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BLOG TOUR – Timewaif & The Roman Road by Deborah Lyon

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Timewaif & The Roman Road by Deborah Lyon.

Here’s the blurb

Twelve-year-old Tim Wainwright, growing up on the west coast of Cumbria, struggles with his mum’s intense grief after the death of his dad and the constant taunting of village bullies. Only his best friend Annie brings any fun to his life.

Fleeing his tormentors after school one day, he finds a hidden cave in the sea cliffs. Once inside, Tim leaps through an enchanted hopscotch board to emerge into a very different Cumbria… two thousand years in the past.

This is an ancient land of Romans and Britons under the rule of Emperor Hadrian. Tim soon realises he must navigate a totally different culture, facing adventures which challenge not only his resilience and wits to the limit but even risk his very life.

Will he ever get back to his own time, his mum and Annie? And does he even really want to?

Join Tim on his rip-roaring adventure exploring Roman life in the wilds of ancient Britain, the first in the Timewaif series of historical novels set throughout the ages for children to enjoy.

Review

Timewaif & The Roman Road is aimed at the younger audience, around 9 – 11 years old but is a very fun read for an adult too. I love anything to do with the Romans and wanted to see if the author could bring some passion and excitement for the period for younger readers.

Focusing on that side first.. wow.. there’s some much detail packed in.. little nuggets of info to captivate the readers mind. I couldn’t help but feel if I’d had stories given to me when I was younger like this my love of history would be even stronger.. its just so effortlessly interesting and immersive.

The other thing I love about this time of genre aimed is typically they deal with some personal issues too, to help the younger mind see these things and hopefully help them process their won feelings. Timewaif & The Roman Road ticked that box beautifully. Tim the main character has some issues at home, his mother hasn’t been well and has had her own issues leaving Tim to kind of grow up himself. As we all know growing up isn’t always easy and we see Tim’s struggles

This was such a fun and entertaining read even though it’s aimed for a younger reader but even the struggles Tim faced were handled in a sensitive and thoughtful way making it even better for me, having two young kids myself… helps me remember how they might be feel in certain situations as we see things though different eyes.

Nice fun 5 star read!

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Tempted yet?

Why not head to Goodreads or Amazon to find out more!

Who is Deborah Lyon?

Deborah Lyon has lived in Cumbria for nearly 20 years, having previously worked in London where she enjoyed a successful career in corporate communications. A lifelong lover of the Lake District, Deborah moved north to raise her blended family of four children by Windermere, where she lives with her husband, Gez, two golden retrievers, a Border terrier, and guinea pigs.

Her debut title, Lake District Unlocked, a children’s travel guide to Cumbria, was published in 2010. A graduate of Oxford University with a degree in English and French Literature, Deborah also holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. She draws inspiration from the region’s history and folklore, with the idea for Timewaif & The Roman Road sparked by an inscription on a Roman tombstone and a walk through a ruined felltop fort.

When she isn’t writing, Deborah runs a holiday-let business and enjoys exploring the landscapes that inspire her work, with over 170 Wainwright summits under her belt.

Where can you find them?

Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/timewaifbooks/
Website	https://timewaif.com/

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BLOG TOUR – I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for I Will Find You by Jessica Huntley!

Here’s the blurb

Annalise saved them from certain death. But she does want something in return…

Bonnie and her husband Steffan are hiking in the beautiful Swiss Alps when they are caught in a freak snowstorm. Fearing they may not survive, the couple are overjoyed when they stumble across an isolated cabin occupied by a lone woman, Annalise.

But their joy soon turns to unease as they realise that Annalise may have a sinister agenda.

And she’s not the only one with something to hide. Trapped together in a nightmarish pressure cooker, the cracks in Bonnie’s marriage start to show as she discovers that Steffan has been leading a secret life.

All the while Annalise becomes more and more menacing. What does she want from them? And what is she willing to do to get it?

