Book Review: Single by K.L. Slater

January 19, 2020

Single by K.L. Slater
Published by Bookouture on October 25th 2019
ISBN: 9781786819277
Genres: Fiction, Crime, Thrillers, Suspense, Psychological, General
Pages: 362
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher, NetGalley
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

‘I keep feeling like I’m being watched – dropping the boys off at school, choosing wine at the supermarket – but when I turn around there’s nobody there…’

When single mother Darcy’s son falls from a rope bridge at a local playground, life stands still. She clutches his small, limp body, frozen, until a pair of strong hands push her aside, and she watches as George, a local doctor, saves her son’s life.

George is a single parent too, and with his twinkling hazel eyes, easy charm, and lack of wedding band is almost too good to be true, but coffee becomes lunch, lunch becomes dinner, and soon they can’t go an evening without seeing each other. When he invites her to move into his beautiful home with its sprawling garden for her boys, Darcy doesn’t hesitate.

But as Darcy is settling in, she receives a bunch of flowers with a chilling message. George says they’re from an obsessed ex-girlfriend, Opal, and days later Opal turns up at Darcy’s son’s football match. She claims to have shocking information that could threaten George’s custody of his daughter.

Darcy doesn’t know who to trust, but she’s starting to suspect that, whatever the truth, she might have put her beloved boys into terrible danger …

From the million-copy-bestselling author K.L. Slater this utterly gripping psychological thriller will make you gasp out loud as you race towards the unforgettable twist. If you loved The Girl on the Train and The Wife Between Us this book is for you.

What everyone is saying about Single:

‘I would liken reading 'Single' to being strapped into a car with a broken axle on the Tilt-A-Whirl carnival ride. You're gonna get tossed around until you don't know which way is up. Yet, in the end, you can't deny that it was one helluva ride. All superlatives aside, this book stands out in its cleverness and execution. K.L. Slater knocked it out of the park. 5+ stars.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another stunning novel from KL Slater. .Loved every twist and turn. The only negative is what to read next as it won’t live up to KL Slater, fingers crossed her next novel won’t take long!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow, I LOVED this book!!! 5 stars easy!! This is my first novel by K.L. Slater and most certainly will not be my last. …This is the kind of book you cannot put down or stop thinking about. I often had chills and felt like I experiencing this story as the main character. There is no way you will be able to guess the ending.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘WOW WOW WOW!!! What a fantastic book!! I couldn't put this one down. Just when i thought i knew what was going on , I changed my mind, and yet again. Twists twists and more twists. i love this author but this book blew me away best yet from her!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Well a great big enormous WOW this was such a brilliant read, totally compulsive and everything you want in a psychological thriller !! ‘ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book kept me awake until the early hours, promising myself time and again that I would only read one more chapter until I was too far into the story to stop. All in all it's a really great read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘K L Slater is a master of the psychological thriller genre and Single is yet another example of this. I read this book in just a few hours, not ready to put it down and determined to work out how it would end. Every scenario I came up with was wrong, and to me that is a sign of a great story. This one was so twisty and believable - fantastic. If you have not read anything by Slater before what are you waiting for? Seriously, you will not regret it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What would you do if everything you knew was essentially a lie? We all have different ways of dealing and coping but it isn’t out of the realms of possibility to believe that some people would sink into depression. That’s what Darcy’s situation in Single has been like for the past four years. Her husband is dead, a fight with an illness took him quickly. But, whilst navigating the heavy, murky waters of grief, she discovers that her husband had been unfaithful. He hadn’t just had an affair, but he essentially was living a double life. He spent half the week with another woman. Her psyche broke and all that while trying to support her two sons who obviously no longer had their dad.

The story is principally told in the perspectives of Darcy and that of handsome, personable Urology Consultant, George Mortimer. He is also a single dad to Romy. Her mum also having passed away. They have so much in common. Two lives that seem ready to move forward, together, after having being dealt a really rubbish set of cards in life. As they become closer you can see that George has more than one skeleton in his closet. The story develops, and it becomes more twisty.

The secondary characters in Single were extremely unlikeable. I know that was the author’s intention but at times I felt like they should have been genuine and caring and they would have got a lot further in their needs and wants. Take Darcy’s sister-in-law for example, she professed to being her best friend and having her best interests at heart, but her actions are in complete conflict with that. Who on earth tells their friend that considering dating again after four years is too soon? It’s just manipulative and controlling to the highest extremes.

Darcy had so much on her plate. When the five of them went to Yorkshire to stay in a lodge at Christmas it really started gaining traction. Odd occurrences, the feeling of being watched, letters, flowers being delivered, photos obviously being taken. George talks about a past girlfriend and Darcy wonders if it could be someone from her past? George’s explanation has the warning bells thumping a deathening beat. What is he hiding?

I did struggle to fully be taken in with the twists in Single and I really wanted to be. I wanted it to be more menacing, more shocking, a complete gasp moment when all was revealed. One incident happened, and I couldn’t help but think if it happened to me, I probably wouldn’t have given it two thoughts. I really wanted more tension, a feeling of balancing on a knifes edge that I just didn’t experience with this story. I enjoyed the story and wouldn’t hesitate on giving K.L. Slaters other books a try.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After years of trying to get published and never getting further than the slush pile, I went back to university at the age of 40 where I gained a first-class honours degree in English & Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing with distinction.

Although I also had a day job during the five years I studied at university, the courses gave me the time and space to try different writing and increased my confidence and belief in my writing. Before I graduated from my MA, I had secured representation at the Darley Anderson Literacy, TV and Film Agency who got me my first book deal. My literary agent is Camilla Bolton.

