Review: Fire on the Fens

Fire on the Fens by Joy Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me please just start with, I absolutely love this series of books. I can't believe here we are at book 9. I love everything about this series, the characters, the plot, the writing. How easy the books are to follow, yet totally gripping and unputdownable.
I love the characters, the main characters NIkki and Joseph have grown so much over the 9 books, It's been an amazing journey with them so far. Never have I known two characters so different yet so alike. The working relationship between them is first class, there is laughter and frustration along their paths but they plod on and get through it.
This is an intense story, a real page turner that will have you gripped from the opening pages.
When someone is burned alive, its Nikki and her team that have a race on their hands to find out who has done this and why? It soon becomes clear a serial arsonist is out there and it's only a matter of time before someone else is hurt. The case sends them on roller coaster of a ride that will certainly leave you holding on tight.
Anyone looking for a damn good police procedural series really needs to start reading these books. First class story telling. I can't recommend these enough.

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Review: The Liverpool Girls: A Heartbreaking Family Saga with a Tragic Romance

The Liverpool Girls: A Heartbreaking Family Saga with a Tragic Romance by Pam Howes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Certainly not something I would normally read, but I decided a while back to give the first book a try. I absolutely loved it, I enjoyed every bit, also book two. So when I knew book 3 was available to read as an ARC I jumped at the chance.
​I couldn't wait to carry on this journey that I feel I've been on with Dora. I loved the character of Dora and all through book 1 and 2 I was rooting for her, wanting her life to turn out well.
​In this book we follow the lives of two sisters Carol and Jackie. It's not been an easy childhood for them, and things are about to get a little tougher. We have trying times ahead.
​For me this book needed to be read while snuggled up cosy on the couch. I felt like characters were part of my extended family, I really feel like I have been on a life journey with them.
​As said before this isn't my normal type of read, and I'm so glad that @Kimthebookworm gave me a nudge in the right direction. I'll miss these characters. I could quite happily of continued to read more and more about them. Brilliant characters created by a brilliant author. Pam certainly knows how to draw you into a story, this is brilliantly and beautifully written. I certainly hope to read more from Pam.
I have no hesitation in highly recommending all 3 of these books.

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Review: The Factory Girls of Lark Lane: A heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel of loss and love

The Factory Girls of Lark Lane: A heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel of loss and love by Pam Howes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have said this before, this is not the usual genre I normally read, but after reading Pam's Liverpool girls books, I couldn't wait to read this one. Pam has a unique way of writing these war time stories. It's almost as if you could have actually been there when reading Pam's books. You really are taken into the story and the surroundings, living the lives of the characters through the words.
Heart warming and heart breaking the lives of families living through WWII.
1940's in Liverpool where families are saying goodbye to their loved ones, families torn apart by war, families that stick together through thick and thin.
Alice and Terry are getting married and while everyone loves a good wedding it can be a difficult thing to do during the war. Getting married and saying goodbye to your now husband the day after must truly be heart breaking. This is what happened to this young couple. Life for Alice as a married woman doesn't start off the way we all imagine a marriage should. With families and friendship Alice has to get on with life, while here husband is away fighting in a war. It's a time when everyone comes together when everyone is going through the same things. It's amazing when you look back just how people managed to get through this time of their lives.
It's safe to say Pam has worked a blinder with this book, have some tissues at the ready and get yourself stuck in. Get lost in those pages just like I did, get taken to another time what could almost feel like another world. This book is written beautifully and is really difficult to put down once you start it.
​The Factory Girls of Lark Lane is a first class read and I certainly can't wait for more from this author.

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Review: The Factory Girls of Lark Lane: A heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel of loss and love

