The Blossom Twins by Carol Wyer

The Blossom Twins by Carol Wyer 

Hello and welcome to my day of the #blogtour #review for #theblossomtwins by Carol Wyer 

I would like to thank @carolwyer @bookoture @kimthebookworm for the opportunity #booksontour

About the Book

Their parents thought they were hiding...

One beautiful summer’s evening, thirteen-year-old twins Ivy and Erin Westmore snuggle down in a tent in their back garden, giggling and sharing secrets.

When their mother goes to wake the girls the next morning, their tent is empty.

The alarm is raised and Detective Natalie Ward is put onto the case. When the twins bodies are discovered on nearby marshland, covered with deep pink petals, an icy shiver travels down Natalie’s spine. Everything about the girls’ deaths reminds her of a horrifying case she worked on earlier in her  career, which saw a killer of the worst kind places behind bars.

The next day, that feeling is heightened when she receives a chilling note saying ‘I’m back’. Is this killer a copycat or did Natalie put the wrong person in prison all those years ago? In a small town, where no stranger goes unnoticed, what is Natalie missing?

Consumed by the case, determined to prevent more deaths, Natalie misses the fact that it is her attention the killer wants. And to get it, he has his sights set firmly on her precious daughter Leigh...

Gripping, fast-paced and nail-bitingly tense, this book will keep you flying through the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbot and Karin Slaughter.

About the Author

Winner of the people’s Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer is and award-winning author and a stand up comedian who writes feel-good comedies and gripping crime fiction.

A move to the ‘dark side’ in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in LITTLE GIRL LOST, the #2 best-selling book on Amazon, #9 best-selling audiobook on Audible and top 150 USA Today best-seller.

A second series featuring DI Natalie award quickly followed and to date her crime novels have sold over 600,000 copies and been translated for various overseas markets, including Norwegian, Italia , Turkish, Hungarian Slovak, Czech and Polish.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing “

‘irritable Male Syndrome’ and Ageing  Disgracefully’ and on BBC breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines ‘Woman’s Weekly’ featured in ‘Take A Break’, ‘Choice’, ‘Yours’ and ‘Woman’s Own’ magazines and the Huffington Post.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr Grumpy...who is very, very grumpy.

To learn more about Carol, go to 

www.carolwyer.co.uk<http://www.carolwyer.co.uk> or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer.
Carol also blogs at www.carolwyer.com<http://www.carolwyer.com>

My Review

This is the fifth book in the Natalie Ward series. I have loved these books from The Birthday which is the first in the series. 

Natalie Ward is easy to like and relate to and has her own struggles at home especially as she is the main earner in the family, juggling a difficult job with a difficult family life.

The book is fast paced and gripping and I didn’t want to put it down until I had finished and then I was left lost as there was no more, I had come to the end of the story.

The characters are interesting and likeable and work well together, we see home lives as well as work lives which gives an interesting look into who the characters are.

I do not want to say too much about this book as it really is best that you just read it. 

It can be read as a stand alone however I recommend you read the whole series in order as the characters grow a little more in each book.

The Blossom Twins left me speechless, WOW is all I can say.

Read it you will not be disappointed.

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Christmas at Silver Halls by Jenny Hale

Christmas at Silver Halls by Jenny Hale

Hello and welcome to my day on the #blogtour #review for #christmasatsilverhalls by Jenny Hale

I would like to thank @jhaleauthor @bookoture @nholten40 for the opportunity #booksontour 

About the book 

A beautiful festive romance, all about the joy of Christmas with family, second chances, and finding love under the falling snow. This enchanting and uplifting read will have you both laughing and crying while it warms your heart.

White Oaks Inn has always been at the heart of Christmas celebrations for Scarlett Bailey and her family. Her adored gran has owned the rambling, old-fashioned hotel, filled with the scent of cinnamon and chocolate, since Scarlett was a little girl. But now her gran’s home is under threat. And it looks like it could be the Baileys’ last Christmas together there…

Over the holiday season, amidst much-loved festive traditions of baking cookies and decorating the tree, Scarlett throws herself into saving the hotel. When she hears that Charlie Bryant, a handsome, successful property developer, is spending December in Silver Falls, Scarlett is hopeful he might be the answer to their problems.