Bound ever tighter in a horrifying web, Bonnie is finally forced to confront one terrifying truth – someone is going to die on this mountain.

Review

This is my second foray into the authors works and I already knew I’d love this one.. I just didn’t know how much!

I Will Find You is told form the point of view of two characters, Bonnie and Annalise. What I immediately loved is the authors suspenseful style of storytelling.. the plot is never drawn out too much, rather twisted and engrossing as it plays out… it gives you instant tingles as you know something isn’t right.. but you don’t know what.

The majority of the story focuses around a trip to the Swiss Alps, as Bonnie and her husband Steffan set out on a trek that will push them both to the limits.

Things take a turn when a storm hits forcing them to seek refuge in a remote cabin where they meet Annalise.

The characters compete for the readers attention as the author moves the point of view from now, to explore the past and what brings them to this moment.. the great thing is neither overshadow the other… they both just demand that attention with their own tales.. you are sucked in.. so moving from one to the next while you enjoy the chapter you can’t wait to get back and see where the previous will take you.. but then you are sucked into to that perspective… ahhh you’re honestly just hooked easily making it an easy read too as it just flows effortlessly.

I’ll try to keep this spoiler free but there’s so many creepy vibes that come off multiple characters.. Bonnie has her own trauma but there’s more to her being in the alps than we know.. Steffan.. he’s a dark horse.. you always feel there’s something you don’t quite understand.. hidden just under the surface.. and Annalise.. how did she end up here and why…

The plot is captivating and deliberately full of suspense and I just bloody loved it.. I never felt I quite knew who was good or bad.. each have their own darkness and it was just simply enthralling.

The first 20% of the book is pure build-up which then dials up a notch when they arrive in the cabin..Bonnie feels the creepiness as soon as the door closes but is she going mad? is Annalise just a lonely old woman?

There’s a subtle message through the tale as it develops.. don’t judge a book by it’s cover.. either that or everyone has skeletons in the closet..

The author got the setting prefect to as it added a claustrophobic feel that ramps up the building tension.

There’s so much more to the story than the synopsis suggests.. trust me..it goes way further and those twists are perfectly timed and hit just the right notes.

Jessica Huntley is the queen of the suspenseful thriller for sure!

A heart pounding 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Who is Jessica Huntley?

Jessica Huntley is an author of dark and twisty psychological thrillers, which often focus on mental health topics and delve deep into the minds of her characters.

She has a varied career background, having joined the Army as an Intelligence Analyst, then left to become a Personal Trainer.

She is now living her life-long dream of writing from the comfort of her home, while looking after her young son and her disabled black Labrador. She enjoys keeping fit and drinking wine (not at the same time).

Where can you find them?

Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/jessica.reading.writing
Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/jessica_reading_writing
X (formerly Twitter)	https://twitter.com/jess_read_write
Website	http://www.jessicahuntleyauthor.com

Book Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236600768-i-will-find-you

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/willfindyou-zbt

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Blog Tour – One More to Die by Joy Ellis

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Today we kick off the blog tour for One More to Die by Joy Ellis!

Here’s the blub

Detective Kate Carter is called out to a fatal car accident on a remote fen lane.

At first glance it looks like a drunk driver simply lost control and crashed headlong into a ditch. But nothing about the scene adds up. The number plate is fake. The driver’s licence doesn’t belong to the dead man in the car. One tyre doesn’t match the other three. And what is a vinyl 1960s pop record doing in the glove box?

A neat puncture wound to the driver’s neck reveals this was no accident.

The following day, the body of a young woman is found in an old barn out on the fens. She’s been dead at least two years. Placed on the body is another vintage pop record.

And then the nightmare becomes personal. A mysterious package arrives at the station addressed to Kate: a 45-rpm record, and a chilling note scrawled in block capitals: ONE MORE TO GO.

It’s just the start. Sinister phone calls, creepy notes left on her car, unwanted gifts on her doorstep: Kate can no longer deny that she’s being pursued by an obsessive stalker . . .

