#TheSting by Kimberley Chambers #MustReads2019 @KimboChambers

Today I’m thrilled to be sharing my review for The Sting by Kimberley Chambers, a stand-alone gritty crime thriller. Read on for my thoughts…..

TWO CHILDHOOD FRIENDS

Best friends Tommy Boyle and Scratch always had each other’s backs. Dragged up in care, and cruelly betrayed by everyone they trusted, they made a pact to fight their way out of the gutter – together.

TWO SIDES OF THE LAW

Old loyalties die hard on the streets of London. Tommy throws his lot in with the notorious Darling family – even if it means leaving Scratch to the wolves. She’s destined for a different path, reinventing herself as copper Kim Regan.

ONE DEADLY SHOWDOWN

Now they’re on opposite sides of the law. Running Operation Sting, Kim will rip the heart out of the Darling’s empire – and only her old pal Tommy stands in her way.

As gritty and dangerous as the London streets in which it’s set, this is No.1 bestseller Kimberley Chambers at her best. Get ready for a shocking read with a STING in the tail . . .

If I had to choose only one author’s books to read if I ever got stranded on a desert island, without hesitation I would choose Kimberley Chambers. The author writes what I consider to be the most gritty crime thrillers out there; they pull no punches, their raw, authentic and gripping. It’s obvious that the author puts her heart and soul into writing each book, and it shines through in her writing. The Sting is no different, in fact this has to be one of my favourite books so far. It’s exciting, fast-paced and features an array of characters, some you will love, others you will hate but each and everyone of them added to my enjoyment of this book. The Sting is a sometimes shocking but an outstanding tale of betrayal, love, and belonging.

Tommy Boyle’s life may not be perfect, but as long as he has his mother and sisters, it’s a life he’s happy with, then one day everything changes as Tommy finds himself taken into care. It’s here he meets Scratch, and they become inseparable, after being cruelly betrayed by everyone they ever trusted, they make a pact to make a better future for themselves once they reach sixteen. Unfortunately for the pair circumstances change and Tommy joins the notorious Darlings firm and Scratch joins the police, as you can imagine this doesn’t bode well. Neither knows the devastating consequences of their actions that lie ahead.

Yet again Kimberley Chamber has created characters that are vibrant and larger than life, the characters are so well developed you can’t help but invest in their life’s. I loved Tommy’s character from a young boy he suffers the worse kind of abuse, he’s betrayed by his own family members and my heart went out to him. Although Tommy was a “bad boy” I found myself making excuses for his behaviour, and as the author revealed the full of horror Tommy’s story, I found myself in tears, which surprised me, and that’s a testament to the author’s writing skills. The Sting is set in the 1970s through to the 1980s and the author’s attention to detail is incredible and well researched, the songs, the clothes the trends all add a sense of authenticity to the story and also made me nostalgic for the era I grew up in!

The Sting felt very different to her previous reads; the emphasis is on Tommy and Scratch’s relationship, and their own difficult past,  with the gangland crime element being secondary to the plot. This book deals with some tough subjects childhood abuse and domestic abuse, and although the author isn’t afraid to tackle them head on she does so with sensitivity, the abuse is fundamental to the plot, and the abuse the two main characters suffer very much defines the adults that they become. The Sting didn’t end the way I was hoping, but never-less it was the more authentic conclusion. Once again the queen of gritty crime thrillers Kimberley Chambers has written a blinder of a book which I know will reach the top of the book charts. Highly recommended by me

Buying links:  Amazon UK 🇬🇧   Amazon US 🇺🇸

 

Life Of Crime by Kimberley Chambers #Bookreview @HarperFiction @Flisssity

Book description

Some people are made for a life of crime

Dragged up on a council estate, Jason Rampling was determined to change his lot. Jason’s a chancer, shameless with his good looks and his gift for earning a few quid. Life is easy when the money rolls in.

