Book Musings -Your Secret's Safe With Me by Rosie Travers

Your Secret’s Safe With Me
Career girl Becca Gates’ organised life is thrown into chaos when her mother, romantic novelist Pearl, announces her surprise engagement to Jack, a man she has only just met.

Worse news follows when Pearl tells Becca she intends to leave London, quit writing, and retire to her new fiancé’s idyllic waterside home on the south coast. Becca is determined to prevent Pearl from making a disastrous mistake, but when she at arrives at Rivermede, more shocks await when she stumbles upon a familiar yet unwelcome face from her past.

As Pearl embraces her new life amongst the local sailing fraternity, Becca receives a grim warning that all is not as calm as it seems at picturesque Rivermede, and if she wants to keep her family safe, she should keep them away.

But why should Becca trust the man who has betrayed her before, the man who broke her heart, the man who thinks he knows all her secrets?

Purchase Link
Mybook.to/yoursecretssafewithme 

My Musings :

Source : Review copy from Rachel's Random Resources

Date read : 20 March, 2019

Rating : 4/5

Reread factor : 3/5

I don't know why but I thought it was a very serious-y ( is that even a word? ) suspense story. I was totally mistaken. The cover is not dark and that should have been my first clue. But no! I go in and read a story,which I can't seem to put into a specific category, with a few twists and turns. 

This is a light mystery book which has lots of elements like the mother-daughter relationship, a cozy community feel and look and a few mysterious comments and events leading to a good read. It was time well spent for the amount of fun I had with it.

It has romance and family and slight suspense with bits of humorous banter among the characters. 

The characters were well etched, such that with very human tendencies and faults. The writing was very entertaining and easy to enjoy. The tale was well paced and had me not racing to the end but on a comfortable stroll through the pages. 

I give this a 4 star because I enjoyed it and it kept me well entertained though it didn't get me hooked onto each page with much anticipation. It was a meandering kind of a book. 

I received a copy for reviewing purposes which doesn't impact my review in any way.

Author Bio – 

Rosie Travers grew up in Southampton on the south coast of England and loved escaping into a good book at a very early age. After many years juggling motherhood and a variety of jobs in local government she moved to Southern California in 2009. With time on her hands she started a blog about the perils of ex-pat life which rekindled a teenage desire to become a writer. Now permanently settled back in the UK, Rosie takes inspiration from the towns and landscape of her native south coast and enjoys writing heart-warming stories sprinkled with mystery, tragedy, comedy and romance. Rosie’s debut novel, The Theatre of Dreams, was published by Crooked Cats Books in August 2018. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Social Media Links –

Website: https://www.rosietravers.com

Twitter @RosieTravers

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

Instagram: @rosietraversauthor

RNA Profile: https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/rna_author/rosie-travers/

Book Musings - This Strange Hell by CJ Sutton

This Strange Hell
A suited man runs from a burning tower in Melbourne as bodies rain down upon him.

Before the city’s millions can compose, he boards a train into the countryside. Hiding his identity and changing his appearance, the man finds his way to Sulley Ridge, a lawless town in the heart of the harsh Victorian outback.

The following day, a burned man wakes up in a hospital bed. Surging with rage, he speaks a name. Within an hour, the suited man’s face is across every screen in the country. It’s the greatest manhunt Australia has ever seen.

But as he tries to camouflage in Sulley Ridge, he soon realises the town has its own problems. Under the iron fist of a violent leader, the locals are trapped within slow and torturous decay…

As we learn more about the night of the burning tower, the connection between the suited man and the burned man threatens to leave a trail of destruction across the state.

Here is the story of a man on the run from his past, as the line between sanity and evil is danced upon.

Here is the tale of This Strange Hell.

Purchase Link -- mybook.to/thisstrangehell 

My Musings :

Source : Review copy from Rachel's Random Resources 

Date read : 15 March,2019

Rating :4/5

Reread factor: 3/5

I almost gave this book a miss because of the cover. It really didn't grab my attention. But the blurb did its job, getting me to take a second look. I am glad I looked beyond the cover since I enjoyed the mystery involved in the plot.

The story started with a man running from the past and a burned man who started a man hunt. The plot is really conducive to being an enjoyable read though there were few things which irked me. The words referring to the characters like 'The man, That man' were repetitive and I felt they could have been avoided. Another thing was that few scenes were unnecessarily dragged out. Other than that, I really liked the story. 

The mysterious start kept me going till the end what with the "stranger's" past and his current woes. There was plenty of action and violence to keep me glued to the seat. The writing had me imagining the plight of the people and the author took me on quite a journey. The characters were plotted out in such a way that I, as a reader, was intrigued and scared of them at times. At the end of the book, I took a while to digest the story.

