Blog Tour: The Deception of Harriet Fleet by Helen Scarlett

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour for 'The Deception of Harriet Fleet' by Helen Scarlett which is published today. Many thanks to Katya Ellis and Quercus Books for sending me a copy of the book to review. 

Synopsis:
1871. An age of discovery and progress. But for the Wainwright family, residents of the gloomy Teesbank Hall in County Durham the secrets of the past continue to overshadow their lives.

Harriet would not have taken the job of governess in such a remote place unless she wanted to hide from something or someone. Her charge is Eleanor, the daughter of the house, a fiercely bright eighteen-year-old, tortured by demons and feared by relations and staff alike. But it soon becomes apparent that Harriet is not there to teach Eleanor, but rather to monitor her erratic and dangerous behaviour - to spy on her.

Worn down by Eleanor's unpredictable hostility, Harriet soon finds herself embroiled in Eleanor's obsession - the Wainwright's dark, tragic history. As family secrets are unearthed, Harriet's own begin to haunt her and she becomes convinced that ghosts from the past are determined to reveal her shameful story.

For Harriet, like Eleanor, is plagued by deception and untruths.

Review: 
'The Deception of Harriet Fleet' is the debut novel of author Helen Scarlett. Set in 1871, during the Victorian era, it has a wonderfully Gothic feel and the story is cloaked in intrigue and mystery. 

'Jane Eyre' is my favourite nineteenth century novel, so when I first saw this book described as a 'spine-tingling homage to great Gothic novels such as Jane Eyre', I was sold. I instantly wanted to read it. There were definitely shades of Bronte's classic in the story but it was also hugely original and brilliant in its own right.   

The heroine of the title, Harriet Fleet, takes a job as a governess at the remote Teesbank Hall in County Durham. The local residents tell of a family marred by tragedy and there is an air of mystery shrouding them. When Harriet arrives, she thinks she is there to teach 18 year old Eleanor, daughter of the Wainwrights but instead she discovers that she has been employed to watch over her and spy on her. The true reason for this is not revealed until much further on in the novel. What does become clear though, is that the Wainwright family have a deep, dark secret which Harriet soon becomes embroiled in as she investigates the family's tragic past. 

In any good book, you need a strong central character and Harriet Fleet is certainly that. I admired her determination to make a new life for herself as she tries to escape the bonds which have been placed upon her. What I really loved about the novel as well, is that it's historical fiction but with a feminist twist. Helen Scarlett highlights the oppression of women during the Victorian period and shows how they do not have the same rights and freedoms that were accorded to men. This is seen not only through the character of Harriet but also her charge Eleanor, who is very much controlled by her father. Society has put constraints on both women but they rally against these as they both seek to build a better future for themselves. 

I loved the sense of suspense that is woven throughout the story. Teesbank Hall itself is quite spooky and this led to an ominous and foreboding atmosphere. The secret of the tragic event that has marred the family is gradually untangled as Harriet delves deeper and deeper into the mystery and I was eager to keep reading to find out the truth. I was kept guessing right up to the end which was a chilling and tragic exposition of one terrible moment in the past. 

This was a stunning debut which I enjoyed tremendously. I am really looking forward to reading more by Helen Scarlett in the future. 

Review: Girlhood - Cat Clarke

Girlhood by Cat Clarke, published by Quercus Children's Books on 4th May 2017


Goodreads synopsis:
Harper has tried to forget the past and fit in at expensive boarding school Duncraggan Academy. Her new group of friends are tight; the kind of girls who Harper knows have her back. But Harper can't escape the guilt of her twin sister's Jenna's death, and her own part in it - and she knows noone else will ever really understand.

But new girl Kirsty seems to get Harper in ways she never expected. She has lost a sister too. Harper finally feels secure. She finally feels...loved. As if she can grow beyond the person she was when Jenna died. Then Kirsty's behaviour becomes more erratic. Why is her life a perfect mirror of Harper's? And why is she so obsessed with Harper's lost sister? Soon, Harper's closeness with Kirsty begins to threaten her other relationships, and her own sense of identity. How can Harper get back to the person she wants to be, and to the girls who mean the most to her?

Review:
‘Girlhood’ by Cat Clarke is good but I’m afraid that I can’t rave about it like I could with some of her previous books. I did enjoy it and it was well-written but for me, the story itself fell a little short.

It is set at a Scottish all girls boarding school. I love, love, love stories which feature boarding schools. I think this can be traced back to adoring series like the Chalet School and St Clares when I was younger and more recently Robin Stevens Murder Most Unladylike books. It makes for such a brilliant setting for a story.

The first few chapters of ‘Girlhood’ introduce the reader to the main character Harper and her three best friends Rowan, Ama and Lily. There is some background provided to Harper’s family history and Harper confesses that she feels responsible for her sister’s death. Now, at this point, I was expecting the book to develop into a psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns and surprises along the way. That has typically been the formula with most of Cat Clarke’s other books and is something that I always enjoy. Instead, we are presented with a story which focuses mainly on an exploration of the relationship between best friends. In Harper’s case, her friends are like her family. They tell each other everything, spend practically all of their time together and live in each other’s pockets. The close bond between the girls is upset when the dynamic shifts with the arrival of new girl Kirsty. Suddenly their tight little group of four, doesn’t feel quite so cosy anymore.   

When I reflect on the story, I honestly don’t feel that an awful lot happened and that contributed to the slow pace of the narrative. The focus is firmly on how Kirsty’s arrival affects the relationship between Harper and her friends and how things change as they begin to ready themselves for the next step in their lives.

There were some parts which I thought might have been expanded on more, such as the events surrounding Harper’s sister’s death and there were some bits which I felt seemed less than believable, such as the reaction of the girls at the end of the book. With regards to the latter, it appeared that everything was leading up to a big showdown at the end of the story which then didn’t really happen.  

I know that it must sound like I didn’t particularly enjoy ‘Girlhood’ but the truth is that I did. I guess the problem was that I had certain pre-conceived ideas about the book which didn’t match up to the reality of reading it. Although this wasn’t a five star read for me, I have loved some of Cat Clarke’s other books in the past and will still be looking out for new titles by her in the future.

