Being Netta Wilde by Hazel Ward -contemporary fiction

Annette has been made redundant and her friend persuades her to help out

at a food bank- the last thing she really wants to do. All she longs to do is

hide from the world and people in particular. Her son and daughter take

her for granted and are busy with their own lives and live with her

husband. Through doing this she finds more than she ever imagined-

friendship, purpose and a routine she loves. Not everything is about

money- her husband (who she is separated from) and children wanting

her to find a new job so she can support their lifestyles- her husband

doesnt work “ as he’s an artist”- something that grates with Netta.

A wonderful life affirming read of not being taken for granted and

being out done. Of coercive control and subservience to becoming

the butterfly you once dreamt of being but sadly became stuck in the

chrysalis. Of how friends, jam and a dog can make the world go

around and bring out your true colours in a good way. I really

enjoyed this and found myself thinking  “ go girl”. Maybe we can

all see a little of ourselves in Netta? One life - live it! Loved it. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Being Netta Wilde An uplifting story of love, loss and second chances that celebrates friendship and human connections. Netta Wilde was all the things Annette Grey isn’t. Netta Wilde was raw, unchecked and just a little bit rebellious. She loved The Clash and she loved being Netta Wilde. Annette Grey is an empty, broken woman who hardly knows her own children. Of course, it’s her own fault. She’s a bad mother. An unnatural mother. At least, that’s what her ex-husband tells her. The one thing she is good at … the one thing that stops her from falling … is her job. When the unthinkable happens, Annette makes a decision that sets her on a journey of self-discovery and reinvention. Along the way, her life is filled with friends, family, dogs, and jam. Lots of jam. Suddenly anything seems possible. Even being Netta Wilde again. But, is she brave enough to take that final step when the secrets she keeps locked inside are never too far away? Purchase Links UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Being-Netta-Wilde-Hazel-Ward-ebook/dp/B0947351XQ US - https://www.amazon.com/Being-Netta-Wilde-Hazel-Ward-ebook/dp/B0947351XQ

Author Bio Hazel Ward was born in a back-to-back house in inner city Birmingham. By the time the council knocked the house flat and packed her family off to the suburbs, she was already something of a feral child who loved adventures. Swapping derelict houses and bomb pecks for green fields and gardens was a bit of a culture shock but she rose to the occasion admirably and grew up loving outdoor spaces and animals. Especially dogs, cats and horses. Strangely, for someone who couldn’t sit still, she also developed a ferocious reading habit and a love of words. She wrote her first novel at fifteen, along with a lot of angsty poems, and was absolutely sure she wanted to be a writer. Sadly, it all came crashing down when her seventeen-year-old self walked out of school after a spot of bother and was either too stubborn or too embarrassed to go back. It’s too long ago to remember which.  What followed was a series of mind-numbingly dull jobs that paid the bills but did little to quell the restlessness inside. Always a bit of a smart-arse, she eventually managed to talk herself into a successful corporate career that lasted over twenty years until, with the bills paid and the children grown up, she was able to wave it all goodbye and do the thing she’d always wanted to do. While taking a fiction writing course she wrote a short story about a lonely woman who was being made redundant. The story eventually became her debut novel Being Netta Wilde. Hazel still lives in Birmingham and that’s where she does most of her writing. When she’s not there, she and her partner can be found in their holiday home in Shropshire or gadding about the country in an old motorhome. Not quite feral anymore but still up for adventures. Social Media Links – https://hazelwardauthor.com https://www.facebook.com/hazelwardauthor https://twitter.com/hazelward https://www.instagram.com/hazel.ward https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrmdeA7DKEXhrj6nO6l2gJw

 

Dark Days for the Tobacco Girls by Lizzie Lane Historical fiction (WW2)

World war two and the Tobacco girls are living a strange life. Three young

women-Bridget Milligan, Maisie Miles and Phyllis Mason  (the 3M’s) living

in and around Bristol whose lives have changed drastically with rationing,

air raids, loss of life and all that war brings. Bridget's large family have

been moved to a safer haven albeit not together as there are so many

of them and Phyllis is having to suffer her mother in law whilst pregnant

and waiting for her husband to return. Bridget met Lyndon, an

American whose family owns the Tobacco factory but he has now

returned to the states and she longs to hear from him but when she

visits her evacuated family,  she meets a very close lookalike and her

family are hiding most of the letters Lyndon has been sending. This

is a nostalgic read, evocative of the era and the hardships ordinary

people went through not so very long ago but seems a world

away in many respects. I find these books interesting as although

fiction gives some insight to lives that did happen at that time.