I might repeat this and read another book of the author's if I get a chance. 

I received a copy which doesn't impact my review in any way.

Author Bio –
C.J. Sutton is a writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He holds a Masters in journalism and creative writing and supports the value of study through correspondence. His fictional writing delves into the unpredictability of the human mind and the fears that drive us.

As a professional writer C. J. Sutton has worked within the hustle and bustle of newsrooms, the competitive offices of advertising and the trenches of marketing. But his interest in creating new characters and worlds has seen a move into fiction, which has always pleaded for complete attention. Dortmund Hibernate was his debut novel, released by Crooked Cat Books on July 18. It is available now - mybook.to/dortmundhibernate

His new novel, This Strange Hell, will be released on March 15.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/cjsutton.author/

https://twitter.com/c_j_sutton

Instagram: @c.j.sutton

www.cjsutton-author.com

Book Musings - Knowing you by Samantha Tonge

Blurb :

An abrupt change; a new friendship; a dark secret...

Kind-hearted Violet has never fitted in, but despite being bullied at school is now content. She is dating ambitious Lenny, has her dream job in publishing and runs a book club at the local retirement home.

However, when her relationship with Lenny begins to falter, Violet, hurt and alone, seeks the advice of her new flatmate, Bella. She changes her image and with her head held high aims to show that she doesn’t need Lenny in her life to be happy and successful.

Her long-term friends Mable and Farah worry about Bella’s influence and slowly Violet starts to distance herself from them. When she was a child, her closest confidant and companion was a boy called Flint. Her mother didn’t approve of their closeness and he suffered a terrible end. She won’t let the same thing happen to Bella, no matter what anyone says...

Knowing You is about friendship and knowing who to trust with your deepest secrets; it’s about taking control of your life and not being afraid to stand out. Perfect for fans of Ruth Hogan, Gail Honeyman and Amanda Prowse


Purchase Links

Amazon - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MX87BH1/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=ur2&tag=canelo-21

Apple - https://geo.itunes.apple.com/gb/book/knowing-you/id1449854707?mt=11&uo=8&at=1000l5Q7

Google - https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=aRiEDwAAQBAJ

Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/knowing-you-6 

My Musings :

Source : Review copy from Rachel's Random Resources

Date read : 12 March, 2019 - 13 March, 2019

Rating : 4/5

Reread factor : 4/5

What I thought the book would be about and what it was really about! The laugh was on me. But the book did surprise me in a great way because I didn't guess the truth till the end. 

And Violet! What to say about her. Her various facets - her kindness, her insecurities, her inner strength, her vulnerabilities - are so various and reflective of each woman's psyche in a way. She stole my heart and she will remain a favourite of mine. When I started reading the book, I wasn't expecting anything. I was pretty blank but as the story progressed, I confess, I was confused and a bit bored with Vi's diet and everyday life. 

But, there is a big but in there, it all started coming together in an unexpected way to create a multi layered story which revealed the truth of Vi in a simple and single stroke. The author did a very good job of keeping the suspense and the poignancy of Vi's life. My mind was overwhelmed at the end and I really really felt Vi's emotions in every way and I can't shake her character from my mind. I just can't. I always come back to her when my eyes go to the book. 

When I finished the book, I was a bit disappointed  because it felt disconnected and very abrupt. Maybe it was just my mindset which was asking for closure in Vi's life in connection with Casey. Maybe there is a book 2? I have no idea but I will keep dreaming.

A very finely woven tale of a woman's secret with a very faceted life. I am greatly looking forward more of the same. 

I received a review copy which doesn't impact my review in any way.

About Samantha Tonge 

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK and her passion, second to spending time with her husband and children, is writing. She studied German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.

When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women’s magazines.

In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins and in 2014, her bestselling debut novel, Doubting Abbey, was shortlisted for the Festival of Romantic Fiction best Ebook award. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category.

Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamTongeWriter

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

Website: http://samanthatonge.co.uk/

Book Musings - Unlawful Things by Anna Sayburn Lane

Unlawful Things by Anna Sayburn Lane 

Paperback: 424 pages 

Publisher: Anna Sayburn Lane (22 Oct. 2018) 

Language: English 

Amazon.co.uk

BLURB

 A hidden masterpiece.A secret buried for 500 years.And one woman determined to uncover the truth.When London tour guide Helen Oddfellow meets a historian on the trail of a lost manuscript, she’s intrigued by the mystery – and the man. But the pair are not the only ones desperate to find the missing final play by sixteenth century English playwright Christopher Marlowe. What starts as a literary puzzle quickly becomes a quest with deadly consequences.When Helen realises the play hides an explosive religious secret, she begins to understand how much is at stake. Relying on her quick wits, she battles far-right thugs, eccentric aristocrats and an ancient religious foundation, each with their own motives for getting their hands on the manuscript. She discovers there is a price to pay for secret knowledge, but how high is too high?