Some people are ruined by it

Melissa thought she’d struck gold marrying Jason. Being on his arm meant she was finally a someone. But there’s no glamour in waiting for your husband to come home, or waiting for a knock on the door. Melissa made her bed the day she made her vows will she lie in it without a fight?

Some would kill for it

After a stretch inside Jason wants to pull off just one last job, the biggest of all, it could solve all of their problems. But this is a game that could cost them everything.

OMG Kimberley Chambers is back with a Life Of Crime let me tell you “it’s a blinder”, I’m a huge fan of this author and have read every book she has ever written. Last year the author ended the hugely popular “Butler” series and although I was left feeling bereft after saying “goodbye” to some of my all time favourite characters, I was also excited by the prospect the author would be publishing a standalone in the shape of a Life Of Crime. If your a fan of this author and were concerned she wouldn’t be able to top her last book, let me allay your fears, Life Of Crime is definitely the authors best standalone novel so far, a diamond amid the numerous crime thrillers on the market at the moment.

A Life Of Crime is the story of Jason and Melissa Rampling, Jason wants a better life for his family than the one he had, and if that means breaking the law so be it, as Jason becomes more embroiled in the murky crime world, treachery, lies and violence become part of his every day life. Anyone who has ever read a book by Kimberley Chambers will not be surprised to hear there’s plenty of swearing in this book, personally I feel it adds authenticity to her characters and very much fits their personalities. One thing I love about this authors writing are her characters they are vibrant and larger than life, there are so many characters in Life Of Crime that I could write about, the good, the bad and the down right ugly but in doing so I would be in danger of giving away spoilers, what I will say love them or hate them Kimberley Chambers has created another set of characters that are memorable.

Life Of Crime is a story of violence, treachery, loyalty and family ties and although these are familiar themes in the authors book, she still manages to write an exciting tale, with surprises galore. Kimberley Chambers has a unique knack of adding her own style of humour to her plot with her “one liners”, which constantly made me chuckle. From the first page of this exceptional crime thriller I was hooked you could not have prised this book away from me for love nor money, in fact I pretty much read it in one hugely satisfying sitting. Fast paced, gripping and with more twist and turns than a roller coaster, it’s a thrill a minute. Kimberley Chambers has once again reminded me why she continues to be one of the best crime thriller authors out there. Highly recommended

Buying Links:  Amazon US 🇺🇸        Amazon UK 🇬🇧

Print Length: 528 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (11 Jan. 2018)

 

**Blog Tour** #Backstabber by Kimberley Chambers @kimbochambers @fictionpubteam #BookReview

Today I’m thrilled to bits to be on the blog tour for Backstabber by Kimberley Chambers, in fact I would go as far to say I’m hyperventilating this moment in time I’m that excited. Kimberley Chambers Is one of my very favourite authors, whose books I read without looking at the book description, she always delivers and Backstabber is no exception and you don’t even have to wait very long to get a copy as it’s out tomorrow. In case your worried there are **No spoilers** in my review, so without further ado here’s my thoughts on yet another fabulous book in the Butler series.

Book description

If you don’t face your enemies – they’ll stab you in the back.

One of them has a gun to his head. Who will pull the trigger?

When king of the underworld Vinny Butler goes into business with respected villain Eddie Mitchell, it’s a match made in East End legend. Friends and family are treated like gold, enemies like rats – it’s the life.

Then mysterious packages arrive, dead creatures and threats. Someone is out for revenge. Who the enemy is, nobody knows, anyone could be taking a pop. The gypsies who cursed Eddie, ghosts from Vinny’s past, enemies needing revenge. Even their own flesh and blood? There are some people you should never cross, some who can’t forgive or forget.

Who is the backstabber?

The first thing I would suggest if you have never read a Kimberley Chambers book, would be to read the other 4 books in this series, so much happens in them that you really need to read them all, in order to follow the on going plots and the characters, so just in case you are a “newbie” here are the books in the order you should read them and the buying links.