My first adult psychological thriller for Bookouture, ‘Safe with Me’, actually started life as my dissertation on my English & Creative Writing degree in 2010.

The creepy voice of Anna came to me strong and insistent . . . she wanted to be written, she wouldn’t go away. I’m so glad I listened!

Please take a look at my ‘Books’ page for the full list of my titles.

I first became published writing Young Adult fiction for Macmillan Children’s Books under the name Kim Slater. My award-winning YA debut, SMART, started life as a short story for my MA in Creative Writing in 2012.

I am now a full-time writer. I have a daughter and two stepsons and live with my husband in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

Website

Book Review: Pine by Francine Toon

January 18, 2020

I received this book for free from Anne @ Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Pine by Francine Toon
Published by Transworld on January 23 2020
ISBN: 9781473569232
Genres: Fiction, Ghost, Horror, General
Pages: 336
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

They are driving home from the search party when they see her. The trees are coarse and tall in the winter light, standing like men. Lauren and her father Niall live alone in the Highlands, in a small village surrounded by pine forest. When a woman stumbles out onto the road one Halloween night, Niall drives her back to their house in his pickup. In the morning, she's gone. In a community where daughters rebel, men quietly rage, and drinking is a means of forgetting, mysteries like these are not out of the ordinary. The trapper found hanging with the dead animals for two weeks. Locked doors and stone circles. The disappearance of Lauren's mother a decade ago. Lauren looks for answers in her tarot cards, hoping she might one day be able to read her father's turbulent mind. Neighbours know more than they let on, but when local teenager Ann-Marie goes missing it's no longer clear who she can trust. In spare, haunting prose, Francine Toon creates an unshakeable atmosphere of desolation and dread. In a place that feels like the end of the world, she unites the gloom of the modern gothic with the pulse of a thriller. It is the perfect novel for our haunted times.

Just where do I start? Francine Toon has spun a beautifully unsettling story. Her imagination for novel writing is what Einstein was to science. The book cover is completely apt – it visualises everything the story promises to be. It’s desolate, it’s eerie and it’s intensely unnerving. If you have followed this blog tour and you haven’t added this to your TBR – well, there is something wrong with you! This book and it’s captivating writing has been building in hushed tones upto a deafening crescendo that refuses to quiet. This is a book that just won’t stop. Be prepared to get sucked into its pages and become one with the story.

Insanely captivating. Pine has the same effect as a rollercoaster. You are fully prepared for it to leave you spinning and delirious, but you can’t be expected to prepare for the break neck speed of the narrative. This was an unputdownable novel, it’s an overused description but the term was absolutely coined for this story. I felt haunted and deeply uncomfortable. Always the sign of an exquisite read. One chapter is all it took to pull me down into the murky depths of it’s narrative. It felt like icy tendrils determined to pull me under to my death. It is chillingly fantastic.

Our main character, Lauren (10) stay with her dad, Neil in a very small Scottish town. Immediately you can feel the eeriness creeping in like a thick fog. Suffocating. Blinding. Panicky. Who is the young woman that keeps appearing? Random occurrences, sometimes just brief but other times she stays that bit longer. Lauren however, has the ability to retain memory of her interactions with the spectre. What connection does this have? There is something truly unnerving about the interactions with Lauren, a child. The parallels between a child grieving for her absent mother and you can see the cogs turning in her mind about the possibility of her imagining these happenings. Lauren comes to you in an almost ethereal state herself. She’s dreamlike. The entire plot captures the thin line between childhood innocence and adulthood. That time in-between is hazy and grey and difficult to navigate.

I don’t want to spoil any of the plot because it is exquisite. It deserved to be enjoyed first hand and experienced in rapture. The author is a master and she abducts you, throws you in the boot of her car and drives you into the night. Its futile to fight. She dumps you into the unknown and leaves you to navigate the inky darkness alone. The author blew me away in a way that I didn’t think was possible. She’s created characters that are so endearing they spoke to soul. I closed the book feeling overwhelmed and edgy. She ticked all the boxes in the formulaic equation to a psychological thriller that I look for.

Pine is deliciously dark and creepy. It rejects originality and pushes forward and forges its own way. It’s claustrophobic and dreamlike and utterly captivating.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Francine Toon grew up in Sutherland and Fife, Scotland. Her poetry, written as Francine Elena, has appeared in The Sunday Times, The Best British Poetry 2013 and 2015 anthologies (Salt) and Poetry London, among other places. Pine was longlisted for the Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers Award. She lives in London and works in publishing. Follow her on Twitter @FrancineElena

Francine Toon

Book Review: Firefight by Brandon Sanderson (The Reckoners #2)

January 17, 2020

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Random House Children's Books on January 12, 2016
ISBN: 9780385743594
Genres: Young Adult, Action & Adventure, General, Boys & Men, Dystopian
Pages: 464
Format: Paperback
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The #1 New York Times bestseller and sequel to Steelheart--a novel that James Dashner called "fantastic." Brandon Sanderson, the author of Words of Radiance, coauthor of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series, and creator of the internationally bestselling Mistborn trilogy, presents the second book in the Reckoners series: Firefight. And don't miss Calamity, the exciting conclusion to the Reckoners series available now!
David Charleston has lived for one purpose: to kill Steelheart, the supremely powerful, seemingly invincible Epic who murdered his father. Now Steelheart is dead and David is beginning to question everything that he--and the world--understands about the superhumans they call Epics.
David's suspicions are the reason he follows Prof to the flooded city once known as New York. But what he finds there could be what ultimately ends him. The truth might just burn deepest of all. . . .
Praise for the Reckoners Series:
#1 New York Times Bestselling Series
"The suspense is relentless and the climax explosive." --James Dashner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Maze Runner series
"Another win for Sanderson . . . he's simply a brilliant writer. Period." --Patrick Rothfuss, author of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The Name of the Wind
"Action-packed." --EW.com
"Compelling. . . . Sanderson uses plot twists that he teases enough for readers to pick up on to distract from the more dramatic reveals he has in store." --The A.V. Club

