🎄🎁Christmas With Bookouture🎄🎁 Kathryn Croft @bookouture @KatCroft

Today I’m so excited to have the gorgeous and very talented Kathryn Croft pop by the book review cafe to answer my very Christmassy questions.

Hi Kathryn, what is your favourite Christmas memory?

As a child, my dad, who is no longer with us, used to read us The Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve and we loved it! Now my husband reads it to our baby boy so I’m carrying on the tradition.

 

Where will you be spending Christmas?

We’ve just moved house so will be having a lovely Christmas at home, with family staying.

Do you have any Christmas traditions?

Only the one I mentioned earlier: reading The Night Before Christmas to our baby son on Christmas Eve!

What was your best ever Christmas present?

My baby boy! *:) happy*:) happy

 

What was your worst ever Christmas present?

He’ll kill me for saying this but many years ago my husband bought me the Property Ladder board game as one of my presents! His thinking was that I liked watching the programme and I liked board games so I was bound to love it! Unfortunately it ended up in a charity bag!!

Favourite Christmas tipple?

Mulled wine

 

What are you hoping for this Christmas?

A good sleep the night before! Last Christmas our baby was only a few weeks old and on Christmas Eve night he was waking up every twenty minutes! Needless to say my husband and I were both shattered so didn’t have the best Christmas, but we’ll make up for it this year!

Have you got a Christmas message you would like to share with readers and bloggers?

I’m so grateful to all my readers and bloggers and am always blown away by your support and love of reading. Thank you for helping me to do the job I love, and I hope to keep entertaining you with my stories! xx

Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of The Girl With No Past, which spent over four weeks at number one in the Amazon chart. Her other novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Stranger Within, and The Girl You Lost all reached number one in the psychological thriller charts.

Her fifth novel, While You Were Sleeping, was published by Bookouture on 16th November 2016.

After six years teaching secondary school English, Kathryn now writes full time and has a publishing deal with Bookouture.

Having always been an avid reader, Kathryn believes in the power of words to entertain, teach and transform lives. She is also a firm believer in following your dreams and says anything is possible if you work hard enough and never give up!

Kathryn lives in Guildford, Surrey with her husband, baby son and two cats.

 

Website      Facebook     Twitter: @KatCroft

Other books by Kathryn Croft published by Bookouture

 

Amazon 🇬🇧                         Amazon 🇬🇧                       Amazon 🇬🇧

My Thanks to Kathryn Croft for taking the time to answer my questions x 

**Blog Tour** While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft @Bookouture #GuestReview

Today I’m thrilled to be on the blog tour for While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft,  well I’m not really on the blog tour, I’m just the host because today I have a very special guest review. As I published my review earlier this week, I cajoled my “middle” sister DeDe to write a guest review for the blog tour. We have always loved reading and have a similar taste in books, so she was more than happy to help, ok I also promised her a couple of Barcardi and cokes as a bribe!, she’s shy about sharing her reviews. So I hope you enjoy her review, unlike her “big sister” her reviews are short and to the point, where as I can ramble on and on 😂😂

You wake up to find the man beside you is dead.
He is not your husband. This is not your bed.
What do you do?

Tara Logan lives a quiet life with her husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her peace is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour Lee’s bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them.
And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara stays silent, fearing the truth will rip her family apart.

But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara soon realises that someone in her life knows what really happened to Lee. She must get to the truth before they do.

Tara made a mistake … but will one night cost her everything?

A gripping, shocking psychological thriller, with a twist that will take you by surprise.

Having read a few of Kathryn Crofts earlier books and loving them I was hoping I would enjoy While You were Sleeping just as much.

From the first chapter where Tara wakes up to find her neighbour Lee dead beside her and with no recollection of events, I just knew I would love While You Were Sleeping .

Once I read the opening chapter I was desperate to find out more! It’s a difficult book to review without giving spoilers so all I will say is:
I can not recommend this book enough. Another 5 star winning story by Katherine Croft!