Review: The Memory Book - Lara Avery

The Memory Book by Lara Avery, published by Quercus Children's Books on 26th January 2017

Goodreads synopsis:
Samantha McCoy has it all mapped out. First she's going to win the national debating championship, then she's going to move to New York and become a human rights lawyer. But when Sammie discovers that a rare disease is going to take away her memory, the future she'd planned so perfectly is derailed before it’s started. What she needs is a new plan.

So the Memory Book is born: Sammie’s notes to her future self, a document of moments great and small. Realising that her life won't wait to be lived, she sets out on a summer of firsts: The first party; The first rebellion; The first friendship; The last love.

Through a mix of heartfelt journal entries, mementos, and guest posts from friends and family, readers will fall in love with Sammie, a brave and remarkable girl who learns to live and love life fully, even though it's not the life she planned.

Review:
Yes, this book will make you cry, so be prepared.  It's a moving and emotional read so buckle up.

Sam McCoy is seventeen and has a genetic disease which will eventually lead to her losing her memory.  She will forget who she is, who her family are and what she had planned for her future.  Sam decides to take action by starting to write down and record her memories.  She hopes that this will help her to preserve who she is.  Although she has big plans for her future, which include going to College in New York and becoming a human rights lawyer, everything has to change as her illness starts to progress. 

At the beginning of the book, Sam is functioning pretty normally.  She is set to compete at the national debating championship, she is just about keeping on top of her school work and she has a huge crush on Stuart Shah, a boy who used to go to her school.  She's dealing with life and has a positive outlook on her future.  Her illness is not something that she is going to let define her.  I loved her drive and her optimism and her bravery in moving on with her life.  As the story progresses, so do the symptoms of the disease and this was hard to read about at times.  One of the things I also adored in the book was her relationship with her family. Her Mum and Dad are hugely supportive while at the same time being protective and I thought her three siblings were incredibly sweet. 

The last couple of chapters in the book were gutting, I'm not going to lie.  I was blubbering away like a baby at the end as it packed a real emotional punch.  The story has inspired me to live life to the full and to make the most of every moment. 

Review: Passenger - Alexandra Bracken

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken, published by Quercus in 2016

Goodreads synopsis:
In one night, Etta Spencer is wrenched from everything she knows and loves. Thrown into an unfamiliar world, she can be certain of only one thing: she has travelled not just miles, but years from home.
  
Captain Nicholas Carter is tasked with delivering Etta to the dangerous Ironwood family. They are searching for something - a stolen object they believe only she can reclaim. But Nicholas is drawn to his mysterious passenger, and the closer he gets to her, the further he is from freedom.
  
Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by a desperate thief. But as Etta plays deeper into the Ironwoods' game, treacherous forces threaten to separate her not only from Nicholas, but from her path home - for ever.

Review:
A huge book at nearly 500 pages, this is one that I'd wanted to get my hands on for ages.  I was super excited to get a copy and dived into it immediately.  I can't believe that it actually ended up taking me ages to finish reading it though.  I picked it up and put it down over and over again, reading a single chapter here or there until finally finishing it.  I'm amazed that I managed to persevere with it because I kept thinking that it would suddenly grab me and hook me in and yet it never did.

I found the story very unusual and quite different to the subject matter I was expecting.  It was essentially about time travel and so was set in lots of different countries and different time periods such as New York 1776, Damascus 1599 and Paris 1880.  I personally found that this made the plot hard to follow and unnecessarily drawn out.  I think the main issue I had with the book was that I just didn't buy into the relationship between the two main characters, Nicholas and Etta.  Their journeys are linked as they search for an elusive missing object and as they begin to learn more about each other, they grow closer together.

I don't think that I will be continuing with the series as it was a relief to finally get to the end of the book.  It's such a shame because I had high hopes for it and it came with a stunning recommendation on the front cover from one of my favourite authors, Sarah J. Maas.  I have since read mixed reviews of 'Passenger' and the majority of them have been very positive, so if you like stories about time-travel then maybe give it a go.  Sadly, it wasn't for me.     

Blog Tour: Crow Moon - Anna McKerrow

Today I'm taking part in the blog tour for 'Crow Moon' by Anna McKerrow. The book is out today and is published by Quercus. 

Anna has written a wonderful guest post on Crow Moon and the Devon/Cornwall landscape. 

I don’t know how old I was but an early Cornish seaside memory was standing with the waves up to my knees, looking out to the horizon, talking to the sea in my mind. I don’t remember what I said, or what it said back, but it was a kind of a respectful gesture: acknowledging its greatness, its power, and feeling myself small and insignificant but enthralled with it nonetheless. Since then I have continued to love the magic of sea and ocean on the shore; thrilled with sea salt wind in my hair, storms crashing on cliffs; cold, bright days collecting sea-washed stones and white shells.

In the past, the people living on our land considered the between-places like beaches and marshes sacred; the places where the elements of water and earth met, where water represented the entrance into an otherworld. King Arthur threw Excalibur into the sacred lake that in those days surrounded Glastonbury Tor – still a marshy, mystical land today – to return the symbol of his earthly kingship back to the magical power that bequeathed it to him in the first place. So coastal areas are magical too, because they are the boundary between our world and the otherworld – the place of magic, dreams and enchantment. Tintagel in particular is a spectacular location for stories (as the King Arthur myth attests – he is supposed to have been conceived at Tintagel Castle), with the remains of a castle up on a high rock island surrounded on all sides by the turquoise Cornish sea. Under the rocks, deep sea caves suck the waves in and out, and at low tide you can enter these strange sea-chambers, still slick from the departing tide.

So when I found myself writing a story about a pagan community living on the land, ruled by witches, I knew for me it couldn’t be set anywhere but Cornwall; I added Devon partly for scale – I wanted the Greenworld to be sizeable – but also to include Devon’s magical landscape of lush, remote moorland and stone circles, burial mounds, long barrows which are also so full of magic. Having both counties, each with their own particular “feel”, enabled me to provide a slight contrast between Danny’s home village of Gidleigh and Scorhill circle inland, and the crashing grandeur of Tintagel on the coast – and so the communities that live in both.