A tale of lasting and treasured friendships and doing the very best

for each other whatever the circumstances. This is the second

book in the series (The Tobacco Girls being the first) and for

me would probably need to be read in order to understand

relationships etc. An interesting engaging read. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Dark Days for the Tobacco Girls Nothing will stop the The Tobacco Girls, not even war... BRISTOL 1940. The Tobacco Girls cling together as they realise that the clouds of war are turning dark, the world is becoming more dangerous and their lives more unpredictable.  Bridget Milligan’s big, happy family fragments when her siblings are evacuated to North Devon, then a letter from America further fills her with dismay. Maisie Miles safe haven from both Eddie Bridgeman and her father is jeopardised and she is forced to move on, but where too this time?  Phyllis Mason is struck down by tragedy and her life spirals downwards into despair until a new horizons beckons, but also perhaps great danger... Regardless of the rationing, shortages and an ever-worsening situation, The Tobacco Girls all pull together and hope for better days to come. Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/2P9xSxS

Author Bio: Lizzie Lane is the author of over 50 books, a number of which have been bestsellers.  She was born and bred in Bristol where many of her family worked in the cigarette and cigar factories.  This has inspired her new saga series for Boldwood The Tobacco Girls, the first part of which will be published in January 2021. Social Media Links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgshaddick Twitter: https://twitter.com/baywriterallat1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baywriterallatsea/ Newsletter Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/LizzieLaneNewsletter Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lizzie-lane

 

Dead Sorry (Calladine & Bayliss book 11)- Helen Durrant- Crime        

Many years ago a young girl was viciously attacked with a hammer. Present

day and her mother is found dead and there are links to another murder at

the time of the attack. DI Tom Calladine and his sidekick Ruth are on the

case however Tom has his own issues. His grand-daughter is in danger

from an old adversary who wants Tom on side and his cousins wife is

out of prison and wants to stay with him- otherwise she will take Sam,

the dog he has grown very fond of. I really enjoy this series- it's more

than “just” a crime/detective book. There is a warmth and depth of

character which comes to life through the pages- to me the sign of a

skilled writer and you feel that camaraderie with them. This is part of

a series and would probably stand alone however some of the

subplots/character threads may not make sense. Tom is struggling

with his home life (or lack of?) and his health and work is getting

ever more complex when one clue leads to another possibly

seemingly unrelated crime. A very well thought out plot, a

wonderful, very enjoyable read.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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DEAD SORRY (Calladine & Bayliss book 11) by Helen H Durrant Looking for a brilliant best-selling crime mystery with great detectives? THE PAST COMES BACK TO HAUNT THEM Twenty-five years ago a schoolgirl was attacked by three bullies in her home where she lived with her grandmother. Now, the mother of one of those bullies is found murdered on the Hobfield housing estate. Written on the wall in the victim’s blood is the word, “sorry.” There is a link to the discovery of bones at an old house up in the hills — the home of the teenage girl who was attacked. Detective Tom Calladine and his partner DS Ruth Bayliss have more than this puzzling case on their hands. Arch-villain Lazarov is threatening Calladine’s granddaughter and a valuable hoard of Celtic gold is coming to a local museum. The pressure is on, and this time Calladine is cracking . . . Discover an absolutely unputdownable crime thriller from a best-selling author. If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will enjoy this exciting new crime fiction writer. DEAD SORRY is book eleven of a new series of detective thrillers featuring DS Ruth Bayliss and DI Tom Calladine. What readers are saying about the series “I read it in one sitting.” Aileen “This books has lots of twists and turns throughout and with a cracking ending to this brilliant book.” Nessa “Really enjoyed this book.” Nerys “Kept me guessing till the end.” Anna Maria “I finished it in twenty-four hours and enjoyed every page.” Joan THE DETECTIVES Tom Calladine is a detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape. Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. She is balancing her professional life with looking after a small child. THE SETTINGThe fictional village of Leesdon is on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home. DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES Book 1: DEAD WRONG Book 2: DEAD SILENT Book 3: DEAD LIST Book 4: DEAD LOST Book 5: DEAD & BURIED Book 6: DEAD NASTY Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS Book 8: DEAD BAD Book 9: DEAD GUILTY Book 10: DEAD WICKED Book 11: DEAD SORRY