The Factory Girls of Lark Lane: A heartbreaking World War 2 historical novel of loss and love by Pam Howes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have said this before, this is not the usual genre I normally read, but after reading Pam's Liverpool girls books, I couldn't wait to read this one. Pam has a unique way of writing these war time stories. It's almost as if you could have actually been there when reading Pam's books. You really are taken into the story and the surroundings, living the lives of the characters through the words.
Heart warming and heart breaking the lives of families living through WWII.
1940's in Liverpool where families are saying goodbye to their loved ones, families torn apart by war, families that stick together through thick and thin.
Alice and Terry are getting married and while everyone loves a good wedding it can be a difficult thing to do during the war. Getting married and saying goodbye to your now husband the day after must truly be heart breaking. This is what happened to this young couple. Life for Alice as a married woman doesn't start off the way we all imagine a marriage should. With families and friendship Alice has to get on with life, while here husband is away fighting in a war. It's a time when everyone comes together when everyone is going through the same things. It's amazing when you look back just how people managed to get through this time of their lives.
It's safe to say Pam has worked a blinder with this book, have some tissues at the ready and get yourself stuck in. Get lost in those pages just like I did, get taken to another time what could almost feel like another world. This book is written beautifully and is really difficult to put down once you start it.
​The Factory Girls of Lark Lane is a first class read and I certainly can't wait for more from this author.

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Review: The Hunted

The Hunted by Kerry Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you haven't read a book by Kerry Barnes then you really don't know what you are missing. Curled up over the bonfire weekend, fire roaring and a hot drink in hand, I didn't know what was more explosive, the books or the fireworks outside. It felt like the perfect time to be reading this explosive book.
I don't know where to start, this book has it all Deceit, corruption, murder, feuds, rivalry, violence. It's a first class page turner. If you're a lover of a good gangland thriller, then you really are in for a treat.

​The first book in a new series, I believe The Rules should be available in Feb 2019 followed by The Choice in May 2019.
​Both available to pre order now.

This book gallops along at an amazing pace. Dragging you right into the story. At times I could feel I was there, I was so engrossed in it. There are, as you would expect some fantastic characters, and I believe like me there will some characters you love, and some you'll hate. Kerry has certainly worked her magic and has managed to bring these characters to life.
I particularly liked Mike Regan, his bad boy, villain character, with a hidden softer side was a fave. Mike's world comes crashing down when his Son Ricky is Kidnapped. Having believed he was protecting his son, he sent his wife away with him thinking they would be safe. Mike enlists the help of Zara, a woman he has a past with, to help find his son. Zara Ezra is the new Woman about town. Having taken over her fathers firm, she has a lot to prove. It's certainly not going to be easy for Zara proving she can cut the mustard in what is believed to be a 'mans world. But Zara certainly isn't a weak and feeble woman, she's a woman with an agenda. A woman with a mind of her own, and power to back it. Or is she?
I can see this becoming one EPIC series of books.
They say time flies by, but it doesn't, it drags like hell when you are waiting for the next book... I'm not sat here drumming my fingers and singing 'why are we waiting'... honest I'm not. lol

Kerry Barnes is certainly making a name for herself in this genre, she's way up there with the best. I'm relatively new to Kerry's books but I can safely say I haven't been disappointed with one yet. They really do get belter and better with each book. When I first read - Cruel Secrets, I really didn't believe not only Kerry, but anyone could top that book. Having read this one, I know I was wrong. Kerry has smashed it, Big time. First class story telling. If you are new to Kerry's books then OMG how awesome as you will get to read them back to back, WOW how exciting is that.

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Review: Die Cold

Die Cold by Graham Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As usual Boulder is in the centre of trouble. Not his doing I might add, he just seems to certainly be in wrong places at the wrong time. Only there is no way of him getting out of this wrong place, as he's at an exclusive Vermont ski resort on New Year’s Eve, in the middle of a snow storm, where only the rich can afford to stay. A Private getaway or so it seemed. That is until terrorist take over, and Boulder is now trapped along with the other hostages.
Clearly this being Boulder you just know he's not going to sit back and let these monsters do as they please, he's got to wait for a perfect opportunity to fight back. And he certainly does fight back.

What then happens is a roller coaster of a read, I found myself more than once holding my breath, trying not to breath and interrupt what was happening. My heart was pounding. This book felt so real you could almost be shivering in the storm. If this book had been a film I think I'd have been hiding behind a cushion throughout.
A High octane , fast paced, edge of your seat battle. I was totally lost in this book, and I can't find a way of saying what I thought, without giving to much of the story away. I wouldn't like to spoil it for anyone, but what I can say is what a damn treat you are in for.
I just love the character that is Jake Boulder, he's lost and wanted to get away, blend into the background and figure out life, that's just never going to happen for him.
Graham Smith, I am again more than just a little impressed with your writing skills.

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