Is she next in the killer’s sights?

Review

One More To Die follows Detective Kate Carter as her personal and work lives clash in spectacular fashion.

It all starts when Kate is called to a crime scene, a car accident.. but before she even sets off she finds a creepy note on her car.. being in a rush and not thinking much of it in the moment Kate heads off to the crime scene.

Things don’t add up at the scene of the accident and it becomes clear there’s more too it, who is the victim? why does the car have fake plates?.. and what’s the deal with the record found in the car.. bit of a strange find.

When another body turns up Kate is sent to do the groundwork before handing it over to another Detective… little does she know this case will soon be hers… another record has been found with the body.. what’s the connection with the first victim?

While the pressure mounts at work, stress is also building at home…after the initial note found on the car there’s also been a box of Kate’s favourite chocolates left and a very creepy phone call.. this is the last thing she and her family need…she could have a stalker! She needs to keep her family safe.. they could be watching.. waiting..

This is my first foray into the writing style of Joy Ellis and I must admit I loved it. The plot was intriguing, and progresses at a steady pace. I loved the clash of personal and work lives and the humanity added to the development of the characters given the situation they face.

I really enjoyed how the plot developed too, the people, the reasons behind the murders.. oo it gave tingles as you could see the pieces of the puzzle slotting together but at the same time the author kept little nuggets of info/twists for just the right moment to give the tale a real punch!

So can Kate find a way to deal with do situations? You’ll have to grab a copy of the book and find out! you won’t be disappointed.

Super fun and fast read. 5*

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Who is Joy Ellis?

I was born in Kent but spent most of my working life in London and Surrey. I was an apprentice florist to Constance Spry Ltd, a prestigious Mayfair shop that throughout the Sixties and Seventies teemed with both royalty and ‘real’ celebrities. What an eye-opener for a working-class kid from the Garden of England! I swore then, probably whilst I was scrubbing the floor or making the tea, that I would have a shop of my own one day. It took until the early Eighties, but I did it. Sadly the recession wiped us out, and I embarked on a series of weird and wonderful jobs; the last one being a bookshop manager. Surrounded by books all day, getting to order whatever you liked, and being paid for it! Oh bliss!

And now I live in a village in the Lincolnshire Fens with my partner, Jacqueline, and three Springer spaniels and four little rescue, Breton spaniels. I had been writing mysteries for years but never had the time to take it seriously. Now I write full-time, and as my partner is a highly decorated retired police officer; my choice of genre is a no-brainer! I have an on-tap police and judicial consultant, who makes exceedingly good tea!

I have set my crime thrillers here in the misty fens because I sincerely love the remoteness and airy beauty of the marshlands. This area is steeped in superstitions and lends itself so well to murder!

I am lucky enough to be one of the amazing Joffe Books team of authors and am really enjoying being able to spend time doing what I love… writing!

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Where can you find them?

Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/Joyellisbooks
Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/joyellisbooks/

Books Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217410403-one-more-to-die

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/onemoretodie-zbt

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Release Day Review – The Druid’s Prey by Steven A. McKay!

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Today is release day for The Druid’s Prey by Steven A. McKay!

The Druid’s Prey is book 7 in the exhilarating Warrior Druid of Britain series.

Here’s the blurb

A vicious attack. An enraged warrior-druid. A relentless hunt for vengeance!

Following a cowardly raid on Dun Breatann the Saxon attacker, Saksnot, rides back to rejoin his bretwalda, Hengist, in far-off Garrianum. Bellicus, outraged by the savage attack on his people and his closest friend, follows the perpetrator with just one thing on his mind: bloody justice!
As the towering druid hunts his prey across the summer fields and streams, Arthur, Bear of Britain, seeks to make a lasting peace with the new immigrants from across the sea. Hengist has no such plans however, instead working alongside his terrifying volva, Thorbjorg, to bring only blood, fire, and death to the embattled Britons.