HELEN H. DURRANT OVER 1 MILLION BOOKS SOLD! Helen is one of the ‘baby boomer’ generation and began writing when she retired from her job at a local college. Born in Edinburgh to an English father and Scottish mother the family settled in a Pennine village between the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is an environment which has shaped her stories. Writing is a second career and, despite having a bus pass, keeps her busy, and tuned in. Helen’s children are all grown-up and she has five grandchildren. BOOKS BY HELEN H. DURRANT CALLADINE & BAYLISS SERIES: DEAD WRONG DEAD SILENT DEAD LIST DEAD LOST DEAD & BURIED DEAD NASTY DEAD JEALOUS DEAD BAD DEAD GUILTY DEAD WICKED DI GRECO SERIES: DARK MURDER DARK HOUSES DARK TRADE DARK ANGEL DI MATHEW BRINDLE SERIES: HIS THIRD VICTIM THE OTHER VICTIM DCI RACHEL KING SERIES: NEXT VICTIM TWO VICTIMS WRONG VICTIM FORGOTTEN VICTIM DETECTIVES LENNOX & WILDE SERIES: THE GUILTY MAN THE FACELESS MAN BOX SETS: DETECTIVES CALLADINE & BAYLISS BOOKS 1-3 THE DETECTIVE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES BOOKS 1-9 BOX SET DETECTIVE STEPHEN GRECO BOOKS 1-3 THE COMPLETE DETECTIVE STEPHEN GRECO BOX SET THE DETECTIVE RACHEL KING BOOKS 1-3 FOLLOW HELEN ON FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM GOODREADS

 

Deadly secrets - Gordon Bickerstaff - Thriller

Wow! Where to begin? A book of corporate deceit and inner wheels having

effects on so many. Gavin is working on a food product from fish that could

well change the industry forever. Biochemical research with industry and a

whole lot more ramifications. When something is so revolutionary,  word

gets out and those with a whole lot of both money and power are out to

seize it and not necessary in a legal or trustworthy way.. This is my first

book by this author and I’m blown away. Although fiction there is detail

which has had to be researched to the nth degree and is very well put

across. Despite being a multi- faceted plot this is very easy to follow

and unlike many books I didn't have to stop and think “ just who is this

person?” at any time. For me this would make a very good, engaging

TV series. Thriller as a genre almost doesn't do this justice in a good

way. There are twists and turns, sharp ones at times so cleverly

crafted- the work of a real plot master and talented author. A story

of technology but more of human greed and possession both of

things and of people and of a normal someone- Gavin who we

can relate to, to make the whole thing plausible- a man of trust

and decency and a whole lot more.

A very interesting read that made me think. 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

 

THE SILENT LISTENER by Lyn Yeowart-psychological thriller

Set in three timelines this takes us to the backwoods of Australia. In 1983 Joy

returned to the family farm to care for her dying father- a father who ruled

the roost with his temper, his belt and his love of God. An elder at the church

and a very respected member of the community. In the  1940’s George has

just met his wife Gwen and rules are being laid down from the get-go. His

tea has to be on time, her spending has to be exact and all accounted for

and there are no other rules but his rules anything less results in punishment-

often of the violent kind. In the 1960’s the family was growing up around

this monster of a man. This isn't an easy read especially for anyone having

had a domineering parent but although fiction this may enlighten some

as to how some people lived and not just way back when. Joy managed

to move away to make her own life. Her sister Ruth having had an accident

was the favourite and never did anything wrong so it seems. They lived

away from any neighbours and miles from the nearest town so were

pretty much left alone to get on with their own lives on the dairy farm.

This drew me in and although this portrays a childhood of living in fear, 

they all had a plan for when they were old enough. A well thought

out plot and a descriptive read of the area and surroundings and

what life was like back then. An informative, touching read.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart AN UNFORGETTABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER SET IN THE DARK, GOTHIC HEART OF RURAL AUSTRALIA   The moment he dies, the room explodes with life.   Joy Henderson returns to the family farm to nurse her dying father. To the outside world, George is a pillar of the community, but to Joy and her siblings, he’s a monster. As children, they lived in constant fear of the punishments he dished out to his “dirty, filthy sinners who are going to rot in Hell”. Then, the day after George finally confesses to a horrific crime, Joy finds him dead — with a belt pulled tight around his neck . . .   Senior Constable Alex Shepherd, summoned to the scene by George’s doctor, is suspicious: did Joy murder her father? If so, why?   The more Shepherd digs the more questions he raises. Will the truth finally be revealed?   Effortlessly propelling the reader back and forth between three timelines, Lyn Yeowart’s unforgettable debut richly rewards the reader with its explosive, pitiless conclusion.   This electrifying literary thriller will be devoured by fans of Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones, Eve Chase’s The Glass House, Delia Owens, Gillian Flynn and Kate Morton.   ABOUT LYN YEOWART Lyn Yeowart is a professional writer and editor, working on everything from captions for artworks to speeches. The Silent Listener is loosely based on events from her childhood in rural Australia. She now happily lives in Melbourne, where there is little mud, but lots of books.

