Blog Tour & Book Review: Sleepless by Romy Hausmann @QuercusBooks #Sleepless #SleeplessBlogTour #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf #partner #booksof2021

PUBLICATION DATE: June 24th, 2021

PUBLISHER: Quercus Publishing

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to Quercus for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for Sleepless by Romy Hausmann and for the eARC copy of this book via Netgalley. 

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s been years since Nadja was convicted of a cruel crime. After her release from prison, she’s wanted nothing more than to live a normal life. But then a murder occurs and a remote house in the woods becomes the scene of a bizarre game – because Nadja’s past makes her the perfect victim. And the perfect murderer…

A haunting novel about guilt and retribution, Sleepless is the stunning sequel to Dear Child.

……

MY REVIEW:

After reading and enjoying the first book in this series, Dear Child, I was thrilled to get my hands on Sleepless. Nadja was found guilt of a crime many years ago and has served her time. Jump ahead to the present and Nadja now finds herself caught in the middle of something dark and sinister. Is she guilty or is she innocent? And if she is innocent, then what does this have to do with her?

Parts of the story are about Nadja, parts are about another woman by the name of Nelly who is having an affair with a married man, and other parts of the story are letters written to someone, but we are not sure who they are written by or who they are written for. As you read all of these complex parts of the plot in this novel all of the pieces to the puzzle will eventually converge to give you the whole picture of what is truly going on, but you have to be patient, as this doesn’t happen until later in the novel. It keeps you wanting to know more, as you flip through the pages trying to determine just what in the world is going on. Be patient, all will be revealed.

You will devour this book as you try to guess for yourself what is going on, and be sitting on the edge of your seat as you read the chapters, Full of twists, shocking turns and dark thrills, you will enjoy this book until the very end!

……

CHECK OUT OTHER STOPS ON THE TOUR:

 

 

Book Review: The Photographer by Mary Dixie Carter @MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress @MaryDixieCarter #ThePhotographer #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf #partner #netgalley #booksof2021

PUBLISHER: Minotaur Books

PUBLICATION DATE: May 25th, 2021

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the eARC of this novel via NetGalley and also for sending me a beautiful bookish book with a paperback copy of this book complete with bookish items to complete the book. I loved the package!

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

WHEN PERFECT IMAGES

As a photographer, Delta Dawn observes the seemingly perfect lives of New York City’s elite: snapping photos of their children’s birthday parties, transforming images of stiff hugs and tearstained faces into visions of pure joy, and creating moments these parents long for.

ARE MADE OF BEAUTIFUL LIES

But when Delta is hired for Natalie Straub’s eleventh birthday, she finds herself wishing she wasn’t behind the lens but a part of the scene—in the Straub family’s gorgeous home and elegant life.

THE TRUTH WILL BE EXPOSED

That’s when Delta puts her plan in place, by babysitting for Natalie; befriending her mother, Amelia; finding chances to listen to her father, Fritz. Soon she’s bathing in the master bathtub, drinking their expensive wine, and eyeing the beautifully finished garden apartment in their townhouse. It seems she can never get close enough, until she discovers that photos aren’t all she can manipulate.

……

MY REVIEW:

Addictive, compelling, pulse-pounding, pure entertainment! A novel that I quickly sank into and devoured until I flipped the last page. I enjoyed reading the novel and learning about the main character, photographer Delta Dawn. Hired by the wealthy elite families living in NYC, Delta finds herself behind the lens of her camera at many of their events. She sees things that others might not be aware of, things they might be trying to hide and keep secret, things that she probably shouldn’t see. Needing to know more, she gets close to members of one family in particular, the Straub family. At best Delta is a very sketchy character, and you never know which line she will cross, which secret she will unfold, and what she will do next.

She was an interesting character for sure, always sticking her nose in where it didn’t belong, and I loved it! It added to the suspense of the novel and I found myself wanting to know more just like Delta did. I loved how she tried to find out secrets about the family members and added pieces together to come up with answers. Delta is a very unreliable character and I loved how that added to the suspense and enjoyment of the novel.

A definite must-read that you need to add to your TBR list. Hands down one of my favourite books of 2021!

