✱✱Book Review✱✱ The Retreat by Karen King Books On Tour

 

The sunlight dances on the turquoise pool as I wait for our first guests. But my blood turns to ice when I recognise one of them as an old friend and a flood of guilt and fear comes rushing back. Is she here to ruin my life for a second time?

‘It’s been so long’, Saskia says as she hugs me. I plaster the smile back on my face, my hands shaking as I usher our guests into the traditional Spanish farmhouse we’ve spent years renovating to perfection. Saskia and I had been so close, until she betrayed me.

Now I’ve started a new life here in Spain. I met José and fell in love with his deep brown eyes, and together we opened our own retreat nestled high in the mountains. But José has no idea about the real me – I know he wouldn’t be able to look me in the eye if he ever found out that I have blood on my hands.

Then I discover our beautiful water fountain stained a deep red. My heart pounds with fear because it feels like a warning. And all my worst nightmares are confirmed when I find a note in my bedroom, revealing my terrible secret.

I was with Saskia all day, so I know it can’t be her. Which means that someone else at the retreat knows the truth about me – and they’re here for revenge.

But this perfect new life means everything to me. And I’ll do anything to protect it…

A totally unputdownable psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.

                                                                                   

Momma Says: 3 stars⭐⭐⭐

Karen King's The Retreat will keep you on your toes as the story unfolds and the twists pile up. There's certainly no shortage of secrets, and it seems that everyone is guilty of something. It's just a matter of sussing out who is using this little getaway as a means of getting revenge. I did end up guessing correctly, but I think I was more lucky than good this time. The story is entertaining, and between the beautiful setting and storyline, it would make a good vacation read, in my opinion. I feel like the dialogue could've been a bit more nuanced, and some things were a little over the top, but neither of those things kept me from enjoying the read. Besides, when there are this many secrets, learning them is kind of like hearing some guilt-free gossip. 

Karen King was born in Birmingham and has always enjoyed reading and writing. She’s been published for over thirty years, in a variety of genres for both children and adults. She loves writing about the complexities of relationships. Her first three books for Bookouture were romances where relationships came right, she has now turned to the darker side of relationships, writing two psychological thrillers about relationships that go badly wrong. Karen now lives in Spain where she loves to spend her non-writing time exploring the quaint local towns with her husband, Dave, when she isn’t sunbathing or swimming in the pool, that is.

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Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CD2J9K41social

✱✱Book Review✱✱ The School Trip by Miranda Smith, Books On Tour

 

They should have been watching. But my little girl is gone…

On this crisp October day, the class of six-year-old children are wrapped up warm in gloves and coats for their trip to a local farm. They giggle as they stroke the animals and search for the perfect Halloween pumpkin, and as I watch my daughter Claire race off with her friends, the pink ribbon in her hair bouncing, I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s been so hard since my husband died and my sweet little girl deserves to be happy.

But as the sun sets and the teachers gather the children, Claire is nowhere to be seen.

We call the police and frantically scour the fields and playgrounds, my heart breaking as I cry out Claire’s name. And then a detective shows me a video: my daughter, skipping away from the farm, holding hands with an adult in a bulky coat, their cap pulled down low.

My blood turns to ice. Claire would never leave with a stranger. Whoever took her must be someone I know.

But who could want to punish me this badly? Is it linked to the night I refuse to think about—the terrible night my husband died?

Did my mistakes put my baby girl in danger?
Can I save her by finally facing the past?
Or will I lose her forever when the truth comes out?

A brilliantly twisty thriller that will have you gripped from the first page to the final reveal. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewell.