Amazon UK 🇬🇧 The Trap   Amazon Uk 🇬🇧 Payback   Amazon UK 🇬🇧 The Wronged

Amazon UK 🇬🇧Tainted Love

OMFreaking god! I won’t beat about the bush, Kimberley Chambers has without doubt written another best seller, Backstabber has everything you would expect from one of my very favourite authors, death, destruction, violence and lies and so much more. Every time I write a review for this authors books I always end up writing “it’s the best one yet” and guess what? This really is the best book yet! When two of the biggest crime families the Butlers and Mitchell’s go into business you just know the two families are going to collide in the most spectacular fashion and Kimberly Chambers doesn’t disappoint.

I’m not going to say much about the plot as I would hate to spoil the read for others, but it’s a fabulous one, it involves treachery, evil doings and two very dangerous families. Kimberley has a natural gift for creating very colourful characters, that are larger than life, by the time you get to the end of Backstabber you feel like you know them all personally, flaws and all (and believe me they all have plenty of them!) they will make you laugh, cry, love and hate them, all in the space of a few minutes! The dialogue between the characters is authentic, some of Kimberley’s one liners are original in their content to say the least, but if you don’t like swearing then you should give BackStabber a wide berth, as there is plenty of it! For me I feel the swearing was in context with the plot and the characters. In this novel we meet so many characters from past books in the series I do wonder how the author manages to keep tabs on them all. But each and everyone has a part to play and love them or loathe each character is very original and highly entertaining.

The wonderful thing about reading Kimberley Chambers books is the sheer speed at which you are catapulted into the characters world, from the moment I read the prologue my heart was in my mouth, it’s a shocker of a prologue that will leave fans of this series reeling, yet eager to read more. Both the Butlers and the Mitchell’s have accumulated many enemies over the years and finally the past has caught up with them, and someone wants revenge to who and why? I’m not saying but believe me both families could suffocate under the number of skeletons that come tumbling out their closets! What follows is a fast paced and and thrilling read, as family ties are tested to the limit you can’t help but wonder if either of the two families will come out unscathed.

In my opinion Kimberly Chambers is the queen of the gritty, criminal tale she manages to take the reader on a dark and twisted journey deep into the criminal world. BackStabber is certainly authentic, disturbing, funny and at times very sad, which I wasn’t expecting, but the characters are so well developed you can’t help but invest in them, they almost feel like family (the black sheep side of the family of course!). This book has all the ingredients the authors legion of fans have come to love and I’m sure they won’t be disappointed, it has shocks and “OMG” moments galore, it’s another amazing page turner and one that will certainly be heading for the bestseller spot.

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (9 Feb. 2017)

Amazon UK 🇬🇧Backstabber

Sunday Times 1 bestselling author Kimberley Chambers lives in Romford and has been, at various times, a disc jockey and a street trader. She is now a full-time writer.
Join Kimberley’s legion of legendary fans on facebook.com/kimberleychambersofficial and on Twitter: @kimbochambers

Follow the rest of the blog tour

**Weekly Wrap Up**

Whooopeee I’ve actually managed to read three books this week, in between the hours spent job hunting, the less said about that the better!

A Room Full Of Killers by Michael Wood

I’m a huge fan of the Matilda Drake Series, even more so after reading this book, it’s brilliant and definitely the darkest one yet.

Right Behind You by Lisa Gardner

I enjoyed this book but not the best in the series.

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry

Book description

Emily and Elizabeth spend their childhood locked in a bedroom and terrorized by a mother who drinks too much and disappears for days. The identical twins are rescued by a family determined to be their saviors.

But there’s some horrors love can’t erase…

Elizabeth wakes in a hospital, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak. The last thing she remembers is finding Emily’s body in their bathroom. Days before, she was falling in love and starting college. Now, she’s surrounded by men who talk to themselves and women who pull out their eyebrows.

As she delves deeper into the mystery surrounding Emily’s death, she discovers shocking secrets and holes in her memory that force her to remember what she’s worked so hard to forget—the beatings, the blood, the special friends. Her life spins out of control at a terrifying speed as she desperately tries to unravel the psychological puzzle of her past before it’s too late.