I was hooked from page one! A brilliant story line and plot with so many twists and turns I suspected everyone and trusted no one!. Really felt for the main character Tara as she tries to get to the truth about what happened that night. Although some of the other characters were difficult to take to, this in no way spoilt my enjoyment of this suspense filled novel

Brilliantly written and an ending I really didn’t see coming! Shocking but utterly believable. I Can’t wait to read future books by Katherine.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️out of 5

Print Length: 286 pages

Publisher: Bookouture (16 Nov. 2016)

Amazon Uk     Amazon US

Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of The Girl With No Past, which spent over four weeks at number one in the Amazon chart. Her other novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Stranger Within, and The Girl You Lost all reached number one in the psychological thriller charts.

Her fifth novel, While You Were Sleeping, was published on 16th November 2016, and is now available on Amazon.

After six years teaching secondary school English, Kathryn now writes full time and has a publishing deal with Bookouture.

Having always been an avid reader, Kathryn believes in the power of words to entertain, teach and transform lives. She is also a firm believer in following your dreams and says anything is possible if you work hard enough and never give up!

Kathryn lives in Guildford, Surrey with her husband, baby son and two cats.

Website     Goodreads     Facebook     Twitter: @KatCroft

 

While You Were Sleeping by Kathryn Croft #Review

Book description

You wake up to find the man beside you is dead.
He is not your husband. This is not your bed.
What do you do?

Tara Logan lives a quiet life with her husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and eleven-year-old Spencer.

But her peace is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour Lee’s bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them.
And worse – he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn’t kill Lee, Tara stays silent, fearing the truth will rip her family apart.

But as her daughter spirals out of control, and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara soon realises that someone in her life knows what really happened to Lee. She must get to the truth before they do.

Tara made a mistake … but will one night cost her everything?

While You Were Sleeping is the latest book by Kathryn Croft, and I couldn’t wait to get my grubby paws on an ARC, as I really enjoyed the authors previous books. The book description alone piqued my interest, and the prologue certainly intrigued me. Tara Logan’s life is pretty damn average, that is until one morning she wakes up and everything changes, she not only wakes up in her neighbour Lee’s bed, but he’s also very much dead, to add to her misery not only has he been stabbed but Tara has no memory of what happened between them. What follows an intriguing tale of lies and betrayal.

This is one of those books where it’s impossible to trust any of the characters, each and everyone of them is lying for one reason or another, which made for an unreliable read as it was difficult to establish which of the characters was telling the truth. A daughter Rosie who has emotional problems, and a history of stalking, a husband who had an affair and lied, a sister who appears to have the perfect life all come under suspicion. The family are certainly a dysfunctional family, and between them they create one tangled web, which begs the question how well do you know anyone? A question that will haunt Tara throughout While You Were Sleeping.

The story is told from Tara’s point of view her confusion, fear and need to protect her family were tangible throughout the story and added suspense to the plot. If I’m honest I struggled with the character Rosie (Tara’s daughter), every time she opened her mouth lies would come tumbling out, in the end I found her really irritating and just wanted to give her a good shake, in my opinion her character lacked depth and I found her obnoxious, but if this is what the author intended she certainly manages it with aplomb.

The characters constantly change their stories throughout While You Were Sleeping, so it’s difficult to second guess where the plot is heading, which always adds to my enjoyment of a book. There is a strong sense of foreboding throughout the story, and as more characters are added to the the list of suspects I did find myself wondering if there were a few too many suspects, the author would have been better concentrating on a smaller cast. Everyone of the characters seems to be lying, to what extent and why are gradually uncovered layer by layer.

Unfortunately there were some parts of the plot I found to be unbelievable and far fetched, which slightly spoilt the story for me, Tara’s relationship with the detective running the murder enquiry and the way he dealt with the case certainly didn’t seem at all credible, as did the lack of forensics . In the authors defence she has written an intriguing tale with some red herrings, which I’m sure many readers will enjoy. Katherine Croft manages to keep the reader in the dark until the last few chapters, and here’s where I admit I would never have guessed the ending. All in all While You Were Sleeping was an enjoyable read, but for me some of the unbelievable events spoilt it.