As the brutal struggle for supremacy rages between the two warlords and their armies, Bellicus will find himself drawn into an adventure he could never have foreseen. An adventure that may seal the fate of Britain for generations to come.
An adventure that fans of Bernard Cornwell, Griff Hosker, David Gemmell, and Joe Abercrombie will love!

Review

After the events of The Vengeance of Merlin we know peace isnt going to last for Bellicus.. he might have everything he wants.. the family he always wanted, the love of Queen Narina and his daughter, but someone is on their way to shatter this dream and pulls Bellicus back into action.

The Saxon, Saksnot, who murdered the previous Merlin sets out to rid the world of Bellicus and the Roman Duro.. these two have thwarted Hengist’s plans and Saksnot will not rest until they are dead by his hands.

Saksnot may be young and cocky, but he’s also clever and resourceful, managing to worm his way right to the heart of Dun Breatann. His actions have an immediate effect on Bellicus and he sets out to ensure justice comes to the Saxon.. or is it simple vengeance Bellicus is after? I’m not going to spoil it but the pain Saksnot causes is felt by many.

While these events play the warlord Arthur is making plans on how to keep Hengist at bay… one of which is convincing the Saxon’s who have settled in Britain to stand with him against Hengist and the Saxon raiders… or at least for them to agree to not take up arms to support their brethren.

It’s a great idea but obviously not everyone agrees.. or wants this..and soon leads to one of Arthurs closest companions to be captured.

It’s time to take the war to Hengist.. Arthur can’t just standby any longer.

Events put Bellicus and Arthur on a converging path.. but can they complete their missions without too much bloodshed?

Looking back to Dun Breatann, Queen Narina has her own problems, her closest neighbours have ceased trading with them but why. Narina is smart and sees this for what it is.. The Saxon’s influence is growing.

There’s only one course of action as Narina leads her warriors against King Cunneda and the Votadini… but this leaves Dun Breatann wide open to attack..

Dun Bretann is not as undefended as it seems though.. Again I can’t spoil it but those last few chapters have to be the best I’ve ever read!

Lets get down to the nitty gritty… Characters.. I really feel The Druid’s Prey is the most balanced book we’ve been given for development..the plot itself allows characters to shine and the author doesn’t hide from this to force the book in another direction.. I mean Saksnot! Wow.. He may be the enemy but I loved him.. and his part in this did not disappoint.

I think what I loved the most was the plot allowed Narina, Gavo, Lancelot and Bedwyr to come to the foreground, while others naturally took a back seat…

It was about time to see Narina stand up and shine, without her protector there it was the perfect time..and boy does she shine through and show what she’s made of!

There’s some very fun and light-hearted moments too such as a very humorous scene with Cai where Bellicus needs a distractions.. bloody funny and brilliant but the tone also fits with the tale.

Now I can’t finish the review without mentioning the ending… wow..I love how the author manages to keep bringing fresh ideas into the tale.. you never know what will happen next but I’m already super excited!

5/5 Stars.

My thanks thanks go to the author for allowing me a sneak peak, I had a book on pre-order and it was well worth paying £3.99.

BLOG TOUR – The Bodies by Sam Lloyd

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Today we kick off the blog tour and celebrate the release of The Bodies by Sam Lloyd!!!

Here’s the blurb!

Blurb

How many times would you let your child get away with murder?

When you look down at your newborn baby, you realise they were right, those smug parents you’ve always rolled your eyes at: you’d do literally anything for your child. To make them happy, keep them safe.

So when Joseph Carver wakes one night to find his teenage son Max scrubbing the kitchen, hands wet with blood and panic flooding his voice as he promises it was an accident, he didn’t mean to do it, Joseph does the only thing he can. He helps Max bury the body.

Joseph thinks that’s the end of the nightmare. Until he finds Max with stricken eyes and bloody hands once again . . .

You’d do anything for your child – even cover up a murder.

But how many times?