When they meet, sparks fly between impulsive Scarlett and business-like Charlie – as they both have very different ideas for the future of White Oaks. Scarlett is determined to show him how much White Oaks Inn means to her family and the guests who return there every year and, as they spend more time together, she begins to realize there is more to Charlie than his serious appearance…

But Charlie is struggling with a secret from his own past. Will he be able to face it, or will it stop him from truly opening up and getting close to anyone? And can Scarlett share the true meaning of Christmas with him and save her gran’s beloved hotel along the way?

Embrace the wonder of Christmas in this gorgeous novel about living for the moment and finding love when you least expect it. Christmas at Silver Falls is the perfect festive indulgence for fans of Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery and Sheila Roberts.

About the Author

When I graduated college, one of my friends said, "Look out for this one; she's going to be an author one day." Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn't until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to me.

Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can't.

While I didn't start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was worthy of publication. The result was Coming Home for Christmas, a heart-warming story about the magic of love at Christmas, and 2017 TV movie on The Hallmark Channel.

The rest is history.

When I'm not writing, I'm a mother of two boys and a wife to a very supportive husband.

Author Social Media Links: 

Website: https://www.itsjennyhale.com/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jhaleauthor

 My Review

This is the second book I have read by the author Jenny Hale and once again I really enjoyed it.

This is a really warm Christmassy story.

Scarlett is spending Christmas at Silver Falls but it looks like it could be their last one as they have to sell their Grandma’s inn on the mountain. Scarlett wants to try and stop the sale as she doesn’t want to see it go.

Charlie is a Property Developer and could he help Scarlett.

The book is about families and relationships and life.

It’s wonderfully written, great characters and is a great story for Christmas.

I loved it.

Buy the Book here

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07X6N411MSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2lUs8t8

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2ltQ71Y

Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2jS8KMy

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The Sleepover by Carol Wyer

Hello and welcome to my day on the #blogtour #review for #thesleepover by Carol Wyer 

I would like to thank @carolewyer @kimthebookworm @bookoture for the opportunity #booksontour

About the Book

She said she'd gone to a sleepover. But she never made it. Someone must know why...

When Detective Natalie Ward is called to the home of fourteen-year-old Roxy Curtis she can't help but empathise with Roxy's distraught mother Cathy. Roxy hasn't come home, last seen heading next door for a sleepover with her best friend Ellie. As the mother of two teenagers herself, Natalie knows that this is every parent's worst nightmare.

But when Roxy's body is found in the basement of a beautiful Victorian mansion on the other side of town, Natalie's darkest fears are confirmed. What was Roxy doing there? The people who knew her best should know-but Cathy seems evasive, and Ellie refuses to talk. Natalie is determined to find out what secrets they are keeping.....

Then Roxy's mother Cathy disappears.

When her body is found two days later, Natalie is forced to face the fact that Roxy's loved ones are in real danger. Things take a more sinister turn when Ellie Vanishes, her mobile phone switched off. Is Ellie hiding something about the night Roxy died that could put her in terrible danger? And can Natalie work it out before another innocent life is taken?

Gripping, fast-paced and nail-bitingly tense, this book will keep you flying through the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter.

About the Author 

Carol Wyer is an award-winning author and stand up comedian who writes feel-good comedies and gripping thrillers.

Her book, GRUMY OLD MENOPAUSE won The People's Book Prize Award for non-fiction 2015.

Carol moved to the 'dark side' in 2017 with as a series of thriller. LITTLE GIRL LOST became the #2 best-selling book on Amazon, #9 best-selling audiobook on Audible and a Top 150 USA Today best-seller.

The DI Robyn Carter and DI Natalie Ward series have sold over half a million copies, earning her acclaim as a crime writer.

