Day: June 21, 2020

Posted in Book Review, Family Drama, Friendship, Holiday Romance, Romance, Travel

Summer on a Sunny Island Sue Moorcroft 5*#Review @SueMoorcroft @AvonBooksUK #Summer #Romance #HolidayRomance #Malta #BookReview #WeekendReads

Posted on by jolliffe01

When Rosa Hammond splits up from her partner Marcus, her Mum Dora suggests a summer in Malta. Not one to sit back and watch her daughter be unhappy, Dora introduces Rosa to Zach, in the hope that romance will bloom under the summer sun. But Rosa’s determined not to be swayed by a handsome man – she’s in Malta to work, after all.

Zach, meanwhile, is a magnet for trouble and is dealing with a fair few problems of his own. Neither Rosa or Zach are ready for love – but does fate have other ideas? And after a summer in paradise, will Rosa ever want to leave?

Amazon UK

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My Thoughts…

I love that this story introduces Rosa and Zach from the first page, and makes the reader realise neither are looking for a romantic relationship despite their chemistry. As the story unfolds passion ignites, as their emotional barriers crumble. This is a slow burn romance, full of internal and external conflict.

The island setting is vibrant and easy to imagine, the author’s first-hand knowledge evident. All the characters have a part to play in this complex story of family drama, youthful mistakes and second chances.

This is perfect Summer escapism with believable characters, contemporary issues and realistic romance.

Posted in Book Review, Contemporary Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Friendship

Black Rock Manor Shaun Baines 4*#Review @Littlehavenfarm #CozyMystery #Northumberland #AHollyFleetMystery #BookReview #WeekendReads #BlackRockManor

Posted on by jolliffe01

When Holly Fleet returns to her home village of Little Belton, she expects it to be there.

Arcadia Leisure, a corporation led by an eccentric outsider, buys Black Rock Manor and wants to build a theme park in the heart of Northumberland’s countryside. Houses will be demolished and livelihoods will be lost.

Holly’s cottage may be rundown, but she doesn’t want it to be replaced by a log flume.

A local resident protests and goes missing. Another resident is attacked. While Little Belton holds its breath, frightened to see who might be next, Holly decides to defend her home.

Enlisting the help of Callum Acres, a handsome, young gamekeeper, Holly investigates Arcadia Leisure and discovers secrets the village would like to keep quiet.

If Little Belton is to survive, its residents must work together before Holly’s fresh start becomes a dead end.

Black Rock Manor is the first mystery in the Holly Fleet series. If you like surprising stories, a fast pace and lovable characters, you’ll enjoy the twists and turns of this People’s Book Prize listed author.

Explore the mysterious world of Black Rock Manor today!

Amazon UK

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

My Thoughts…

This is a cosy mystery novel with contemporary themes, relatable characters and a lovely Northumberland setting. Holly returns to Northumberland with financial and marriage problems to find her home village is also struggling to survive. It has a complex, engaging plot which keeps you guessing and an unexpected ending.

Posted in Book Review, Crime, Gangland Crime, ganglit, Noir

Whatever It Takes Tadhg Coakley 4*#Review @MercierBooks #TadhgCoakley @LoveBooksGroup #LoveBooksTours #BookTour #BlogTour #BookReview #CrimeFiction #IrishCrime #Cork #noir #DetectiveGardaCollins #Vendetta #WhateverItTakes #WeekendRead

Posted on by jolliffe01

Set in Cork city, Detective Garda Collins is at war with the leading local criminal, Dominic Molloy. Unwilling to accept the human degradation caused by Molloy’s drugs, violence and prostitution. He has made up his mind to bring Molloy down, but just how far is he willing to go to make that happen? What is he willing to do and what fall-out will ensue for himself and his garda colleagues? This tense crime novel (the first in a series featuring Collins) tells the story of two immovable forces colliding. Something has to give. Running out of time before the murder of two teenagers becomes inevitable, and with a traitor in the garda station feeding information back to Molloy, Collins takes his battle to new heights. He is determined to win, whatever the cost, whatever it takes.

Mercier Press Amazon UK

I received a copy of this book from the author and Mercier Press in return for an honest review

My Thoughts…

Atmospheric and complex this gritty crime story set in Cork explores a noir crime world. Collins has a turbulent history with Cork’s crime lord Molloy and is determined to end his crime empire. The story told from a third-person multi-person perspective is often lawless and violent.

Past events and guilt make Collins pursue Molloy with a single-minded determination. The plot has many characters and complexities. It’s not an easy read, but the writing is full of visual imagery and has a good sense of place and time.

Authentic characters and police procedures make this story realistic and menacing. Collins is a driven, enigmatic detective haunted by past actions and present motivations. His empathy for the vulnerable and sense of justice make him likeable.

Tadhg Coakley

Tadhg Coakley is from Mallow and lives in Cork city. His debut novel The First Sunday in September was shortlisted for the Mercier Press fiction prize and was published in 2018 to much acclaim. His sports writing has appeared in The Irish Examiner and The Holly Bough. He has also been published in The Stinging Fly, The Honest Ulsterman, Silver Apples, Quarryman and the From the Well anthology. He is a graduate of the MA in Creative Writing course at University College Cork. www.tadhgcoakley.com