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars

Book Review: 12 Days by C.W. Johnston @Real_CWJohnston #12Days #12DaysBook #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf #booksof2021

PUBLICATION DATE: June 11th, 2021

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to the author, C.W. Johnston, for reaching out about his latest novel and for the eARC copy of this book.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

What if the very thing you wished for came true?

When small-town schoolteacher Robert Glass is announced as the winner of a nationwide contest designed to launch a civilian into space on an unprecedented solo mission, it appears that his lifelong fantasy has come true. His selection from thousands of applications has captured the world’s imagination.

It is no secret that the success of NASA’s wildly popular Instant Spaceman Contest could be the lifeline that salvages the President’s waning bid for re-election. As the countdown to launch begins and interest in the mission grows, nefarious adversaries and political enemies will stop at nothing to sabotage its success.

With his wife and son at his side, and blissfully unaware that he has become a pawn in a dangerous political game, Glass heads to Florida to begin an intense period of training for the epic twelve-day mission. As launch day approaches, and with the world on the edge of its seat, investigative journalist Derek Stevens uncovers a sequence of suspicious events that all point to a terrifying fact: Glass’s mission may have been compromised.

As millions of people watch the sleek spaceship effortlessly lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Stevens races against the clock to uncover the truth before it’s too late.

A riveting, page-turner, 12 Days is sure to grab you by the collar and pull you in.

……

MY REVIEW:

Entertaining, edge-of-your-seat chills and thrills that will have you flipping through the pages in this fast-paced novel. I am no stranger to this author’s books and let me tell you, he has a style of writing that keeps you engaged and hooked on his books.

Robert Glass, a small-town husband and father that works as a teacher finds himself winning a contest that will change his life and fulfill one of his dreams – he has won a contest as a civilian to go into space on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space on a solo mission, for 12 days. He cannot believe his luck. I mean, what are the odds that HE would win out of thousands of entries? Things are not always as they seem, and dark, mysterious forces are at play here. Political powers are at work, and Robert is caught in the very middle of it all, an innocent civilian. 

Robert and his family were a very relatable, likeable family. They were interesting and fun to read about and seemed like everyday, ordinary people. They were kind, sweet, thoughtful and loving. 

A fabulous novel that will pull you in from the first page, I recommend you look into this book! Happy reading!

……

MY RATING: 4/5 stars

Book Review: The Sister-in-Law by Pamela Crane @AvonBooksUK #TheSisterInLaw #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #netgalley #booksonthebookshelf

PUBLISHER: Avon Books UK

PUBLICATION DATE: April 15th, 2021

⭐ ⭐ ⭐

……

Thank you to Avon Books UK for the eARC of this novel via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

She stole my husband. So I’d steal her life.

The Wife
Lane won Candace’s heart over chocolate martinis and karaoke. But weeks into their whirlwind marriage, Candace realized Lane came with burdensome baggage in the form of his possessive live-in sister and her eerily watchful six-year-old son. Lane had a secret that seemed to hold him hostage, and Candace would do anything to uncover it.

The Sister-in-Law
Harper was the kind of woman who cooked homemade meals and dusted under the furniture. It was the least she could do for her brother after her husband’s mysterious death, and Lane took her and her kids in. Then Candace showed up like a tornado passing through, threatening and destructive. But Harper had other plans for her new “sister,” plans Lane could never find out about.

The Husband
All Lane had ever wanted was a white-picket-fence life. The wife. The two-point-five kids. The happy little family. Everything seemed to be falling into place with Candace … until Harper’s jealous streak got in the way, again. But choosing between his sister and wife would be costly … and knowing Harper, the price would be blood.

……

MY REVIEW:

I enjoyed reading this novel and discovering the relationships between Harper, her brother Lane and Lane’s significant other Candace. There are so many mysterious questions that you want answered, such as what truly happened to Harper’s husband? There are so many secrets and lies, and throw into that mix family dynamics. Torn between his wife and his sister, Lane is caught in the middle. He wants to support his wife but he also wants to support his sister. What is he to do? Is blood thicker than water?

I enjoyed the chapters in this novel and reading as the story evolved. There are plenty of shocking twists and turns, and revelations that will keep you interested until the end. Why is Harper so jealous? Why can’t they all just get along and be a happy family? You’ll have to read this book to find out.