Unlawful Things was shortlisted for the Virago/The Pool New Crime Writer Award. If you love a bit of historical sleuthing and a healthy dose of fast-paced action, you'll enjoy this intriguing debut thriller from Anna Sayburn Lane.Discover Unlawful Things today!

My Musings :

Date Read : 4 March,2019

Source : Review copy from Random Things Tours

Rating : 4/5

Reread Factor : 3/5

A secret for 500 years? That got my imagination. I was really looking forward to the book. A good mystery was in the books for me. That was my thought when I picked up the book.

Setting the mystery part aside, I enjoyed reading about literary parts woven through the story. Yes, at times it felt like it was interfering with the plot, but it was masterfully combined to present a good read. Then there was the part where I was left wondering what was the connection among all the incidents taking place at the same time, it kept me on my toes trying to guess and I was left hurrying through to finish the book as soon as I can. 

The characters are fully fleshed out. The one who stood out for me was Helen herself. There was a depth of character built up as the story progressed which really endeared her to me. I enjoyed the path of her growth. And the surprising part of the book was the romance aspect. It was a pleasant surprise. Then the action bits, starting from the religious conflict starting right at the beginning till the end of the book, those got me flying right through the pages. 

All in all it was a pretty good read with historical facts strewn in.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anna Sayburn Lane is a novelist, short story writer and storyteller, inspired by the history and contemporary life of London. Unlawful Things is her first novel.
She has published award-winning short stories in a number of magazines, including Mslexia, Scribble and One Eye Grey.
Her Mslexia award-winning story Conservation was described by judge and Booker-longlisted author Alison MacLeod as “a powerful and profound contemporary piece in which one man’s story stands for an entire nation’s… it’s a punch to the heart, a story that will haunt and touch its readers deeply”.
She has told stories at London club The Story Party and One Eye Grey’s Halloween event, Moon Over the Lido.

Twitter: @BloomsburyBlue

Website: http://www.annasayburnlane.com/

Author Page on Facebook

Book Musings - The Sweetest Match by Abby Tyler

The Sweetest Match
Abby Tyler
Publication date: March 7th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

She hid secret messages in frosting, thinking no one would notice.
Abby Tyler welcomes you to the witty, well-meaning busybodies of Applebottom, Missouri, where the community takes its pies — and its matchmaking — very seriously.
Sandy Miller became an outcast at fifteen years old. Pregnant, confused, and blackmailed into silence, she spent eighteen years raising her son away from the disapproving stares of her hometown.
But Caden has left for college, and Sandy needs a job. When Applebottom’s tea shop owner sees Sandy’s decorating sketches, she hires her instantly in hopes of putting her little bakery on the map.
And then the town starts spotting secret words of love and longing on her cakes.
Andrew McCallister is the first to admit that he never got over Sandy Miller. In high school, another boy swooped in and snatched her right up. Everything that happened afterward filled him with regret. The town’s censure. His failure to check on her. Her struggle.
But now she’s back.
When the town summons the pair to a meeting to plan the school’s centennial bash, Andrew and Sandy discover they are the only two members of the committee. As they attempt to rekindle the long-lost flame, they realize the community must come together for more than an anniversary party. For their new relationship to flourish, the old guard must learn to support their most vulnerable members even when times get hard.
Abby Tyler is the new small-town romance pen name of USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy / JJ Knight.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

My Musings :

Date read : March 1,2019

Source : ARC from Xpresso Book Tours

Rating : 5/5

Reread factor : 4/5

My eye refused to move from the blurb as soon as I saw the first line. A very interesting premise to base a story on. I loved the idea of finding secret messages and add the town people acting as match makers, I believed it would an instant hit and it was so! I got to read one of the sweetest romances in recent times. 

I really loved the protagonists in spite of their insecurities. They aren't perfect. But they are real with realistic characteristic features. Sandy won me with her strength and Andrew with his steadfastness. This is the second book I believe I have read with mature characters this year and I am gratified that I loved them both. 

The story had me turning the pages at an increasing pace since I was so into the pair that I wanted to know how they got together. It was a pretty enjoyable journey which made for a great read. I am glad I found another author to add to my list. I am looking forward to more of her romances and I hope she keeps up with this tempo.

I received an ARC from Xpresso Book Tours for reviewing purposes.

Author Bio:
Abby Tyler loves puppy dogs, pie, and small towns (she grew up in one!) Her Applebottom Matchmaker Society books combine the sweet and wholesome style of romance she loves with the funny, sometimes a-little-too-truthful characters she remembers from growing up in a place where everyone knew everybody’s business.

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