Book After Book

Publication: 20th June by Orenda Books

PI Varg Veum receives a surprise visit in his office from a woman who introduces herself as his half-sister,
and she has a job for him. Her god-daughter, a nineteen-year-old trainee nurse from Haugesund, moved from her bedsit in Bergen two weeks ago. Since then no one has heard anything from her. She didn’t leave an address. She doesn’t answer her phone. And the police refuse to take her case seriously.

Veum’s investigation uncovers a series of carefully covered-up crimes and pent-up hatreds, and the trail
leads to a gang of extreme bikers and to a shadowy group, whose dark actions are hidden by the anonymity of the Internet. And then things get personal…

Chilling, shocking and exceptionally gripping, Big Sister reaffirms Gunnar Staalesen as one of the world’s foremost thriller writers.

I’d like to start by thanking Anne Cater and Orenda Books not only for providing me with a copy of the book and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour, but also for introducing me to the novels of Norwegian author Gunnar Staalesen. I am still finding my way in the Nordic novels and I am always happy to discover new authors.

The protagonist of the novel is Varg Veum, a private investigator who would have never thought that the first time he met his half-sister Norma would be when she asked him to find her goddaughter Emma, a nineteen-year-old girl who disappeared without leaving any trace. I don’t know if I was more engrossed in Varg Veum’s family drama or the case he was investigating. Sometimes, the two stories are separated, sometimes they merge as Varg tries to discover who is involved in Emma’s disappearance. At the beginning, this seems to be just the case of a young woman who ran off because of the complicated relationship with her estranged father and her drug-addict mother. But as Varg delves deeper into the case, he brings to light a much darker truth than just a complicated family, often at the risk of his life and the people he loves.

The novel is not fast-paced, but the surprises, the revelations (not only about the case, but also about Varg’s family and past) are enough to keep the tension high and keep you glued to the page. The characters are well-developed and I especially liked the character of Varg. I found him realistic, smart, calm, and he knows how to get people to talk even when they don’t want to. The dark, evocative Norwegian setting is suitable for the novel, the perfect frame for the crimes at the center of the story.

The only problem that I had with this novel is that I had some difficulty remembering the names of the characters because I am not familiar with the Norwegian language. But that’s only a small personal glitch, and I will be recommending everyone to read this thrilling, dark, entertaining novel.

 

 

Gunnar Staalesen was born in Bergen, Norway in 1947. He made his debut at
the age of 22 with Seasons of Innocence and in 1977 he published the first book
in the Varg Veum series. He is the author of over 20 titles, which have been
published in 24 countries and sold over five million copies. Twelve film
adaptations of his Varg Veum crime novels have appeared since 2007, starring
the popular Norwegian actor Trond Epsen Seim, and a further series is being
filmed now. Staalesen, who has won three Golden Pistols (including the Prize of
Honour) and the Petrona Award, and been shortlisted for the CWA Dagger, lives
in Bergen with his wife.

Publication: 7th June 2018 by Thomas & Mercer

A deep-state US organization has a top-secret kill list—and a popular senator is on it.

Nathan Stone was killed in action while serving as a covert CIA operative. Or so everyone thought. In reality he’s become a ghost, a black-ops asset with a new identity and controlled by a secret government organization. The Commission has one aim: to hunt down and assassinate anti-establishment enemies of the state.

Its number-one target is Senator Brad Crichton, an ambitious politician with growing support. Stone is ready to take him out, but his plan is soon compromised when the Commission’s kill list is leaked to a journalist—whose own name is on the list too. And when the journalist tries to alert the senator, he is found dead in suspicious circumstances. Stone is closing in on Crichton, but must act swiftly to reach him before the truth does.

He knows that one wrong foot will put him in the firing line. But where national security is at stake, the hunter can quickly become the hunted.

 

One Saturday afternoon, after lunch, I sat down with my kindle with the idea to start reading ROGUE. I didn’t expect to spend the next few hours completely absorbed in this twisty novel without realizing the time passing by.