2019 sees the release of two romantic comedies and three DI Natalie Ward novels, including the much anticipated THE DARE and THE SLEEPOVER.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing "Irritable Male Syndrome" and 'Aging Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly' featured in 'Take a Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

To learn more about Carol, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer.

Carol also blogs at www.carolwyer.com

My Review 

The Sleepover is book 4 in the Natalie Ward series. 

I loved the first three books in this series and this one did not disappoint either. The Natalie Ward series is just getting better and better.

The book, as the others, gets you hooked from the very  first page and whilst each can easily be read as a standalone book we learn a little more about Natalie, her family and colleagues as the series progresses.

There's a fire in a house and a body is found in the back. Who's is it? and what were they doing there?

This book has lots of great strong characters that jump from the page. You can see how they all interlink and it keeps you wondering who has committed this crime. Every time I thought I knew I was proved wrong!

The Sleepover is easy to read and keeps you guessing and gripped from start to finish. 

Loved it and can't wait for book 5.

If I could give more than 5* I would.

 Buy the Book
https://geni.us/B07SV1HJMHSocial


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Here to Stay by Mark Edwards

Here to Stay by Mark Edwards 

Book Description

A beautiful home. A loving wife. And in-laws to die for.

Gemma Robinson comes into Elliot’s life like a whirlwind, and they marry and settle into his home. When she asks him if her parents can come to stay for a couple of weeks, he is keen to oblige – he just doesn’t quite know what he’s signing up for.

The Robinsons arrive with Gemma’s sister, Chloe, a mysterious young woman who refuses to speak or leave her room. Elliot starts to suspect that the Robinsons are hiding a dark secret. And then there are the scars on his wife’s body that she won’t talk about . . .

As Elliot’s in-laws become more comfortable in his home, encroaching on all aspects of his life, it becomes clear that they have no intention of moving out. To protect Gemma, and their marriage, Elliot delves into the Robinsons’ past. But is he prepared for the truth?

From the two million copy bestselling author comes a tale about the chilling consequences of welcoming strangers into your home.

My Review

I have loved all of Mark Edwards books and just as I think he can’t get any better he comes up with Here to Stay and has excelled himself. It was mould be difficult to pick my favourite book by Mark but I do think this one has the edge.
I picked it up and didn’t want to put it down I was literally on the edge of my seat shouting at my kindle.
Elliot is living a quiet life and is happy. Gemma appears in his garden on open day they get talking, have a whirlwind romance and get married.
Gemma asks of her parents can visit and Elliot says fine apart from when they come they don’t seem to want to go.
This is a definite must read
If I could give more than 5* I would
The best book I’ve read this year

No-one Ever Has Sex On Holiday by Tracy Bloom

Hello and welcome to my day on the #blogtour #review for #no-oneeverhassexonholiday by Tracy Bloom.

I would like to thank @tracybbloom @bookoture @nholten40 @kimthebookworm for the opportunity #booksontour

About the Book
Get ready to enjoy your first holiday abroad with small children. Highlights include: being woken at 5 every morning and working a gruelling day in 30-degree heat chasing kids around the pool with a bottle of sunscreen. Added features: screaming during mealtimes and toddlers moaning about sand. Absolutely no sex guaranteed or your money back!
Katy and Ben and their four closest friends are going to Spain for a week with their kids. Sun, sex and sangria? Almost certainly not.
The couples think they are prepared for all the joys and trials a family holiday has to offer but they have a shock coming, and not only from the kids. Into their first day by the pool crashes Ollie, who has been dumped by his girlfriend and Cassie, on her hen party holiday but having serious doubts about her impending marriage. A recipe for a relaxing week abroad?
Let’s wait and see.....
From the no. 1 bestselling author of No-one Ever Has Sex on a Tuesday, this is the perfect book to read on the beach - either with or without small children. Perfect for fans of Nick Spalding, Marian Keyes and Gill Sims.