3.5 out of 5

Print Length: 296 pages

Publisher: Bookouture (16 Nov. 2016)

 

Stacking The Shelves

Here’s my round up of stacking the Shelves hosted by http://tyngasreviews.com/. Stacking the Shelves highlight books which have been received In the past week. Paper books, e-books, ARC’s received, books bought or borrowed, are all included.

ARC

White Is The Coldest Colour by John Nicholl

Book description

The Mailer family are oblivious to the terrible danger that enters their lives when seven-year-old Anthony is referred to the child guidance service by the family GP following the breakdown of his parents’ marriage.
Fifty-eight year old Dr David Galbraith, a sadistic predatory paedophile employed as a consultant child psychiatrist, has already murdered one child in the soundproofed cellar below the South Wales Georgian town-house he shares with his wife and two young daughters.
Anthony becomes Galbraith’s latest obsession and he will stop at nothing to make his grotesque fantasies reality.
It would be great if you could leave me a comment about some of the books you’ve received this week or let me know if you have read any of the books on my list, and what you thought of them. Many thanks

When Evil Calls Your Name by John Nicholl

Book description

Even the darkest secrets can’t stay hidden forever…

When twenty-nine-year-old Cynthia Galbraith struggles to come to terms with her traumatic past and the realities of prison life, a prison counsellor persuades her to write a personal journal exploring the events that led to a life sentence for murder.
Although unconvinced at first, Cynthia finally decides she has all the time in the world and very little, if anything, to lose. She begins writing and holds back nothing: sharing the thoughts she hadn’t dare vocalise, the things that keep her awake at night and haunt her waking hours.

The Silent Twin by Caroline Mitchell

Book description

I’m alone in the dark, please can you find me …

Nine-year-old twins Abigail and Olivia vow never to be parted. But when Abigail goes missing from Blackwater Farm, DC Jennifer Knight must find her before it’s too late.

Twin sister Olivia has been mute since Abigail’s disappearance. But when she whispers in Jennifer’s ear, Jennifer realises it is Abigail’s voice pleading to be found.

A damp and decaying house set in acres of desolate scrubland, the farm is a place of secrets, old and new – and Jennifer must unravel them all in order to find the lost girl. But could Olivia’s bond with her twin hold the key to finding Abigail? And can Jennifer break through her silence in time to save her sister’s life?

Nightblind by Ragnar Jonasson

Book description

Siglufjörður: an idyllically quiet fishing village on the northernmost tip of Iceland, accessible only via a small mountain tunnel.
Ari Thór Arason: a local policeman, whose tumultuous past and uneasy relationships with the villagers continue to haunt him.
The peace of this close-knit community is shattered by the murder of a policeman – shot at point-blank range in the dead of night in a deserted house. With a killer on the loose and the dark arctic winter closing in, it falls to Ari Thór to piece together a puzzle that involves tangled local politics, a compromised new mayor, and a psychiatric ward in Reykjavik, where someone is being held against their will. Then a mysterious young woman moves to the area, on the run from something she dare not reveal, and it becomes all too clear that tragic events from the past are weaving a sinister spell that may threaten them all. Dark, chilling and complex, Nightblind is an extraordinary thriller from an undeniable new talent.

In Her Wake by Amanda Jennings

Book description 

A perfect life … until she discovered it wasn’t her own

A tragic family event reveals devastating news that rips apart Bella’s comfortable existence. Embarking on a personal journey to uncover the truth, she faces a series of traumatic discoveries that take her to the ruggedly beautiful Cornish coast, where hidden truths, past betrayals and a 25-year-old mystery threaten not just her identity, but also her life. Chilling, complex and profoundly moving, In Her Wake is a gripping psychological thriller that questions the nature of family – and reminds us that sometimes the most shocking crimes are committed closest to home.

