding alternative suspects and Kitty volunteers at the playhouse for a charity event involving all of the characters with a motive.
Kitty and Matthew’s romance continues to simmer during Murder at the Playhouse. The introduction of his parents provides an extra complication and he finally reveals to Kitty the loss of his daughter (she was already aware of the death of his wife). The emotional connection between the two lead characters is strengthened and I hope their relationship continues to develop.
The ongoing family mystery of Kitty’s mother’s disappearance continues to produce a subplot of investigation and leaves more revelations anticipated for the next book (I hope there is one!)
As with the two previous books, I enjoyed the historical details of the 1930s and the social and class distinctions which affect the lives of the characters. This was an enjoyable traditional murder mystery with no violence or graphic detail. Like Agatha Christie novels, the focus of the plot is on revealing the motives through unofficial interrogation and secret observation.
I have previously reviewed book 2 in the series: Murder at Enderley Hall.
Media Pack Information Sheet:
Title: Murder at the Playhouse
Author: Helena Dixon
Publication Day: June 30th 2020
Description:
The scene is set for murder… and Kitty Underhay’s partner has been cast as the killer.
Late Summer, 1933. After a quarrel with too-plucky-for-her-own-good amateur sleuth Kitty Underhay, dashing ex-army captain Matthew Bryant is nursing his wounds, and a tumbler of brandy, when there’s a heavy knock at the door and he finds himself arrested for murder. The body of aspiring actress Pearl Bright has been found, strangled with one of Matt’s own bootlaces, and the evidence seems to be stacked against him.
The local constabulary might have locked Matt up, but before they can throw away the key, Kitty hears the news and hies to his aid, determined to prove his innocence. And when her investigations lead her to the home of retired theatre impresario Stanley Davenport, and the local amateur dramatics society, Kitty uncovers a web of deceit that stretches far beyond the stage make-up. But Kitty’s digging is bringing her to the attention of the killer. Without her partner in crime-fighting, can Kitty expose them and clear Matt’s name? Or will it be curtains for them both?
A gripping Golden Age cozy murder mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss.
Author Bio:
Nell Dixon was born and continues to live in the Black Country. Married to the same man for over thirty-five years she has three daughters, a cactus called Spike, a crazy cockapoo and a tank of tropical fish. She is allergic to adhesives, apples, tinsel and housework. Her addictions of choice are coffee and reality TV. She was winner of The Romance Prize in 2007 with her book Marrying Max, and winner of Love Story of the Year 2010 with her book, Animal Instincts. She also writes historical 1930’s set cozy crime as Helena Dixon.
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TRIGGER WARNING: this book contains domestic abuse which may be upsetting to some readers
Rachel and Ben are going through a tough patch: his job is insecure, her mother is dying and they have just moved house. One night, Rachel is convinced that she can hear someone in their house, trying to get into her daughter Beth’s room. Then troll dolls start appearing, ones from Rachel’s childhood that she abandoned when she and her mother fled from her violent father…
The Life She Left Behind is a top quality psychological thriller about the pernicious effects of domestic abuse and the repetitious nature of the cycle of violence. It becomes clear that Rachel’s father and brother are copying behaviours that they have been brought up to see as normal, even though they understand the pain it causes.
The plot is told through four main perspectives: Rachel, Ben, Little Bird and a nameless person who is Rachel’s brother Kevin. Little Bird is in the past and it is utterly heartbreaking to read how a little girl understands the abuse and suffering she witnesses and is subjected to. In particular, the description of ‘hurting flowers’ for the bruises she sees on her mother made my heart ache each time.
The portion of the book from Kevin’s perspective is also tragic. He is also a victim of abuse but was showing tendencies to behave in the same way. As an adult, he has used his anger and violence to get revenge on people for any perceived slights. But really he is still a little boy emotionally, desperate for his father to be a better man or his mother to stand up and save him. He is angry at his mother for failing to protect him and leaving him when she ran away.
The four viewpoints were written so well and so separately that it was eays to distinguish between their experiences. My sympathies were wholeheartedly with whoever was leading the chapter. I could understand the pain that Rachel is facing at the loss of her mother, the worry and shame that Ben describes at his job uncertainty, the fear of Little Bird and the mixed strength and weakness of Kevin.
The Life She Left Behind is incredibly powerful and utterly fascinating as a personality study of the cycle of abuse.
The Life She Left Behind book description:
When I wake up in the middle of the night, it’s not a sound that disturbs me. It’s a feeling. Silently, I creep to my daughter’s room, breathing a sigh of relief when I see her sleeping, her night-light twirling, butterfly shapes moving their pink wings. Quickly, I lock the door. I won’t let anything happen to my little girl.
