The Family Tree by Lana Melyan (The Weight of Magic #4)

Synopsis:

New Orleans. That's the place where magic happens. But I’m not here to do magic. I need to keep a low profile. I'm here to find out more about my parents' life and check out their house, which I never knew existed.

In my dad’s study, I discover a crucial piece of information. There’s a man out there who can identify me and sell me out to the Order. Will we be able to find and stop him before he puts the mission and all of us in grave danger?

At the same time, I bump into one of those things Gran and Sam once warned me about regarding Nate’s life. Things that happened before he met me, which he hoped I would never come across.

Well, we hope for a lot of things.

Review:

Fourth book in the Weight of Magic series and I feel like the story is starting to move on nicely. All the characters are growing within their magical powers and we are starting to find out more about their mission and what needs to be done.

Nicki and Nate’s relationship has its ups and downs and I feel that for me that’s the only stumbling block in these books as I feel like their teenage-ish behaviour and irrationality takes my focus away from the real story here.

This book has also taken the series to a darker level with the introduction of new characters and I am looking forward to finding out what more is in store for us.

Thank you very much to the author and TBConFB for this book.

Rating: 3/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Between Sisters by Cathy Kelly

Synopsis:

Meet the women of Delaney Gardens, a bustling suburban village in the outer reaches of Dublin. There's Cassie, who's spent her married life doing everything right for her children, husband, and mother-in-law, yet feels so exhausted that "wine o'clock" comes a littler earlier each afternoon. There's her sister Coco, who runs a vintage dress shop, but has avoided the complications of romantic commitment. Watching over them is their grandmother Pearl, who, despite caring deeply for her family, is contending with a long-buried secret. And then there's Elsa, the polished face of daytime TV, who's triumphed over demons before, but is now facing her toughest battle yet. At every crossroad these women face, readers are taken deeper into the heart of what it means to be a family.

Review:

I usually love the books by this well know Irish author, but this one unfortunately came up short. I have always been a fan of Cathy’s books, her great understanding of family dynamics, the dramas that come with friendships and relationships, changes that occur in people’s lives.

Between Sisters is essentially a story of two abandoned sisters Coco and Cassie. Their mother was there one day and vanished the next, nobody talked about her, just that she is never coming back. However, there are always two sides to every story and the girls’ lives turn out to be affected more by their past than anyone could have ever predicted. They both have abandonment issues, which nearly destroy their relationships with the loves of their lives.

So far so good. However, then we have grandmother Pearl, who is suggested to be holding on to this massive secret about their mother, which makes you think she’s done something terrible. We have Phoebe, a country girl, studying fashion. We have Antoinette, the mother in law from hell. We have best friend Jo and her daughter Fiona. We have Shay, Red, Lilly, Beth, Eddie, Gloria, Elsa, the whole village and their dogs.

Just too much in this one. What could have been a great read became a hard labour of getting through and skipping paragraphs, because it just wasn’t that interesting. Which is a shame as the basis of the novel is good. So give it a go, but I feel Cathy’s other books were just a bit better and clearer.

Thank you very much to NetGalley for this book.

Rating: 3/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

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The First Spell by Lana Melyan (The Weight of Magic #3)

Synopsis:

I'm the last Callahan left, and now I'm the only keeper of all the secrets.
Even Nathan, who is the last Cain, after all, has no access to this information.
The question is, what now? These new people came into my life and they expect me to tell them what to do next, to help them carry on the mission. How do I do this when I can't even control my magic as it keeps bursting out of me?

It's clear now that Nathan and I are tied to each other. I need him to teach me how to control my powers, and he needs me to unlock the mausoleum. Only together can we fulfill this mission.

But I wonder if that's the only reason that keeps him here, with me.

Review:

Third part to this quick read series and the story is moving on. Nicky seems to be growing up fast and taking on the responsibility for her family’s mission is moulding her into a brave and decisive witch.

Nicky has finally made the step towards the truth and has gone through her father’s books. Her relationship with Nathan is growing too and it all seems to be making her stronger.

However, there is more in store for Nicky and her friends and I have a feeling she will be tested more than she realises and more than she things she is ready for.