ARC’s I received this week

I only received three books this week, one I requested on the dreaded NetGalley and forgot about. I’ve managed not to request anything on NetGalley for a whole week, I posted a couple of reviews on there but I didn’t even look to see what new books were on there. So you see I do have some willpower😂

The second book I received is top secret at the moment, so my lips are well and truly sealed 🤐🤐🤐

and the third book Child Taken by Darren Young is for the blog tour later on in the year

I’m really looking forward to reading this book over the weekend.

 

Book description

A brilliantly breath-taking thriller with twists you’ll never see coming. The start of a new series from international bestseller Arne Dahl.

Someone is watching.

At each abandoned crime scene there’s a hidden clue: a tiny metal cog, almost invisible to the naked eye. Someone is sending Detective Sam Berger a message, and that someone knows that only he will understand the cryptic trail.

Someone knows.

When another teenaged girl disappears without trace, Sam must convince his superiors that they’re dealing with a serial kidnapper and possible killer. As the police continue the hunt to find the latest kidnap victim, Sam is forced to unearth long buried personal demons – he has no choice if he is to understand the brute’s darkly personal message before time runs out.

 

Child Taken by Darren Young

Book description

One hot summer’s day, two-year-old Jessica Preston disappears from the beach. The police are convinced she drowned, but Sandra Preston won’t give up hope that her daughter is still alive.

Twenty years later, another child goes missing, and Sandra is approached by a young journalist who raises questions about what really happened to Jessica Preston all those years ago. But when the journalist discovers someone with an explosive secret, it threatens not only to reveal what’s been covered up for so long, but puts both their lives in danger.

I also bought one book this week,

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry 

Last week on the book review café

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/03/blog-tour-the-day-that-never-comes-by-caimhmcdonnell-camih-mcfori_ink/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/02/topfivethusday-with-bookblogger-linda-hill-aka-lindasbookbag/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/02/blog-tour-dont-look-behind-you-by-mel-sherratt-bookouture-writermels/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/02/01/my-book-of-the-month-january-2017/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/31/the-break-down-by-b-a-paris-bookreview/

Next week on the book review café

Phantom Limb by Lucinda Berry review

A Room Full Of Killers by Michael Wood review

Backstabber by Kimberly Chambers Blog tour

The Watcher by Netta Newbound Blog tour

#TopFiveThursday

Not actually book related but it’s my blog, my rules! Right? I have to mention today’s a special day in our household our “old boy”  Milo reaches the grand old age of 14 today, which is an incredible feat when you consider the vet came to the house eighteen months ago to put it him down as he was in so much pain! He really is an incredible character and we love him dearly and yes he has got presents and a cake!

 

 

 

 

**Weekly Wrap Up**

I managed to read four books this week, which I’m  pretty pleased with. As from Monday I will be starting my new job which means back to good old shift work 😢 so it’s unlikely I will be reading  more than two books a week. So I might not be posting as many blog posts in the weeks to come as obviously books read equal reviews to post, but time will tell.

Books read

Blink by K L Slater

The One by John Marrs 

Backstabber by Kimberley Chambers 

The Break Down by B A Paris 

Book Post 

I love the cover of this book it’s a real beauty, but from what I’ve read it’s anything BUT a beautiful read! I’m looking forward to reading this one soon.

Books  I’ve bought this week

I bought five books this week all are by authors I haven’t read before, remember in my yearly wrap up I said I wanted to read more books by new authors well I thought I would start with these.

The Reaper by Steven Dunne

The Disciple by Steven Dunne

Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig

Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent 

What Remains Of Me by A. L Gaylin 

ARC’s

I’ve kept away from NetGalley as much as possible,but yet again Bookouture are my downfall 🙈 so I have Two ARC’s, in my defence one of them is for a blog tour so that doesn’t really count, or so I’m trying to convince myself 😂😂

 

Book description

When a woman’s body is discovered in a cathedral and hours later a young man is found hanging from a tree outside his home, Detective Lottie Parker is called in to lead the investigation. Both bodies have the same distinctive tattoo clumsily inscribed on their legs. It’s clear the pair are connected, but how?