About the Author

Tracy started writing when her cruel, heartless husband ripped her away from her dream job 
shopping for rollercoasters for the UK's leading theme parks, to live in America with a brand new baby and no mates. In a cunning plan to avoid domestic duties and people who didn't understand her Derbyshire accent, she wrote her romantic comedy, NO-ONE EVER HAS SEX ON A TUESDAY. This debut novel went on to be successfully published internationally and became a #1 Best Seller.

You can follow Tracy on Twitter at @TracyBBloom, like her Facebook page on www.facebook.com/tracybloomwrites or get in touch via her website at www.tracybloom.com


My Review 

Laugh out loud funny.

Katy has organised a package holiday to Spain for her and Ben and the kids, her best friend Daniel from work and his husband Gabriel with their daughter Silvie and Ben’s best friend Braindead and his wife Abby with their Son Logan....What could possibly go wrong?

Katy, Daniel and Abby get talking to a hen do on the plane and find themselves with an invite to a night out to celebrate Cassie’s forthcoming wedding.

Ollie is staying in the same hotel alone after being ditched by his girlfriend and Ben and Braindead take him under their wing and try to cheer him up.

The characters are all very different, fun and easy to relate to. The situations they find themselves in whilst all quite crazy really could happen.

This book is light hearted, fun and really easy to read.
This is the first Tracy Bloom book I’ve read, I’m off to read the others!

A perfect holiday read.


Buy the Book here
https://geni.us/B07RC2TH8BSocial?fbclid=IwAR01G3uVCaAwmuHMuSw0xB6zFrFXTx7MO6Z6YH0y5PRVse1LuQNiti2PrhM



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Lucy’s Last Straw by Debbie Viggiano

Lucy’s Last Straw by Debbie Viggiano

Hello and welcome to my stop on the #blogtour #review for #Lucyslaststraw by Debbie Viggiano

I would would like to thank @debbieviggiano @bookoture @nholten40 for the opportunity 

#booksontour

About the Book

It was the toothpaste smeared around the sink that broke my marriage. As I rubbed it away AGAIN, I was reminded of everything else I’ve put up with these twenty-five years. My husband’s obsession with his pension, his ability to charm me into every single one of his ideas, never being taken on a romantic date, let alone ravished on the patio (like the woman who lives next door)… small things, but the realisation was huge. 

Just when Lucy Jones thinks her marriage is about to screech to a halt over toothpaste, her husband, Leo, announces he wants to move to tumbledown (clapped-out) Rose Cottage, and Lucy knows she’ll be the one managing the renovations.

Then along comes gorgeous builder Will, ten years younger and the only person actually listening to Lucy. His twinkly eyes and blowtorch smile are causing Lucy to break out in a hot sweat – but is it love, lust or simply dodgy hormones that are causing her heart to flutter?

Lucy loves her husband, but everyone knows that little things build up. And then they explode. Can Lucy keep it together, or will there be one last straw she might not be able to get over?

A laugh-out-loud romp with an ending that will make you gasp! Perfect for fans of Tracy Bloom, Sophie Kinsella and Dawn French.

About the Author

Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy... apart from when they want to raid the fridge, or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Follow Debbie's (intermittent!) blog: 

www.debbieviggiano.blogspot.comTweet @DebbieViggiano or look her up on Facebook!

Author Social Media Links: 

Website: www.debbieviggiano.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.viggiano.5

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DebbieViggiano

My Review 

This is a light hearted easy read.

Lucy is 49, at the beginning of menopause, her children have grown up and moved out and her long-standing husband is still driving her crazy leaving toothpaste smears in the sink.

Husband Leo thinks they should move out of the family home and buy Rose Cottage a small rundown cottage in a local village. It needs loads of work and could be a project. Lucy is not convinced 

Her life then takes a turn.

Her husband finds a new job. Her builder who is 10 years younger is extremely attractive and her daughters suddenly both need their Mom.

Will life ever be the same again?
Do her and Leo really have a great marriage?
Is the grass greener on the other side?