Devon and Cornwall also have a rich heritage of witchcraft, so it wasn’t too much of a push to reimagine a country existence that respected the local wise woman, herbalist and practiced folk magic. The Witchcraft Museum at Boscastle, just down the coast from Tintagel, is a fantastic place to go and learn about the old folk practices of witches in Cornwall, ranging from protecting houses, curing illnesses and selling charms to sailors for a good wind, to more modern practices. Witchcraft is also still alive and thriving in the south west, as it is everywhere, with old and new traditions honoured, and the wonder of our British landscape respected, protected and loved.

The dramatic, breathtaking landscapes of Devon and Cornwall are also an ideal setting for a story that mixes magic and romance, strong emotions and action. Making landscape reflect and interact with emotions and motivations is a useful tool as a writer, and it’s easy to ramp up tension or romance against the backdrop of waves crashing on cliffs, lonely moors and quiet streams, ancient monoliths and full moons, nights full of stars, away from pollution.

These Celtic parts of our country – Cornwall, Ireland, Wales, Scotland – are special, deep places woven with myth, rich in enlightenment and legend. The Celtic myths and legends – and the gods and goddesses in them – are a very British spirituality, a British pantheon of power that grew out of our ancestors’ observations of the land, the sun and the moon. Therefore the heritage of Cornwall as a Celtic region formed the belief system of the Greenworld in Crow Moon, tying the beliefs and the lives of the characters firmly to the land in what is both a story about magic and love, but also about land, heritage and protecting the environment.

Review: Blue - Lisa Glass

Blue by Lisa Glass, published by Quercus Children's Books in May 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Surfing is sixteen-year-old Iris’s world, and when the ultra-talented Zeke walks into her life, it soon becomes her passion.

Over one amazing summer, as she is drawn into his sphere, she experiences love, new friendships, but also loss, with an intensity she never dreamed of.

But is Zeke all he seems? What hides beneath his glamorous and mysterious past? When Iris decides to try for her own surfing success, just as her ex-boyfriend comes back into her life, she will test her talent, and her feelings for Zeke, to the limit.

Review:
'Blue' by UK author Lisa Glass sounded on paper like the perfect summer read with plenty of sun, sand and romance. I was looking forward to starting it but although there were some things I really liked about this book, there were other aspects which left me feeling a bit flat by the end of the story.

I loved the UK setting and the fact that I knew so many of the places mentioned in the book from Newquay and Exeter to the gorgeous Fistral Beach.  I could almost imagine walking along the beach and dipping my toes into the water.  Lisa Glass did an excellent job of capturing the beauty of the characters' surroundings and I felt completely transported as I was reading. 

I normally really enjoy books which feature sports in some kind of way but I have to admit that I've never been a big fan of water sports and I felt at times like there was just too much surfing lingo in the book.  This didn't particularly grab me and I felt took some of the focus away from the relationships between the characters.

I thought that Iris was an extremely likeable main character but I didn't fall for Zeke who is a surf champion who she meets at the beginning of the book.  Instead of being a full on romance between the two, the story is more about their love of the ocean and their passion for surfing.  The lure of the waves is something that neither of them can resist.  I missed the sparks and sizzle which I normally enjoy between the two protagonists but if you like your romance sweet and clean that this might well be for you. 

The ending was very exciting and the pace of the story stepped up a notch but it wasn't quite enough to get me to fall in love with 'Blue' like I had been expecting to.  I originally thought that this was a standalone but the sequel is due to be published by Quercus later in the year. 

Review: A Kiss in the Dark - Cat Clarke

A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke, published by Quercus on 3rd April 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
When Alex meets Kate the attraction is instant.

Alex is funny, good-looking, and a little shy – everything that Kate wants in a boyfriend.

Alex can’t help falling for Kate, who is pretty, charming and maybe just a little naive…

But one of them is hiding a secret, and as their love blossoms, it threatens to ruin not just their relationship, but their lives.

Review:
One of the things I like about Cat Clarke books is that they always make me question my own opinions.  I may not always feel comfortable with some of the scenarios and situations she puts her characters in but I think that's a good thing because Clarke often shows that things are not always as clear cut as they may first appear to be and this makes you think twice about your own feelings and standpoint. 

'A Kiss in the Dark' throws up a lot of questions about identity which will resonate with teen readers.  At a time when a lot of young people are just starting to work out who they are and who they want to be, I think the character of Alex is one that readers will find some sympathy for.  A question mark hangs over many of the decisions that Alex makes throughout the story - were these made intentionally or unintentionally and this is something that I thought a lot about as I was reading.  I have to admit that I still wasn't entirely sure of how I felt about things by the end of the book.

Based on a real life set of events, I'm going to avoid talking about the storyline at all because there is the potential to accidentally reveal a huge spoiler.  Although this is revealed after only a few chapters, it is one that completely took me by surprise and turned everything on it's head.  I can't imagine anyone would be able to guess what happens.  This secret forms the structure of the book which is split into a before and after the reveal. 

Although 'A Kiss in the Dark' isn't my favourite Cat Clarke book, I still thought it was an extremely thought-provoking read which was brilliantly written and absolutely fascinating in terms of the very different storyline.   

Review: Brooklyn Girls; Angie - Gemma Burgess

Brooklyn Girls: Angie by Gemma Burgess, published by Quercus on 6th March 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Angie James is lost.

A regular poster girl for Generation Screwed, being 22 isn’t what she expected.

What happens when having fun isn’t, you know, fun?

In the Brooklyn townhouse she shares with her best friends, Angie wants to figure out what to do with her life. But wild parties, bad dates, dead-end jobs, demanding fashionistas and even true love just keep getting in the way…

Who knew adulthood would be so damn grown-up?

Review:
This is the second book in the series about friends living in Brooklyn, New York,  trying to have fun and find romance, while at the same time attempting to find their own individual future paths.  This story centres around Pia's best friend Angie, who is about to turn 23 and realises that her life is a mess.  She's single and unemployed, her parents are getting a divorce and she can't seem to leave her wild child days behind her, even though for the most part she's unhappy and spiralling out of control.

I really liked Pia in the last book and I knew that I was always going to struggle with Angie because her personality is so different.  She gets herself into some extremely bad situations and although she does try hard to turn her life around, I thought that she was very lucky to have some things just fall into her lap at the right time.  Underneath her tough outer exterior, which is all swearing and sex, she does want to have a purpose in life and she does want to make a success of herself, but it takes her a long time to get to that point. 

