The Prized Girl - Amy K. Green

From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: a teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town, and her sister’s search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.

Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny’s tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. In the murder of a former pageant queen from a safe and loving family, the most obvious suspect is a fan who got too close for comfort. But Jenny’s sarcastic, older half-sister Virginia isn’t so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.

But for Jenny’s case and and Virginia’s investigation, there’s more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lay beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny’s life. Alternating between Jenny’s final days and Virginia’s determined search for the truth, the sisters’ dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: a teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town, and her sister’s search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.

Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny’s tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. In the murder of a former pageant queen from a safe and loving family, the most obvious suspect is a fan who got too close for comfort. But Jenny’s sarcastic, older half-sister Virginia isn’t so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.

But for Jenny’s case and and Virginia’s investigation, there’s more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lay beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny’s life. Alternating between Jenny’s final days and Virginia’s determined search for the truth, the sisters’ dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.
From debut author Amy K. Green comes a devastating tale of psychological suspense: a teen pageant queen is found murdered in a small New England town, and her sister’s search for answers unearths more than she bargained for.

Days after a young teenager named Jenny is found murdered, her small town grieves the loss alongside her picture-perfect parents. At first glance, Jenny’s tragic death appears clear-cut for investigators. In the murder of a former pageant queen from a safe and loving family, the most obvious suspect is a fan who got too close for comfort. But Jenny’s sarcastic, older half-sister Virginia isn’t so sure of his guilt and takes matters into her own hands to find the killer.

But for Jenny’s case and Virginia’s investigation, there’s more to the story. Virginia, still living in town and haunted by her own troubled teenage years, suspects that a similar darkness lay beneath the sparkling veneer of Jenny’s life. Alternating between Jenny’s final days and Virginia’s determined search for the truth, the sisters’ dual narratives follow a harrowing trail of suspects, with surprising turns that race toward a shocking finale.

My Review:


A fantastic debut from Amy K. Green, I thoroughly enjoyed this tense, thrilling drama. I will look forward to what comes next from Green.


With the whole town morning local beauty queen, 16-year-old Jenny, we read on as her sister, haunted by her own childhood issues, seeks the truth about what happened.


 The story is told from both Jenny’s point of view and that of her much older sister, Virginia. We see that Jenny isn’t the happy, sweet and innocent girl people think she is whilst Virginia isn’t the selfish, loner we may have initially thought. The different perspectives help the story unfold in a brilliant way, and as we got further into the book, I realised there would be more twists and turns more than I thought would. 


The characters are not the most ‘likeable’ but I didn’t mind that at all with this book, in fact in was interesting to see the flaws or issues with each one. I did sympathise for some of them and it was clear to see they were only the way they were because of the actions and treatment from others. 


It is a real, interwoven, dark story that kept me gripped. It was very well written and paced nicely, not much given away too soon but just enough to keep me interested throughout.

The ending – oh the ending! Not at all what I expected, and if I’m honest still not entirely sure what I think but it was different. Also left me wondering if we would be seeing some more from this set of characters.


A book I will happily recommend to others. 


Thank you to HQ for a copy of this book to read and review honestly.  

The Treadstone Resurrection - Joshua Hood

The first novel in an explosive new series inspired by Robert Ludlum's Bourne universe, The Treadstone Resurrection introduces an unforgettable hero and the shadowy world that forged him...

Treadstone made Jason Bourne an unstoppable force, but he's not the only one.

Operation Treadstone has nearly ruined Adam Hayes. The top-secret CIA Black Ops program trained him to be an all but invincible assassin, but it also cost him his family and any chance at a normal life. Which is why he was determined to get out. Working as a carpenter in rural Washington state, Adam thinks he has left Treadstone in the past, until he receives a mysterious email from a former colleague, and soon after is attacked by an unknown hit team at his job site.

Adam must regain the skills that Treadstone taught him--lightning reflexes and a cold conscience--in order to discover who the would-be killers are and why they have come after him now. Are his pursuers enemies from a long-ago mission? Rival intelligence agents? Or, perhaps, forces inside Treadstone? His search will unearth secrets in the highest levels of government and pull him back into the shadowy world he worked so hard to forget.

My Review:

Fans of the Jason Bourne series will love The Treadstone Resurrection, an action packed, heart racing, adrenaline filled spy novel. Our hero this time around is Adam, a former CIA agent.

Wanting a quiet life, he soon realises he needs to go back to the work he thought he had left behind. He is a likeable character when we know his back story. A real good hero figure.

This is admittedly not my usual type of book, but I will admit I fully enjoyed it from beginning to end. It took me on quite the journey, it really kept me on my toes so to speak and didn’t disappoint.

Well written and fast paced with many twists and turns that were totally unexpected; this combined with how the tension builds through to a really gripping conclusion.

I will be really quite interested to see where this goes and follow more from the author. If I can find this exciting, enjoyable and a book I couldn’t put down I am sure it will surprise many other readers. Worth broadening your horizons and trying something new I say.

I definitely recommend this one.. 