The trail leads Lottie to St Angela’s, a former children’s home, with a dark connection to her own family history. Suddenly the case just got personal.

As Lottie begins to link the current victims to unsolved murders decades old, two teenage boys go missing. She must close in on the killer before they strike again, but in doing so is she putting her own children in terrifying danger?

Lottie is about to come face to face with a twisted soul who has a very warped idea of justice.

 

 

Book description

She got into bed but sleep didn’t come easily. Every creak in the house made her alert. She was waiting for him to come and get her.

The small city of Stockleigh is in shock as three women are brutally attacked within days of each other. Are they random acts of violence or is there a link between the victims? For Detective Eden Berrisford, it’s her most chilling case yet.

The investigation leads Eden to cross paths with Carla, a woman trying to rebuild her life after her marriage to a cruel and abusive man ended in unimaginable tragedy. Her husband Ryan was imprisoned for his crimes but, now he’s out and coming for her.

As Eden starts to close in on the attacker, she also puts herself in grave danger. Can she stop him before he strikes again? And can Carla, terrified for her life, save herself – before the past wreaks a terrible revenge?

Last week on the book review café

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/13/the-mountain-in-my-shoe-by-louise-beech-orendabooks-louisewriter-bookreview/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/12/topfivethursday-with-bookblogger-kaisha-holloway-aka-thewritinggarnet/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/11/the-girl-before-by-jp-delaney-bookreview/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2017/01/09/%ef%bb%bfsnatched-from-home-by-graham-smith-caffeinenights-grahamsmith1972-bookreview/

Next Week on the book review café

**Blog Tour** Ledston Luck by Andrew Barrett – Author interview

**Guest Post** by J.M. Richardson author Of The Barataria Key

**Blog Tour** Guest post by CJ Carver Author Of Tell Me A Lie @C_J_Carver

#TopFiveThursday

and hopefully a couple of reviews

 

 

 

 

**End Of The Year Wrap Up **

Well I for one will be glad to see the back of 2016, for many reasons this hasn’t been the best year I’ve ever had. I’m going to embrace 2017 though and make it my year to take on new challenges.

Now I’m not one for New Years resolutions I always fail at the first hurdle (usually the 2nd of January 😂), but I am hoping to do a couple of things regarding my reading and my blog

• Read some books from my TBR pile, which I’m desperate to get through
• cut down on blog tours, as there’s too much pressure to read a book in a limited time
• Only request one book at a time on NetGalley (this ones going to be hard)
• if I’m not enjoying a book, I DON’T have to finish it, after all there are far too many amazing books out there to waste time on a duff one!
• learn to say “no” it’s ok NOT to agree to read and review every book that comes my way (my new mantra😂)
• Read more books by authors that are new to me, I’ve already got a couple lined up…..so watch this space!

Although I haven’t compiled a list of my top reads, here are just some of the books I really enjoyed this year and would highly recommend.

My top five most read posts

You can read the reviews here……

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/02/11/author-interview-behind-closed-doors-by-b-a-paris/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/02/08/behind-closed-doors-by-b-a-paris/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/01/26/tainted-love-by-kimberley-chambers/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/02/26/between-you-and-me-by-lisa-hall/

https://thebookreviewcafe.com/2016/06/10/the-sister-by-louise-jenson/

My First read of 2017

My first read of 2017 is Snatched From Home by Graham Smith, this is a book that has been sat on my TBR pile for a while, it’s also by an author I haven’t read yet which means I’ve already started on my goals for 2017

Books I’ve read to watch out for in 2017

As the end of the year approaches I would like to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who follows my blog and wish you all a fabulous New Year and hope all your dreams come true.