Review

After reading the authors previous offering The Memory Wood I had high expectations, but also knew I wouldn’t be disappointed… just look at the synopsis!!

Joseph Carver is a broken man trying to keep things together..we soon learn Joseph and his partner were brought together through grief.. he’s failed protecting his family once.. he won’t let it happen again.

When his son Max arrives home one night covered in blood Joseph’s vow is put to the test. Max is going to medical school soon and he’s not a monster afterall.. he’s just lost.. Joseph needs to protect him.

It’s not an easy task, how does he get rid of a body? Where?

Joseph hides the body at his late mothers bungalow while he tries to figure things out but things go from bad to worse.. first he needs to act like everything is ok when it’s not.. and second things keep getting in the way.. how does he do things without leaving a trace? And has anyone already noticed something? Doesn’t help either that Max seems to be hiding things from him about the man he killed? Can he really trust Max and the story he’s been told?

I’m not going to give the plot away but one thing I loved when reading The Memory Wood was the twists and turns.. smart and exhilarating.. and I’m glad to see those twists were here in The Bodies too..there’s betrayal, blood and bodies at every turn.

The plot isn’t rushed either, although you feel the urgency pouring from Joseph who shows the lengths he will go to in order to keep Max safe…but there’s something he’s not seeing.

When someone close to the victim turns up the heat is really on… what do they know..what’s going to happen… eeek.

It’s a real page turner..it flows easy but really has some detail packed in too revealing the stress of the situation. Nothing is quite what it seems and its that feeling that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Super exciting 5* read!

My thanks go to the author, publisher and Zoé @ Zooloo’s Book Tours for having me on the tour!

Sam’s Bio

SAM LLOYD grew up in Hampshire, where he learned his love of storytelling. These days he lives in Surrey with his wife, three young sons and a dog that likes to howl. His first three thrillers, The Memory Wood, The Rising Tide and The People Watcher were published to great critical acclaim.

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Sam’s Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/samlloydwrites

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Book Links

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220246417-the-bodies

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/thebodies-zbt

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Legionary X: Devotio by Gordon Doherty – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Devotio, the tenth and final instalment in the mesmerising Legionary series by Gordon Doherty!

Here’s the blurb.

AD 391: in the aftermath of civil war, the Roman Empire lies broken. The emperor is missing. Rumours fly that he has lost his mind. Sensing weakness, the Goths rise in revolt. All to the delight of the dark hand who orchestrated the civil war… and plots to stoke another.

Far out at sea, Pavo stands watchfully at the prow of the Justitia, running cargo between distant lands. At every port, he hears of the empire’s swelling troubles. Of fire and zeal and panic. Of legions, bristling for battle. But his days of protecting the provinces with sword and shield are over. He, his wife and his lad will soon have enough funds to make a home on a quiet island, far from the madness.

Yet the empire is an ever-hungry beast, and Pavo is about to sail straight into its jaws…

It is a journey that will take him to the brink, and throw down before him the question to which there is only one answer: what would you sacrifice to save your loved ones?

Review

After the events of Legionary IX: The Emperor’s Shield I honestly didn’t know if we would ever see Pavo again. That man has been through so much for the empire.. all he wants now is to live out his days with his wife and son.

You know Devotio is going to be an emotional read right from the start, the meaning behind the word, a vow of self sacrifice..

Little does Pavo know the threats he fought so hard against are still ever present.. and the enemies are knocking at the door..They have been plotting but now is the time to enact their plan… and even he isn’t safe.

When a visitor arrives with a gift from Emperor Valentinian himself Pavo can’t help but be reminded of all he has done, the battles, the friends he’s made.

The gift is a trojan horse that will start this most emotionally nerve racking adventure!

SPOILER ALERT. Please skip if you don’t want to know the detail but I’ll keep it as brief as possible without giving too much away.

Lets just say the gift is a poisoned chalice of sorts and Pavo is in need of a healer…but he also needs to know why his friend would have done this.