Available to purchase

The Other Mrs - Mary Kubica

Propulsive and addictive, The Other Mrs. is the twisty new psychological thriller from Mary Kubica, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Girl

She tried to run, but she can’t escape the other Mrs.

Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbour Morgan Baines is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie.
But it’s not just Morgan’s death that has Sadie on edge. And as the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of what really happened that dark and deadly night. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light.

My Review:

A dark, atmospheric mood which is emphasised by the writer’s description of their location. The reminder of how isolated they are just adding to the tension throughout.

I have not had the pleasure of reading anything from this author before, I didn’t know what to expect but I can’t wait to read more.

The Other Wife teases with the gradual release of information, teasers that at first read may seem of no relevance but at the end make total sense, nothing feels too rushed and this adds to the drama.

We are taken through the story from various points of view by Sadie, Camille, who had the affair with Will, and a young girl called Mouse. It is unclear at first who the Mouse character is and I was confused trying to figure things out. I wanted to know, and this is what had me reading on with such enthusiasm.

I think the action really takes place in the second half of the book, the more I read the more I wanted to find out. I was on the edge of my seat and loved the twists thrown in as it neared its conclusion.

I enjoyed the characters, they are well written and interesting, I wouldn’t say they are likeable although my alliances changed throughout.

Dealing with some deep issues; death, grief, suicide – The Other Mrs is quite the roller coaster and I recommend this read for thriller fans.  

Available to purchase - here!

From Thailand with Love - Camilla Isley

About the book: 

All Logan has to do is to get the gold and get the girl. Easy, right?

Travel photographer Winter Knowles and archeology professor Logan Spencer dislike each other at first sight. Stuck together on a wild island, these two unwilling teammates will bicker and banter their way through a laugh-packed treasure hunt.

After years of searching, a new mapping technology has given Logan a clue to the location of the legendary Lost City of Gold. A discovery that could make his career. So the last thing he needs on this life-changing expedition is for his team to get distracted by a pair of long legs.

When Winter accepted the assignment on a tropical island she didn’t sign up for a brooding team leader who’d clearly prefer to run a boys-only club. Never one to back down from a challenge, Winter is ready to show him she’s no damsel in distress.

But when a treasure like no other is uncovered and ruthless enemies will want to keep it for themselves, it’ll be up to the two of them to save the day. Left alone to fight in the jungle, they will soon discover their lives might not be the only thing at stake—their hearts could be too.

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

A fun read packed with danger, action, romance, and comedy.

From Thailand with Love is part of a series of interconnected romantic comedies but can be read as a standalone novel as all the other books in the First Comes Love series.

My Review:

Who doesn’t love an enemy to lover storyline? This one was full of everything you need to laugh out loud, gasp with surprise and nervously nibble your lip as you follow the ups and downs of Logan and Winter’s adventure.


I really enjoyed this latest offering from Camilla Isley; this series of fantastic romantic stories is one to catch up on but not needed as this is a perfect standalone book.


This is an adrenaline filled read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Logan and Winter started off very badly and I didn’t hold much hope for any romance between them. They seemed hell bent on annoying each other as much as they could.


Logan is your typical handsome, fit male lead; he is strong, masculine and a really gruff, abrupt kind of guy. Winter is kick ass really, although a lot of time is spent emphasising her gorgeous looks, she is a force to be reckoned with and don’t they all find that out.

Camilla has given us another fantastic location with funny, interesting characters and action in spades. I am already looking forward to what the next book has to offer.


I definitely recommend this action packed romance!
About the Author:

Camilla is an engineer turned writer after she quit her job to follow her husband on an adventure abroad.
She’s a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She’s a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn’t want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/camillaisley/
https://twitter.com/camillaisley
https://www.instagram.com/camillaisley/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14135080.Camilla_Isley
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/camilla-isley
https://www.pinterest.com/camillaisley/

Giveaway to Win a From Thailand With Love Tote Bag (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Country Dilemma - Sasha Morgan

 About the book: 

For Christie Newbury, moving to the Cotswolds as the new owner of The Templar, a quaint countryside inn, was supposed to be a dream come true. But then her husband drops a bombshell that turns her life upside down.

Architect Daniel James has just one month to find the perfect home. When his search takes him to the village of Treweham, his instant attraction to the Templar's beautiful – and newly single – owner is a distraction he can't afford.

Christie needs an expert's eye. Daniel needs a place to stay. It's only a business deal – but it has never been more tempting to mix business with pleasure...

Welcome back to Treweham, a village of scandal and secrets.

Perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Debbie Johnson.

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IHupTl

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2XkEOrk

iBooks: https://apple.co/2VpgliH

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2T33HJz

My Review: 


A delightful read, I didn't realise it was part of a series, but I don’t think it matters really as I enjoyed it as a standalone novel. This is a lovely, light-hearted read – perfect for those cosy Sunday afternoons when you want something fun to read.


Christie and her husband decide to relocate to Trewham in the heart of the Cotswolds. They are going to buy the village pub, The Templar when, at the last minute, her husband reveals he no longer is interested Christie decides to go for it alone.