A positive influence in her life is Sam, the mysterious boat boy who she just seems to click with.  The romance between them is a bit of a slow burner which I liked but I couldn't help but wonder why she took such a long time to open her eyes and wake up to her true feelings for him.  The thing I love about this series is that although there's romance, this takes a backseat to the friendship between all the girls at Rookhaven.  As much as I liked seeing Angie and Sam together, I also enjoyed seeing a new friendship blossom between Angie and Julia, who realise that they actually get on really well. 

The setting for this series is brilliant and I like following the girls as they try to carve out careers for themselves, against the backdrop of New York.  A quick and fun read, although Angie wasn't my favourite of characters, I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series which focuses on Coco, who I've always liked.       

Review: Red - Alison Cherry

Red by Alison Cherry, published by Quercus on 2nd January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Felicity lives in Scarletville, the world's only redhead sanctuary, where red hair is celebrated, protected - and the key to sucess.

But Felicity has a secret. A red hot secret. And if anyone finds out, she's finished.

Because Felicity's actually a natural blonde.

And in Scarletville, blondes need not apply.

Review:
I loved the premise for 'Red' because I've always wished that I had red hair!  The main character Felicity lives in Scarletville - the world's only redhead sanctuary.  Redheads in the town are admired.  They are envied.  They obtain everything they go after.  Felicity is Queen Bee at her school and a dead cert to win the local pageant.  She has everything she could ever want, except for one little problem...her hair colour isn't real. 

When I started this book, I thought it was going to be quite predictable.  Girls clawing their way up for their chance at popularity is something which comes up a lot in young adult novels.  However 'Red' was different and put a new spin on a common theme.  Felicity may appear to have it all and she may be dating the most popular guy in school but she isn't a mean girl and she genuinely cares about her friends.  She's actually a very good person who finally learns to stand up for herself and what she believes in.  She's always tried to conform to her mother's wishes because she knows how important it is to her that Felicity follow in her footsteps and win the pageant. Felicity however has other interests which she wants to pursue.  This says a lot about being your own person and not the person that your parents try to make you into.   

The theme of the story is about looking below the surface and seeing what is inside people rather than just what is projected on the outside.  There are several characters in the book who actually defy their stereotypical image and turn out to be quite different to my first impression of them.  One of these is Jonathan, who is a fellow student that works alongside Felicity on the school art show. 

There are a lot of issues to consider in 'Red' about the way in which society treats people because of the way they look and their appearance alone.  This is something which I think will appeal to teenager readers.  Debut author Alison Cherry has written an enormously enjoyable book and I hope to read more by her in the future. 

Review: How to Love - Katie Cotugno

How to Love by Katie Cotugno, published by Quercus on 3rd October 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Reena has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember. But he’s never noticed her, until one day… he does. They fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town, leaving a devastated – and pregnant – Reena behind.

AFTER:

Three years later and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter Hannah. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again.  After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer again?

Review:
I finished reading this book a few weeks ago but I'm still trying to make up my mind about it.  There were some aspects which I enjoyed and there were others which I didn't understand at all.  I have very mixed feelings about the whole story and the characters so I'll try to explain my overall opinion of it.

The story is told within two time frames: Before and After.  Before Sawyer left Reena and After he walked back into her life.  Now, I'm personally not a huge fan of this particular narrative device.  It was interesting to see what happened between the two main characters in the very beginning but I found the constant switching backwards and forwards just left me feeling disorientated most of the time.  I also had to keep checking to make sure I knew which time period I was currently reading.  I definitely think this affected my overall enjoyment of the book. 

In terms of the characters, I liked Reena who always tries to do the right thing but who feels she has let her family down.  I didn't however understand the attraction she feels for bad boy Sawyer LeGrande who she has been fascinated by for as long as she can remember.  She's intrigued by everything about him and doesn't have eyes for anyone else.  When he starts to date her best friend however, she has to try to put aside her feelings for him but that's easier said than done.  I have to say that I just didn't like Sawyer.  He only ever seems to hurt Reena and he came across as extremely selfish and self-centred.  I much preferred Aaron, the other male figure in the story who treats Reena with love and respect.  I know the book deals with showing the messy, real side of love and relationships but because I wasn't a fan of Sawyer, I found it hard to make myself care about whether or not he and Reena would end up together. 

The story shows that there isn't always a happy ever after and that relationships have to be worked at if they are going to survive.  This is not the kind of book where everything is tied up with a neat bow at the end.  Although I wasn't always keen on the character portrayals I could still appreciate Katie Cotugno's writing and I  hope to see more titles by her in the future.               

Review: The Naturals - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, published by Quercus on 7th November 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Cassie Hobbes is not like most teenagers. Most teenagers don’t lose their mother in a bloody, unsolved kidnapping. Most teenagers can’t tell who you are, where you’re from and how you’re likely to behave within moments of meeting you. And most teenagers don’t get chosen to join The Naturals.

Identified by the FBI as uniquely gifted, Cassie is recruited to an elite school where a small number of teens are trained to hone their exceptional abilities.

For Cassie, trying to make friends with the girls, and to figure out the two very different, very hot boys, is challenging enough. But when a serial killer begins recreating the details of her mother’s horrific crime scene, she realises just how dangerous life in The Naturals could be...

 

 

I was slightly taken by surprise after reading this book.  I thought it was going to be good because I'm a big fan of Jennifer Lynn Barnes's writing and I know she always comes up with brilliant stories but 'The Naturals' was absolutely superb and hugely gripping.  I'm thrilled that this is only the first book in the series because I can't wait to read more about the characters and find out what happens to them next.

 

In recent months I've become slightly hooked on crime and mystery novels because they are so engrossing and I enjoy trying to solve the cases along with the characters.  I therefore loved the premise of this book which centres on teens with special abilities who work for a secret FBI programme.  It reminded me a little bit of The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting, so if you enjoyed those books, then I would definitely recommend giving 'The Naturals' a try.

 



The main character Cassie is a Natural.  She has the ability to profile people, putting together a psychological profile of even complete strangers and this talent leads her to join a special team put together by the FBI.  She, along with other teens who have similar abilities, help to solve cold cases.  She has an ulterior motive too, in that she wants to discover more about her mother's murder and hopefully track down clues to the killer.  There's a real sense of danger throughout as the killer turns the tables on Cassie and she becomes the hunted rather than the hunter.      

