Playlist For A Paper Angel                                                                                           by Jacqueline Ward 

Today is my stop on the Playlist For A Paper Angel Blog Tour. I loved the first book in the series, Random Acts of Unkindness and couldn't wait to catch up with DS Jan Pearce and find out what happens next in her story. 

To begin with, I have the privilege of sharing with you author Jacquiline Wards top five crime/detective books. 

Top Five Crime/Detective Books
1. Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty
2. Disclaimer by Renee Knight
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
4. Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
5. Just What Kind of Mother are You? By Paula Daly

Summary:
One child found, one child missing – what's the connection? DS Jan Pearce is still searching for her missing son. When she finds a little girl, Elise, alone in a pram in a busy town centre, she must unravel a mystery that takes her to the edge of her emotions. Then another child, Dara Price, goes missing. Lisa Connelly, Elise's mother, has been forced into a life of prostitution and has been leaving her little girl alone. Her gangland boss is holding her prisoner but she wants her little girl back.
Jan finds herself balancing her search for her son with finding Dara. Her right hand man, Mike Waring, is on another case so she and her temporary partner, profiler Damien Booth, must solve the puzzle and find Lisa before time runs out for Dara. Playlist for a Paper Angel is the second in the DS Jan Pearce series of novels and is the sequel to Random Acts of Unkindness.

Review:
I read this book in four hours, I picked it up at 10 pm one night, thinking I'd read a couple of chapters and couldn't put it down until I finished the last page just before 2 am. It's that good! From the first page the action begins and it picks up pace through out, my heart raced as Jan and her team raced against the clock to find the missing little girl, terrified of what would pan out. 

The story is told from two perspectives, we meet Elise's mum very early on and the balance between the reality of what is going on in her life and how the police are conducting their investigation is written beautifully. I love the new character introduced in this book, Dr Damien Booth, a profiler, who helps Jan Pearce see things in a whole new way. 

One of the things I love about this author is that she doesn't sugar coat things, the crimes are horrific and she tells it like it is. Honest, raw and at times heartbreaking, Playlist for a Paper Angel is a brilliant read, one that I just can't recommend enough. 

Information about the Book

Title: Playlist for a Paper Angel (DS Pearce #2)
Author: Jacqueline Ward
Release Date: 27th December 2016
Genre: Crime Detective Fiction
Publisher: Kindle Press
Format: Ebook

                                 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