Our favourite assassins are back in a break-neck, punch to the throat journey, Firefight. David has finally fulfilled his destiny and his father’s firm belief- that the heroes would come. Steel heart is dead. They are all intact, just. Life goes on and the trouble in this dystopian world is that a new epic will only take over and create a new empire of destruction and trauma. David never rested until Steelheart was nothing…what is his purpose now? Megan is gone, her betrayal still feeling hot in his chest. Move forward and aim for the next bad guy…

My name is David Charlton and I kill people with superpowers.

David is now a fully immersed member of killing group, The Reckoners. He’s proved himself worthy. His research and knowledge of The Epics weaknesses has proved invaluable and it could all be the vital key to taking them all down. There is just one sticking point behind that line of thinking. Are all Epics inherently bad? Do they have any capacity for holding back their destructive nature? If they can, what damage is it doing? Before killing Steelheart, he truly believed that all Epics must die. They killed his father, they also destroyed everything that they had known. Megan aka Firefight, changed his thinking. He was smitten with her. Her attitude. The love affair with her weaponry. Her banter. But, she wasn’t everything she portrayed.

“I hadn’t been a nerd, mind you. I’d just been the type of guy who spent a lot of time by himself, focused entirely on a single consuming interest.”

David is now a living breathing celebrity. He’s gained the nickname Steelslayer. He had defied everything that shouldn’t have been possible. He killed Steelheart. One of the most powerful High Epics there is. No-one knew his weakness. He was a paranoid Epic who did everything to remain in the shadows. This Epic was taken down by a mere mortal, a boy. A boy called David.

So now they need to move forward and deal with the next biggest threat to the world. Welcome to Babylon Restored, formally known as New York City. Epic Regalia rules over the dominion and she might not lay down without a fight. She has the added bonus of having other Epics being her muscle. One such Epic is the utterly frightening, Oblivion. This dude isn’t going to be easy to get rid of. He has obliterated several cities and has the added bonus of being able to teleport when he senses he’s in danger.

The Reckoners have another cell team based in Babylon Restored carrying out surveillance. David, Prof and Tia join them, and they work to overcome Regalia and her goons. Can they take care of the threat or will they rue the day they left Newcago?

“Reckoner Super Plan for Killing Regalia…

Step One: find Regalia, then totally explode her. Lots and Lots.

Step Two: put Val on decaf.

Step Three: Mizzy gets a cookie.”

Firefight is the perfect continuation in this dystopian series. It’s got everything a fantasy lover could dream of. Superpowers. A forbidden love. Bad decisions. Death. Layered betrayals.

Brandon Sanderson has a white-hot imagination. You wouldn’t be wrong if you could imagine this on the big screen, fighting for the top spot with Marvel. He’s a crazy scientist that has created the compulsive formula for creating a multi-layered world that leaves you transported into an unknown world searching for clues to how it might end. The writing as always is flawless.

Steelheart Review

Review: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

January 11, 2020

by J. K. Rowling
Published by Pottermore Publishing Genres: Action & Adventure, Boarding School & Prep School, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fantasy & Magic, Fiction, General, School & Education, Wizards & Witches, Young Adult, Young Adult Fiction
Format: Paperback

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone -- or something -- starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects . . . Harry Potter himself?

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is the second instalment in the hugely successful Harry Potter franchise. The book opens up during the summer break, therefore, Harry is back with his mother’s sister, Petunia and his uncle Vernon and their disgusting son, Dudley. The abuse of Harry is still very much apparent, and he is longing for summer break to be over, so that he can be back with his friends. The friends that haven’t bothered to write to him all summer. No communication. Nothing. He needs to be back with his own people not with family that don’t treat him like family at all, but, how will he get there?

Harry’s first year brought shocks and anguish after discovering that the wizard that killed his parents and tried to kill him is still alive, although in more of a half-life. He has been using others to drain the energy from – finding a way to regain his power. The man who must not be named – Lord Voldemort. This book really opens the door into Voldemort. Harry discovers an enchanted diary that gives him an unadulterated view into the memories of Voldemort. What happened in his school years to turn him into the monster he is now? What kind of power does he have over people? Is he just as smooth as it is believed he was?

Ron’s younger sister, Ginny, becomes entranced by him. He reaches out to her through the diary. Ginny is his perfect target. She pours her heart out to the diary and he is an understanding, attentive ear. She tells him her deepest secrets and fears, including, for her wish to have Harry Potter notice her. This goes on months and all the while Voldemort uses her as a vessel to get stronger. He’s becoming stronger and as a result of this manages to get Ginny to unleash a monster that petrifies the victim. This runs alongside Harry hearing a voice that apparently only he can hear – it is discovered that this is because he is a parselmouth – the ability to talk to snakes. This is an extremely worrying development as the founder of Slytherin was also one.