At the center of the novel there is a secret organization that gets rid of the people considered a risk for the good of the nation. A list of targets that somehow found its way to a journalist. A well-loved senator who doesn’t know he is on the list. A woman worried about her lover. And a secret agent who many believe is dead and who is struggling with memories from his troubled past.

Nathan Stone is a ghost. Everyone believes he is dead, including his sister. He has no ties. He has no feelings and kills without remorse. That’s why he is the perfect agent to kill a senator and make it look like an accident. It should be a clean, easy job, but the list of targets is leaked to a journalist causing a chain of events that quickly spiral out of control. Also, Nathan’s memories resourface making him doubt everything he knows.

This novel is told from different points of views and in short chapters, leaving the readers to catch their breath as everything happens quickly. The characters are very well-crafted, and I really liked the character of Nathan. He is a new Jason Bourne, a man struggling with his past and his identity, with what is right and what is wrong and I am really looking forward to reading more of his adventures.

The novel is fast-paced, everything happens in a few days, and it is set between the world capital of politics, Washington DC, and the beautiful and evocative highlands of Scotland. ROGUE is a gripping, unpredictable and completely engrossing action thriller and I’d like to thank Anne Cater and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of the book and for letting me take part in the blog tour.

 

J.B. Turner is the #1 Amazon international bestselling author of the Jon Reznick® thriller series. His latest book, Hard Fall (Thomas & Mercer), was published on 8 February 2018. His influences and favorite authors include: James Ellroy, Richard Stark, Hunter S. Thompson, James Lee Burke, George Orwell, Jack Kerouac, Henry James, Harlan Coben, Thomas H. Cook, John Grisham, James Patterson, John Buchan, John Grisham, and Michael Connelly.

He also wrote the forthcoming American Ghost® thriller series. The new series features protagonist Nathan Stone, a former CIA covert operative who had been critically wounded, and everyone thought was dead. But behind closed doors, he was rehabilitated by a highly secretive government organization known as the Commission, given a new identity and appearance, and remoulded into a lethal assassin. His brief: to execute kill orders drawn up by the Commission, all in the name of national security. The Commission owns him, but Stone knows one wrong move could turn him from loyal asset to hunted man. The first book in the new American Ghost series, Rogue (Thomas & Mercer), is out 7 June 2018. The follow-up is Reckoning (Thomas & Mercer), is out 2 August 2018. Requiem is out November 2018 (Thomas & Mercer).

He wrote the Jon Reznick novella, Gone Bad (No Way Back Press), and the Deborah Jones crime thrillers, Miami Requiem (No Way Back Press) and Dark Waters (No Way Back Press).

His books have conspiratorial elements and themes throughout them. His work can often be described as thrillers; his books cover sub-genre categories including assassination thriller, suspense thriller, political thriller, crime fiction, military thriller, and, in the case of the Deborah Jones books, mysteries.
He has a keen interest in geo-politics.
He loves music and drinks dangerous levels of coffee (and a fair bit of red wine). He occasionally blogs. He listens to everything from Beethoven to The Beatles, The Cure to Bach. And everything in between. Occasionally writes. Loves films. Well, good ones. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Heat, The Godfather, The Offence, The French Connection, Payback, It’s a Wonderful Life, Manhattan, Annie Hall, Sideways, As Good As It Gets, Wonder Boys, The Deer Hunter, All the President’s Men, Babette’s Feast, and a personal fave, Animal House (what’s not to like?).

He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is married with two children.
He is represented by Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group, New York.
Check out his website at:
https://jbturnerauthor.com/

 

 

Publication: 31st May 2018 by Simon & Schuster UK

The heart-warming new novel from the Sunday Timesbestselling author, perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Cathy Bramley

Kate is on the run from her almost-divorced husband who is determined to have her back, and she has found the perfect place to hide… a little cottage on Nightingale Square in Norwich, far away from her old life in London. But the residents of Nightingale Square don’t take no for an answer, and Kate soon finds herself pulled into a friendship with Lisa, her bossy but lovely new neighbour.