How To Be Brave by Louise Beech

Book description

This is a novel about how stories bring magic to our lives. Natalie and Rose are transported to the Atlantic Ocean in 1943, to a lifeboat where an ancestor survived for fifty days. Natalie struggles when nine-year-old daughter Rose is diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and refuses her life-saving injections and blood tests. When they begin dreaming about and seeing a man in a brown suit who feels hauntingly familiar they realise he has something for them – his diary. Only by using her imagination, newspaper clippings, letters and this diary will Natalie share the true story of Grandad Colin’s survival at sea, and help her daughter cope with her illness and, indeed, survive. This is a haunting, beautifully written, tenderly told story that wonderfully weaves together a contemporary story of a mother battling to save her child’s life through the medium storytelling with an extraordinary story of bravery and a fight for survival in the Second World War.

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Book description

You never know what’s happening on the other side of the wall.

Your neighbour told you that she didn’t want your six-month-old daughter at the dinner party. Nothing personal, she just couldn’t stand her crying.

Your husband said it would be fine. After all, you only live next door. You’ll have the baby monitor and you’ll take it in turns to go back every half hour.

Your daughter was sleeping when you checked on her last. But now, as you race upstairs in your deathly quiet house, your worst fears are realized. She’s gone.

You’ve never had to call the police before. But now they’re in your home, and who knows what they’ll find there.

What would you be capable of, when pushed past your limit?

Books I’ve bought

 

Behind Closed Doors by Kathryn Croft

In this dark psychological thriller, Olivia Taylor believes she has suffered the worst life can throw at her after the break-up of her marriage. Full of hope, she starts a new life with her nine-year-old daughter, Ellie, only to find the worst is yet to come.

Meeting Michael Crossman is the beginning of an unspeakable nightmare for Olivia and her world slowly unravels.

It is only through the re-telling of her story that we piece together what has led her to become a mere shadow of the woman she once was.

While My Eyes Were Closed by Linda Green

 

Book description 

One, two, three . . . Lisa Dale shuts her eyes and counts to one hundred during a game of hide-and-seek. When she opens them, her four-year-old daughter Ella is gone. Disappeared without a trace. The police, the media and Lisa’s family all think they know who snatched Ella. But what if the person who took her isn’t a stranger? What if they are convinced they are doing the right thing? And what if Lisa’s little girl is in danger of disappearing forever?

Unravelled by Anna Scanlon

Book description

Aliz and her twin sister, Hajna, are enjoying their playful, carefree and comfortable life with their parents in Szeged, Hungary just before the Nazis invade. Seemingly overnight, their lives change drastically as they are transported to the ghetto on the outskirts of the city and then to Auschwitz to be used in Mengele’s deadly twin experiments. After several months of brutal torture, Aliz is liberated to find that she is the only survivor in her family. At not even 11 years old, Aliz must make the journey to San Francisco alone, an entire world away from everything she’s known, in order to live with her only known relatives whom she has never met– a depressed aunt and teenage cousin who is more than ready to escape her mother’s melancholy. Told through the eyes of both Aliz and her cousin Isabelle, Unravelled tells a powerful story of survival, hope, family and the lives war and genocide haunt long after liberation. It is a truly moving piece of historical fiction, based heavily on historical facts.

**Author interview** The Girl You Lost by Kathryn Croft

I’m super excited to have Kathryn Croft pop by the book review cafe today. Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of The Girl With No Past, which spent over four weeks at number one in the Amazon chart. Her first two novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Stranger Within, reached number one in the psychological thriller charts. Her fourth novel, The Girl You Lost, will be published on 5th February 2016, and is now available for preorder on Amazon.

Hi Kathryn, welcome to the book review cafe, I’m so excited to have you on my blog today

For those readers who haven’t yet heard of you or your book The Girl You Lost can you provide us with an introduction?

Thank you for having me on your blog!

The book tells the story of Simone Porter, whose daughter Helena was abducted eighteen years ago. Simone and her husband, Matt, have never found out what happened to her, but one day a young woman follows Simone and tells her she has information on Helena. Determined to find out what happened all those years ago, Simone is drawn into a world beyond anything she could have imagined. And at what cost will the truth come?

Where did the idea For The Girl you lost come from?