Daniel is looking for somewhere to bring up his little girl Emily, being in a custody battle with his ex-wife he wants a place to settle down and show the judge he is the better parent.

Christie and Daniel become great friends; she uses his design skills when renovating The Templar.


This book gives us one of those lovely village romance books that are a little predictable but enjoyable anyway. We have a lovely set of characters in a charming setting with romance in the air. It is well written and very easy to read, with likeable characters which I think really draw you into the story.


About the Author:
 

 Sasha lives in a rural, coastal village in Lancashire with her husband and Labrador dog. She has always written stories from a very young age and finds her fictional world so much more exciting than the real one.


Follow Sasha:



Twitter: @SashaMorgan_
Facebook: @SashaMorganAuthor

From here to Nashville - Julie Stocks

Two worlds, 4,000 miles apart. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?

Rachel Hardy dreams of being a successful country music singer in Nashville's Music City, four thousand miles away from her lonely life in Dorset. When Jackson Phillips, an independent record label owner, encourages her band to audition for a nationwide 'Open Mic' competition, she decides they have nothing to lose.

But when she starts to fall in love with Jackson, the stakes suddenly get higher and she finds herself with a great big dilemma on her hands. Should she abandon her dream and take the easy way out or should she leave the life she has always known behind and take a gamble on a man who has personal demons of his own?

Follow Rachel and Jackson as they learn to trust in love again to see whether their music really can unite them.

Purchase Link - mybook.to/FromHeretoNashville

My Review:

A lovely romance that definitely tugged at the heartstrings! I do think this is more than just your typical romance, which is nice, and it is so well written that you are just carried along by the storyline and genuine interest in the characters.

I love Rachel’s character, although at times a little frustrating for me – she is so quick to abandon things and ‘run.’ Jackson is a wonderful leading man, clearly both characters have history and things they both need to work through – but the path of true love never runs smooth does it?! There is the smallest love triangle with Sam, but I never gave any significant thought that she may end up with him. The connection didn’t seem to be anything more than best friends, from her side at least.

If I’m honest switching from Rachels’ point of view to Jacksons halfway through threw me off a little. I didn’t expect it and took me a while to get used to it, maybe if we’d had it all along like every other chapter. I enjoy a book with more than one perspective, but this was confusing to start with. I soon fell back into the story and enjoyed it.

The characters are well fleshed out, they seem realistic and the settings are wonderfully described. I loved hearing about Nashville and would love to see it for myself – if only I could find a Jackson!

A great read for romance fans, music fans and those looking for something feel good. I would definitely recommend.


Author Bio: 

Julie Stock writes contemporary feel-good romance from around the world: novels, novellas and short stories. She published her debut novel, From Here to Nashville, in February 2015 and her second novel, The Vineyard in Alsace in March 2017. Over You (Sam's Story) and Finding You (Jenna's Story), her follow-up novellas to From Here to Nashville were published in 2018, making the From Here to You series complete. She has also published a boxed set of the From Here to You trilogy of books.

The Bistro by Watersmeet Bridge was published in August 2019, followed by Bittersweet, a collection of 12 Short Stories for Modern Life in September 2019.

Julie is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Society of Authors.

Julie is married and lives with her family in Bedfordshire in the UK.

Social Media Links –

Website - www.julie-stock.co.uk

Twitter - https://twitter.com/wood_beez48

Facebook Author Page - www.facebook.com/JulieStockAuthor

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/julie.stockauthor/

Giveaway to Win a signed paperback copy of From Here to Nashville, a bookmark and a guitar magnet (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOGTOUR - The Alibi Girl by C J Skuse

Joanne Haynes has a secret: that is not her real name.

And there’s more. Her flat’s not hers. Her cats aren't hers. Even her hair isn’t really hers.

Nor is she any of the other women she pretends to be. Not the bestselling romance novelist who gets her morning snack from the doughnut van on the seafront. Nor the pregnant woman in the dental surgery. Nor the chemo patient in the supermarket for whom the cashier feels ever so sorry. They're all just alibis.

In fact, the only thing that’s real about Joanne is that nobody can know who she really is.

But someone has got too close. It looks like her alibis have begun to run out….

My Review:

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

An interesting, exciting read that kept me on edge throughout, uncomfortable but it an interesting way.

‘Joanne’ is quite the character, in fact unlike any I have read before. A liar, deceptive and complex; an interesting choice for narrator of this story. Written so well though, with a fantastic set of personalities that the reader gets to know. It would be easy for readers to dislike her but I think she does get to you a little bit and does make you feel sorry for her and even protective.

I want to be careful not to give too much away, its full of many twists and turns, some may shock you, others maybe not so much but will lead you into thinking many things and realising others.

I really started to enjoy discovering more about her past. At times I felt sad, concerned and quite emotional by the themes being touched upon, there is some violence.

This is definitely a book that will keep you guessing, it’s enjoyable, interesting and will have you hooked. I highly recommend for thriller fans and those looking for something