Within a matter of days Kate is landed with the job of campaigning the council to turn the green into a community garden, meanwhile all the residents of Nightingale Square are horrified to discover that the Victorian mansion house on the other side of the square has been bought by developers. But when all hope is lost, the arrival of a handsome stranger is sure to turn things around!

Heidi Swain is the perfect summer read – you’ll want to find your own green space, stretch out in the sun and dive into life at Nightingale Square.

 

Let me just say that, despite the long length of the book (more than 400 pages), I read this heartwarming and engrossing novel in two days. I found the characters realistic and likable and I was completely immersed in their stories and their lives. I was also fascinated by the history surrounding Nightingale Square and the families who used to live there and, along with Kate, I enjoyed to find out more.

The main protagonist of the novel is Kate. She believes in one true love. She believes that people can give their heart to just one person during their lifetime, so when her marriage to David ends under terrible circumstances but ‘amicably’ (in her own words), she decides to leave her life in London and her job to start a new and lonely life in Norwich. She has found the perfect house in Nightingale Square and she believes she will be happy there on her own. But, she has barely the time to open her first box, that a neighbour is already knocking on her door and barging in. Soon, Kate forgets about her desire to be alone and she finds herself surrounded by her neighbours, who soon turns into friends, and then her family. There is mother-of-three Lisa who, in her bossy way, quickly takes Kate under her wing. Then there is new mom Heather who is struggling with motherhood. Nosy Carole who knows everything that goes on in the neighbourhood, and elderly Harold, who knows the history of the square and the family who used to own Prosperous Place, the large mansion by it. Also, the arrival of mysterious Luke maybe will give Kate the chance to change her mind about having just one love in her life.

The characters and their sense of community really come to life under Heidi Swain’s pen and I really enjoyed getting to know them, page after page. The setting seems idyllic, away from the noise of the city and surrounded by gardens, and it is very evocative and atmospheric.

The engaging characters, the beautiful setting, the entertaining stories, the brilliant and flawless writing create a refreshing and unique story that I couldn’t put down and I’d like to thanks Simon and Schuster UK and Harriet Collins for providing me with a copy of the book.

 

Heidi Swain is the Sunday Times bestselling author of five novels: The Cherry Tree Cafe, Summer at Skylark Farm, Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market, Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage  and most recently, Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair. She lives in Norfolk with her husband and two teenage children. Follow Heidi on twitter @Heidi_Swain or visit her website: http://heidiswain.co.uk/

Publication: 14th June 2018 by Orion

THE SERIAL KILLER ISN’T ON TRIAL.

HE’S ON THE JURY…

‘To your knowledge, is there anything that would preclude you from serving on this jury?’

Murder wasn’t the hard part. It was just the start of the game.

Joshua Kane has been preparing for this moment his whole life. He’s done it before. But this is the big one.

This is the murder trial of the century. And Kane has killed to get the best seat in the house.

But there’s someone on his tail. Someone who suspects that the killer isn’t the man on trial.

Kane knows time is running out – he just needs to get to the conviction without being discovered.

The first thing I did after finishing reading this gripping novel was to go and buy the first three books in the series and ask myself why I never heard of Steve Cavanagh before. I was completely absorbed by the twisty plot and by charismatic defence attorney Eddie Flynn from the first page.

Although this is the fourth book that sees his protagonist Eddie Flynn in action, it can easily be read as a standalone novel. In THIRTEEN, there is a killer on the loose. We know his name, Joshua Kane, but he easily changes appearance and voice to take someone else’s place after he kills them. Now he is trying to get into the trial of the year, the one where Robert Solomon, a famous Hollywood actor, will have to defend himself from the accusation of murdering his wife and his security guard.