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Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BS41CJY7social

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Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ever look away from your child for a second, and they disappear? It happened to me once, years ago, at a local mall. I remember that stuck in a vacuum feeling, like all the air had been sucked out of my lungs for the few short minutes it took to find my girl. The School Trip takes that and multiplies it by a thousand. This is easily a parent's worst fear, and it's not like Claire has just wandered off. Nope, someone has taken her. And from that point, the story is full steam ahead and hard to put down. There are some twists along the way, some I saw coming and some not, and Miranda Smith throws in some pretty decent red herrings. The story comes together in what feels like an abrupt ending, but I don't think it was so much abrupt as it fits with the pacing of the story. It's definitely worth the read if you enjoy crime thrillers. 

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Books On Tour: The Mother Next Door by Leah Mercer

 

I glance over at Lou’s house as I pull onto my drive, surprised that it is still in darkness. Lou and the kids should have been home from school long ago. I should be preparing a delicious meal for my children as they tell me about their day. But Lou’s car is nowhere to be seen…

The night is drawing in and Lou has still not returned. I try not to panic, but deep down I know something is wrong. Lou is the most dependable friend. Our children are at the same school. We always help each other out, and she cares for my two like only a mother can.

As a storm rages outside and local news reports tell everyone to stay indoors, a feeling of deep dread starts to swell. Then the call comes. The police have found Lou’s car, with my children’s schoolbags still inside along with Lou’s phone. But they are nowhere to be seen.

Clutching my husband’s hands, willing our children to be found safe and sound, I try to silence the voice inside my head. I’ve not been honest. I’m being punished for what happened all those years ago.

And then I get Lou’s message and I know that if I want to see my children again, I need to tell the truth to everyone I love.

What I don’t yet know is that Lou has been keeping her own dark secret. And once the storm passes, nothing will ever be the same again.

A gripping and addictive psychological suspense about dark obsession, intense motherly love and how far we will go to protect those we love the most. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth.

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BQN7DCSZsocial

Audio:

UK: zpr.io/CBBavquf3nKR

US: zpr.io/N2wgSwFGRhRP

Listen to a sample here: https://soundcloud.com/bookouture/the-mother-next-door-by-leah-mercer-narrated-by-jasmine-blackborow

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Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who can you trust with your children? Well, chances are, after reading The Mother Next Door, it won't be the neighbor. At best, you'll be second-guessing yourself. The book is a quick read with a good pace. It's twisted, and there are secrets to learn. We have 4 narrators, most of which aren't exactly trustworthy, so it certainly keeps you busy sussing out the answers. I will say that the story is rather predictable, but it's still an entertaining read for those who like these twisted stories. Psychological thriller is one of my favorite genres, so I gobble them up any chance I get, and this is a good one, predictable or not. Things are intense, and there are plenty of questions that need answering, so I was more than happy to tag along for those answers. If you like tense thrillers, I'd suggest giving this one a gander. It's the kind of story that keeps the pages turning late into the night.

Leah Mercer was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Her first ambition was to be a journalist, but after completing a Master’s in Journalism, she soon realised she preferred anything other than reporting the news. After trying her hand at public relations, teaching and recruitment in various countries around the world, she finally settled in London and returned to writing…fiction, this time. Her first two novels, Who We Were Before and The Man I Thought You Were, were shortlisted at the UK’s Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards. Leah loves books, running and visiting historic houses with her husband and their son.

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✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ The Snowstorm by Tríona Walsh

 

The Snowstorm

By: Tríona Walsh

Narrated by: Jacqueline Milne

It’s an icy New Year’s Eve. Snow blankets a windswept Irish island as the wild Atlantic Ocean rages.

Six friends gather. It has been 10 years since the tragedy that tore them apart. A lot can change in a decade....

Childhood bonds are now lifelong secrets.

Dear friendships have twisted into deep jealousies.

A happy reunion is shattered by a dead body.

The celebrations have barely begun when one of the guests goes missing. As the snow thickens, the body is found.

Then the storm wreaks havoc on the island. Everyone is trapped–there is no way out. No electricity. No phone signal.

Nobody knows who to trust. No one is who they seem. Because one of them is a killer, and one will be dead next....