The book is funny and made me cringe in some of the situations Lucy finds herself in. The characters each have strong personalities that stand out individually, some likeable..some not. I feel a little sorry for Lucy as her family appear to take her for granted and she has become a certain age and doesn’t seem to know who she is anymore. Her friend Patsy is over the top and funny. Everyone needs a friend like Patsy in their lives. I enjoyed the fact that Lucy finds her strength and stands up for herself by the end and starts to realise who she is and what she wants. 

A great fun book to make you laugh. A fabulous holiday read.

Buy the book from here


Amazon: https://geni.us/B07R27VF4LSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2UYzQmQ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2GwXNaz

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/HaYc30owgbi

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The Dream House by Jess Ryder

Hello and welcome to my day on the #blogtour #review for #thedreamhouse by Jess Ryder.

I would like to thank @jessryderauthor @bookoture @nholten40 for the opportunity #booksontour

About the Book

It’s everything she’s ever wanted…

When I first set eyes on Westhill House with its breath-taking views of the sea I knew Jack and I could make this our forever home.

It may be falling apart with an overgrown garden, but with some tender loving care, we can repair this beautiful building and perhaps our relationship too…

But the more time I spend renovating our new house, the more time Jack is spending at work.

At least Lori is here to keep me company.

She has her own troubles yet she always listens to mine.

She’s helping to restore the house, uncovering its secrets one by one.

Like the children’s drawings under the wallpaper in the back bedroom.

The hidden papers underneath the floorboards in the turret room.

And the fact that Westhill House is a place women used to go to feel safe…

Lori seems to know a lot about Westhill House.

The question is, why?

A gripping, spine-chilling read brimming with secrets and lies. If you loved The Girl on the Train, The Wife Between Us or The Woman in the Window then this dark, twisting psychological thriller from Amazon chart bestseller Jess Ryder is guaranteed to have you gripped. 

About the Author 

Jess Ryder is the author of three psychological thrillers - 'Lie to Me' (April 2017) and 'The Good Sister' (August 2017), and The Ex-Wife (June 2018) -all published by Bookouture. She also writes books for children, teens and young adults as Jan Page, with many titles published including 'Selina Penaluna'. With many years' experience as a scriptwriter, she loves watching television crime drama. Jess is a passionate reader and particularly enjoys thrillers. She blogs about writing, reviews books and interviews writers at www.jessryder.co.uk and www.janpagewriter.com. 

Jess lives with her partner in London, UK and has four grown-up children.

Author Social Media Links: 

Website: http://jessryder.co.uk/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jessryderauthor

My Review

This is the first book I’ve read by Jess Ryder.

The book follows 2 stories.

The first follows Stella who lives with her boyfriend Jack in a house she purchased with an inheritance from her parents. The house is is undergoing a total refurbishment but when finished will be the home of her dreams.  One night Lori turns up banging on the door and things will never be the same again. 

The second following Kay. Kay has her daughter Abigail very young but meets Micky a few years later and falls madly in love and once married things for them will never be the same.

I love stories written this way and this was exceptionally well done as it’s not obvious if the stories will link or not and there’s lots of twists and turns.

The author was very sympathetic to the topic of domestic violence not getting too caught up in the actual violence but certainly makes the reader understand what the characters are going through and how it effects their life and the life of others around them.

The book is gripping and I really wanted to know what was going to happen in each story. 
It covers delicate topics, has great characters that in parts I wanted to shout at for how they were behaving. 

This is a very real book and a great page turner.

I highly recommend this book and will certainly be reading more by Jess Ryder myself.

Buy the book here

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07PY3XWW5Social

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2HU1lWN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2WtdAgZ

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/XpNV30odjF7

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Summer at Firefly Beach by Jenny Hale

Hello and welcome to my day on the #blogtour #review for #summeratfireflybeach by Jenny Hale.
I would like to thank @jhaleauthor @bookouture @nholten40 for the opportunity #booksontour

About the book 
SUMMER AT FIREFLY BEACH: 

A totally emotional, gripping page-turner from the bestselling author of The Summer Houseabout the importance of family, re-discovering who you are, and the magic of finding true love under the summer sun. Perfect for fans of Mary Alice Monroe, Nancy Thayer and Susan Mallery.