Thank you to the author and TBConFB for this book.

Rating: 4/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Silver Dagger by Alistair Cross (The Vampires of Crimson Cove #2)

Synopsis:

Brother against Brother

Life in Crimson Cove has been good to the Colter Brothers since Gretchen VanTreese was staked and her horde of vampires scattered. Brooks is once again human, and Cade, the rare Sire Gretchen had determined to take as her mate, is in love. Then the unthinkable happens: Gretchen rises from the grave, and the brothers are torn apart, their lives - and the peace between them - shattered.

A Trail of Blood

When Cade comes into possession of an ancient ceremonial dagger he awakens a power so deadly it defies comprehension. Meanwhile, a serial killer is stalking the little mountain town, leaving a trail of blood that leads to a truth Sheriff Ethan Hunter doesn't want to face. And unknown to either of them, Gretchen is preparing to reopen her notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset - and building an army to destroy her enemies and reclaim Cade Colter as her own.

A New Breed of Evil

The streets are no longer safe, nor are the forested paths, for a new and unknowable evil has come to Crimson Cove and everyone - vampire and human alike - must come together in order to survive.

My review:

Oh what a perfect series, but I wan book three now! Please don’t leave me hanging and thirsty (pun intended) for more…I am hooked and and now my teeth are well and truly sank into this series I can’t stop thinking about what is to come next. But enough silly puns, here’s my views.

First book left me nice and warm inside, feeling as accomplished as Brooks, Cade and Ethan were feeling. We were all happy and living in a land of friendly vamps only and nothing could spoil the happy picture. We unless you are still a vampire in retrograde i.e. Brooks, and you maker gets a wake-up call. So yes, happiness over, please welcome feelings of fear, anger and misery all round.

Book two is so different. The author deals with a deep an dark depression of the main character Cade following just one tragic death too many and gosh does he deal with it. Anyone that has ever experienced depression either from themselves or from a loved one, will be familiar with everything Cade is going through.

And then we have the vampires. The goods ones (but are they) and the bad ones, that we were all hoping were asleep forever. Ethan is awesome by the way, he has a lot on his shoulders and tries to do right by all and it only gets him into more trouble. Brooks is dealing with his own guilt and transformation and suddenly I really like him – he has grown into a brilliant character that you just want to read about.

This book has it all: blood, death, tragedy, love, ex-wives, fiancés, hunger, revenge, depression, hope…the list could go on. It’s edge of the seat book and I really cannot wait for the next book brings. Please hurry!

Massive thanks to Alistair Cross for writing such a perfect series and his publicist for introducing me the books.

My rating: 5/5

Available to purchase from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Crimson Corset by Alistair Cross (The Vampires of Crimson Cove #1)

Synopsis:

Welcome to Crimson Cove

Sheltered by ancient redwoods overlooking the California coast, the cozy village of Crimson Cove has it all: sophisticated retreats, fine dining, and a notorious nightclub, The Crimson Corset. It seems like a perfect place to relax and get close to nature. But not everything in Crimson Cove is natural.

When Cade Colter moves to town, he expects it to be peaceful to the point of boredom. But he quickly learns that after the sun sets and the fog rolls in, the little tourist town takes on a whole new kind of life – and death.

Darkness at the Edge of Town

Renowned for its wild parties and history of debauchery, The Crimson Corset looms on the edge of town, inviting patrons to sate their most depraved desires and slake their darkest thirsts. Proprietor Gretchen VanTreese has waited centuries to annihilate the Old World vampires on the other side of town and create a new race – a race that she alone will rule. When she realizes Cade Colter has the key that will unlock her plan, she begins laying an elaborate trap that will put everyone around him in mortal danger.

Blood Wars

The streets are running red with blood, and as violence and murder ravage the night, Cade must face the darkest forces inside himself, and perhaps even abandon his own humanity, in order to protect what he loves

Review:

Well this might just be one of my favourite supernatural series. It is a mature mixture of Vampire Diaries, Dracula and Anne Rice books and somehow it works. It is a bit dirty; it has great characters, fabulous setting and secrets of night creature that are being slowly revealed throughout the story.

