Review: Broken Places

Broken Places by Krista Hall

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Fasten your seatbelt.

Trevy Barlow, (Dr Travania Barlow) teaches literacy classes for high school dropout, teenage Latina girls. Trevy is a sociology professor and an expert on Gang culture.

And it looks like gang rivalry is starting up all over again when one of her students – Lola- a young pregnant girl, is murdered in the parking lot. Trevy is called upon to help the FBI with the murder case.

Cruz Larsen is an FBI agent that works on the Area gang task force. He seems to just wants to get on with his job. He turns to Trevy for help as she seems to be the one that knows most about these gangs that seem to be operating in the neighbour hood.. she has studied gangs and has a very good knowledge on how gangs operate.

Does Cruz sense a spark between him and Trevy when they are together? Can he concentrate on his Job and get to the bottom of what seems to be going on here. Is Dr Do Good as he likes to refer to her, really out of his league?

Can she help the FBI catch a killer without putting herself in danger?

And can she do it without destroying the trust that the girls she teaches have for her?

The Gang angle in this book is very well detailed, a life in which none of us would like to be a part of, and certainly not like our children to be a part of.

It gives you a great insight into the Gang scene and how they operate.

A Very well written Debut book, a great story line with believable characters and some great twists and turns. I will defiantly watch out for more books from this author. I stayed up all night to read this book.





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Review: Remember Me This Way

Remember Me This Way by Sabine Durrant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




Remember me this way

I was eager to give this book a try, i had heard a few friends and fellow bloggers talking about it. And thought it sounded quite good.
The book shifts between the past which seems to relate to the husband Zach telling his story, and the present, which is where Lizzie grieves the husband she lost a year ago in a car accident.
Lizzie was about to split up from Husband Zach before his accident which leads to his death and is grateful he never got to read the letter that she wrote and posted to him before he died.
It seems that Zach was somewhat a controlling, husband. and now a year on from the fatal accident she is only just coming to terms with things, that has allowed her to visit the spot on where the accident happened. And his Cornish home which is where she had sent him the letter.
But as Lizzie is grieving and trying to come to terms with things, she also now suspects that he may still be alive. Could Zach actually have faked his own death, or is grief playing a very difficult game with Lizzie's mind.
Can Lizzie overcome grief and move on or is there something else that is going to stop her getting over the death.
This books keeps you thinking and guessing all the way through. And there are a number of twists and turns throughout the book. It does make you think to how you would manage in certain situations, what you would do if you found yourself in the same position as Lizzie.
It's a very well written book, and will look forward to reading more from this author.



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Review: Shit Happens

Shit Happens by Eileen Wharton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I had to read this just because of the title alone..lol
When i read the book description i knew it was the sort of book i like to read, and i wasn't wrong.
It really is a great read.. and realistic to, with laugh out loud moments, but i guess there are may estates and folk out there just like the characters in this book.
I am really looking forward to another book so Eileen get it ready for me please..lol

Rose Starling, abused wife, is living on benefits with her three children on a sink estate in a small town in the Newcastle area, keeping one step ahead of the tallyman and dancing in the shadows of various illegal dealings. She's got problems though when bits of her ex-husband turn up in different places and the slimy DI Savage seems to be bending the evidence to link her to the death. Add the fact that she's being pressured into taking a `job' by hard-nosed Vera Devlin from the estate and having to work in a topless bar to make ends meet and you can see she's up against it. Desperate to extricate herself from the mess she breaks into her old marital home to find the diary of her dead husband, except that his mother has taken up residence and arrives back early from bingo...
Set against a backdrop of Northern council estate life, this fast paced, humorous novel exemplifies the problems caused by poverty, piles and unruly children, think Jeremy Kyle meets the Thorn Birds and you won't be far wrong!



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Review: Death Can't Take a Joke

Death Can't Take a Joke by Anya Lipska

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Death Can't Take a Joke


I really did enjoy the first book in this series and was so looking forward to getting stuck in to book 2. (that's the positive side of discovering books late. you get to read book 1 and 2 back to back, and then have to sit praying that there will be a book 3).

