My Favourite Novel of 2016

I read 29 Fiction books in 2016. I loved so many of them, but have decided to give a shout out to my absolute favourite, Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg! 

I had the joy and privilege of meeting the author Eleanor Wasserberg at a book event in Sheffield. She is incredible! She read from Foxlowe and despite me knowing exactly what was going to happen and when, I still got chills. Foxlowe is the author's debut novel and believe me when I say, it's sublime! In fact, don't take my word for it, grab yourself a copy and find out! 

                                                                 Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg 

Green lives at Foxlowe with the family. It's not a conventional family but lost souls from all over, gathered together, blindly searching for something different, something more. The family has it's own rules, it's own ways and to be a part of the family requires blind obedience, a dedication of mind, body and spirit. 

This is a story of a cult, of brainwashing, of abuse, and the lasting effects it can have, especially on the children who grow up knowing nothing else. With chilling sentences like,

"The children are the easiest for the Bad to slip in to, they must be watched."

this harrowing story will break your heart, and chill you to the bone.

Dark, creepy and disturbing Foxlowe and it's inhabitants will haunt your thoughts for a long time after putting the book down.

                                    Her Husband's Lover 
                                        by Julia Crouch 

Utterly and absolutely brilliant!!

Louisa Williams needs to start her life over. Her children are gone, victims of the car accident that was caused by and that killed her husband Sam. She has suffered severe injuries, ones that took long months of rehabilitation to recover from, and scars that will stay with her forever.

Sam warned her not to try and leave him... but she never thought he'd harm the children!

And now, Sophie is making her life a misery. Sophie was Sam's girlfriend, she's pregnant with his child and wants the life she believes she is owned, the life she believes she would have had, if Sam had survived.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. It got under my skin, had me guessing, and feeling so uncomfortable! I raced from page to page, chapter to chapter, desperate to find out if my inklings were right ( I'm not telling you if they were or not, you need to read it yourself before I divulge a single thing! )

My blood ran cold as the truth seeped off the pages and into my consciousness. Every time I had to put the book down - real life can annoyingly get in the way of reading time - I couldn't stop thinking about the story. Scenes would play over and over in my mind, and I'd start to imagine what could possibly be around the corner.

If you like psychological thrillers then this book is a must read. It's one that will haunt you for a long, long time!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Isbn: 9781472206671
Publisher: Headline
Publication date: January 26th 2017

                                                     Blog Tour
                               The Puppet Master by Abigail Osbourne 

Today is my stop on The Puppet Master blog tour and I'm delighted to share my thoughts on this marvellous and at times terrifying tale with you all. 
                                    
                                      Summary
Manipulated by fear and love…could you cut the strings and take back control?

Billie’s hiding from the world, believing it to be the only way to take control of her life as she lives in fear of the man who nearly destroyed her. But what she doesn’t realise that
she’s exactly where he wants her; isolated and afraid. A chance meeting with budding journalist Adam sparks a relationship that could free her from the terror that controls her. But will Adam be able to see the real Billie buried under her terror and pain?

Adam knows exactly who Billie is and is determined to expose her and get justice for the lives she ruined. But first, he needs to convince her to open up to him but as unwanted attraction and feelings blossom between them, Adam is forced to realise that all is not as it seems. Most of their lives have been unknowingly governed by the desires and needs of someone who considers himself their master. He has influenced and shaped them for years, meticulously weaving a web of lies and control around them. Can Billie and Adam survive the betrayals in store and cut the strings that bind them?

One thing is for sure. The master wants his puppets back – and he’ll do anything to keep them.

                                        Review 

I read The Puppet Master in one sitting, I foolishly thought I'd read the first chapter before bed and ended up staying up until the early hours devouring chapter after chapter until utterly exhausted - both physically and emotionally - I reached the last page. 

I love how the book switches from Billie's point of view to Adam's and then we also have the mystery and intrigue from the diary extracts that crop up occasionally. 

From the very first pages we can sense Billie's fear and pain. What we don't find out immediately is why she is afraid, the author makes us fall in love with her first, and then breaks our hearts as we delve into her tragic past. My heart raced as I found myself engulfed in an emotional battle. Frustration, fear, loathing, despair and heartache combined to make me want to step into the book and throttle a character or two! 

The Puppet Master will take you on a turbulent ride, with numerous twists and turns and will have you clinging to the edge of your seat. 

I feel I should warn of some triggers, rape and child abuse are part of this story and although nothing is too detailed or included unnecessarily, some people might find it difficult to read. 

A brilliantly written debut novel, I can't wait to read more from this author!

Information about the Book

Title: The Puppet Master
Author: Abigail Osborne
Genre: Adult Romance
Publisher: Self-Published

Format: Ebook and Paperback
Publication date: 30th August 2016

Goodreads Link

Amazon Link

Author Information

Abbie was born in the Lake District and has moved all around the UK since then until she met her husband at University. She lives with him and their two crazy cats in the West Midlands. She is a Needs Assessor for students with disabilities and has her own book reviewing blog called Many Books, Many Lives. Even though she did English Literature at University it wasn't until she started reviewing books that she realised how much she loved to write. The Puppet Master is her first novel but it certainly won't be her last.

You can follow her on @Abigail_Author or @MBequalsML.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

                                                      Foxlowe 
                                         by Eleanor Wasserberg

On stepping into this  book you will find yourself immersed in a gripping tale of family, of fear, of growing up the Floxlowe way... and it's repercussions. 

Green lives at Foxlowe with the family. It's not a conventional family but lost souls from all over, gathered together, blindly searching for something different, something more. The family has it's own rules, it's own ways and to be a part of the family requires obedience without question, a dedication of mind, body and spirit. 