 

One of the things which really helped to make the book stand out for me, was the authenticity of detail which Jennifer Lynn Barnes has woven into the story.  We get insights into how the FBI work, as well as the psychology of how the team attempt to understand the thoughts and motivations of criminals and killers.  I loved all of this and found it utterly fascinating. 

 

A hugely enjoyable read which had me engrossed from the first chapter, I'm immensely looking forward to the next book in the series. 

 

Book Trailer: How to Love - Katie Cotugno

Quercus recently published the debut novel of author Katie Cotugno.  I'm going to be reviewing 'How to Love' on the blog very soon but here's a peek at the fabulous trailer for the book. 



This is a love story. But it’s not what you think. This is not a first kiss, or a first date. This is not love at first sight. This is a boy and a girl falling in messy, unpredictable, thrilling love. This is the complicated route to happiness that follows.

This is real. This is life. This is how to love.

BEFORE: Reena has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember. But he’s never noticed her, until one day… he does. They fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town, leaving a devastated – and pregnant – Reena behind.

AFTER: Three years later and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter Hannah. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again.

After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer again? 

Review: Linked - Imogen Howson

Linked by Imogen Howson, published by Quercus on 1st August 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
For years, Elissa has suffered nightmarish visions and unexplained bruises. Finally, she's promised a cure, and an operation is scheduled. But on the eve of the procedure, Elissa discovers the truth: she's seeing the world through another girl's eyes. A world filled with wires, machines and pain. Elissa follows her visions, only to find a battered, broken girl. A girl who looks exactly like her. A twin she never knew existed. Elissa and her twin Lin go on the run, but even after changing their looks and clothes, they're barely a step ahead of the government agents who are ruthlessly tracking them down. For Lin and Elissa are too valuable to let go, and the dark truth at the heart of it all is too shocking to risk exposing...

Review:
I had such high hopes for this book.  Described as The Bourne Identity meets Inception, the tagline alone was more than enough to get me counting down the days until the release date.  I really thought it had the potential to be amazing and promised so much but for me, in the end, it failed to deliver everything I was expecting.  It had inter-planetary space travel, mid-air skirmishes, government conspiracies and much more.  It ticked so many boxes but overall I felt like the story just fell flat.  I think partly because of my lack of connection with the characters, particularly the main protagonist Elissa. 

There were hints of romance throughout between Elissa and her brother's best friend Cadan, but even that didn't interest or intrigue me enough to get me excited about the book.  The other prominent relationship is between Elissa and her twin, something which I was looking forward to seeing develop.  I didn't however feel the closeness of their bond and although I liked Lin, I would have enjoyed seeing events more from her perspective. 

I don't want to reveal any specific details about the plot because it would spoil it completely to even hint at what actually happens but I do want to say that it started so well with the opening couple of chapters completely hooking me in, but lost me about a third of the way through and from that point onwards I struggled to stay invested in the story.

I wanted to love this book so much but overall it didn't have me flipping the pages as madly as I should have done.  I have however, read plenty of positive reviews of this title so if it intrigues you in any way then I would still suggest giving it a try.   

Although I had initially thought that this was a stand-alone, it does have a sequel and 'Unravel' is due to be published by Quercus in summer 2014.   

Review: Brooklyn Girls - Gemma Burgess

Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess, published by Quercus on 4th July 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Pia is living the dream: fresh out of college and sharing a house in Brooklyn with her best friends. So why is everything so complicated?

A drunken indiscretion has led to the loss of her boring office job, while her love life is a dizzy mess of accidental hook-ups and heartbreak...

Her parents don't trust her and, if she doesn't sort her life out soon, they're going to make her move back in with them...

But all that's nothing compared to the kind of trouble she's about to face.

 
Review:
This is the first book in a new series by Gemma Burgess about a group of girlfriends in their twenties living together in New York and trying to adjust to adulthood.  Each of them are trying to carve out their own path while also figuring out who they are and what they really want out of life.  There's unemployed Pia who is attempting to stretch her wings away from her parents and get over a broken heart, as well as bookworm Coco (who was my favourite), crazy Angie, uptight Madeleine and in-control and ambitious Julia.

The opening story in the series is told from the point of view of Pia who can't seem to hold down a job and keeps getting herself into trouble by partying too hard.  It took me a little while to actually warm to her as she makes quite a lot of questionable decisions but I liked the way that she always looks out for her friends and she is always there for them, as they are there for her in times of need.  I admired the way she tries to turn her life around and her determination not to give into her parents, even when that may have been the easiest route to take.

There actually isn't a huge amount of romance throughout the book as it focuses mainly on the relationship and friendships between all of the girls.  That's good though because it makes such a refreshing change.  Each of the girls is so different and they have really unique personalities that it was fun getting to know them all along the way.

This is a New Adult book but to me, it seems to fit in nicely to the niche which exists between NA and YA.  It's definitely not for much younger readers though as there's a lot of adult themes and content.    

Fresh and hip, this series is like Sex and the City but with younger characters.  The next book in the series is set to be about Angie and will be published in 2014.  I'm looking forward to finding out what they'll all get up to next.   

Review: Drowning Instinct - Ilsa J. Bick

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick, published by Quercus on 28th February 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
Jenna is sweet sixteen, the age when a girl is supposed to find her prince.

Instead she finds Mr Anderson – intelligent, handsome, married Mr Anderson, who just happens to be her chemistry teacher. With a dark past and a difficult family, Jenna is just happy to have someone to protect her, to worry about her, to love her.

But should she be suspicious of Mr Anderson’s reputation for helping ‘damaged’ students? Why is the most popular girl in school suddenly jealous of her? And where is Mr Anderson’s wife?

 
Review:
'Drowning Instinct' deals with the dangerous subject of the formation of an illicit relationship between a pupil and her teacher.  Although this at first seems to be the main focus of the story, it's actually more of a sub-plot to the larger problems that the main character Jenna faces.  She has had to cope with an extraordinary number of traumatic events such as a childhood fire and her beloved brother leaving to join the army.  She deals with her tumultuous family life by self-harming.  When she makes a cut on her body she momentarily feels better but the sense of release never lasts.