This time around Natalie Kershaw and Janus Kiszka have another reason to come together.

Kershaw is investigating the death of a possible suicide, and Kiszka a private investigator is trying to find who has killed his long time pal Jim Fulford. Kershaw and Kiszka meet again, 2 years after their last encounter. when Kiszka is pulled in for questioning over the murder of Jim.

Kershaw needs to travel to Poland to work her investigation and manages to get Kiszka to go along as her Polish interpreter.
And in true kiszka style he manages to find trouble wherever he goes. But will he reveal what he finds and is he really interested in helping the police.

I liked both Natalie and Janus in the first book and They just seem better stronger characters in this second book. They are definatly an odd working duo.

Natalie just seems to be able to get her own way no matter what she is doing, and Janus just seems to find trouble for himself, And working as a team they make for great reading.

Oskar is also back with his Witt and one liners. I always seem to chuckle when he appears in the book.

Natalie and Ben are now couple and it seems that now Natalie has decided he a *keeper* and they are moving in together, things may start to get a little more serious. obviously Natalie has to deal with the fact that Ben has moved up in rank before her, but is that really an issue.They are now working in the same station as Natalie is back to working for Streaky on the Murder Squad. Working the Murder squad is something she has wanted to do since she was 14. But will Natalie and Ben be able to cope with the work pressures and working together and are things as Rosie as they seem?

I wasn't sure that book 2 could be any better than book one, but how wrong way I. The book seemed to just flow along brilliantly. Absolutely fantastic read. But i'm sorry Anya.... you are going to have your work cut out to beat this one.

There are a number of story plots going on in this book that interweave into one another. And like Anya's first book it is expertly written.

Anya Lipska is an author to watch out for.




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Review: Death Can't Take a Joke

Death Can't Take a Joke by Anya Lipska

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Death Can't Take a Joke


I really did enjoy the first book in this series and was so looking forward to getting stuck in to book 2. (that's the positive side of discovering books late. you get to read book 1 and 2 back to back, and then have to sit praying that there will be a book 3).

This time around Natalie Kershaw and Janus Kiszka have another reason to come together.

Kershaw is investigating the death of a possible stowaway, and Kiszka a private investigator is trying to find who has killed his long time pal Jim Fulford. Kershaw and Kiszka meet again, 2 years after their last encounter. when Kiszka is pulled in for questioning over the murder of Jim.

Kershaw needs to travel to Poland to work her investigation and manages to get Kiszka to go along as her Polish interpreter.
And in true kiszka style he manages to find trouble wherever he goes. But will he reveal what he finds and is he really interested in helping the police.

I liked both Natalie and Janus in the first book and They just seem better stronger characters in this second book. They are definatly an odd working duo.

Natalie just seems to be able to get her own way no matter what she is doing, and Janus just seems to find trouble for himself, And working as a team they make for great reading.

Oskar is also back with his Witt and one liners. I always seem to chuckle when he appears in the book.

Natalie and Ben are now couple and it seems that now Natalie has decided he a *keeper* and they are moving in together, things may start to get a little more serious. obviously Natalie has to deal with the fact that Ben has moved up in rank before her, but is that really an issue.They are now working in the same station as Natalie is back to working for Streaky on the Murder Squad. Working the Murder squad is something she has wanted to do since she was 14. But will Natalie and Ben be able to cope with the work pressures and working together and are things as Rosie as they seem?

I wasn't sure that book 2 could be any better than book one, but how wrong way I. The book seemed to just flow along brilliantly. Absolutely fantastic read. But i'm sorry Anya.... you are going to have your work cut out to beat this one.

There are a number of story plots going on in this book that interweave into one another. And like Anya's first book it is expertly written.

Anya Lipska is an author to watch out for.




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Review: Past Temptation

Past Temptation by M.A. Comley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




Past temptation



I have enjoyed all M A Comleys crime thriller books and was looking forward to getting stuck in to this book A Romantic Suspense novella is something a little different for me, but was eager to give it a go.