Cade turns up in Crimson Cove after the death of his mother, he comes to live with his brother Brooks that has made the little town his home a few years back. Things are going great for the brothers, until strange characters start turning up around Cade – pale, cold people that makes the hairs on his neck stand. Throw in the strangely protective behaviours of local Sherriff and friend Ethan and you have a great mix to start up paranoia in anyone.

And then Brooks gets a new, secret girlfriends and that’s when all goes downhill for Cade and Ethan. Cade gets a quick lecture on the night life creatures that have been roaming the woods of Crimson Cove for centuries and a battle to save his brother commences.

It’s a great-paced novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and am already reading the second instalment. Alistair Cross has skilfully married the good and evil here and shown that not all that appears evil actually is.

Thank you to the publisher and author for copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank

Synopsis:

Reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her imposing country mansion, Greyswick – but she arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion.

Before long, strange incidents begin to trouble Stella – sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs – and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic history of the house.

Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greyswick’s dark and terrible secrets – secrets the dead whisper from the other side…

Review:

Stella Marcham is grieving. She has seen evil in the blooded fields of the great war and that same evil has taken the love of her life. On the brink of being sent into an asylum for ‘rest’, Stella is approached by her sister’s husband Hector, asking her to keep Madeleine company in her last months of pregnancy at his home estate Greyswick. He mentions Madeleine’s unease and bad feelings about the house and hopes Stella’s company will help settle his wife back to her happy self.

How wrong he is! Stella arrives at Greyswick, excited to see her sister’s new home, happy to lend her hand and provide comfort to the one person that stood by her when she lost Gerald. But there is something wrong. With the house, the people living in it. From the first day, when she discovers a toy soldier in her bed, things grow stranger and stranger. There are secrets buried deep within the walls of the house and it is up to Stella and her unwilling maid Annie to uncover them and set them free.

Brilliant book – I’ve always loved Wilkie Collins’ Woman in White and can see clearly the inspiration here. But this novel is spookier and even tense and reading in the dark of my bedroom wasn’t the best of my ideas. The characters were very well portrayed within the time period lending an authenticity to the story. Let’s be honest, most old manor houses look haunted, so Greyswick lends a perfect hand in setting the scene. I loved the opposites of opinions and beliefs that were given to us in the characters of Annie Burrows and Tristan Sheers. The believer and the sceptic-scientist, both willing to go the distance to prove their own truths.

Bravo – love this book and will certainly look out for more books by Anita Frank. This will be in my top five books I’ve read this year. And the cover - simple beautiful.

Thank you very much to TBConFB, the author and NetGalley for this book.

Rating: 5/5

Available to pre-order from:

Amazon UK – publication date 31 October 2019

Amazon US – publication date unconfirmed

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Synopsis:

When Alice Wright agrees to marry handsome American Bennett Van Cleve and leave behind her stifling life in England for a new adventure in Kentucky, she’s soon disenchanted by her newlywed status and overbearing father-in-law, owner of the local coal mine. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt's new travelling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, the smart-talking, self-sufficient daughter of a notorious local criminal, a woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. Alice finds Margery as bracing and courageous as anyone she's ever met--and comes to rely on her, especially as her marriage starts to fail. 

They will be joined by three diverse women and become known as the Horseback Librarians of Kentucky. 

What happens to these women--and to the men they love--becomes a classic drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. Though they face all kinds of dangers--from moonshiners to snakes, from mountains to floods--and social disapproval to boot. But they believe deeply in their work bringing books to people who had never had any, expanding horizons and arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America's past, the storytelling itself here is enthralling--the pages fly, and the book is unparalleled in its scope and its epic breadth. Funny, heartbreaking, and rewarding, it is a rich novel of women's friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.

Review:

I absolutely love Jojo’s books. She picks a subject and just runs with it. You can always tell when an author completes a good research as it allows them to engage their readers with places and characters in their work. This is definitely the case of The Giver of Stars.