An utterly gripping thriller that will have you hooked until the final jaw-dropping, heart-racing twist. Fans of Catherine Cooper, Lucy Foley, and Ruth Ware will be glued to this unmissable locked-room mystery.

Momma Says: 2 stars⭐⭐

The Snowstorm turned out to be a bit different than I hoped, and not really in a good way. It started off well enough, but I expected something closer to everyone being stuck in the same place, as in the same house, rather than everyone running around willy-nilly all over the island. However, I could've overlooked that if the rest of the mystery weren't so convoluted and if it hadn't been so easy to figure out despite that. Some things were just mentioned too many times for them not to play a part in the reveal, which like the rest, would've been more effective if Cara had been a little more adept at her job. Instead, she seems to just do a lot of running from point A to point B and back again.

Jacqueline Milne narrates this one, and she is the better part of the story for me. She does give a satisfactory performance, and a few times, the narration is all that kept me listening when I otherwise may have given up because the pace had slowed.

I also liked the setting, and I could've enjoyed this one more if it hadn't been quite so predictable. As it stands, I'll just have to chalk this one up to not the story for me. I do think there are a number of readers/listeners out there that would enjoy this book. I just prefer something a little grittier. Something that challenges me a bit. 

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✱✱Audio Book Review✱✱ The Doctor's Wife by Daniel Hurst

 

The Doctor's Wife

By: Daniel Hurst

Narrated by: Sarah Durham & David Wayman

He thinks his secret is safe. But she knows the truth....

My husband is a doctor. He’s smart and charming, and everybody trusts him. Except me.

On the surface, it looks like I have it all–the perfect marriage, the perfect husband, the perfect life. But it’s far from the truth.

Doctor Drew Devlin is not the respectable figure he makes out to be. The reason we moved to this beautiful, old property with a gorgeous view of the sea was because we needed to put our past behind us. It should’ve been a fresh start for us both.

Except I’ve discovered my husband has been lying to me again. He’s using the power he has in his job to mess with people’s lives and to get exactly what he wants–no matter who it hurts.

But he’s underestimated me. I’ve had plenty of time, in this big, isolated house, to think about all of his mistakes.

And my husband has no idea what’s about to happen next....

From the number one best-selling author of The Passenger, an absolutely gripping psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists that will keep you listening late into the night. If you love Behind Closed Doors, Gone Girl, and The Housemaid, you’ll be hooked on The Doctor’s Wife.

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Doctor's Wife feels more like a domestic drama/suspense than the gripping psychological thriller it's made out to be in the blurb. There's really way too much given away in the blurb for it to be considered a suspense novel as well - maybe suspense adjacent? That said, I still enjoyed this look behind the curtain, so to speak. It has that kind of vibe for me. It feels a little like being given an inside scoop on what the neighbors are up to, and these neighbors are up to no good.

The story is told from the alternating points of view of Drew and Fern, the doctor and his wife, and you may as well prepare yourself from the beginning because these are not likable people. At the same time, I wouldn't call either of them an unreliable narrator because they're both narcissistic to the point of bragging about things most people would want to keep secret. It's not hard to figure out where things are going, but it all plays out.

The narration is done by Sarah Durham and David Wayman, and while both were new to me, I enjoyed their performances and would listen to them again without any reservations. I feel like they both did a good job with the nuance and tone of the story. I even caught myself rolling my eyes a time or two, much like I would if someone in real life were talking the same way these characters do. That "I'm the smartest person in the room" attitude comes through loud and clear, and it's exactly how I'd think Drew and Fern would sound.

So, The Doctor's Wife isn't exactly what I expected, but I still liked it and enjoyed the listen. If you like a bit of domestic drama, something akin to a Lifetime movie, then I'd suggest giving this one a go. 

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Blog Tour: The Rebound by Catherine Walsh

 

A newly single girl. A tall dark handsome stranger. What could go wrong?