Ilsa J. Bick has taken a completely different direction in her new novel.  Having previously read the fabulous 'Ashes' and 'Shadows', I was surprised to see that the topic of this book was the polar opposite to her other work.  'Drowning Instinct' is hard-hitting and quite controversial.  Bick writes with such a deft and sure touch however that I never felt she was forcing any particular opinion on me.  I formed my own ideas about the characters and their motives as the story progressed.

The opening chapter intrigued me from the start.  Jenna has clearly been involved in some kind of accident and is asked to tell the truth about what happened by a police man.  The reader does not know yet what has occurred and so her story begins to unfold.  Her narrative voice drew me in immediately and I felt so much sympathy for her as I learnt more about her situation.  No teen should have to go through the things that she deals with and her life is sadly lacking of any adult that she can trust in and rely on. 

There is a non-judgemental tone throughout the book which suggests that things are not always as black and white as they might first seem.  Her relationship with her teacher Mr Anderson develops quite naturally over the course of the book and does not seem predatory on his part, although he is of course in a position of power and responsibility, so the reader must decide whether or not he has abused this privilege.

The ending is explosive and turned everything that happened on it's head.  It made me question what I thought and challenged some of my pre-conceived notions.  Nothing is ever really as we think it is although Bick leaves it up to the reader to ultimately decide whether the line between right and wrong can ever be blurred.      

Review: Broken Illusions - Ellie James

Broken Illusions by Ellie James, published by Quercus on 3rd January 2013

Goodreads synopsis:
It’s Mardi Gras, but for 16 year-old psychic Trinity Monsour this is no time for celebration. Another girl is missing. Haunted by visions she doesn’t understand—of an empty street lined by crumbling old buildings, a terrified voice warning her to be careful, and a body lying motionless in the grass—Trinity embarks upon a dark odyssey she could never have imagined. She'll stop at nothing to better understand her abilities, convinced that doing so is the only way she can make sure the terrifying images she sees never actually happen.

But it seems everyone wants to stop her. Her aunt is worried Trinity might discover secrets best left in the past. Her best friend, Victoria, is afraid Trinity is slipping away, her boyfriend, Chase, fears she’s taking too many chances, and the lead detective will barely let her out of his sight. Only one person stands by her side, and in doing so, he slips deeper and deeper into her heart—and her dreams—blurring the lines of reality and illusion.

When the dust settles, one of them will be dead.

Review:
'Broken Illusions' is the second book in Ellie James's series about teenage psychic Trinity Monsour.  Trinity is still trying to come to terms with the events which unfolded in 'Shattered Dreams' when another girl goes missing from New Orleans.

Trinity has visions and dreams of the past and the future.  A lot of the story focuses on the way she tries to make sense of the flashes and the things she sees, not only to save an innocent girl but also to save herself.  She is determined to find out more about her own abilities, but threatens her relationship with Chase in the process.  Hovering on the sidelines is the elusive Dylan who I can't wait to find out more about.  There are some definite sparks between him and Trinity whenever they are together.

The plot is quite complex and I'll admit that in the middle of the book I nearly got lost a couple of times and had to go back and re-read a couple of chapters.  You really need to read this one without any distractions around you.  I still enjoyed trying to solve the mystery at the heart of the story though as well as puzzling out what was happening at the same time as Trinity.      

This was a real thrill ride of a story.  And the ending...wow!  I never saw it coming and still can't believe what happened.  I think Ellie James is incredibly brave to make the decision she did which totally threw me.  It was unexpected and surprising and completely shocking.  It will be interesting to see how this affects Trinity in the future, as it is quite a pivotal moment in the series.     

Next in the series is 'Fragile Darkness', which I'm very excited about, as I'm sure there's a lot more fireworks still to come.

Hotly Anticipated Reads for 2013: Quercus

Quercus published one of my favourite books of 2012, 'Shattered Dreams' by Ellie James, so I'm immensely looking forward to the sequel which is out next year.

Here are some of the other amazing titles they have lined up for 2013 (January-June).

All links go to Goodreads where you can add them to your wishlist!

Broken Illusions by Ellie James, published 3rd January

It’s Mardi Gras, but for sixteen-year-old Trinity, this is no time for celebration. Another girl has gone missing. And Trinity is seeing things – terrible things.  Tormented by visions she can’t explain, Trinity embarks on a dark journey to understand her abilities, convinced this is the only way to prevent the things she sees from coming true.

But as the line between reality and illusion becomes blurred, everyone who loves Trinity begins to fear for her sanity, and, ultimately, for her life ...  

Burning For Revenge by John Marsden, published 3rd January

Ellie and her friends are more determined than ever to make an impact on the enemy. But the constant fighting is beginning to take its toll on the group. Kevin is suffering an emotional breakdown, and the friendship that has kept the gang together for so long is under strain.

Undone by Cat Clarke, published 31st January

Jem Halliday is in love with her gay best friend. Not exactly ideal, but she's learning to live with it. Then the unspeakable happens. Kai is outed online ... and he kills himself.

Jem knows nothing she can say or do will bring him back. But she wants to know who was responsible. And she wants to take them down.

Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick, published 28th February

Jenna is sweet sixteen, the age when a girl is supposed to find her prince.  Instead she finds Mr Anderson – intelligent, handsome, married Mr Anderson, who just happens to be her chemistry teacher. With a dark past and a difficult family, Jenna is just happy to have someone to protect her, to worry about her, to love her. But should she be suspicious of Mr Anderson’s reputation for helping ‘damaged’ students?  Why is the most popular girl in school suddenly jealous of her? And where is Mr Anderson’s wife?

This is a love story that breaks all the rules, but that won’t stop it breaking your heart.

Don't Look Back by S.B. Hayes, published 28th March

Sinead has been taunted by her manipulative brother Patrick all her life. Now he is missing. But he hasn’t stopped messing with her.  Compelled to search for him by her overbearing mother, Sinead discovers a trail of sinister clues which she knows Patrick has left for her. They lead her to Benedict House: a place where time stands still and nothing is as it seems.

Linked by Imogen Howson, published 6th June

For years, Elissa has suffered nightmarish visions and unexplained bruises. Finally, she’s promised a cure, and an operation is scheduled. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the truth: she’s seeing the world through another girl’s eyes. A world filled with wires, machines and pain. Elissa follows her visions, only to find a battered, broken girl. A girl who looks exactly like her. A twin she never knew existed.