Things aren’t quite as they seem… they never are for Pavo.. the healer he needs has been captured by Alaric, the leader of the Vesi rebels.. Goths that still wish to live without Roman rule.

How the hell will he manage to find him?

When we get about 50% through the book it seems like everything has worked out.. Pavo has what he needs, and Alaric has been convinced to work with the Romans.. peace at last..

Yeah that’s never going to happen.

Peregrinus the Stranger, a dark hidden force from the past steps out from the shadows.

Do Pavo and his Claudian brothers have what it takes to foil this dastardly plan and save the empire once again from internal conflict?

The forces of the Eastern and Western empires will clash…but who will be the victor?

I’m deliberately leaving a lot of detail out so you can really enjoy this one yourself (Although if you want to compare thoughts after just hit me up).

Devotio gives us exactly what we expect from the author… and some! There’s betrayal of the worst kind, clever plots/twists and humorous moments a plenty along with the blood and gore for the fans..

So what’s different you ask? There’s raw emotion packed into this one from the very first page.. its intense and you can feel the energy.. there’s a meaning behind the journey Pavo is going on and you feel it.

Those last few chapters put ice in my veins, a lump in my throat and brought tears to my eyes.

You can really see how the author poured his personal emotion into the tale, how much the series meant to him and gives the series the send off it really deserved.. I can’t think of a more suitable ending.. there’s excitement throughout as we yearn for Pavo to succeed, and crushing devastation to really bring the story home.

One of the most moving bits is when Pavo remembers those lost along the way during battle.. it brought back so many memories.

One really beautiful thing the author did was finally answer the question.. who is the old crone who has followed Pavo throughout his life..I don’t know if this was always the plan but wow.. that was a lovely touching moment of realisation for the reader.

Pavo is real to me..

Pavo will always be a hero.

5/5 Stars – Do yourself a favour and grab a copy today.

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

BLOG TOUR – Metropolis by Colin Garrow

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Today is my stop on the blog tour for Metropolis by Colin Garrow!

Here’s the blurb.

Edinburgh, 1936. People are disappearing. The police are clueless. Can Finlay MacBeth track down the perpetrator before someone else goes missing?

Haunted by his recent past, Professor Finlay MacBeth returns to his home town to take up a new post at the university. Within hours, his reputation for solving the occasional murder prompts the police to ask for his help. Four men—seemingly unconnected—have vanished into thin air. MacBeth must find whatever it is that links the men before the kidnapper strikes again.

But the police aren’t the only ones interested in MacBeth’s activities, and the amateur sleuth soon discovers that finding the missing men is the least of his problems…

In this thriller series set in Edinburgh, Metropolis is book #1 in the Finlay MacBeth Thriller series.

Review

Professor Finlay MacBeth returns home to take up a teaching position at the local university. Two things become clear very quickly, First, MacBeth has previously helped the police with investigations so his reputation precedes him, and second, he’s not alone.. someone has followed him.. buy why? And for what reason.

MacBeth quickly gets drawn into a case, men are going missing but there’s no links and zero leads.. could these men have simply upped and left, or is there something more sinister afoot.. Well MacBeth will find out one way or another.

MacBeth does have that Sherlock Holmes feel about him but at the same time is certainly his own character, who has his own dark past that’s trying to catch up to him.

As MacBeth investigates his focus is distracted a lot by the man who followed him and he employees the services of a young lad to assist him with gathering information to help him. Little Johnnie was a really fun character, full of energy and just what the tale needed, he’s the perfect accompaniment to MacBeth.

The cases itself was really intriguing, the missing men, why them, where are they now, why they disappeared in the first place… all these questions get answered but it’s like a drug to the reader, being drip fed.. oh wow…not to spoil it but the motivations behind the disappearances… brilliant!

I really loved the dark tone of the story too..there’s moments you don’t see coming.