Initially the idea came from two different ideas I had for separate books. While planning one idea (which the prologue is based on) I decided to amalgamate the two to make a much better plot! But I also have to credit a friend, for giving me an idea for the horrible acts referred to. Sorry to be vague but I don’t want to give anything away to those who haven’t read it!

How do you research material for your book?

The internet! I’d be lost without it! But for any police procedural information I need I speak to a friend of mine who is a police officer. As far as settings go, I always write about places I know. Talking to people in general is also an invaluable research tool.

Do you have any strange writing habits or rituals?

Not really! Other than not being able to relax until I’ve completed my word count of 1000 words a day.

Do you write an outline before you start writing?

Yes, I always have to know exactly how the book will end, and then I plan out each chapter. They often end up changing as I go along, but that’s the fun of writing – sometimes the characters surprise me and I am often taken in unexpected directions!

How long did it take to get your first book published?

I finished my first novel, Behind Closed Doors, in January 2013 and I was lucky enough to find my agent very quickly. She signed me up and pitched it to publishers but unfortunately we didn’t secure a deal. So then in December 2013, we published it ourselves on Amazon through the Whiteglove programme. We also did this with my second novel, The Stranger Within, and it wasn’t until my third novel that I finally got an amazing publishing deal with Bookouture. But nothing in life comes easily, and rejection is part of the process. It just made me more determined to get there in the end! It just goes to show that you should never give up!

What is your least favourite part of the writing/publishing process?

Editing a book after it’s had a structural edit is the hardest part of the process. I can honestly say that I don’t enjoy it at all, even though it’s so important that it’s done and I’m lucky enough to have a fantastic editor.

How did you get signed to Bookouture?

My agent and I were about to publish my third novel, The Girl With No Past, on Amazon but before that it needed editing. Keshini Naidoo was recommended to me so I contacted her to see if she was free to do the edit and thankfully she was. She really enjoyed the book and when my agent sent it out on submission (to give it a go before we self-published), Keshini snapped it up for Bookouture.

If you couldn’t write books, what would you do for a living?

I can’t imagine not writing, but if I couldn’t then I would be really interested in counselling or psychiatry.

Describe your book in 5 words?

This one’s really difficult! I would say ‘dark’ and ‘disturbing’ but is it okay if I cheat and use reviewers words for the rest? It’s been called ‘gripping’, ‘a cracker’ and ‘more twists than a helter skelter’! Okay, so that last one is more than five words but it sums up what the reviewer thought!

Describe yourself in 5 words?

This is even harder! I had to ask my husband and he said ‘perfectionist’, ‘dedicated’, ‘passionate’, ‘caring’ and ‘ambitious’!

What authors/books do you like to read in your spare time?

I absolutely love psychological thrillers so I devour as many as I can!

What book are you reading now?

I’ve just started SJ Watson’s Second Life and I’m really enjoying it. I’m not getting very far as I’ve just had a baby so that doesn’t leave much time for anything, but so far it’s fantastic! Very atmospheric.

Are you able to tell me anything about your next book?

I’m currently working on it (or trying to – see baby excuse above!!) but it involves someone waking up next to a dead body!

During all the interviews you’ve done what question have you not been asked that you wish had been asked – and what’s the answer?

What’s the meaning of life? I wish I knew the answer to this, but if I had to guess I’d say to learn and discover who you are and hopefully leave your mark in this world!

And finally Kindle or Book?

Definitely books but I do have a Kindle.

Thank you very much – great questions!

Thank you Kathryn for answering my questions, great answers and good luck with the new book, baby allowing! 

About Kathryn Croft

Kathryn Croft is the bestselling author of The Girl With No Past, which spent over four weeks at number one in the Amazon chart. Her first two novels, Behind Closed Doors and The Stranger Within, reached number one in the psychological thriller charts.

Her fourth novel, The Girl You Lost, will be published on 5th February 2016, and is now available for preorder on Amazon.

After six years teaching secondary school English, Kathryn now writes full time and has a publishing deal with Bookouture.

Having always been an avid reader, Kathryn believes in the power of words to entertain, teach and transform lives. She is also a firm believer in following your dreams and says anything is possible if you work hard enough and never give up!