Nicole and Josh obviously had a relationship, at one time, and he turns back up in her life, when she's not expecting it.

Nicole is alone in her Hairdressing shop, when and intruder tries to rob her, and threatens her and her daughters life.
Nicole tries to struggle through, but with love in the background will she follow her head or her heart. And can Josh get back in her good books.

I don't want to give to much away as this is a short story, It's better to read and discover it for yourself.

This book is written brilliantly as expected from one of Mel's books.

And I am now eager to read the next one in the series.
Other novellas in the series:
Lost Temptation due out June 2014
True Temptation due out July 2014
Just Temptation due out August 2014



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Review: Where the Devil Can't Go

Where the Devil Can't Go by Anya Lipska

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



THE FIRST KISZKA AND KERSHAW MYSTERY

A debut crime novel that for want of a better word, is an unputdownable thriller.

An original story line set in the Polish community in London, Janusz Kiszka, an unofficial 'fixer' for many of London's Polish community, and English female detective Natalie Kershaw Come together to try to discover who the killer is.

Kershaw is Working a case where a body has been found in the Thames. Kiszka is trying to find a missing Polish girl. Are the two connected?

I really did like these two characters. And felt as a first book, it was put together really well that you slowly get to know each one.

I liked how one chapter was about Kiszka, and the next about Kershaw, until eventually they come together.

The more you read this book the better it gets. For a Debut novel i found it a very good book. Better than some of the more experienced crime authors. Anya Lypska is an author to to watch out for in the future.

Whilst enjoying a really good read I also felt like i was getting a Polish history lesson.

I'd been meaning to read this book for a while, but just not got around to it. In a way now I guess that's a bonus as I don't have to wait for the next one. It's now on my Kindle ready for me to start.



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Review: Something Wicked

Something Wicked by Kerry Wilkinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



A Brilliant start to a new series-

Andrew Hunter Private Investigator. Book one.

We kick off this book with Andrew and his assistant Jenny working together as Private investigators.

Things seem to be just plodding along, when Richard Carr turns up, asking for help in tracing his son, who went missing 9 month ago. He feels the police are no longer interested in his missing son but needs to know what happened to him. The only trace that was left is 3 missing fingers found in the local woods. (try not to be sat in those woods, like i was, whilst reading this part)

Andrew and Jenny set off on a journey to see what they can uncover. And it seems the more they find out, the more complicated and dangerous things get.

The Main characters in this book Andrew and Jenny are likable and seem Real to the point that you actually felt like they were someone you knew, there seems to be a strange but good relationship between them. I feel there is a lot more to come of Andrew and look forward to getting to know him more in future books.
I really did like Jenny she just seemed different, nothing seems to bother her, and she just gets on with whatever she feels is needed to be done.

The area in which this story is based is Manchester, and living in the Greater Manchester area myself, i really felt like i was there with them as i could actually visualize most of the places, which I always find really adds to the experience of reading.

For those that don't know Andrew Hunter briefly appeared in Kerry's Jessica Daniels series - book 5 -Playing with Fire.

There are similarities in this book to the Jessica Daniels books. But this is a great start to a new series, and who knows we might actually see Andrew and Jessica working a case together in future books.

I was lucky to receive an Advanced Review copy of this book, and was thoroughly delighted.

If you have read any of Kerry Wilkinson's books and enjoyed them then you will definitely enjoy this. If you haven't yet read any of his work, then this book would be a great place to start.
A very easy read, with a great story line. And had it not been for real life, i think if i'd had the chance I could have read this in one sitting, just to find out what happened...

Looking forward to the next one.



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Review: The Chase

The Chase by Paul Finch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A Short story, a great in between books read.
Well written and enjoyable.

What happens when you witness a horrific crime? Do you stay and help? Or do you flee? And what do you do when the perpetrator sets their sights on you…?