Now, MacBeth’s personal issues. As with any good character he’s flawed. His dark past is waiting to see the light of day but what Garrow did superbly was to blend both of these plots lines together, with neither overshadowing the other. It really gave some depth seeing the main character juggle things and try and move things along in the right direction without giving up his secrets.

I’m a big fan of the authors style of writing and always feel at home with their work… I know what to expect.. it’s going to be a good read no matter what.. but Garrow certainly knows how to keep upping his game, keeps the reader guessing, and continues to offer top quality, character driven plots

Sublime 5*

My thanks go to the author and Rachel’s Random Resources for having me on the tour

Tempeted?

Purchase Link – https://geni.us/ps3XiW

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Author Bio –

Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate.

He has published more than thirty books, and his short stories have appeared in several literary mags, most recently in Witcraft, and Flash Fiction North. Colin lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.

He also plays several musical instruments and makes rather nice vegan cakes.

Social Media Links –

Website: https://colingarrow.co.uk/

Twitter: https://x.com/colingarrow

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/colingarrowauthor.bsky.social

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow

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

Don’t Swipe Right by L.M. Chilton – Review

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Today I’m reviewing the debut novel from L.M. Chilton, Don’t Swipe Right.

Here’s the blurb.

DATING APPS ARE SO DEAD.

Gwen Turner, 29, entrepreneur and part-time barista.

Likes: true-crime podcasts, cheese-based snacks (the more unnaturally orange the better) and constantly refreshing her dating apps.

Dislikes: two-day hangovers, people who refer to themselves as entrepreneurs… and discovering her latest match is actually a serial killer (probably should have put that top of the list).

They say romance is dead, but if Gwen can’t catch the mystery killer who’s targeting every man she’s ever dated, it’s about to get a whole lot deadlier.

Review

Don’t Swipe Right follows Gwen and her disastrous dating resume as things turn deadly.

With her friend Sarah about to get married and with her own love life going down the drain she opens her dating app in the hope of distraction.

When a match appears Gwen thinks this might be time for a little fun. Her match isn’t so keen to play out, there’s been a murder recently and when he sends the link to Gwen that’s when things go crazy.. yeah Gwen had recently been on a date with the victim!!

Its a coincidence that Gwen can’t shake but when another body appears, another of Gwen’s recent dates, its getting a little suspicious.

Now the police are involved and while they don’t believe Gwen is a suspect as such they need to keep an eye on her.

More death follows but along the way Gwen still finds time to make new romantic connections, she explores her past and the dates she’s been on but also what happened to bring her to this point in time.. the reason she’s on the dating app in the first place.

Not everyone on Gwen’s list of dates has been targeted yet and I really loved that Gwen wants to put the pieces together herself.. she knows there must be a link.. but what can it be.. to see her go all vigilante to hopefully protect those left was pretty exciting.. and puts her at the mercy of the killer!

There’s twists and turns which were really fun and exciting.. giving you the “ooooooooo” moments. I really thought I’d nailed who the killer is, I had a list, some with clear motivations, some I just had a gut feeling about.. and it’s those twists that keep you guessing.

The final reveal was utterly exhilarating for me as the motivations became clear.. the end game.. wow.

It seems silly to say a book like this was “laugh our loud” but it really had it’s moments..Gwen has zero luck and she doesn’t help herself but even I couldn’t help laughing when after a date gone wrong, going home, she realises she’s still wearing her bowling shoes ha.

Lots of funny moments but overall a very serious and engaging plot.

Character wise I really loved Gwen and the more we learn, the more I felt I understood her and why things happened the way they did. The ensemble cast were really good too, I won’t spoil it but each have their part to play and give the energy that makes Gwen’s life shine.

It’s got to be a 5* from me!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Death Row (Alibis collection) by Freida McFadden – REVIEW

The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon.

Here’s the blurb

A body entombed in concrete, a missing cop, a bizarre death. Three investigations, one chilling mystery.