Elissa and Lin go on the run, but even after changing their looks and clothes, they’re barely a step ahead of the government agents who are ruthlessly tracking them down. For Lin and Elissa are too valuable to let go, and the dark truth at the heart of it all is too shocking to risk exposing ...

 

Comment and let me know which books you are most looking forward to in 2013! 

Review: Secrets, Lies and Locker 62 - Lil Chase

Secrets, Lies and Locker 62 by Lil Chase, published by Quercus on 30th August 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Secrets have a special home at Mount Selwyn High. For years, students have posted their deepest desires and fears in Locker 62. And then this locker is assigned to new girl Maya. She could use the knowledge to help people. Or she could use it to become popular. Maya, who was bullied, who has never been cool, who will do anything to be popular, is now the most powerful girl at school. What will she choose to do next?

Review:
I really enjoyed Lil Chase's debut novel last year, 'Boys For Beginners' so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review her new book.  The premise sounded intriguing - a locker in a school which holds everyone's secrets and deepest thoughts and the new girl who finds that she holds immeasurable power over her peers when she's assigned the aforementioned locker 62.  Although I liked the general idea for the story, I'll admit that I had quite mixed feelings about it when I'd finished.

I liked the overall message that I think the story was trying to convey.  The fact that people aren't always who you think they are and that appearances can quite often be deceiving.  The main character Maya learns not to judge people until you've got to know them and that it's good to try and fit in but not at the cost of becoming someone you're not.

I also thought that Maya herself was great.  She starts out by trying to help people by guessing who the secrets belong to and then attempting to make their hopes and dreams come true.  Her intentions may be noble but along the way she's swayed by her longing to fit in and be part of the popular crowd.  This is something which I think most people have gone through at one time or another and I thought it was dealt with really well.

On the other hand, I wasn't so keen on the rather abrupt ending.  To be honest I thought that the story finished just as it was starting to get quite interesting.  There's a pretty major revelation near the end of the book which I felt was glossed over rather than being dealt with and explained in more detail.  It's also quite a big twist and I'm surprised that more fuss wasn't made about it.

'Secrets, Lies and Locker 62' was a quick and easy read but seemed a bit too predictable for my tastes.  It skirted over a really serious topic which I would have liked to have seen explored further and although I liked the main protagonist, I felt that some of the other characters were slightly one dimensional.  Overall a little disappointing considering how much I enjoyed 'Boys For Beginners'.

Guest post - Shattered Dreams - Ellie James

I have a brilliant guest post today from the fabulous Ellie James, author of one of my favourite books so far this year 'Shattered Dreams' which is published by Quercus.  Here's a bit more about her Midnight Dragonfly series -  

The firstborn daughter, of the firstborn daughter, of the firstborn daughter, sixteen year old psychic Trinity Monsour has a connection to the Other Side. She knows secrets and truths she shouldn’t, feels emotions that do not belong to her, and see events that have yet to happen. They come to her as glimpses, shadowy, disjointed snapshots that flicker through her dreams. Some terrify: a girl screaming, a knife lifting, a body in the grass. But others--the dark, tortured eyes and the shattering kiss, the promise of forever--whisper to her soul.

They come without warning. They come without detail.

But they always mean the same thing: The clock is ticking, and only Trinity can stop it. 

Ellie has written a really interesting piece about her love of the unexplained and how that gave birth to the character of Trinity, so without further ado it's over to Ellie.  

 

Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog!

 

I’ve always been fascinated by the unexplained. I believe we, as humans, are much more capable than we realize, and that no one holds us back more than ourselves. For the most part, we like explanations and evidence. We like proof. In the absence of that, we tend to dismiss fantastical claims. If it can’t be seen or touched, it must not be real. And yet…

• I routinely pick up the phone to call someone at the exact second they’re calling me.
• After my daughter was born, for the first few weeks we were frequently awakened by the sound of my recently deceased grandmother’s favorite lullaby coming through the nursery monitor…even though we had not pushed the play button and there was no automatic timer to turn on the CD
• One night, my daughter, then 3, woke me up to tell me how excited she was that her twin brother (whom we lost during her pregnancy) was finally going to come live with us—this before we’d told her we were expecting again, and before we knew we were having a son.
• When I was twelve weeks along, a friend who has a history of “knowing things” told me my son would be born severely premature—and he was.
• Another friend who talked to her mom every evening at 5pm continued to receive those calls for weeks after her mom passed away, except instead of a voice she heard only silence.
• My aunt knew her way around an old Irish castle she’d never visited or read about.
• My grandparents’ wedding picture really did fall over, in a quiet still room, the same instant my grandmother took her last breath.

Ask anyone and they probably have at least one woo-woo tale. Cold spots in the middle of a warm room. Intuition about future events. Blasts of mysterious emotion...

 

Given my love of the unexplained, it’s no surprise that the character of Trinity came to me in a dream, sneaking into a beautiful abandoned mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans. I was right there as she and her friends embarked upon a dangerous game of truth or dare. I saw the premonition that she saw, that of another girl strewn on a dirty old mattress. I awoke abruptly, and very upset. I wanted to know what happened next! Who was Trinity, and what did her vision mean? Why did she have it? What was the trigger? Had it happened before? And….what if it came true? What if, what if, what if….

 

As I answered those questions, the Midnight Dragonfly series was born.

 

I’d been writing suspense for years, but Trinity was my first Young Adult character, and she took me by complete surprise. However, I needn’t have worried. Characters have a way of taking over and telling their own stories and I quickly learned that strong characters are strong characters, regardless of age. There are, essentially, two kinds of people in this world: those who wait for life to happen, and those who make life happen.

 

The characters I most enjoy exploring, whether through writing or reading, tend to be the do-ers. They have:

 

1. Goals. This is one of the reasons a character like Katniss from the Hunger Games works so well. She has a concrete, well-defined goal that pulls her through the story. Initially she seeks to protect her sister. As the plot progresses, she seeks to survive. Goals give characters something to act upon. They put the character in the driver’s seat and allow them to move the story forward. They raise the stakes. Conversely, without goals, the story tends to happen to the character, as opposed to the character driving the story.