This novel is another direction of work for Jojo, completely different from her other bestsellers and she has excelled in it. It takes you on a journey through rough Kentucky wilderness, the hard life families had to contend with, the unfair treatment of women in days that are not that long ago. All the ladies in this book are brilliantly woven into the story of the Kentucky Horseback Library and, together with historical moments, bring together a novel that is educational as well as enjoyable.

Alice makes an unlikely friend in the librarian’s leader Margery and thanks to her, becomes the woman she was perhaps always meant to be. They all have to learn various things about themselves and the people around them and not always through pleasant ways, but they get down to it and they don’t let anyone stop them. These are great women, made strong through their past, their present and their social standing.

This book is empowering, inspiring and beautifully written and is a fantastic example of why Jojo Moyes is one of the best international authors of today.

Rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Legacy by Lana Melyan (The Weight of Magic #2)

Synopsis:

Nicky is a witch now.

She has her powers, but the price she paid was too high.

And as if that wasn't enough, the responsibility dropped on her shoulders by Callahan magic is too heavy to carry alone.

The only one who can help her is Nathan.

But can she trust him?

Review:

Second book in The Weight of Magic series from the pen of a brilliant author of Eternity Road series, Lana Melyan.

First book left us on a proper cliff-hanger with only tiny taste of what is to come, but thankfully I didn’t have to wait long to find out.

Nicki’s parents are gone and she is finally learning the truth about her magical heritage and the heavy mission her parents have dedicated their lives too. Mission that will now become hers.

We meet new witchy characters of Brian, Kate and Sam and carry on with the saucy immortal warlock Nathan – will they or won’t they.

These books have it all to keep you entertained – magic, mystery, tragedy, love and attraction. Brilliant quick reads that feed your imagination.

Rating: 4/5

Available to pre-order from:

AmazonUK

AmazonUS

The First Wave by Lana Melyan (The Weight of Magic #1)

Synopsis:

Nicky Callahan is the daughter of a powerful warlock. She can’t wait to become a witch, but she is nearly eighteen and still has no magical powers. What seems really strange to her is that her witch parents don't seem to be worried at all.

On the first day of school, she notices a guy, too old to be a student. He watches her from afar – sometimes with a smirk, sometimes with a frown on his handsome face. 

The question is – what does he want from her? 

Her best friend Connie thinks it’s merely an innocent flirt, but something tells Nicky that the answer is more complicated than that.

Review:

I have read the Eternity Road trilogy by Lana Melyan, which was brilliant, so was intrigued to see a new book for a brand new series. I would say that The First Wave is for a slightly younger audience then Eternity Road, but any good fantasy, super-natural fan will enjoy it as much as I did.

This is quite a quick-paced read and took me a day to finish. However, it finishes on a sort of a cliff-hanger, which cleverly gets you hooked and hungry for more. Lana is very good at creating believable characters in a fantasy book. Connie and Nicki seem like normal teenagers with normal problems of what to wear, boyfriends and going to school with the added spice of living in a world of witches, warlocks and vampires.

The only reason I give the book four stars is that it just finished too soon. I really got into it and just as something really started to go down, I was on the last page and left thirstier than the vampires already mentioned. This is a great super-natural book, fab start to a new series and a great example of a book for young and old(ish) audience.

Big thanks to the author and TBConFB.

Rating: 4/5

Available to pre-order from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Cemetery of Forgotten Books #1)

Synopsis:

Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wind, by one Julián Carax. But when he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: someone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. In fact, Daniel may have the last of Carax’s books in existence. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darkest secrets--an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

Review:

Once in a while, there is a book that takes your breath away and does not give it back until the last word on the last page. This is one of those books. I could count on fingers of one hand the books that I know I will want to re-read sometime in the future and this one is on the list. It makes me want to go the Barcelona and explore the streets and alleyways that Daniel explored whilst looking for Julian’s past.

Daniel is a very young, motherless boy, when his bookshop owner father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. That visit changes his life, and all those around him, forever. Daniel is allowed to take one book home and that book is The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. He devours the book that same night and it leaves in him hunger for more, but mainly it pushes Daniel on the path of finding out everything he could about Julian Carax.