Ominous messages appear in the school threatening that non-full-blood student will die. This seriously concerns Harry and Ron as their best friend, Hermione is one such student. It also signals the point when the Chamber of Secrets has been reopened. The last time was fifty years ago. The trio investigate and discover that Hagrid was expelled during that time for harbouring a dangerous, man-eating spider. Will they find out who opened the chamber before the monster kills someone?

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets was one of real intrigue. The writing was captivating, and I read it all within one sitting. Rowling incorporates themes of child naivety and the teenage horror, therefore, discovering that the adults can’t always protect you. I would have enjoyed reading more about Lord Voldemort and his past. I’m looking forward to getting immersed into the next book. The strength of the main character base is still hugely enjoyable with some new characters adding complexity and human emotions into the mix.

Check out my review to book one Here

A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone

January 7, 2020

I received this book for free from Anne @ Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Dark Matter by Doug Johnstone
Published by Orenda Books Limited on November 23 2019
ISBN: 9781912374991
Genres: Fiction, City Life, Mystery & Detective, Private Investigators, Cozy, General, Noir, Women Sleuths, Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Psychological, Thrillers, Crime, Domestic, Women, Urban, Humorous, Black Humor, Family Life, Literary, Amateur Sleuth, Suspense
Pages: 300
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
five-stars

Three generations of women from the Skelfs family take over the family funeral home and PI businesses in the first book of a taut, page-turning and darkly funny new series.
‘I was addicted from the first page; gripping, gritty and darkly funny as hell’ Erin Kelly
‘A Dark Matter showcases a writer at the peak of his powers, except that with every book, Doug Johnstone just gets better’ Val McDermid
'Emotionally complex, richly layered and darkly funny. An addictive blend of Case Histories and Six Feet Under’ Chris Brookmyre
_________________
Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators...
When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.
Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.
As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything...
A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.
_________________
‘A fiendish mystery that is also deeply moving and laced with suitably dark humour ... set to be one of the books of the year’ Mark Billingham
‘This dark but touching thriller makes for a thoroughly enjoyable slice of Edinburgh noir’ Mary Paulson-Ellis
‘A tense ride ... strong, believable characters’ Kerry Hudson, Big Issue
‘Dark, engrossing, impossible to put down. By turns a crime thriller, a family saga, and a page-turner, this book has everything!’ Luca Veste
'That rare book with heart and smarts to lift it above your average crime novel’ Stuart Neville
‘I can never get enough of Doug Johnstone’s thoughtful, observant, soul-lifting writing’ Louise Beech
‘Piercing, wonderfully real and so very readable ... a breath of fresh air’ LoveReading
‘This is confident, assured characterisation that carries the story brilliantly well and keeps the reader utterly immersed in the interwoven story strands’ Live & Deadly
‘A Dark Matter is further proof that Doug Johnstone is as versatile a writer as they come ... there’s rhythm and music in his words’ From Belgium with Booklove
‘A thriller that begs to be read in one sitting. Highly recommend’ The Book Review Café
‘Deliciously chilling, with a wry humour running throughout ... toxic, unsettling and just perfect’ Random Things through My Letterbox

The dark sense of Scottish humour has never been utilised to its full potential. Until now. A Dark Matter is a multi-layered double entendre that is pushing itself to the surface. It capitulates the dreich weather, the wounds that get hidden by alcohol but it’s all held up by the innate will of three immensely strong female characters. They are determined. They are strong and above all…no-one should try to fuck them over! Orenda Books is my go-to publisher for crime fiction and when you find an author that drips in his skill for getting the average scots character down, you know you’re onto a winner.

We have a trio of incredibly strong women. At the top of the matriarchy is, Dorothy. A spunky 70-year-old Californian. She should be commended on her ease for settling in Scotland so well. It really can’t be easy coming from those sun kissed beaches and being faced with dreich and dour weather. She married the love of her life and they were there for each right until the end. Dorothy is a widower, a mother, a grandmother and nothing stands in her way. She put everything into her life with Jim. Their funeral director business, their marriage but did Jim feel the same way? What changed?

Jenny, Dorothy and Jim’s daughter. I loved her. She’s fallen on hard times. She’s been made redundant, she is struggling with the payments on her flat, she seems to have lost her direction in life. Her daughter is grown up, flourishing at university but Jenny seems to be going from situation to situation. Craig her ex treated her appallingly, cheated on her and left her to pick up the pieces. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly but her moral compass is still intact, despite the circumstances. She is now living back with her mum after her father’s passing and is aiding in the funeral directors and the private investigation business. Can she finally find what’s missing and move forward?

Hannah, Jenny’s daughter can be a wee bit obsessive. She focusses on the end goal and never loses sight of it. She is one smart cookie. She is neutralised and held up by her partner, Indy. What a team they make. They are each the others Ying and Yang. Hannah is rocked by the disappearance of her flatmate, Mel. She knows something isn’t right, and my Jove, she’ll get to the bottom of it.

Never doubt how strong a woman a can be, nor how dangerous. Hand this book to those who doubt and wait for their reactions – there are three Skelf women in this story and they are definitely a force to reckoned with. Each one is struggling with their grief. Dorothy finds out her husband has been making strange payments from their business account to an unknown woman. Jenny needs to navigate her new life and her case involving a cheating man. Hannah needs to focus on finding her friend otherwise where will her thoughts take her?

Events lead to a crescendo of shocks and emotion. Will the Skelf women be swallowed up cold hard facts? Are they dabbling in things that they have no right dabbling in? It’s all very bleak – love and death are two sides of the same coin.