Enter Eddie Flynn. He defends only people he is sure they are innocent and after talking to Robert Solomon he knows Robert is innocent, but he also knows that he is hiding something. So he accepts to help Rudy Carp, a high-profile lawyer, in proving Robert’s innocence.

The character of Eddie Flynn is very likable. He is charming, honest, smart, and really good at his job and you also get a glimpse of his personal life as he dreams of a more normal and safer career that will allow him to get his wife and daughter back.

I was hooked from the beginning in this fast-paced novel where everything happens in a few days and the tension and suspense are always high. Thrilling, compulsive, and twisty, THIRTEEN was one of these novels that I didn’t want to end and I can’t wait to read more about Eddie Flynn and his dangerous and twisty cases. I’d like to thank Orion Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof copy of the book.

Publication: 15th May 2018 by Orenda Books

Nail-bitingly modern domestic noir

A tense, Hitchcockian psychological thriller

Louise Voss returns with her darkest, most chilling, novel yet…

Lynn Naismith gave up the job she loved when she married Ed, the love of her life, but it was worth it for the happy years they enjoyed together. Now, ten years on, Ed has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and things start to happen; things more sinister than missing keys and lost words.

As some memories are forgotten, others, long buried, begin to surface… and Lynn’s perfect world begins to crumble.

But is it Ed’s mind playing tricks, or hers…?

 

I started this novel not quite sure what to expect, but from a few earlier reviews I read I knew I was going to be blown away, and blown away I was. THE OLD YOU is domestic noir with capital letters, full of suspense, well-developed characters, and jaw-dropping moments.

It starts slow, with the protagonist, Lynn Naismith, finding out that her husband Ed suffers from an early form of dementia on the same day she finds a new job. The way the author describes Lynn’s feelings over her husband’s illness, her insecurities and struggles feel realistic, authentic, and well-researched as Lynn comes to term with the disease and she prepares for a future that won’t be as rosy as she imagined. And when things start to take a darker turn, I found myself completely dragged into Lynn’s claustrophobic world and the mysterious things that start to happen around her.

The plot is clever and completely unpredictable because nothing is what it seems. Each character has their own secrets and, like Lynn, I found myself not knowing what was real anymore and which character to trust and believe. There are so many twists that at some point I lost count. Every few pages there is something that surprises you, that completely shocks you because you couldn’t see it coming. There are so many secrets, lies, and truths, and each one is revealed slowly, a bit at the time, so the tension is always high. Reading this novel was a rollercoaster and I got to the end completely out of breath.

THE OLD YOU is my first Louise Voss’s novel and I am sorry I didn’t discover earlier this author and her captivating writing, her dark and vivid characters, and her carefully-plotted  stories. I have been missing out but I plan to catch up. THE OLD YOU is haunting, intense, and riveting, and I’d like to thank Orenda Books and Anne Cater for providing me with a copy of the book and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

 

 

Louise Voss has been writing for the past eighteen years, with many twists and turns in her career. She started her publishing life with four novels for Transworld/Black Swan, the first of which, To Be Someone, was published in 2001 with its own CD soundtrack. This was followed by three more contemporary women’s fiction novels, Are You My Mother? Lifesaver, and Games People Play, until she switched to publishing thrillers with Mark Edwards.

She and Mark were the first British indie authors to reach No.1 on the Amazon charts with Catch Your Death, where they stayed for the month of June 2011, with their novel Killing Cupid also at No. 2. This led to a four-book deal with Harper Collins; then two books in the DI Lennon series, From the Cradle and The Blissfully Dead (Thomas & Mercer).

Her first solo thriller was The Venus Trap in 2015 and her second, a twisty tale of domestic noir, is out in May 2018: The Old You, published by @OrendaBooks.

Louise lives in southwest London and can be reached at @LouiseVoss1 on Twitter or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LouiseVossAuthor.