LYN YEOWART Lyn Yeowart is a professional writer and editor with more than 25 years of experience in writing and editing everything from captions for artworks to speeches for executives. Her debut novel, The Silent Listener, is loosely based on events from her childhood in rural Australia. She is now happily ensconced in Melbourne, where there is very little mud, but lots of books. BOOKS BY LYN YEOWART THE SILENT LISTENER FOLLOW LYN ON AUTHOR WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM GOODREADS

 

Murder on the Beach-Daisy White (Chloe Canton mysteries book 2)

We are back on the gorgeous island of Bermuda at the stables where

Chloe is now settling in. She gets a call from an old friend who wants

to borrow one of her horses as part of a celebrity wedding which is

being arranged rather hastily. The bride has had a stalker in the past

and even before they arrive there is a disturbing flower arrangement

sent to the happy couple. Chloe then spots someone on the beach-

a body connected to the wedding. As the threats continue Chloe is

also bothered by her ex- husband being on the island- he is a

journalist and is wanting her to give him gossip about the couple

- Chloe won’t even speak to him. Although the second in a series

this will happily stand alone- but why missout on another

excellent read? (first one- Murder on the Island) I really enjoy

this series- the descriptions of the settings and the horses are

superb and really  take you away to a wonderful beach.Chloe

isn't a detective and doesn't try to be but is around enough

to pick up on things. A cozy mystery with a wonderful

setting and a good solid plot. Perfect to lift the spirits! 

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Hairpin Bridge by Taylor Adams - crime thriller

One book-four characters- one of whom is already dead. Three months ago Lena’s

twin sister Cambry was found dead, looking like suicide having thrown herself off

a bridge on a disused road. Lena is convinced that she would never have done

that. Although they had been estranged for a year, her twin was someone she

knew inside out. She arranges to meet the highway patrolman who discovered

the body at the bridge and find out more, much more than she ever

anticipated. Wow! I was very quickly drawn into this, it is brilliantly written

and a real page turner. Alternate chapters give us Cambray’s last hours then

with Lena at the bridge and Lena’s diary. A simple concept on the surface

but an ingenious, very well thought out plot. Part reminded me of “ Duel”

the old Dennis Weaver film for those old enough to remember it.

A stunning read and one very much to remember.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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HAIRPIN BRIDGE BLURB: ❗️ DON’T MISS THE MUST-READ THRILLER OF SUMMER 2021 ❗️ Looking for a thriller that you can’t put down? Then try this book that everyone’s talking about. One of the tensest, most gripping thrillers you will ever read. From UK and US bestselling author Taylor Adams. Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn, John Marrs, Ruth Ware, BA Paris, Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins, or Stephen King. Three months ago, Lena’s estranged twin sister drove to a remote bridge in Montana, exited her car, and jumped two hundred feet to her death. She left behind a vague suicide note and no answers. Lena suspects murder. Armed with an audio recorder, she travels to that very bridge to interview the highway patrolman who allegedly discovered her sister's body – and catch him in an incriminating lie. But as her twin's fateful last hours come into focus, Lena's search for the truth turns into a harrowing, tooth-and-nail fight for her own survival – and one that will test everything she thought she knew about her sister. She wants the truth. Even if it costs her life. PRAISE FOR TAYLOR ADAMS “Adams follows his debut, 2019’s No Exit, with another dazzling thriller.” Publishers Weekly “A shot of adrenaline straight to the heart! Propulsive and unpredictable, Hairpin Bridge will have you on edge from the first page to the last.” Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Home Before Dark “What a box of tricks! This full-throttle thriller, dark and driving, rivals Agatha Christie for sheer ingenuity and James Patterson for flat-out speed. Swift, sharp, and relentless.” A. J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window on No Exit “The carefully layered drawing-room psychology of Agatha Christie cross-pollinated with the pure squishy terror of Stephen King. . . . [Taylor Adams] nails his setup and builds some truly distinctive characters.” Entertainment Weekly on No Exit “No Exit is everything I want in a thriller: ingeniously crafted, unapologetically relentless, and shamelessly suspenseful. The twists go off like a series of expertly planted detonations and the tension never lets up. I was blown away. No Exit is a damn good time.” Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman “No Exit opens with an ingenious, chilling setup and then delivers a wicked ride of psychological tension. Taylor Adams is a master of suspense. I’m already impatient to see what he does next.” Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of How It Happened ALSO BY TAYLOR ADAMS EYESHOT: An international bestselling thriller. In the middle of the desert a couple are pinned down by a ruthless sniper NO EXIT:  A kidnapped little girl locked in a stranger's van. No help for miles. What would you do? OUR LAST NIGHT: Dan Rupley has 24 hours to get his dead fiancée back. What could go wrong?