I’m very pleased this is going to be a series, I can’t wait to see what the author has the Skelf women getting up to next. The author hasn’t only created a bubble of death and mystery but real deep-thinking points also. He has addressed the #metoo issue and carved away the fog that often surrounds it. Women are so often brought up around by everyday misogyny that sometimes it can be difficult to picture it a different way. Would it be viewed differently if women were treating men in the same way. Even when they do, it seems to be more of a non-issue. The metoo movement needs to be tackled from both angles and Doug Johnstone does that eloquently.

Dark Matter was like quicksand. When you opened the books pages it sucked you in, further and further, until you were all in…nothing was going to pull you out. Doug steers you in each direction, a myriad of compulsive, addictive stories. He’s the crazy driver but you got in his car willingly. You’re in for the long haul, there is no getting out. It really is a book of self-discovery of three immovable women. They discover a lot about themselves. The backdrop was spot on, a true portrayal of Edinburgh. From the weather to the culture, each woman sees their city differently. Their experiences aren’t the same. It really breathes a dark and foreboding element into its pages…fear lurking within.

A Dark Matter is hypnotically readable. It was intense and surreal with a sense of creeping dread pouring from its spines. Doug Johnstone is a master craftsman that will continue to get better and better. This book had me gasping for breath at its sheer brilliance.

Doug Johnstone, author of dark new thriller, A Dark Matter.

Doug Johnstone is the author of ten novels, most recently Breakers (2018), which has been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his work has been praised by the likes of Val McDermid, Irvine Welsh and Ian Rankin. He’s taught creative writing and been writer in residence at various institutions – including a funeral home – and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s also player- manager of the Scotland Writers Football Club. He lives in Edinburgh.

https://dougjohnstone.com/

Review: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

August 22, 2019

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Published by Random House Children's Books on May 7, 2019
ISBN: 9781524720988
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, General, Action & Adventure, Romance
Pages: 496
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling authors of the Illuminae Files comes a new science fiction epic . . .
The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the academy would touch . . .
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasmA sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates A smart-ass tech whiz with the galaxy's biggest chip on his shoulderAn alien warrior with anger-management issuesA tomboy pilot who's totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And Ty's squad isn't even his biggest problem--that'd be Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley, the girl he's just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler's squad of losers, discipline cases, and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.
NOBODY PANIC.

We the Legion,

We the Light

and burning bright against the night

Aurora Rising is dangerously dark, action packed, and an addictive kick off to Kaufman & Kristoff’s Trilogy Aurora Cycle. For someone that is a virgin to this dynamic duo’s writing – I was blown away into outer space. I’m going to miss the draft – intriguing opening line, who doesn’t love a bit of angst on the opening page? This awesome tale reminds me of a Guardians of the Galaxy X Battlestar Galactica – Be still my geeky heart!

Tyler Jones – Alpha of the squad, general hotbod and all-round good guy.

Aurora Lie-Jin O’ Malley – Frozen cryogenically, Crazy as a mofo superpowers, half Chinese, feeling like a fish out of water trying to get used to life 200 years in the future.

Scarlett Jones – Tyler’s older twin sister by mere minutes, badass extraordinaire, hot mama and could flirt with a cardboard box get it turned on.

Kaliis “Kal” Idraban Gilwraeth – Could start a war in an empty room but not really because he’s a freaking softy really…belongs in middle earth or my hot dreams – the things he can do with his wrists!

Zila Madran – Uber cool space scientist, mega jealous of her gravity defying earrings.

Finian – bisexual alien, gorgeous personality, exoskeleton weirdness.

Cat- My favourite character, badass warrior goddess. Think Lagertha in Vikings (at least that’s how I imagine her), can handle herself in any fight. Fucking impressive phoenix tattoo on her throat.

Straight away we know we aren’t in Kansas anymore. We meet Tyler the alpha of the squad who has answered an SOS call out and finds himself in the unprecedented situation of saving a 220-year-old cryogenically frozen girl. He’s running out of oxygen, he’s missing the fucking draft and is more than damn sure he’s going to die out there. Almost like magic both him and the mysterious girl are back on the ship and even more magical is the fact his lungs are full of oxygen and not deflated and pulverised from the abyss of space.

This book has everything I adore about Sci-fi (and I do have a love hate relationship with the genre because I have read so many that just annihilate the premise of space and shit over something that should be an amazing fucking world building opportunity). Kaufman & Kristoff nail it to the fucking floor. The Aurora interstellar training camp, heists to reclaim artefacts, creepy plants that remind me so much of those creepy AF creatures in the Alien Franchise. Want Aliens? This novel has it by the motherload.

I enjoyed reading the POV’ from all the main characters. I loved Cat’s, Kal’s and Aurora’s the most. Kals POV was fucking awesome. I love a torn character and his was obvious and heartbreakingly painful. He struggled with his ascension to joining the Aurora Legion (A modern space idea of The United Nations). He was a war breed and it was his natural instincts was to be stoking the fire of conflict. His people ended up obliterated during the war and Kal struggles with the internal battle of wanting to end people and wanting to bring peace to the outer reaches of space.

The hilarity in the story had me full on belly laughing. The references to The Lord of The Rings were the best though – high five to Aurora being able to confuse these aliens with the best one liners. The technical descriptions were believable but intelligent enough to flummox me at points. I loved the diversity in this book and I have it on very good authority that Kristoff is the King of inclusion. I think there is going to be a LGBQT+ relationship and it’s going to be a slow burn into the next two instalments. Finnian seems to be bisexual and is happy to have flirtatious thoughts for both the Jones twins. Interested to see just how this plays out.