Publication: 7 June 2018 by Fleet

In 1937, courageous and independent Martha Gellhorn travels to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War, and finds herself drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in devastating conflict. She also finds herself unexpectedly – and uncontrollably – falling in love with Ernest Hemingway, a man already on his way to being a legend. In the shadow of the impending Second World War, and set against the tumultuous backdrops of Madrid, Finland, China, and especially Cuba, where Martha and Hemingway made their home, their relationship and professional careers ignite.

But when Hemingway publishes the biggest literary success of his career, they are no longer equals, and Martha must make a choice: surrender to the suffocating demands of a domestic lifestyle, or risk losing her husband by forging her way as her own woman and writer. It is a dilemma that will force her to break his heart, and her own.

 

I am not a big fan of historical novels, but when I read the names of Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gellhorn I couldn’t help myself and I requested LOVE AND RUIN on NetGalley, because I am a huge fan of his novels and her writing.

The novel starts right when Martha first met Hemingway, how they first became friends, then lovers, and then husband and wife. It was fascinating to see the two sides of Martha. When she was with Hemingway she was a woman in love who accepted her man requests, although it was good to see her stand up to him. They were jealous of each other’s success and she was often left in the shadow. But when she was away from him, on the field, trying to get material for her articles she was fiery, strong, and determined. She traveled all around Europe during World War II and she would do anything to get the article she wanted, including hide in a hospital ship bathroom to be the only woman to witness the Normand landings. That’s what I liked most about this character, her bravery, her commitment to show to the people in her country the brutalities of the war and her commitment to her career that, in the end, she chose over her marriage.

Although the novel focuses mostly on her relationship with Hemingway, the author explores also her relationship with her three stepsons whom she loved deeply and her relationship with her family. Her father died before she met Hemingway and they had a difficult relationship because he wasn’t very supportive of her writing, but she was very close to her mother and she often confided in her.

The novel is told mostly from Martha’s point of view and, thanks to the author’s attention to details and accuracy, it read like a memoir. It’s beautifully written, insightful, and memorable and I had a really hard time put it down!

Publication: 17 May 20178 by Bantam Press

On a stifling summer’s day, eleven-year-old Jack and his two sisters sit in their broken-down car, waiting for their mother to come back and rescue them.

‘Jack’s in charge,’ she’d said. ‘I won’t be long.’ 

But she doesn’t come back. She never comes back. And life as the children know it is changed for ever.

Three years later, mum-to-be Catherine wakes to find a knife beside her bed, and a note that says:

I could have killed you.

Meanwhile, Jack is still in charge – of his sisters, of supporting them all, of making sure nobody knows they’re alone in the house, and – quite suddenly – of finding out the truth about what happened to his mother.

But the truth can be a dangerous thing…

I discovered Belinda Bauer a couple of years ago when I read her novel The Beautiful Dead. I loved the twisty plot, the captivating writing, and the way she creates and develops her characters. So when, a few months ago, I found out that she had a new novel coming out I was really excited and I couldn’t wait to read it, and I’d like to thank Transworld Books and Becky Short (who, by the way, was the one to send me a copy of The Beautiful Dead two years ago) for providing me with a copy of the book.

The story is told from three different points of view. The first is Jack Bright, a young boy who, after the death of his mother, had to grow up quickly and put himself in charge of his family. His father couldn’t cope with his wife’s lost, so, at fourteen, Jack has to take care of his two younger sisters, Joy, who spends her time piling up newspapers around the house, and Merry, the five-year-old who loves to read about vampires and scary clowns. Belinda Bauer really gets you into the head of this character, how he is overwhelmed by the fact that he has to take care and provide for his sisters, but, at the same time, he doesn’t want anybody to find out that they are left alone to not end up in foster care and be separated.

The other point of view is Catherine While, a happily married and seven-month pregnant woman who, one night, wakes up to find an intruder in her house. Her husband is away for work and she manages to scare the intruder away, but he left a message for her, a message that terrifies her so much that she doesn’t call the police or tell her husband.