You tell him everything. The husband you adore, the father of your child, your best friend.
He knows, just by looking at your sage-green eyes, when something is wrong. The two of you can communicate with a glance, or a touch of the hand.
Except what if you can’t?
What if your happy marriage has plastered over one huge lie? A lie you have even started to believe yourself, in order to survive?
What if you have a secret, something you have hidden from your beloved husband and your strawberry-scented baby girl, to keep them safe? What if the guilt has kept you up, night after night, for as long as you can remember?
What happens when suddenly, after twenty-eight years, that secret refuses to stay buried? What will you do now everyone you love, everything you cherish, is in harm’s way?
An emotional, thought-provoking and beautifully written novel which examines the pieces of ourselves we are afraid of, and the impossible decisions we make when we are desperate. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kerry Fisher and Liane Moriarty will be moved by this heartbreaking tale.
Author Bio:
Nicole Trope went to university to study Law but realised the error of her ways when she did very badly on her first law essay because, as her professor pointed out, ‘It’s not meant to be a story.’
She studied teaching instead and used her holidays to work on her writing career and complete a Masters’ degree. In between raising three children, working for her husband and renovating houses, she has published six novels. She lives in Sydney, Australia.
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Sadie feels uninspired with her small town life and is training to be a teacher however she thinks that won’t suit her either. But then a family tragedy makes her re-evaluate her priorities and she leaves her course in order to run the waffle house with her grandmother. But April’s health is in decline so who can Sadie turn to for help: Decllan her ex boyfriend or Luke her current beau?
There is romance and drama but also emotion and grief in The Waffle House on the Pier. It is still a light hearted read but does tackle tough subjects in a gentle way.
I was a little frustrated with Sadie and her vacillating approach to life. I felt that the teacher training experience was a little unrealistic based on my own work in schools. Her love life and family circumstances were enjoyable to read about and countered the sadder elements of the plot.
The love triangle with Declan and Luke was intriguing. Sadie isn’t completely over her relationship with Declan but isn’t sure if she loves him like a best friend or brother rather than a lover. She loves him rather than being in love with him and is getting in the way of his new relationship, with her friends egging her on to rekindle the romance.
Meanwhile, her relationship with Luke gets off to a bad start when he accidentally injures her, earning the animosity of her family. He arrives in her life at both the wrong and right time: he wants to help her with her plans for the waffle house but they have been together too short a time for it to be a realistic option. But he is able to support her in her choices even though they striggle to find time together due to her new commitments.
The ending was a little abrupt and I was left wanting to know more about the solution the family settles on in the last pages. However, it was also a sign that I enjoyed the book that I wanted more!
This is an engaging and entertaining book and put me in the mood for summer love and a beach holiday. Oh, and waffles!
Media Pack – Tour Info Sheet
Author: Tilly Tennant
Book: The Waffle House on the Pier
Publication Day: June 25th 2020
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Description:
Run away to Sea Salt Bay, where the sand is warm and soft, the sea is a perfect blue, and a candy-coloured waffle house is about to change Sadie’s life…
For as long as she can remember, Sadie’s grandparents have run the waffle house on the pier at Sea Salt Bay. With its pretty painted chairs, sweet smells, and the warm advice of her beloved grandparents, the waffle house is like a second home
But when Sadie’s grandfather dies, leaving her grandmother without an anchor, Sadie must make a difficult decision. She quits her job and moves back home, determined to keep things going. The trouble is, she knows nothing about running a business, and learning at a million miles an hour with a shop full of hungry people isn’t easy. When she nearly burns the waffle house down, she has to admit she needs to get some help.
Her ex-boyfriend Declan promises to be there for her but Sadie worries that getting too close is a mistake – especially as he has a new girlfriend now. And anyway she’s just met newcomer Luke, with his gorgeous suntan and mellow voice…
Sadie’s family have always loved Declan and they’re not too sure about Luke, leaving Sadie unsure which way to turn. A terrible accident at sea forces her to look into her heart, but what if it’s already too late to tell the right man that she loves him?
If you love stolen kisses under the pier, walking along spray-capped shores eating ice cream, and books by Lucy Diamond, Jill Mansell and Jenny Colgan, you will fall in love with this romantic, heart-breaking read.
Author Bio:
Tilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing. She wrote a novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.
Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was her debut novel; published in 2014 it was an Amazon bestseller in both the UK and Australia. In 2016 she signed to the hugely successful Bookouture and is currently working on her next Tilly Tennant novel. She also writes as Sharon Sant, where she explores the darker side of life, and Poppy Galbraith, where things get a little crazier.
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