Kathryn lives in Guildford, Surrey with her husband, baby son and two cats.

Links For Author

http://www.kathryncroft.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7733791.Kathryn_Croft

Tweets by KatCroft

Book description

Eighteen years ago your baby daughter was snatched. Today, she came back.

A sinister and darkly compelling psychological thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Girl With No Past.

Eighteen years ago, Simone Porter’s six-month-old daughter, Helena, was abducted. Simone and husband, Matt, have slowly rebuilt their shattered lives, but the pain at losing their child has never left them.

Then a young woman, Grace, appears out of the blue and tells Simone she has information about her stolen baby. But just who is Grace – and can Simone trust her?

When Grace herself disappears, Simone becomes embroiled in a desperate search for her daughter and the woman who has vital clues about her whereabouts.

Simone is inching closer to the truth but it’ll take her into dangerous and disturbing territory.

Simone lost her baby. Will she lose her life trying to find her?

Last year I read Kathryn’s The Girl With No Past and rated it 5 stars, and since then I’ve been eagerly waiting for The Lost Girls, would it be as good? Would it live up to her previous book? These are all questions that ran through my head, as I picked up The Girl You Lost.

If I had any qualms about The Girl you lost they evaporated the minute I read the prologue, from the off the reader is dragged in and Kathryn doesn’t release her grip to the very last page!

The Girl You Lost is a psychological thriller dealing with the difficult and heartbreaking subject of child abduction. Simone is living her life the best way she can, she’s a successful journalist and still married to Matt her childhood sweetheart, but Helena is never far from her thoughts, and questions remain unanswered about her daughters disappearance. That is until Grace crashes into Simone’s life and throws her life into turmoil, from that moment on The Girl You Lost becomes shrouded in a dark and sinister mystery that will keep you reading late unto the night. Being a mother myself it was easy to see how Simone would do anything to find out the truth regarding her daughters abduction, endangering herself and putting her marriage in jeopardy, as her search for the truth pulls her into the murky world of abduction, murder, lies and deceit.

From the prologue the tension is tangible, and I found myself racing through The Girl You lost, as each chapter left you wanting more. There are twists and turns galore, which guarantees the reader a hell of a ride. By the time I reached the Nail biting conclusion I was a nervous wreck, the ending has left me speechless (not a mean feat). I can honestly say ” I never saw that coming”. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but the ending was a masterclass in psychological suspense and very well plotted.

Kathryn Croft is definitely a name to watch out for in this genre, she delivers a well plotted psychological thriller, which although upsetting to read at times, was very believable. Her characters are very well developed and I really felt Simone’s pain and anguish throughout the book. I think The Girl You Lost will definitely be one of my top reads of 2016. My thanks to publishers Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced reader copy, in exchange for an honest review.

5☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️out of 5 from me

Publishers: Bookouture 5th February 2015

Kindle

 

WWW Wednesday

It’s WWW Wednesday time again
The WWW Wednesdays meme is currently hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. https://samannelizabeth.wordpress.com/ and is a great way to do a weekly update on what you’ve been reading and what you have planned.

To take part all you have to do is answer the following three questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

What I am currently reading
The Girl In The Ice by Robert Bryndza

 

Book Description
Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one.

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

Watch out for more from DCI Erika Foster

She’s fearless. Respected. Unstoppable. Detective Erika Foster will catch a killer, whatever it takes.

1. THE GIRL IN THE ICE
2. THE NIGHT STALKER COMING SOON

Another outstanding book from publishers Bookouture, the caliber of writing from its authors is spot on. A gripping read which kept me up late until the night, I’ve nearly finished The Girl In The Ice, and all I can say for now is WOW!. I will be posting my review in February, along with a Q & A session with Robert.

Publishers: Bookouture 12th February 2016

Kindle

What I recently finished reading

The Girl You Lost by Kathryn Croft

Book description

Eighteen years ago your baby daughter was snatched. Today, she came back.

A sinister and darkly compelling psychological thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Girl With No Past.