Throughout the treacherous journey of discovery, Daniel makes friends (I absolutely love Fermin – what a character!), enemies and finds love where he least expects it. In the end Daniel’s own story is not that much different from Julian’s own life. The are great differences between the two men, but some things are pulling them together.

I am in love with this book and just sorry it took me so long to pick it off my bookshelf and read. The setting is stunning, descriptions of places have just the right amount of details, characters are believable and more importantly likeable. Daniel’s father, his best friend Fermin, Tomas, Clara and Bea – they are all captured perfectly into Daniel’s story. Just bravo – this is perfect.

Rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle by Kirsty Wark

Synopsis:

Elizabeth Pringle lived all her long life on the Scottish island of Arran. But did anyone really know her? In her will she leaves her beloved house, Holmlea, to a stranger - a young mother she'd seen pushing a pram down the road over thirty years ago.

It now falls to Martha, once the baby in that pram, to answer the question: why? Martha is coping with her mother's dementia and the possibility of a new life on Arran could be a new start.

Review:

This lovely novel was passed to me from my mum-in-law who, like me, enjoys a good book and reads quite a lot. I remember her telling me about this book whilst she was reading it and what a great story it was so I had to see for myself.

The book is written in the form of two main characters, each chapter either written from the life of Elizabeth or Martha. As the story grows, so do the characters and little by little the reader discovers how closely the lives of these two women are linked.

Book starts with Elizabeth’s death and her strange bequest to Martha’s mother Anna. She leaves her beautiful house Holmlea and all her belongings to Anna, who expressed her love for the place years ago whilst on holiday on the island of Arran. Elizabeth remembers Anna walking past the house with a little girl in a pram and the bond that was clearly between the mother and daughter.

However, the little girl Martha is all grown up and dealing with Anna’s progressing dementia. Anna is losing her memories fast so Martha decides to investigate the house herself.

From here the story develops into a journey of new friendships, love and mystery surrounding Elizabeth’s life. Elizabeth and Martha have a lot in common and would clearly get on well, have they known each other.

It’s an emotional story, with some unexpected turns that shown the true cost of real love and friendship and how important they are to have in life.

Rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

The Death of Jessica Ripley by Andrew Barrett (CSI Eddie Collins #5)

Synopsis:

Jessica Ripley didn’t kill her ex-husband. But everyone thinks she did. After serving twelve years for his murder, it’s time to get her own back on those who put her inside.

During those twelve years, Jessy’s son, Michael, has turned against her. Whatever mercy Jessy had for her intended victims, has gone.

CSI Eddie Collins is having a hard time watching his father enjoying life. He’s also having it tough in the form of two new recruits to his office. One is off his tree on drugs and the other wants his job.

And then the murders begin.

Can Eddie trust the evidence, or is someone out to get even?

Review:

Another cracking, gritty novel from Andrew Barrett, which most certainly did not disappoint. Andrew has the perfect knowledge and skill to engage reader in his story and he doesn’t let them go until the very last page.

Eddie Collins is a marmite character – you either love him or hate him. I love him, he says what he thinks, he’s rude and ruthless and he gets the job done. Those closest to him are loyal because they know what a good CSI he is. He’s also very funny. Just the sort of sarcastic person I like. Eddie also hates strangers, which doesn’t help when he’s forced to accept two new recruits into his team. He doesn’t trust either and for good reasons as it turns out. Eddie knows something fishy is going on and it doesn’t take long for things to take turn for the worse for him, once again.

And then we have the fab character of wronged mother Jessica, who has just been released from a 12 year sentence for a murder she didn’t commit. In that time, her son got estranged from her and is fighting against accepting any knowledge of his biological mum. And so Jessica is lonely, devastated and very angry. Around the same time of her release, the murders start.

Eddie must once again fight against everyone to ensure the victims get the justice they deserve and that his personal feelings don’t cloud his judgement. He needs to see clearly what’s right in front him. I am also thankful for the fab insight into his relationship with his dad as it brings super humour into the story.

This is a fast-paced thriller that grips you with both hands and doesn’t falter until it’s spent.

Thank you to the author and TBConFB.

Rating: 5/5

Available from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US