Aurora Rising is a fantastic YA fantasy that fires into hyperdrive and doesn’t stop. If you want a book with the thrills, the aliens, the drama and humour then look no further. Kaufman & Kristoff bring the squad goals.

The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall

June 4, 2019

The Honeymoon by Rona Halsall
Published by Bookouture on June 17, 2019
ISBN: 9781786819505
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Psychological, General, Noir, Women, Mystery & Detective
Pages: 350
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Publisher
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‘I’m your husband, Chloe. We’re a partnership now and we do what’s best for us as a couple.’

Chloe finally feels like she’s got her life together. After a difficult childhood and losing both parents, she worked hard for the life she loves in lively Brighton, helping people as a physiotherapist. And then she meets the perfect man.

It’s a whirlwind romance, but Dan is handsome, funny, and simply the kindest man she’s ever met. When she sees him standing by the altar, tears glistening in his eyes, she knows this will be for always.

As they sunbathe on their honeymoon island, laughing over drinks, planning their future with their feet in the sand, Dan jokes that he’d like them to stay there forever.

At first, Chloe couldn’t agree more. It’s tempting to imagine truly leaving her troubled past behind. But as the honeymoon goes on, he becomes increasingly adamant. They shouldn’t leave. In fact, he won’t let her…

Is he protecting her, as he claims? Or is it something more sinister? An utterly gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn, Clare Mackintosh, and The Wife Between Us.

Readers are loving The Honeymoon:
‘A story full of secrets, twists and unexpected wow moments! This thriller will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I loved how many twists there were… It made it so exciting to read and the whole book I was dying to know what was going to happen next… And I could never have guessed… Such a rollercoaster ride!... Exciting and twisty.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A 5 star book for me! It had that ball of mixed feelings, adrenaline, twists!... I absolutely loved The Honeymoon and cannot recommend the book enough! Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘An enthralling read packed full of secrets and lies. It’s one of those books that draws you straight in from picking it up and making it very hard to put back down again. Will certainly keep you on your toes and have you on the edge of your seat.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘Kept me guessing the whole way through… I absolutely loved this book, it was a real page turner… Bursting with mystery and deeply buried secrets.’ Ramblings of a Book Addict

‘I absolutely 100% loved this book! A 5 star read… The Honeymoon had it all...twists, turns, a beautiful setting, characters we want to hate and ones we want to love, paranoia, and a sense of something bad about to happen… CRAZY AND TWISTED!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘A twisty book, full of surprises… I couldn't put down even if I tried, I was reading practically open mouthed at the way the finale picked up pace (well what I thought was the finale!). And still the shocks kept on coming, all the way to the last page.’

‘A must-read gripping, twisty, addictive, brilliant read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘I devoured this book in one night—it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat! There were many unexpected twists, right up to the very end! Highly engaging book, I definitely recommend!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Five big shiny well deserved stars!… A story full of secrets, twists and unexpected wow moments! This thriller will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘So many twists and turns; right when you think you know what is going on, the author throws another twist at you to prove how wrong you are. Wow the ending was amazing I never saw it coming and it hit you like a ton of bricks. I wish could read this story again for the first time just to get that huge shock. Great read ,I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Well, you know that moment when you close a book and you just have to take a moment to sit and think over what you have just read…Yes, you say. Well this is just one of those books. Gripping, Scream at the pages and Intellectually satisfying is how I would instantly describe this book. I haven’t rated a book as 5 stars in a while, this just ticked all of my boxes, it was just that amazing. Here is a few reasons why;

Chloes character arc goes from needing to be wanted by anyone to a strong and powerful force.

We meet Chloe, a practising physiotherapist within the NHS, treating Dan’s mother, who has taken a fall and needs assistance in regaining her strength. Chloe is immediately taken with Dan’s looks, we have a narrative of her failed relationships, her failed relationship with her brother and sister and gran (reasons will be revealed) and she is carrying guilt and responsibility around with her like a ton weight around her neck. She is sucked into Dan’s charm and almost can’t believe her luck that we would be remotely interested in her. They have a very quick courtship that leads to marriage within the space of two months (I know right?!) The wedding arrangements are made and the rest is history or is it? Is it possible that Chloe’s married bliss could be now filled with seeds of doubt?

Dan is more than a bit bat-shit cray cray

Dan seems like the perfect gentleman. Dan wine and dines her every night. Dan wants to spend every minute with Chloe. (RED MASSIVE WARNING BELLS HERE, SURELY?) He cares for his mum, surely that says more about his character than the claxons that were going off in my head? Dan proposes so soon and the wedding is rushed along in a few months with only around 6 guests. They both head off on their honeymoon and things start to go wrong. He alters decisions without having a discussion first, he does some hugely irrational, counterproductive, dumb assery things. Halfway through the book, I just found myself shouting at Chloe for being so damn niave.

Secrets are kept between the two of them leading to a catalyst of it all exploding out. One particular moment being when Dan has nightmares that give Chloe more insight than Dan would either like or want. Chloe shows admirable loyalty to those she loves but there has to be a point where she figures out 2+2=4.

The writing is outstanding

The initial few pages of the book just completely grabbed me and I knew I had to keep reading. The subject matter was very intense but it evoked such emotion from me and that alone in my opinion made this book a success. The story flowed brilliantly, it didn’t feel stagnated or slow. It went along at the pace it was meant to. It had my heart in my mouth and I just had to keep reading to find out the outcome of the story.