Eighteen years ago, Simone Porter’s six-month-old daughter, Helena, was abducted. Simone and husband, Matt, have slowly rebuilt their shattered lives, but the pain at losing their child has never left them.

Then a young woman, Grace, appears out of the blue and tells Simone she has information about her stolen baby. But just who is Grace – and can Simone trust her?

When Grace herself disappears, Simone becomes embroiled in a desperate search for her daughter and the woman who has vital clues about her whereabouts.

Simone is inching closer to the truth but it’ll take her into dangerous and disturbing territory.

Simone lost her baby. Will she lose her life trying to find her?

This was a gripping and very entertaining read, I can’t say much more for now, as I will be posting my review along with a Q & A session in February. Suffice to say if you love a good psychological read, you have to buy it!

Publishers: Bookouture 5th February 2016

Kindle

What I think I will read next

Time To say Goodbye by S D Robertson

 

Book description

A heart-rending story about the unique bond between a father and his daughter, for fans of Jojo Moyes and John Green – for anyone who’s ever wondered what it would be like to get one last chance to say goodbye.

HOW DO YOU LEAVE THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE MOST?

Will Curtis’s six-year-old daughter, Ella, knows her father will never leave her. After all, he promised her so when her mother died. And he’s going to do everything he can to keep his word.

What Will doesn’t know is that the promise he made to his little girl might be harder to keep than he imagined. When he’s faced with an impossible decision, Will finds that the most obvious choice might not be the right one.

But the future is full of unexpected surprises. And father and daughter are about to embark on an unforgettable journey together . . .

Publishers: Avon 11th February 2016

After reading a fair few crime/pyschological thrillers this month,  I thought I would read this one next, the description of the book has piqued my interest, and it’s totally different to the usual books I read

Kindle 

Please feel free to leave me a copy on what you are reading at the moment, or a link to your WWW Wednesday if you take part, I would love to see what other people are reading right now

**Stacking the shelves**

 

Here’s my round up of stacking the Shelves hosted by http://tyngasreviews.com/, it’s a round up of some of the books I have received over the last week. It’s my first stacking the shelves for 2016, and already I have some fantastic books to read and review

ARC received

The Girl You Lost by Kathryn Croft

Book description
Eighteen years ago your baby daughter was snatched. Today, she came back.

A sinister and darkly compelling psychological thriller from the No.1 bestselling author of The Girl With No Past.

Eighteen years ago, Simone Porter’s six-month-old daughter, Helena, was abducted. Simone and husband, Matt, have slowly rebuilt their shattered lives, but the pain at losing their child has never left them.

Then a young woman, Grace, appears out of the blue and tells Simone she has information about her stolen baby. But just who is Grace – and can Simone trust her?

When Grace herself disappears, Simone becomes embroiled in a desperate search for her daughter and the woman who has vital clues about her whereabouts.

Simone is inching closer to the truth but it’ll take her into dangerous and disturbing territory.

Simone lost her baby. Will she lose her life trying to find her?

Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson 

Book description

Siglufjorour: an idyllically quiet fishing village in Northern Iceland, where no one locks their doors – accessible only via a small mountain tunnel. Ari Thor Arason: a rookie policeman on his first posting, far from his girlfriend in Reykjavik – with a past that he’s unable to leave behind. When a young woman is found lying half-naked in the snow, bleeding and unconscious, and a highly esteemed, elderly writer falls to his death in the local theatre, Ari is dragged straight into the heart of a community where he can trust no one, and secrets and lies are a way of life.

An avalanche and unremitting snowstorms close the mountain pass, and the 24-hour darkness threatens to push Ari over the edge, as curtains begin to twitch, and his investigation becomes increasingly complex, chilling and personal. Past plays tag with the present and the claustrophobic tension mounts, while Ari is thrust ever deeper into his own darkness – blinded by snow, and with a killer on the loose. Taut and terrifying, Snowblind is a startling debut from an extraordinary new talent, taking Nordic Noir to soaring new heights.