 

2. Courage. There are so many kinds of courage, the physical kind that comes from confronting danger, but also the emotional kind that comes from standing up for what you believe in and making tough choices. The strength it takes to confront something you know is wrong and the unbelievable bravery that can be required to walk away from a dysfunctional relationship. Characters with courage tend to step forward rather than shrink back. Courage makes your heart race, the adrenaline flow. Courage makes you wonder what happens next. And courage is what leads Trinity to risk her own life to discover the truth behind her visions, when it would have been so much easier to stay in her condo and pretend that when she closed her eyes, she saw nothing.

 

3. Hopes and dreams. It’s fabulous to be tough and brave and bold, but for a character to be real and three-dimensional, there’s got to be a softer, quieter side, as well. Hopes and dreams turn strangers into friends, and make their struggles more personal—and important.

 

4. Secret fear/Achilles heel. We all have them. Maybe it’s something simple, like a fear of spiders. Maybe it’s more complex, a fear of being left alone in the dark, which triggers traumatic memories. Sometimes it’s more emotional, the fear of being abandoned or not loved, not good enough. These are the traits that embody a character’s vulnerability and make people care what happens to them. Trinity was afraid of being an outcast. She was afraid of being rejected because she was different. At first this led her to try and hide the truth about her visions, but ultimately (because of #s 6 and 7) she realized her goal (to save her classmate) was more important than her fears.

 

Those four are all concrete. The next four are more behavioral related.

 

5. Say what’s on their mind. This is something I, personally, used to have a hard time with. I’d think something, but frequently bite my tongue. In my very first novel, my editor pointed out my character was doing this, too, and she encouraged me to let my heroine have her say. I did, and the most amazing thing happened: the intensity and energy level of the story soared. As my heroine began to speak up, those around her spoke up, giving way to meaty, emotional conversations. AND, I found myself speaking up, too. 

6. Make mistakes. Perfection is an awesome goal, but it’s not realistic. People make mistakes, and characters need to, as well. Maybe you believe your boyfriend the first time he tells you he’ll never lie to you again. That’s okay. That’s trust. But when he lies to you again, this time you don’t believe his pathetic claims to “be better in the future” and you show him the door. That’s growth.

 

7. It’s okay to be afraid. Sometimes we all are. It goes back to being human. But a strong YA heroine doesn’t let this fear hold her back. She doesn’t let it overtake her life. She faces the fear. She confronts it (hence the importance of bravery) and, ultimately, finds herself that much closer to her goal.

8. No negative self-talk. This is simply my own personal life mantra, which has found its way into my work. Life is hard, and we’re often our own toughest enemy. That’s all normal. But I’d rather not see a YA heroine thinking of herself as stupid or ugly or an idiot. She can be upset with herself—sometimes, we all are. But I prefer to steer clear of the negative self-talk, unless, of course, the journey from negative to positive is part of the story goal J

 

And then, finally, this one seems rather obvious, but it’s a biggie for me:

 

9. Name. I simply can’t get to know a character until I know her name. When I’m plotting a new story, I can’t get far without the “right” name. There’s just a big difference between Anne versus Phoebe, Courtenay versus Trinity. Each name has its own vibe, and until I find the right vibe, the character can’t fully gel.

 

I had such an amazing time exploring Trinity—What about you? What are your favorite character traits? Your least favorite?

Most people who know Ellie think she’s your nice, ordinary wife and mom of two young kids. They see someone who does all that normal stuff, like grocery shopping, walking the dogs, going to baseball games, and somehow always forgetting to get the house cleaned and laundry done.

What they don't know is that more often than not, this LSU J-School alum is somewhere far, far away, in an extraordinary world, deeply embroiled in solving a riddle or puzzle or crime, testing the limits of possibility, exploring the unexplained, and holding her breath while two people fall in love.

Regardless of which world Ellie’s in, she loves rain and wind and thunder and lightning; the first warm kiss of spring and the first cool whisper of fall; family, friends, and animals; dreams and happy endings; Lost and Fringe; Arcade Fire and Dave Matthews, and last but not least…warm gooey chocolate chip cookies.

 

You can follow Ellie on Facebook or on Twitter@EllieJamesMDB.  Find out more about her Midnight Dragonfly series on her website.

Review: Shattered Dreams - Ellie James

Shattered Dreams by Ellie James, published by Quercus on 5th July 2012

Goodreads synopsis:
Trinity has never known who she really is. Strange dreams haunt her nights, and she has always been able to sense things that others can't. When Jessica, the most popular girl at school, disappears, Trinity realises she will have to draw on her secret abilities to help find her. Soon, Trinity is subject to visions that terrify her and make the police sceptical. As her dreams grow darker and the visions more frightening, Trinity realises she must risk her reputation and her sanity to save a girl who hates her.

Review:
‘Shattered Dreams’ is one of those wonderful books that you start reading not really knowing much about and end up absolutely loving! It got off to a flying start and had me entranced and absorbed the whole way through. It’s earnt a place on my favourites shelf because this is one that I’ll want to pick up to read again and again. It’s the debut young-adult novel of author Ellie James and she’s certainly made her mark on the genre with this fantastic offering.

The beginning of the book sets the pace for a truly thrilling read. It starts with a nerve jangling opening in a spooky, abandoned house in New Orleans. The setting was incredibly atmospheric and I spent most of the first few chapters holding my breath. From then onwards it’s full steam ahead as the story fairly races along at a breakneck speed.

The main character Trinity arrives in New Orleans to live with her Aunt Sara after the death of her grandmother. Trying to fit in with a new group of friends, she’s drawn to the gorgeous Chase but he’s already dating Jessica, one of the most popular girls in school. When Jessica goes missing Trinity is determined to find her whatever the cost may be. My nerves were on edge the whole way through wondering if Jessica was going to be found. The suspense is heightened by some of the events which happen along the way, as we get to know more about Trinity and her ‘gift’. I’m looking forward to seeing Trinity’s family background being explored in more detail as I think there are still a lot of unanswered and intriguing questions to be dealt with.

Ellie James has packed an incredible amount of romance, drama, mystery and excitement into this book. There’s a potential love triangle on the horizon for Trinity and a lot more twists and turns to come in the story yet.

If you are a fan of The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting that you’ll definitely enjoy ‘Shattered Dreams’. I can’t recommend this one highly enough and encourage you to go and get your hands on a copy now!

The sequel ‘Broken Illusions’ is due to be published by Quercus in Spring 2013.