……

MY REVIEW: 3 stars

Book Review: The Bridesmaid by Nina Manning @BoldwoodBooks #TheBridesmaid #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblog #bookblogger #netgalley #booksonthebookshelf

PUBLISHER: Boldwood Books

PUBLICATION DATE: May 27th, 2021

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

……

Thank you to Boldwood Books for the eARC of this novel via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Your best friend. Your worst nightmare…

From the moment they met as children, Sasha knew that beautiful, wealthy, and confident Caitlin would always be her absolute best friend. Sasha would do anything to make Caitlin happy.

Even keep her darkest secrets…

The years have passed, but their friendship remains. And when Caitlin announces she’s getting married there is only one choice for the role of bridesmaid. Sasha will make sure Caitlin’s wedding is as beautiful and perfect as she is. Won’t she?

But as the big day approaches, cracks begin to appear. Because no matter what Sasha does, she never seems to make Caitlin happy.

And the secrets that once bound these two friends, now threaten to rip them apart for good…

……

MY REVIEW:

What’s better than a recipe for disaster to make a good novel. Best friends for many years, who share secrets from their past, secrets that if told by the other could rip them apart! The story unfolds from alternating timelines, which I really enjoy in a novel. I find that it adds up to the mystery and suspense, and keeps you wanting to know more as you read on and slowly gather pieces of the puzzle to complete the whole picture of what is actually going on and why. I enjoyed reading chapters about the past when the girls Sasha and Caitlin were young and reading about their friendship and secrets.

I enjoyed how the chapters were short and weren’t lengthy at all. Some chapters for me were a bit slow and at first it took some time to build up speed for me to fully get into the book, but it was worth the wait! So much drama, secrets, and betrayals. I love it!

A book that I would recommend if you like psychological thrillers!

……

MY RATING: 3/5 stars

Audiobook Review: What You Never Knew by Jessica Hamilton @Dreamscapeaudio #audiobookreview #WhatYouNeverKnew #bookreviewer #bookblogger #booksonthebookshelf #bookblog #bookblogger

PUBLISHER: Dreamscape Media

PUBLICATION DATE: April 13th, 2021

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 

……

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the audiobook version of this novel via NetGalley.

……

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Idyllic Avril lsland, owned by the Bennett family, where their hundred-year-old cottage sat nestled in acres of forest. Forty-year-old June Bennett believed that the island had been sold after the summer of her father’s disappearance when she was only twelve years old. It’s months after the shocking death of her older sister May in a fatal car accident, that June finds out that the cottage was never sold. Avril Island is still owned by the Bennett family and now it’s hers.

Still reeling from the grief of losing her sister, June travels back to Avril lsland in search of answers. As she digs, she learns that the townspeople believe her father may have, in fact, been murdered rather than abandoning his family in the dead of night, as she was led to believe by her mother. And that’s when she begins to notice strange things happening on the island–missing family possessions showing up on her bed, doors open when she had locked them closed. It takes June no time at all to realize that her childhood summers at Avril Island were not at all what they had seemed to be.

……

MY REVIEW:

Compelling, intriguing, mysterious are three words that describe this audiobook perfectly! The story is told from alternating POV’s – parts from June’s perspective and part’s from her older sister May’s perspective. Their mother has passed away and their father had disappeared years ago when the girls were younger, so when June’s older sister May loses her life in a fatal car accident, June finds herself in possession of their family cottage on Avril Island; much to June’s surprise, as she thought their mother sold the property years ago. June decides to return to Avril Island and tries to uncover clues and get answers to the many questions she has. Why did their mother lie and say the family cottage had been sold? Why did their father disappear all those years ago, never to return or try to get in touch with his daughters?

As June arrives on Avril Island she runs into an old childhood friend of hers and May’s when they were younger. They quickly becomes friends and then strange things begin happening, things that June cannot explain. Desperate to unlock the secrets of those many years ago, June searches for answers on Avril Island that have long since been kept secret and buried. What she discovers shocks her! I definitely didn’t see many of them coming and I LOVED IT! 

It was interesting to hear May’s POV being told from beyond the grave – she has passed but is able to be “present” and see things that June does, which was quite interesting for sure. A great novel that I loved and cannot recommend enough! I also enjoyed the narrators for this audiobook, their voices and their tone of voice worked well with the novel. 

Well done Jessica on your debut novel. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of your titles in future!

……

MY RATING: 5/5 stars