Night blind by Ragnar Jonasson

 

Book description

The peace of a close-knit Icelandic community is shattered by the murder of a policeman – shot at point-blank range in the dead of night in a deserted house. With a killer on the loose and the dark Arctic waters closing in, it falls to Ari Thor to piece together a puzzle that involves tangled local politics, a compromised new mayor and a psychiatric ward in Reykjavik where someone is being held against their will

The Final Seven by Erica Spindler

 

Book description

The first Saturday in July. A missing woman. The number seven carved into her door. The countdown has begun . . .

Detective Micki Dare is a seasoned, no-nonsense cop. She doesn’t need a partner, especially an irreverent charmer like Detective Zach Harris, who’s fresh out of an ‘experimental’ FBI training programme. And Micki’s assignment, to keep Zach alive while he fights crime using his special skills, is not what she signed up for. But the decision’s been made and there’s nothing she can do about it.

Micki soon realises that there’s more to her partner than meets the eye – and there’s more at stake than just catching bad guys and closing cases. Because there’s a new kind of evil lurking, something more cunning than she’s ever encountered before. And she and Zach may be the only ones who can stop it.

As another victim goes missing and the darkness closes in, Micki acknowledges a terrifying truth: they might not make it. This time the evil they’re facing might destroy them all . . .

Full of twists and drama, The Final Seven is a compulsive and heart-pounding thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Books I’ve bought

Get Even by Martina Cole

Book description

Playing grown-ups, the future is theirs for the taking.

Sharon Conway and Lenny Scott are childhood sweethearts. Everyone says they are too young, but nothing can keep them apart. Sharon doesn’t question Lenny’s business dealings and it isn’t long before his reputation as a hard man destined for the top means they are living the good life with their sons.

It leaves a stain on her heart for ever.

But one night Lenny doesn’t come home. It isn’t the first time he has gone AWOL. But it is his last. He is found murdered – beaten to death in an act of brutality that shocks even the police. And Sharon never knows why.

Old wounds will surface.

Now, twenty years later, Sharon has found out the truth. Such a crime cannot go unpunished. Revenge is long overdue. The time has come to…

GET EVEN

In Bitter Chill by Sarah Ward

Book description

You can’t bury the truth forever . . .

Bampton, Derbyshire, January 1978.

Two girls go missing:

Rachel Jones returns, Sophie Jenkins is never found.

Thirty years later:

Sophie Jenkins’s mother commits suicide.

Rachel Jones has tried to put the past behind her and move on with her life. But news of the suicide re-opens old wounds and Rachel realises that the only way she can have a future is to finally discover what really happened all those years ago.

This is a story about loss and family secrets, and how often the very darkest secrets are those that are closest to you

please feel free to leave a comment about the books you are reading, or what books you are hoping to read this month

 

The Girl With No Past by Kathryn Croft

Book description

Leah Mills lives a life of a fugitive – kept on the run by one terrible day from her past. It is a lonely life, without a social life or friends until – longing for a connection – she meets Julian. For the first time she dares to believe she can live a normal life.

Then, on the twentieth anniversary of that day, she receives a card. Someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won’t stop until they’ve destroyed the life Leah has created, but is Leah all she seems? Or does she deserve everything she gets?

When I first picked up The Girl with no past, I was expecting it to be a mediocre read, but I was wrong, it’s a brilliant read. From the very first page we learn Leah is hiding from her past. Kathryn Croft the author manage to tantalise the reader with glimpses of Leah’s past by moving from the present to the past throughout the book. All the way through I kept trying to guess what secret Leah was hiding, and I must say I never got close. As the girl with no past progresses the surprises keep coming, come the last half I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

Kathryn is a new author to me and I found myself impressed with her style of writing,she was able to keep up the tension throughout the book. The girl with no past has many themes running through it secrets, friendships, karma and most importantly that the past is always there, however well you think its buried. I gave this book 5 stars, as it has to be one of the best books I’ve read this year well written, with a great plot, that keeps you riveted throughout. Many thanks to Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

It’s 5 ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️ out of 5 for me

Publisher: Bookouture

Kindle

Paperback