TAYLOR  ADAMS

Taylor Adams directed the acclaimed short film And I Feel Fine in 2008 and graduated from Eastern Washington University with the Excellence in Screenwriting Award and the prestigious Edmund G. Yarwood Award. His work has been selected by the Seattle True Independent Film Festival and his movie reviews have appeared on KAYU-TV's Fox Life blog. He has worked in the film/television industry for several years and lives in Washington state with his girlfriend Jaclyn and their chihuahua, cat, and python. EYESHOT was Adams' debut novel. Film and audio rights have been sold. BOOKS BY TAYLOR ADAMS EYESHOT OUR LAST NIGHT NO EXIT FOLLOW TAYLOR ON AUTHOR WEBSITE TWITTER GOODREADS

 

The Perfect Stepmother- Karen King -Psychological thriller

Lily lost her mother less than a year ago to cancer. Her father and small

sister Emma live a short distance from Lily and her boyfriend Seb. When

her mother was ill, she really enjoyed treatments from Maria who owns

a beauty salon and does free treatments for cancer patients once a week.

Lily sees Maria rather closer to her father than just a friend. When things

move rather faster than Lily would like she is protective over not only her

father but little Emma too but does realise that life moves on and her

father is entitled to his own life and relationship. Maria is overly protective

of Emma, something Lily quickly picked up on and when Maria goes

white when a strange note is hand delivered, Lily wants to find out more

about Marias past life- she has said nothing about family or even friends.

We begin with Emma supposedly in the garden and then chapters work

back from Lily seeing her father with Maria to when Emma is missing.

A book that had me on edge- in a good way- one where you just know

there is something not quite right- that certain something missing.

To me the skill of a good writer is to be able to  build the tension and

keep the pages turning when for the most part it’s the story of the

formation of a new family but there is the cloud of that little piece

of the jigsaw missing. A very well thought out plot with twists along

the way. A highly enjoyable read.

For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/

or follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog

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Author:      Karen King  

Book:                   The Perfect Stepmother
 
Publication Day:  June 17th 2021
 
Buy LINK  
Amazon: https://geni.us/B091PZ721Lcover
Apple: http://ow.ly/UKqo50EhofD
Kobo: http://ow.ly/Hw5j50EhocH
Google: http://ow.ly/At6650EipNz
 
Description:
 
She seems too good to be true. And now she lives in your home…

Lily wants to be happy for her father when he tells her he’s getting married again. Even if it feels too soon after the death of Lily’s mother.

He’s madly in love with Maria. And he thinks she’s going to the perfect stepmother to Lily’s much-younger sister, Emma. And perhaps he’s right. Because no one seems to have a bad word to say about Maria.

It’s only Lily who can’t trust her. Who thinks no one is that perfect. Who notices no one had ever heard of Maria until exactly ten years before.

And then Emma goes missing…

A totally gripping and unmissable psychological suspense novel about dark family secrets, perfect for fans of Shalini Boland, Claire McGowan and Gone Girl.
 
Author Bio:

 
Karen King is a multi-published bestselling author of fiction for both adults and children. She has also written several short stories for women's magazines.

Currently published by Bookouture and Headline. Karen has recently signed a two-book deal with Bookouture to write psychological thrillers. The first one will be out in November, and the second one in 2021. She is also contracted to write three romance novels for Headline, which will be out in 2021 and 2022

Author Social Media Links
 
FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/KarenKingAuthor
TWITTER:   https://twitter.com/karen_king