Lorraine x x x

 

 

**My A-Z Books Tag**

I’ve seen numerous book bloggers use My A-Z Books tag, so I figured I’d take part as well!

Author you’ve read the most books from:

It’s got to be Kimberley chambers I’ve read every book she’s written so if my memory serves me correct that’s 12 books, Peter James is a close second I’ve read everyone of the Dead series featuring Roy Grace so that’s 11 books plus I have his new one Love You Dead to read.

Best Sequel Ever:

Hmmm this is a difficult one but it’s got to be Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl, I loved Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, and I use to read both books to my son when he was growing up.

Currently reading:

The Safe Word by Karen Long, as I’m on the blog tour for it in June

Drink of choice while reading:

More often than not coffee and my husband Andy makes a mean caramel sticky toffee coffee which I’m addicted to, who needs Starbucks?, or if I’m pushing the boat out I might have a Pepsi Max….I’m so rock and roll 😂

E-reader or physical book:

I love both an E-reader is convenient for carrying around and it’s great to get ARCs delivered to your device straightaway, but you can’t beat the smell and feel of a real book (and no I don’t crack the spines!)

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school:

I dated my husband in high school, and we’re still together 36 years later, so I wouldn’t have wanted to date anyone else 💞💕💞💕

Glad you gave this book a chance:

Hot House Flower by Lucinda Riley, as I usually crime/psychological thrillers this book was right out of my comfort zone but I loved it and when I finished it I bought all her books. I love how her books are written and they go between the past and present day, and she weaves such an intricate plot

Hidden Gem book:

Hmmm this is a hard one I would probably say Go Ask Alice by Anon, I read it at school (OMG30 years + ago), it’s about a young girl who starts taking drugs and it’s very sad and has always stuck with me

Important moment in your reading life:

It has to be when I started blogging, when I started I expected a few people to look at my reviews, but it has gone from strength to strength, and I’m still amazed when publishers/authors get in touch with me, asking me if I would like to review their book. I’ve also come across lots of fellow book bloggers who are a very friendly bunch and feel like friends.

Just finished:

Chosen Child by Linda Huber, which I really enjoyed.

Kind of book you won’t read

I’m not a fan of erotica although I did read 50 Shades, and then wondered what all the fuss was about.

Longest book you’ve ever read:

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley at 702, but I get so wrapped up in her books it seems much less

Major book hangover:

The Twighlight series by Stephenie Meyer, I read the books back to back and felt bereft when I finished them

Number of bookcases you own:

NONE… Yes you read that right, at the moment my books are all over the place, in cupboards, the spare bedroom, on my coffee table, but I’m hoping to rectify that soon and get a bookcase, so I can have all my books in one place.

One book you’ve read multiple times:

I don’t reread books as there are so many books I want to read, and there’s not enough time to read them, let alone go back and read a book I’ve read

Preferred place to read:

In my lounge sat in my recliner, I can’t read in bed as I can never get comfy

Quote that inspired you/ Gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.”

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

 

Reading regret:

Like a lot of book bloggers and readers it’s got to be spending time reading books that I didn’t enjoy when I could have been reading a book I loved would be a reading regret, and also not having enough time to read the books I want to read.

Series you started and need to finish:

I really can’t think of a series I need to finish, as if I love a book enough to read a series then I tend to binge read the whole series

Three of your all time favourite books:

This is a hard question! I’ve loved so many books that it’s impossible to choose three so I’m afraid I’ll have to skip this question!