You don’t have to wait long to find out the connection between Jack and Catherine and, while their paths cross multiple times, the police, in the meantime, is investigating a series of burglaries hitting the area around Taunton. The police’s investigation is narrated through the eyes of DCI John Marvel, an arrogant detective transferred from London who is looking for a big case that will make him look good to the eyes of his boss, and DS Reynolds, a know-it-all sergeant who always sticks to the rules. Although I didn’t really like these two characters, their exchanges created a few hilarious moments to the narration that made me laugh.

SNAP is dark and haunting, but also emotional, original, and gripping. I was completely absorbed into the characters’ lives and their tragic and moving stories. Once again, Belinda Bauer wrote a terrific must-read!

 

Lily Holmes is ready for a fresh start. And there’s no better place to begin again than the idyllic seaside town of Marram Bay.

All Lily wants to do is focus on making her new deli a success and ensuring her son’s happiness. Not the postcard creeping out of her handbag, and definitely not finding a new man in her life!

But this isn’t going to be as easy as she first thought. The town is in uproar about the city girl who’s dared to join them and she’s fighting a battle at every turn.

Perhaps with a little help from the gorgeous cider farmer next door, she may be able to win them over, but her past secrets threaten to ruin everything…

The brand new laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from bestseller Portia Macintosh. Perfect for fans of Jo Watson and Tilly Tennant.

 

This novel is the perfect summer read. Highly enjoyable, very atmospheric, and with engaging characters that will entertain you for the entire novel (there are a few scenes that are really hilarious). It opens with the protagonist, thirty-one-year old Lily Holmes, arriving to Marram Bay, a touristic town in Yorkshire, with her eight-year-old son, Frankie, full of hopes and dreams and ready for a new start. But her hopes are quickly crushed when she learns that the entire town doesn’t want her there, because of the new deli she is there to open. Luckily, Lily doesn’t give up easily and she prepares to win the town over.

I liked the character of Lily. She is portrayed as a strong woman, a single mother raising a child alone, juggling a full-time job, her eccentric mother who pretends to be her sister, the hate of a town that doesn’t want her there, and the arrival of two men who just seem to want to complicate her life even more. One is Nathan, her ex-boyfriend and father to her eight-year-old son. He is a hippie who wants to save the world by eating vegetables and spending his time on Lily’s couch watching reality shows and soap operas. The other man is Alfie, the handsome and charming neighbour who seems attracted to Lily, but he seems too perfect to be true.

SUMMER SECRETS AT THE APPLE BLOSSOM DELI is a heartwarming, well-written, and entertaining novel and I’d like to thank HQ Digital for providing me with an early copy of the book and for giving me the chance to take part in the blog tour.

PORTIA MACINTOSH has been ‘making stuff up’ for as long as she can remember – or so she says. Whether it was blaming her siblings for that broken vase when she was growing up, blagging her way backstage during her rock chick phase or, most recently, whatever justification she can fabricate to explain away those lunchtime cocktails, Portia just loves telling tales. After years working as a music journalist, Portia decided it was time to use her powers for good and started writing novels. Taking inspiration from her experiences on tour with bands, the real struggle of dating in your twenties and just trying to survive as an adult human female generally, Portia writes about what it’s really like for women who don’t find this life stuff as easy as it seems.

Since he was a child, Morgan Sheppard always wanted to be famous. It didn’t matter for what as long as he was recognized and adulated. When he was eleven-years-old something happened that put him on the spotlight and now, many years later, he is the famous presenter of a detective show. Spending his days popping pills and not caring about other people’s feelings, Morgan wakes up one day chained to a hotel room. There are five other people in the room, they don’t know each other and they don’t know how they got there, but the biggest surprise is the murdered body in the bath tub. A man wearing the mask of a horse appears on the screen of a TV to explain that they are all in the room of a hotel in central London. One of them is the killer and if Morgan manages to find out who it is in the next three hours they will all be free to go. If he doesn’t, the hotel will explode killing everyone inside it.