Hallie Flynn’s favorite place in the world is her great Aunt Clara’s beautiful beachside house, with its inviting wraparound porch and enchanting views across the sparkling turquoise ocean. For Hallie, going to Firefly Beach, filled with magical memories, feels like coming home, but in one moment Hallie is left broken-hearted when her adored Aunt Clara passes away…

As always, Aunt Clara has thought of everything. In her last letter she included a bucket list Hallie wrote as a child, for Hallie to complete. Leaving her dead-end job and predictable schedule, Hallie returns to Firefly beach and embraces Aunt Clara’s words. All the time her childhood best friend Ben Murray, with his golden charm and infuriating ability to be right all the time, is by her side.

Spending the summer with Ben, as they enjoy drinks on the pier and endless talks stretched out in the soft sand, Hallie begins to remember the things that matter most to her. But following the bucket list isn’t an easy journey. It forces her to face the pain of her past as she starts to fall for the person who has been there for her all along with ...

Just as her heart is healing, an encounter with a newcomer to the beach town, wealthy and talented photographer Gavin Wilson, leaves her questioning her future and shows her she has to make a difficult decision that could mean losing everything.

Will Hallie be able to fulfil Aunt Clara’s last wish and change her life? Or will a secret she’s been keeping destroy her new beginning—and the chance to experience true love

About the Author

When I graduated college, one of my friends said, "Look out for this one; she's going to be an author one day." Despite being an avid reader and a natural storyteller, it wasn't until that very moment that the idea of writing novels occurred to me.

Sometimes our friends can see the things that we can't.

While I didn't start straight away, that comment sowed a seed and several years, two children, and hundreds of thousands of words later, I completed a novel that I felt was worthy of publication. The result was Coming Home for Christmas, a heart-warming story about the magic of love at Christmas, and 2017 
TV movie on The Hallmark Channel.

The rest is history.

When I'm not writing, I'm a mother of two boys and a wife to a very supportive husband.

Author Social Media Links: 

Website: https://www.itsjennyhale.com/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jhaleauthor

My Review
This was the first book I had read by Jenny Hale and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more.

When Hallie was 12 years old she wrote a wish list of things she wanted to do. Her Aunt Clara has passed away and before she can find out what her inheritance is and claim it Aunt Clara’s final wish is that  she completes this list.

We follow Hallie and her family back to Firefly Beach to stay with Uncle Hank at the house he lived at with the wonderful Aunt Clara.  Hallie starts to complete this list but faces many hurdles and challenges along the way. Can Hallie complete it and start to move forward with her life? And what is her inheritance anyway?

The story is well written and beautifully descriptive, you can really feel the sand between your toes and smell the sea air.

Summer at Firefly Beach is an easy summer read and although it has loss and it isn’t plain sailing it still leaves you with a warm glow.

A lovely book and a beautiful cover.

Buy the book here 

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07R95SVPCSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2HdIdBa

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2HgBNkR 

Googleplay: http://bit.ly/2Vy7pwk 

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The Last Thread by Ray Britain

Ray Britain has had an extensive career in the police force and has now written his first crime novel which he has self published.

It’s well worth a read and I really felt that Ray put his experience from when he was in the police into the book which made it really interesting and quite dark at times.

Here’s my review 

The first novel by author Ray Britain. 

A crime story following DCI Stirling and his team. I liked Stirling  and loved the fact he is quite a complex character that has lots about him and I enjoyed the relationships between him and his other characters. There were a lot of characters in the book and I had to make sure I remembered them all.

The book is very detailed in the way it follows the investigations and you can tell that the author has had a career in the police force. I would say it’s more real life policing than other crime books which is interesting but makes it slightly slower paced.

The book is very gritty and kept me guessing what was going to happen next. Great twists and turns.

Really enjoyed it and would highly recommend certainly looking forward to read about Stirling and his team again.