Unapologetic fangirl for:

Ohhhh another hard one but I would have to say Kimberley Chambers I absolutely love her books, she has such a unique way of writing that makes her characters come to life, her books are very entertaining and I always learn a few new swear words from them 😂😂

Very excited for this release more than all others:

I’m a huge fan of James Carol and the thrillers featuring former FBI profiler Jefferson Winter, he’s written a standalone thriller under the pseudonym JS Carol for one of my favourite publishers Bookouture . The first of these is Tick Tick Boom, which is being published in July 2016, so I’m really looking forward to reading it

Worst bookish habit:

Spending to much time reading, when I should be doing something else

X marks the spot- start on the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

Criminal Shadows: Inside the Mind of the Serial Killer Paperback – by David Canter

Your latest purchase:

Love You Dead by Peter James
Willow Walk by SJI Holliday
Outside Looking In by Michael Wood
Anything For Her by Jack Jordan

Zzzzz Snatcher book (the book that kept you up way too late):

The Night Stalker by Robert Bryndza

I hope you have enjoyed reading my A-Z of books tag and please feel free to leave me a book related comment 

My Book Of The Month **Gold Coffee Cup Award for January 2016**

 

Its that time of the month again! When I award a book I read in January The Gold Cup Coffee Award. This highly sought after award (ok I’m making that part up!) is given to the book I enjoyed the most during January. It maybe choosen for the plot, characters, or entertainment value, and it has to keep me gripped from the first page to the last. Well I have to say the book I have choosen for this very prestigious award this month won it hands down, and the winner is……………

Of course anyone who follows me knows I’m a huge fan of Kimberley Chambers and I just love Tainted  Love, it’s got everything I look for in a book, it had a great plot, fantastic characters, its gritty but full of humour. Tainted Love is out on 11th February 2016. So congratulations to Kimberley on winning my book of the month award

You can see my full review here……Here

Tainted Love by Kimberley Chambers

 

Book description

Three Butlers.
Two weddings.
One funeral.
The explosive new novel from the Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Kimberley Chambers.

Times are changing in the East End, from bad to worse . . .

Despite the love they share, Bella’s and Michael’s lives seem to be continually throwing grenades in their path to true happiness. Bella’s dark secret is threatening to spiral out of control – and has the power to destroy the Butler brothers’ bond once and for all . . .

Meanwhile, Little Vinny has truly turned over a new leaf and is doing everything he can to be a good husband and father. He doesn’t want to follow in his old man’s footsteps, but the apple never falls far from the tree, and despite everything he’s done to wipe the slate clean, his past is about to catch up with him.

Everyone knows the Butler family’s reputation – you don’t mess with them unless you’ve got a death wish. But there’s someone out there doing the unthinkable – and they are aiming for the heart of the family.

It feels like the end of a golden era – could it finally be the end of the Butlers?

The first thing I would suggest if you have never read a Kimberley Chambers book, would be to read the other 3 books in this series, so much happens in them that you really need to read them all, in order to know the plot and the characters, so just in case you are a “newbie” here are the books in the order you should read them

The Trap

Payback

The wronged

      

 

 

 

 

My Review

I’m a huge fan of Kimberley’s and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Tainted Love, lucky for me I was offered a review copy and jumped at the chance to get an early copy. Tainted Love is the fourth book in the Butler family series, and my god it’s the best one yet! If you thought the Butlers could not get more complicated, violent or treacherous then you are wrong!

This review is going to be difficult to write as I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so here it goes.
Kimberley has a natural gift for creating very colourful characters, that are larger than life, by the time you get to Tainted Love you feel like you know them all personally, foibles and all (and believe me they all have plenty of them!) they will make you laugh, cry, love and hate them, all in the space of a few minutes! The dialogue between the characters had me choking on my coffee at times, some of Kimberley’s one liners are original in their content to say the least, but if you don’t like swearing then you should give Tainted Love a wide berth, as there is plenty of it! For me I feel the swearing was in context with the plot and the characters, at times it’s very colourful, but also very funny.

The wonderful thing about reading Kimberley’s books is the sheer speed at which you are catapulted into the characters world, from the moment I read the prologue my heart was in my mouth and I found myself desperate to read more. In Tainted Love the Butlers are back! With vengeance, Vinny and Michael are the ultimate gangsters, who are likened to the Krays, they are dangerous, violent, and killing comes second nature to them! As an enemy from the past comes back looking for revenge for the Butlers past misdeeds, life for the Butlers will never be the same again. Add to the mix dark secrets and tainted love, and things threaten to spiral out of control, and ultimately destroy the Butler brothers’ bond once and for all.