It’s 7 a.m. on a Monday morning and Abby Reynolds isn’t where she wants to be. She wants to be in her beautiful loft apartment in Manhattan, drinking a coffee with her fiancé.

Instead, she’s heading back to the childhood home in rural Ireland she swore she’d never return to, with some big old secrets. Namely that she’s suddenly found herself unemployed, homeless, and absolutely 100% single.

She’s feeling all out of luck. Until the first person she meets after she touches down is an absurdly hot guy called Luke, who offers her a lift home. Gazing deep into his sparkling emerald-green eyes, Abby knows instantly that he’s exactly what she needs to take her mind off everything. The perfect rebound.

It’s a flawless plan. Until the next day, when Abby realizes who he actually is. Not just a stranger. He is, in fact, Luke Bailey, aka the boy next door. Luke Bailey who—so help her God—she’s pretty sure she once shared baths with, back when they were kids. Not that she can allow herself to imagine him in a bath now, not without blushing from head to foot.

And judging by the smirk on his face, the same Luke Bailey who’s known exactly who she was the whole time… And who, like everyone in the village, still thinks she’s a high-flying New Yorker… who’s getting married next year.

Abby is certain getting under Luke will help her get over her ex. But the truth is stopping her. Can she admit to everyone back home that she’s single and has lost everything? Because, if she wants the boy next door, she may just have to…

The perfect feel-good romantic comedy that will make you laugh until you cry and fall completely in love. Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, and Emily Henry won’t be able to put this down!

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09MFVZ58Lsocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/iHfi50HO2B7

Kobo: http://ow.ly/oA3550HO2B8

Google: http://ow.ly/6zNt50HO2B6

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romances set in beautiful Ireland seem to be all the rage lately - not that I'm complaining, I've been right there grabbing up stories with an Ireland setting as well. That's what led me to The Rebound. Well, that and this is a Catherine Walsh book, and I was in desperate need of a feel-good romance I could get lost in. Abby and Luke did the trick. The story is a slow-burn romance that I suppose could be summed up as charming. Yeah, that's a word I'd associate with this one. The humor ranges from a chuckle to laughing out loud, so it's my kind of romantic comedy. Walsh keeps the pacing steady, and the romance is great for curling up in your favorite chair for a couple of lazy afternoons. It was nice to be transported to a small town in Ireland for a clean, engaging romance with characters that are easy to root for. Catherine Walsh is quickly becoming a go-to author for me when I need to escape for a while. 

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She has a degree in Popular Literature and the only prize she ever won for writing was at the age of 14 in school (but she still cherishes it.) 

She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Blog Tour: One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

 

Who could have predicted this? Being at the same wedding. In Ireland. There’s a reason one-night stands are one-night stands. You’re not supposed to see each other again, especially not when you’re the maid of honor, and he’s the groom’s brother…

Sarah Anderson has never been more excited about anything in her life. She’s going to her best friend’s wedding. And not just any wedding. An Irish wedding. Goodbye New York, hello rolling green hills and men with beautiful accents and twinkling eyes.

But Sarah should have known that not all guests are fairy-tale princes…

There’s the chinless Uncle Trevor, whose idea of small talk is to claim climate change is a conspiracy.

Then there’s Great Aunt Eileen, who doesn’t talk at all (she’s too busy replacing the hotel cutlery with her own set).

Worst of all, there’s Declan Murphy. Best man. Brother of the groom. And the man Sarah last saw naked.

Is there anything more mortifying than bumping into a one-night stand halfway across the world? Especially as Declan seems determined to embarrass Sarah at every turn. At least when the wedding’s over she’ll never have to see him again.

But, back in New York, Sarah finds the more she tries to forget Declan, the more she can’t shake the thought of that infuriatingly charming smile and the way he wears a tux…

Was he really just for one night only, or might Declan Murphy be The One?

Prepare to laugh until you cry with this perfect feel-good romantic comedy about taking a chance on love. Fans of Sophie Ranald, Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes won’t be able to put this down!