So you want to read? Non reader to reader

People always say to me, wow you read so much, how do you find the time?, I wish I could find time to read.

Or people say to me they just don’t like reading but wish they did.

I’ve written this so it may help some of these people out a little.

Firstly I don’t read as much as people may think or as much as I’d like. I read on average a book a week, unless  on holiday then I do generally read more. There are plenty of people out there that read much more than I do.

I read mainly on kindle. I never thought that I could be converted because I love books, the smell of them, how they feel, there’s nothing nicer than a new book in your hands. My friend had one for her Birthday about 7 years ago and kept saying I’d love it, I had some vouchers at the time so I indulged and told myself doesn’t matter I can still read ‘real’ books and just take the kindle on holiday. 

Now 7 years later I’m on my 4th kindle and don’t read books that often (I do still buy them, mainly hardback signed editions to keep). That doesn’t mean you have to read on an e-reading device as book is a book in whatever form or wherever you get it from, the internet, the local supermarket, the library.

Firstly you need to decide what you want to read. If you’re not a reader what sort of genre do you think you would enjoy and find interesting?? Crime? Science fiction? Romance? True stories? There’s so much choice out there now. Ask friends to recommend something they think you may enjoy. Pick a book and give it a go.

You have your book to read now you need the time to read it. We all have busy lives and when we are relaxing we’re maybe watching the television or on social media etc etc and all that is fine. My life is just as busy as yours and I use social media probably way too

much. A book will on average take around 7 hours to read, so one hour a day and that’s a book in a week, just 15 minutes a day and you’ve read a book in a month and that’s 12 books a year! Wow.

I said I read a book a week that doesn’t mean I allocate a whole hour in one go each day to read. I read at every available opportunity and I always have my book with me be it on kindle or a real book in my bag or even the kindle app on my phone. Drying my hair in the morning I read at the same time, waiting for a train or on a journey, if you’re a little early meeting your friend for a night out. This may only be a few minutes at a time but they all mount up. Half an hour in the morning before you get up, before you go to bed, before your favourite tv program. Instead of checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc ....

When I start a book I like to read in silence if I have too many distractions it takes longer to get into it. However once I’m involved in the story I can generally read while my boyfriend is watching the television or there’s other background noise.

I also used to insist in finishing a book if I had started it. Not anymore. I’d struggle to read something I wasn’t interested in, it would be a chore but I plough on and it would take me weeks and by the time I’d finished I didn’t want to read anymore for a while. Life is way to short to be reading books we don’t enjoy when there are plenty of books out there we would. Reading is meant to be a pleasure, a way to relax not a chore. If I read to 10% (around 30 - 50 pages) and I’m not enjoying it at all I have a quick look at some reviews to see what other people are saying about it or I ask friends who have read it what they thought. If the reviews aren’t great I give up and start something else. I used to feel guilty doing this but I don’t now. If I see that they say it’s a slow start then really good I may go on and read some more. 

If you’ve given up on it go and find another book to start the next day...don’t delay else you will get out of the habit.

I always have my next book ready but I generally don’t finish one, put it down and pick up the next. I like to reflect on what I’ve read and how much I’ve enjoyed it and start the next one the next day or a few hours later at least.

It’s also very good to leave reviews on Amazon, goodreads, social media etc this really helps the authors out. If you’ve loved the book let everyone including the author know. We all know how nice it is to have someone tell us something nice. The reviews don’t have to be war and peace and don’t give the story away as that’s really not helpful to anyone. Just star rate it and write something even if you just say brilliant!! If you didn’t enjoy it that’s fine but think about what you put. Don’t just say that was rubbish hated every minute, explain what you didn’t like and why, you didn’t connect to the characters or you found it a little slow etc. Authors will love your reviews so please think about doing them going forward they only take a few minutes.

I hope this has helped anyone who wants to read or read more that thinks they can’t find any time to do it.

Happy Reading and I’m looking forward to hearing your recommendations for books I should read. 

Nicola 😊🤓📖