As Tainted Love is the fourth book in this series, I had reservations KC would not be able to match the high caliber of her previous books, but bloody hell I was wrong, not only has she wrote another blinding book, but she has surpassed herself. This is a book stuffed with tension, violence,and treachery, which moves along like an express train, leaving you no time to catch your breath! Believe me when I say “you are in for a hell of a ride”. As the book reaches its climax I was left breathless, so much happens in Tainted Love I really felt I was on the worlds biggest roller coaster, my emotions were all over the place, as secrets are revealed that will change the Butlers life’s for ever.

The Butlers will stick with me long after I’ve finished Tainted Love, I was utterly bereft when I turned the last page, I felt I was saying “goodbye” to old friends. Kimberley Chambers has wrote her best book yet, with an original believable plot and fantastic characters, for me she is the “queen” of crime fiction, and I can’t wait for her next book, but unfortunately for us readers it won’t be out until 2017!

5☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️out of 5 from me (but I would rate it higher if I could)

If you don’t already follow Kimberley on Facebook, you really should her real life posts read like one of her books, she is so entertaining and her posts will certainly make you laugh.You will also get to follow the adventures of Fred “the rat pig” Butler, who is a legend in his own right!

https://www.facebook.com/kimberleychambersofficial

Publishers: HarperCollins 11th February 2016

Kindle

Hardcover

**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 a week. Paper books, e-books, ARC’s received, books bought or borrowed, are all included.

ARC’s received

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 

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?

Publishers: Bookouture 12th February 2016

Tainted Love by Kimberley Chambers

Book description

Three Butlers
Two weddings.
One funeral.
The explosive new novel from the Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Kimberley Chambers.

Times are changing in the East End, from bad to worse . . .

Despite the love they share, Bella’s and Michael’s lives seem to be continually throwing grenades in their path to true happiness. Bella’s dark secret is threatening to spiral out of control – and has the power to destroy the Butler brothers’ bond once and for all . . .

Meanwhile, Little Vinny has truly turned over a new leaf and is doing everything he can to be a good husband and father. He doesn’t want to follow in his old man’s footsteps, but the apple never falls far from the tree, and despite everything he’s done to wipe the slate clean, his past is about to catch up with him.

Everyone knows the Butler family’s reputation – you don’t mess with them unless you’ve got a death wish. But there’s someone out there doing the unthinkable – and they are aiming for the heart of the family.

It feels like the end of a golden era – could it finally be the end of the Butlers?

Publisher: Harper collins 11th February 2016

The Silent Girls by Ann Troup

Book description

From the bestselling author of The Lost Child, unfortunately there is no description available for this book

Publishers: Carina 18th February 2016

I also won a copy of Sewing the Shadows Together over at https://www.facebook.com/crimebookjunkie/

Sewing The Shadows Together by Alison Baillie

 

Book description

Can you ever get over the death of your sister? Or of your best friend? More than 30 years after 13-year-old Shona McIver was raped and murdered in Portobello, the seaside suburb of Edinburgh, the crime still casts a shadow over the lives of her brother Tom and her best friend Sarah. When modern DNA evidence shows that the wrong man was convicted of the crime, the case is reopened. So who did kill Shona? Sarah and Tom are caught up in the search for Shona’s murderer, and suspicions fall on family and friends. The foundations of Sarah’s perfect family life begin to crumble as she realises that nothing is as it appears. Dark secrets from the past are uncovered, and there is another death, before the identity of the real killer is finally revealed… Set in Edinburgh, the Outer Hebrides and South Africa, Sewing the Shadows Together is a thoroughly modern murder mystery that keeps the reader guessing to the end. Filled with characters who could easily be friends, family or people we work with, it asks the question: Do we ever really know the people closest to us?

Publishers: Matador 7th August 2015

Please feel free to leave a comment on what Books you’ve received this week or if you have any book recommendations the book review cafe would love to hear them