Hold onto your seats in this terrifying, thrill-ride. Previously published as ‘Him!’, and now included alongside a sneak peek of Paul’s new novel, ‘The Killing Club’, for the first time.



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Review: The Wedding Dress

The Wedding Dress by Ellie Keaton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The Wedding Dress
The Survivors Club Book One
By Ellie Keaton

Very touching read.

This is a very short,story that tells of one woman's experience with 9/11, Finding love and losing it.

It was a very quick and easy read, but quite enjoyable..



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Review: The Chase

The Chase by Paul Finch

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A Short story, a great in between books read.
Well written and enjoyable.

What happens when you witness a horrific crime? Do you stay and help? Or do you flee? And what do you do when the perpetrator sets their sights on you…?

Hold onto your seats in this terrifying, thrill-ride. Previously published as ‘Him!’, and now included alongside a sneak peek of Paul’s new novel, ‘The Killing Club’, for the first time.



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Review: To Tell the Truth

To Tell the Truth by Anna Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Three-year-old Amy is snatched off the beach whilst her mother is otherwise engaged.
Rosie Gilomor is on holiday recovering after she nearly got killed 6 months ago, when her editor Mick Mcguire in Glasgow phones her, although she is not longer a hack, she is now the assistant editor in charge of investigations. He has her driving to Marbella to cover the story, as she's the only one he can trust to cover it.
And off Rosie goes on a new Journey and new story.......................
With different accounts of what happened on the beach and who was where its only a matter of time before the truth comes out.
Some very likeable and some very disturbing characters, its great how this book just blends and brings everything together.
Not for the faint hearted, but it is a very good read.
Didn't think it was possible but I enjoyed Anna's second book in the Rosie Gilmour series even more than the first.
I had pre ordered Anna's 4th book when i suddenly realised i still hadn't read book 2 and 3, which is a good thing as i dont have to wait for ever to start the next one now...



A three-year-old girl is snatched from a Spanish beach while on holiday with her parents. Nobody heard a sound. Nobody saw a thing. Or so they claim. Rosie Gilmour is enjoying a well-deserved holiday on the Costa del Sol: one that is cut short when the abduction story breaks and she's sent to cover it. Rosie's instincts tell her something's wrong. Such a crime, committed in broad daylight, must surely have its witnesses? The girl's mother's story, what's more, doesn't add up. When Rosie is approached by an illegal sex worker with information about the abduction, her instincts are confirmed. Key information about the crime is being withheld from the authorities. The reason: corrupt politicians and vicious human trafficking gangs - enemies one would think twice about making. But thinking twice is not in Rosie's DNA, especially when a child's life is at stake. As she closes in on the truth, Rosie realises the penalty for missing this particular deadline could be her own death



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Review: End Result

End Result by M A Comley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




End Result.

Hero series book 2.
Oh I was ready for this, book 2 in the Hero series starts off with a BOOOMM..

A murder then a birth. Hero is thrown right into it. A good mix of work life and home life.
More than a little bit drunk Stuart Daws is murdered on his way home from the pub.
Then Body number 2 is found, and the search steps up. Can Hero and his team find out who the killer is, or if these 2 deaths are even linked before any more bodies are found?
With home life being hectic, and his partner Julie Shaw, not quite up to much after her bad news from home, Hero also has the help of part time partner Foxy- but between them will they be able to get to bottom of all that has happened and why and get the End Result they need?

Written in the only way M A Comley can write---Brilliantly.

As with all Mel's books (I've read them all-Almost, just got the romance ones to catch up on) I thoroughly enjoyed it. And it was only home life and work that stopped me from sitting in one spot and reading this until it was finished. Could quite happily have sat and read it in one sitting.
But I needed it to last to stop me sulking while waiting for Mel's next book.





Before DI Hero Nelson has the chance to get used to his new role as a father to brand-new twins, a murder investigation steals his attention. When a second victim is discovered on his patch, Hero has his eye on a single perpetrator for both murders - but the suspect has a solid alibi for both crimes.

Hero continues his investigation until he obtains a surprising end result.



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