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3hOuiVw

Apple: https://apple.co/3nMPNY5

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3tk6Xxs

Google: https://bit.ly/2PKAXVw

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

One Night Only is an entertaining and engaging romantic comedy. Declan and Sarah go round and round on their journey to their HFN. Sometimes they see eye to eye, wanting the same thing from each other. Other times they were exchanging barbs and facing off. Sarah is a woman who thinks she knows what she wants, but she's got some things to work through in order to figure out what she really wants. Declan has some things to deal with as well, but the journey in this story is mostly Sarah's. I don't care to admit that I wanted to give her a good shake a few times, but it was all a part of her growth - Catherine Walsh certainly knows her stuff when it comes to letting the reader experience her characters' personal growth. The story was a little longer than I felt necessary and dragged some in the middle, but all in all, it's an amusing romance that's great for a weekend of relaxing with a good book.

Catherine Walsh was born and raised in Ireland. She has a degree in Popular Literature and the only prize she ever won for writing was at the age of 14 in school (but she still cherishes it.) 

She lived in London for a few years where she worked in Publishing and the non-profit sector before returning to Dublin where she now lives between the mountains and the sea. When not writing she is trying and failing to not kill her houseplants.

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✱✱Book Review✱✱ Blog Tour: I KNOW YOUR SECRET by Ruth Heald

You’re not who you say you are. Neither is she.

She thinks she knows me.

She believes my marriage is falling apart at the seams, that my husband can barely look me in the eyes. She thinks I’m desperate for a baby, that my longing for a family keeps me up at night. As much as I hate to admit it, all of this is true.

She thinks I listen to her advice, that I care about her opinion. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Because she has no idea who I am. She has no clue that I know everything.

I know her secret. I know that she did the unforgivable. I know how many lives she ruined.

I know exactly what she did. And I’m here for her.

An utterly gripping, addictive and shocking read about the dark secrets we’re ashamed to admit, and the lengths people go to for revenge. Fans of K.L. Slater, My Lovely Wife and The Wife Between Us will be racing through the pages, gasping at the twists, and reeling from the explosive ending of this unmissable page-turner.

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Amazon: https://bit.ly/2Bjk50w

Apple: https://apple.co/3c0CmwV

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2JJCR2g

Google: https://bit.ly/2UP4a1z

Momma Says: 4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

First, let's talk covers. The cover for this book is simultaneously unassuming and sinister with its flower petals strewn about, no longer attached to their stems. It's also a lovely cover that catches the eye, but it doesn't even come close to giving away the book's secrets. And that brings me to the second big thing I wanted to mention. I even jotted it down in my notes and underlined it. Secrets! This story has more secrets than you can shake a stick at. I did figure some things out, but Ruth Heald took me on a rather circuitous route so that I would guess one thing only to change my mind a bit later and quite possibly come back to that first guess a little further on. And that is what a good, twisty thriller should be. There were parts of the story where I felt like the pacing was slowing down, but looking back on it, I'm pretty sure the author was just lulling me into a false sense of security before hitting me with something else. After all, this one gives us not one, but two unreliable narrators, and at any given time, I was as likely to doubt one or both of them as I was to feel sympathy for one or both. I won't get into the details of this one so I don't give anything away - Just suffice it to say that I Know Your Secret is gripping and gritty, and it's a book I won't soon forget.

Ruth Heald is a psychological thriller writer from a suburban Buckinghamshire town. She studied Economics at Oxford and then worked in an eclectic mix of sectors from nuclear decommissioning to management consulting. Seeking a more creative environment, she found a role at the BBC and worked there for nine years before leaving to write full time. Ruth is fascinated by psychology and finding out what drives people to violence, destruction and revenge. She’s married with one daughter and her novels explore our greatest fears in otherwise ordinary, domestic lives. http://rjheald.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ruth.heald https://twitter.com/RJ_Heald