Morgan has recognised the man in the bath tub, he is someone who had been important for him for many years, and even the other people in the room all seem to have a connection with him. After making sure that there is no way out, Morgan starts the investigation, but his mind can’t focus as he struggles with his drug addiction and regrets from his past, and things get out of control as suspicion raises among the other “guests”.

This is a fast-paced novel, everything happens in a few hours, with flashbacks and memories that take the reader back in time to discover what happened that led this five people into this room. A real-life Cluedo with touches of Agatha Christie – although with a more claustrophobic atmosphere since much of the action happens inside a hotel room and, at some point, in a vent – this is an edgy and gripping read which I was surprised to discover is a debut because it’s very well-written and carefully plotted.

I’d like to thank Orion for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

 

One ex.
One wedding.
One little white lie.

When Samantha Jenkins is asked to be the maid of honour at her best friend’s wedding, she couldn’t be happier. There are just three problems…

1) Sam’s ex-boyfriend, Liam, will be the best man.
2) His new girlfriend is pregnant.
3) Sam might have told people she has a new man when she doesn’t (see points 1 and 2 above)

So, Sam does the only sensible thing available to her… and hires a professional to do the job.

Actor Jake Porter is perfect for the role: single, gorgeous and cheap! Sam is certain it’s the perfect solution: no strings, no heartbreak and hopefully no chance of being found out.

But spending a week in the Scottish Highlands with Jake is harder than she imagined. He is the perfect boyfriend, charming, sexy and the hottest thing in a kilt since Outlander! And his dog Harry is quite possibly the cutest things Sam has ever seen!

As the wedding draws closer, Jake plays his part to perfection and everyone believes he is madly in love with Sam. The problem is, Sam’s not sure if Jake is acting anymore…

 

Although they are often predictable, I love romantic comedies. Even if I know how they are going to end, I enjoy reading them, especially if they are well-written and have engaging characters like THE WEDDING DATE by Zara Stoneley.

I adored this novel. I laughed from the first to the last page (there is a scene with horses that is particularly hilarious) and I loved all the characters, or at least the good ones. I really liked the character of Sam. She is loyal, funny, a good friend, and completely realistic. She likes to make lists and she doesn’t back down from difficult situations, like going to her best friend wedding and seeing her ex-boyfriend and his hugely pregnant new girlfriend with whom he cheated on her, or riding a horse when she is clearly not able to. I liked, Jake, the “fake” boyfriend. He is a struggling actor and he really gets into the role. He plays the perfect boyfriend and also the perfect man (it appears that there is nothing he can’t do), but he is also entertaining and smart, and I enjoyed his witty exchanged with Sam. Another character I loved is Sam’s mother. She has no filters, she is nosy, indiscreet, and every time Jake came out of the a lake completely wet (somehow this happened more than once) she shouted out for Mr. Darcy. Last but not least on the list of my favorite characters is Harry, the dog. He was the life of the party, always at the center of the attention and he created some of the most comic scenes in the book.

The Scottish and secluded castle is the perfect setting to this novel and the brilliant writing, the hilarious situations, and the witty exchanged kept me glued to the page. I read it in one day, trying to read as many pages as possible during my lunch break and reading (and laughing) well into the night.

I’d like to thank Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources and HarperImpulse for providing me with an early copy of the book and for giving me the chance to take part in the blog tour.

 

Born in a small village in Staffordshire, Zara Stoneley wanted to be James Herriot, a spy, or an author when she grew up. Writing novels means she can imagine she is all these things, and more!
Zara’s bestselling novels include ‘The Holiday Swap’, ‘Summer with the Country Village Vet’, ‘Blackberry Picking at Jasmine Cottage’ and the popular Tippermere series – ‘Stable Mates’, ‘Country Affairs’ and ‘Country Rivals’.
She lives in a Cheshire village with her family, a naughty cockapoo, and a very bossy cat, and loves spending time in sunny Spain.

Website: http://www.zarastoneley.com
Twitter: @ZaraStoneley
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ZaraStoneley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zarastoneley/

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