Plot – Well Executed

The plot was a serious and intense and for some it could be a trigger when reading. The author handled it appropriately and made it very believable, but in a very fear inducing way. It left you thinking that this could easily happen to you or I. You knew as soon as Chloe arrived in Menorca with Dan that it wasn’t going to be plain sailing and there would be difficulties along the way, just how extreme these difficulties would be were a bit of a shock. The author executed the dialogue and the emotions so well that I could feel anger and fear on behalf of Chloe. The twists and turns weren’t confusing, you had those a-ha moments and just utter shock at some of the actions. The plot was intricate but easy to follow.

Overall, this was an amazing, fast -paced book to read. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys getting lost in Psychological Thrillers.

Dark Light (Dark Light series #1) by S.L. Jennings

May 18, 2019

Dark Light by S. L. Jennings
Published by Createspace Independent Pub on April 14, 2013
ISBN: 9781482016932
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Paranormal, General
Pages: 344
Format: eBook
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LOVE. SEX. MAGIC. Before her 20th birthday, Gabriella was pretty much clueless about all three. In love with her best guy friend since the age of 14 and too crass and intimidating for most of the male population of Colorado Springs, both love and good sex were virtually a myth. And then there's magic. Freakin' magic. There's no way that legend could have a place in her less than exciting life. So why after twenty years of utter obscurity do her adopted parents hit her with the ton of bricks that is her true identity? And how the heck is she supposed to accept all this and instantly become what she was destined to be? Lucky for Gabs, sexy as sin Dorian is more than equipped to help her embrace these new revelations. And while everything about him feels oh so good, she soon learns that there's more behind his crystal blue eyes, chiseled body and exotic beauty. Something dark, menacing and downright unnatural. Yet Gabs is in way too deep to even try to turn away from him now. Dark Light, Book 1 of the Dark Light Series, is the raw, emotional story of a young woman's journey of self-discovery in a world that was not meant for her. And her scorching hot, lip-biting addiction for the man she can't deny, no matter the cost. *Contains strong adult content.

The Plot

Gabriella is a twenty year old woman living what everyone can agree is mediocre. She has no Idea the direction she wants to take her life in. She is undecided about her major, works in retail and hasn’t experienced any meaningful love relationships. This all changes on her 20th Birthday when she discovers she is a one of a kind being, something that has never been seen before. She has a destiny to fulfill but first she has a choice to make. There was quite a major plot twist but one I think that everyone can see coming, that is of course, Gabi.

The Characters

The characters were all intruiging in their own right. Gabriella, is a bit niave that she couldn’t seem to work out certain aspects of the story/events. “What Dorian has been trying to relay to me all along. What I have been trying like hell to run from since my 20th birthday, still trying to hold on to just a shred of normalcy. He knows who I am. He knows I’m the Dark Light, and the beautiful dream boasting colorful images of love, contentment and a future with the alluring man I so desperately love disintegrates right before my eyes, morphing into a horrifying, bloodcurdling nightmare”. Dorian first meets Gabi while at a club and they stare at one another like no one else exists. His presence and the subsequent meeting leaves a lasting impression. He is an enigma for sure, mood swings , mysterious trips to greece and his mysterious changing eye colour. The naughty moments between the two characters were hot and their is definite chemistry between them and not just the magical element. “Because it’s easier to pretend with someone who hardly knows you than to be yourself with someone who loves you for all that you are.” The backing characters were fun and interesting too – Morgan (Gabi’s best friend ) has a small amount of magic in her too and brought some nice lightheartedness to the dialogue. The conflict between Gabi and Jared was intense but I did find myself more rooting for Dorian. I enjoyed the budding romance taking place and although it did come across as an obsession between Gabi and Dorian, the real issue at hand was her magical abilities and the impending issue of her asension.

The Setting

The story takes place in Colorado Springs, although we know that Dorian’s heritage is in Greece. It was interesting to have a character that was from another country and learn the true meaning of Dorian’s surname.

The Writing

This book was the first book that I have read by the author. I did find the first couple of chapters a little bit on the slow side but as the story started getting going it flowed beautifully and I got through the book very quickly. I couldn’t flaw her writing style or pace.

What I didn’t like

The only thing I could possibly say that I didn’t like was , how little that Gabi seemed to connect the dots surrounding Dorian. I think as a reader it was quite obvious what was going to emerge at the end.

I highly recommend this book. I didn’t realise that it was released in 2012, but it still is a very good Paranormal Romance. It produces a lot of FEELS. I need to run and get the 2nd book, Dark Prince , like now. There are so many characters to relate to and fall in love with. It’s a great story, this is completely different from what I usually read but I will dip into Paranormal Romance again.. I’m glad I gave this book a chance and hopefully it’s opened me up to the genre as a whole.

Book Review: Thoughtless by S.C Stephens

May 16, 2019

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Published by Simon and Schuster on August 16, 2012
ISBN: 9781476717494
Genres: Fiction, Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Women, General
Pages: 608
Format: Paperback
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author S.C. Stephens comes a powerful and emotional contemporary romance featuring a young woman in a new city who finds herself torn between her handsome, reliable boyfriend and a sexy local rock star.
For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes…and none of them will ever be the same.

S.C Stephens is the leader in making you feel happy, deeply sad and down- right rage inducing angry!

The story basically starts off with Kiera moving to Seattle to be with her boyfriend Denny, who has recently accepted an internship in the city. This is where she meets the Rock god, Kellan.