When a man’s body is found amidst the wreckage of a crashed car abandoned on a back road, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray initially believes the death to be the result of a tragic accident, the aftermath of a collision with a driver who then fled the scene. But Gray soon unravels a chilling truth: the man died before the collision.

Meanwhile, one of Gray’s colleagues, the usually dependable Desk Sergeant Dai Morgan, has disappeared. Morgan had apparently been on the brink of unraveling a decades-old cold case – the identity of a recently discovered corpse that had been buried under the concrete foundations of a farm building over twenty years ago, a case Gray had a personal connection to.

As Gray delves deeper he finds these mysteries are in fact intertwined and, amidst the darkness, one truth remains clear: someone is determined to keep the past buried at any cost.

Review

The Stone Veil is book 11 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon. Lets get the tough question out of the way first.. can you read this book as a standalone or do you need to have read the rest of the series… Such a great question. Honestly Keith Nixon is a very conscious writer, each tale is written so well with little bits of info planted not only to help new readers understand the characters and motivations but also to remind fans of the series of pivotal events.. each bit of information takes the reader back and reminds us of what Sol has been through… and he’s not going to get any peace just yet. Personally I’d say read the rest of the series.. well because it’s bloody good but it will also just help you get that little bit more invested in Sol and his life.

Plot wise I felt this one worked beautifully.. there’s a current case that’s landed but not only that but one of Sol’s colleagues is missing… the further we dig further in the past we go…and there’s links to one of Sol’s biggest enemies.. Frank McGavin! Sol can never seem to shake the man no matter what he does.

The dual timeline story worked exactly the way you’d want it..the flow from past to present is flawless for the development, nothing ever needed forced .. it’s hard to explain but as a reader i like to feel like I’m learning something rather than simply being told something.. and it’s that style of storytelling Nixon does best.. he weaves the tale, directing you without you feeling any change in focus.. the development is natural and steady.. oh Mr Nixon you do know how to hook your readers in!

The backstory really sheds light on McGavin and Sol.. it explains more of the history between the two and shows you what kind of guy Sol really is.. we always knew it but to finally have this piece of the story.. wow! I think this was the first time I really loved McGavin.. he’s always been a love/hate kind of person but this time… oh my.. loved him!

Sol has other worries more closer to home during this one and has a knock on affect in his work as much as he doesn’t want to admit it… he tries to just carry on but we soon learn what pieces of the puzzle have been missed..and wowza.. what a storyline.

I really can’t spoil it as it wouldn’t do the series justice but this was a very fitting and fulfilling tale packed with emotion. The plot is clever and gripping…rich in detail but it’s sometimes the words unspoken that speak more in The Stone Veil, you feel the guilt and pain pouring off Sol as he battles his demons.

Character wise this was a clever offering.. not only do we see growth in Sol, we also see more of Mackintosh who showed up in a pervious case.. the issue is him and Sol don’t mix too well yet.. Mackintosh is a very cool character.. but a bit too much for Sol.

My gut tells me it can only get worse for Sol.. the influx of new faces within his life brings freshness to the storyline which is great for the reader but if we’ve learned anything about Sol so far is that he’s not really a people pleaser.

Then there’s Dai Morgan..Dai while missing during this story is probably the one I’d say developed the most. He’s flawed like Sol and it’s kind of like looking at what might have befallen Sol should he have taken a different path…

The Stone Veil has a darker tone from the very first page which you’ll very much understand after reading the author’s note! word of warning.. if you are prone to tears get a tissue ready, it’s a very moving piece. The events in the authors personal life clearly had an effect but he was able to channel that emotion into the tale.. you can feel the pain and as much as I hate to say it…it really added something extra to the tale.. we see Solomon struggle.. and I mean really struggle.. you might be lucky and have never felt this way but I can almost guarantee you at some point you will feel this powerless..

An emotional 5*…While doing my review I read the authors note again and it’s still hits hard!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

David's Book Blurg

Book reviews from a guy up north (UK)

Tag Archives: Books

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