We have the founders, Richard, Libby and Freya, then the adults and last and very much least, the children, Green, Blue and Toby, they are the ungrowns.

This a story of a cult, of brainwashing, of abuse, and the lasting effects it can have, especially on the children who grow up knowing nothing else. With chilling sentences like,
The children are the easiest for the Bad to slip in to. They must be watched. 
this harrowing story will break your heart, and chill you to the bone.

Dark, creepy and disturbing Foxlowe and it's inhabitants will haunt your thoughts for a long time after putting the book down.

One more thing,
the ending... I was not prepared at all! 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

isbn: 9780008164089
publisher: Fourth Estate
publication date: June 2nd 2016

                                   
                                                           BLOG TOUR! 
                                      Random Acts of Unkindness by Jacqueline Ward 

I am delighted to start off the Blog Tour for this incredible book! Jacqueline Ward is a wonderful writer, who's characters jump off the page, grab you, and pull you into their story. This is a tale of motherhood, love and loss and will have you thinking about it long after you've finished reading. 


                               How far would you go to find your child?

This is the question that sets the tone for this addictive novel. DS Jan Pearce's teenage son Aiden is missing, presumed a runaway. Her ex-husband is of no help whatsoever, and her job is becoming more demanding by the day. On the search for evidence to bring to justice one of the biggest criminals that just happens to hide behind the facade of a philanthropist with the community's best interests at heart, she comes across another mystery... one that may just help her solve an unbelievably heinous crime that has gone undiscovered for decades! 


Warning! Do not pick up this book unless you have some time on your hands, because once you start reading, you won't want to put it down! 

I loved DS Pearce from the first page, she's gutsy, determined, and understandably falling apart, as she singlehandedly searches for her missing child. Despite making mistakes and a few questionable decisions along the way, I was on her side from the word go, and found myself wondering what I'd do in her shoes, how far would I be willing to go for my children? Random Acts of Unkindness had me gripped, desperate to read the next page, but fearful as to what I'd find.  

The parallels between Jan and Bessy Swains lives are brilliantly done, and hearing Bessy's story will break your heart into a million tiny pieces. Don't expect a straightforward whodunnit, but a rollercoaster of a ride, with incredible twists and turns. And a horrendous, nauseating crime that will horrify and shock you.  

I'm so glad that this is the first in a series, Jacqueline Ward has created a fascinating new character, and I can't wait to find out what case DS Jan Pearce gets involved next! 

Information about the Book
Title: Random Acts of Unkindness
Author: Jacqueline Ward
Release Date: 21st June 2016
Genre: Adult Crime/Thriller
Publisher: Kindle Press
Format: Ebook

Get your copy here: Amazon

                                                             Once Upon A Time
                                                             Red's Untold Tale 
                                                             by Wendy Toliver 

It's Wolfstime, the terrifying period around each full moon when everyone in Red's village must barricade themselves into their homes at night, to protect themselves from the giant, ferocious wolves that prowl through the surrounding forest. 

Red is now sixteen, still wearing her enchanted red cloak that her Granny gave her three years ago to protect her from the wolves. She's falling in love with Peter the blacksmiths son, helping Granny with her failing bakery business and dealing with the heinous wolves and the vicious mean girls in her school. 

Decisions need to be made, but will Red think with her heart or her head? Will she be able to do the right thing or will she succumb to same destiny as her parents, uncles and grandfather did? 


I'll begin by saying that I've only seen a few episodes of Once Upon A Time, so I am reviewing this book on it's own merit, not knowing anything of the character of Red in the show. 

I loved this fast paced tale. The dark and terrifying dreams that plague Red hint of more darkness to come ( and yes, I think I may need to watch the show now, I want to get to know Red a little more! ) and her romance with Peter is heartwarming and sweet. 

The fear of the wolves is palpable throughout, as is the disdain with which the villagers treat Granny. You can feel Red's frustration as she's torn between her love for Granny and her embarrassment as Granny is ridiculed time and time again for her warnings. 

Red is an amazing heroine, feisty, brave, a talented archer, with a heart of gold. I'm really hoping the author writes more of Red's Untold Tales, as there is so much more of her story left to be discovered! 


I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.


isbn: 9781785653223
Publisher: Titan Books 
Publication date: July 1st 2016

                                Alice by Christina Henry

In a cell, in a mental hospital deep in the Old City there is a young woman named Alice. Her memories of her encounter with the Rabbit are blurred snippets that make little sense, all that really remains at the forefront of her memory is the terror and blood...

One night a terrible fire rages through the hospital, Alice and her cellmate next door manage to escape, however something dark and evil is also on the loose and it's hungry and on the hunt.

Alice needs to remember in order to be free, but will she survive finding out the truth? The rabbit is waiting for her, and so is the beast that is leaving carnage in it's wake.

                                                                 ********************************************

On stepping into this story, you will find yourself tumbling down a rabbit hole and landing in a dark and twisted place. Here there is evil lurking around every corner. Nothing is at is seems, and fear and horror reign.

If you are looking for a happy Alice in Wonderland retelling then you are most definitely in the wrong place! Trigger warning there are many rape scenes in this book, and they are, despite having their place in the story, very disturbing to read.

I loved following Alice and Hatcher through the creepy streets of the Old City, terrified at who or what they would encounter next ( so may characters from the original story but contorted into creatures that are hard to recognise.) But slowly and surely feeling more and more confident in Alice's strength and powers. Yes, this is a horror story, with murder, torture and violence on almost every page, but there is also a sense of finding oneself, of seeking out the truth regardless of the pain it might bring, and of finding friends who will stand with you, no matter what.

If you're a fan of horror then you're bound to love this book as much as I did, if not, proceed at your own risk! 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

isbn: 9781785653308

Publisher: Titan Books 

Publication date: 28th June 2016