Denny is unexpectedly forced away for 2 months for work, which leaves Kiera upset and distraught at being left in a strange city all alone. Her “friendship” with Kellan turns into something more with “ innocent” flirting, that one night leads to a sexual drunken encounter with Kellan.

Kellan goes through the emotions of cold, sarcastic and back to loving again after their encounter. Denny is now home and Kiera falls back into his arms. This is the first place I wanted to scream at her! I mean seriously! Even at this point you all knew that Kellan felt more for her than his usual one nighters.

Kellan is heartbroken and decides to leave as he just can’t watch Denny and Kiera together. She begs him to stay selfishly. This leads to an explosive sex scene in the espresso stand. The chemistry is palpable between them, but Kiera leaves him cold, when she leaves him for Denny, AGAIN!

Do You Want me Inside you again?
Kellan Kyle

The back and forth friendly flirting takes up a large chunk of the book until Anna, Kiera’s sister turns up for the weekend.

Anna is attracted to Kellan and Kiera fizzles with silent rage. She doesn’t know why? Seriously, uh I don’t know?? Maybe because you are in love with him, you stupid girl! They all go out clubbing, Denny leaves her alone on the dancefloor and she is approached by Kellan. Dirty Dancing doesn’t have a look in. Sexy gyrating leads to Kiera trying to strip the clothing off him. This was so fucking hot!! Kellan escapes away from her as Denny re-emerges.

Kiera made a huge mistake here in my opinion. She went home and had sex with Denny but mentally it was Kellan she was with. Does this not tell her something?? Jeeee-Whizz that girl can be thick!

This all blows everything to a head where Kellan calls it off, but in Kiera’s mind Kellan slept with her sister that night. Talk about a cluster fuck? Kellan starts “dating” again. Yeah, ok if your idea of dating is sleeping with a different girl every night.

Everything comes to a head when Keira can take no more and blows at him at Pete’s bar. She slaps him very hard after a crude comment. Kellan finally breaks down in the back room after an intense exchanging of words.

“I’m so in love with you, Kiera. I’ve missed you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry i say awful thing to you. I’m sorry I lied about your sister. I never touched her. I promised you I wouldn’t. I couldn’t let you know..how much I adore you…how much you hurt me”

You think it’s a happy ever after there, right? WRONG!! She goes between the two still back and forth. I really felt every emotion that Kellan felt. I bawled like a little girl for him, I felt pure rage for him. I wanted to smack the living daylights out of her.

She picked Kellan. Then she picked Denny. GOD GIRL GET IT TOGETHER!! Until finally Denny found out. Not from Keira telling him either. The showdown led to Keira protecting Kellan from a blow from Denny which she took, this led her to a stay in hospital.

Denny leaves her. Kellan leaves her. Although, I felt she deserved it, I was sad for Kellan, you could obviously see that Keira was his world.

Anyway, Keira moves into a new flat. She’s lost without Kellan. She is the depths of depression. She finally realises she loves him. Only took you how long?? Anna takes her to a show and her heart breaks at the melancholy of Kellan’s singing. She finally convinces him that its him she wants, forever.

So, this book grabbed my heart and pulled it clean out of my chest and stamped all over it. So far this is the only book to make me majorly cry and hurt for the characters. I love Kellan!! He is the man whore of all man whores. The hottest fictional rock god of all time. Keira, well I believe she was a naive girl who probably felt lost and confused in her feelings for both men. I could of given this book 10 stars. I need a minute!

The Silver Eyes (Five Nights at Freddy’s #1) by Scott Cawthon & Kira Breed-Wrisley

May 9, 2019

Five Nights at Freddy's: The Silver Eyes by Scott Cawthon
Published by Scholastic UK on March 6, 2017
ISBN: 9781407181110
Genres: Young Adult, General
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
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Ten years after the horrific murders at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza that ripped their town apart, Charlie, whose father owned the restaurant, and her childhood friends reunite on the anniversary of the tragedy and find themselves at the old pizza place which had been locked up and abandoned for years. After they discover a way inside, they realize that things are not as they used to be. The four adult-sized animatronic mascots that once entertained patrons have changed. They now have a dark secret . . . and a murderous agenda.
*Not suitable for younger readers*

Being an avid fan of the game franchise Five Nights at Freddy’s and the general lore behind the story, I was quite keen on giving this one a shot. Everything is not as it seems and it builds to crescendo revealing the story to be one of a supernatural intrigue. The story allowed us gamers to understand the backstory better and answered some questions left behind from the game itself.

Charlie is the main heroine in this story, her Father owned a pizza restaurant called Freddy Fazbear’s. It had one big difference, Charlie’s father designed and built animatronic mascots to both serve and entertain the guests, mainly children. Along the way, something went wrong . Charlie’s friend, Micheal, was dragged away by one of the mascot’s and nothing was ever the same again.

Ten years later Charlie and her group of friends return to the town where the kidnapping happened to celebrate the scholarship Micheal’s parents have set up. The friends gather and reminisce about old times and talk does eventually lead to the incident and Freddy Fazbears. For some innate reason, they all decide that it would be a totally awesome idea to go and check out the place once again, only to find the mall that was going to built next to it has been abandoned and Fazbears has been bricked up around it (yup, that in itself tells you something isn’t quite right!!) The Story continues there, with them investigating the deserted restaurant and the creepy goings on.

I gave this book 3 stars out of 5. I liked it but there was parts of the story that did indeed leave me confused. Charlie’s family situation was odd and entangled but I didn’t feel there was enough done to try and clear that up for the reader. Overall, it was a fun read.