Keeper of Secrets by Lynda Stacey

Fabulous new suspense novel from the author of best selling novels, The Fake Date and House of Secrets.

Should some secrets stay buried?
For as long as Cassie Hunt can remember her Aunt Aggie has spoken about the forgotten world that exists just below their feet, in the tunnels and catacombs of the Sand House. The story is what inspired Cassie to become an archaeologist.
But Aggie has a secret that she’s buried as deep as the tunnels and when excavation work begins on the site, Cassie is the only one who can help her keep it. With the assistance of her old university friend, Noah Flanagan, she puts into action a plan to honour Aggie’s wishes.

It seems the deeper Noah and Cassie dig, the more shocking the secrets uncovered – and danger is never far away, both above and below the ground …

Title: Keeper of Secrets

Author: Lynda Stacey

Published By: Ruby Fiction

Publication Date: 22nd October

Links: UK:   Amazon          US:   Amazon

Our Review

Wow! What a book!

 I’ve enjoyed all of Lynda Stacey’s books so far but I have to say this one is the best yet. 

A combination of intrigue, suspense, love and danger makes this a perfect read. My heart was literally in my mouth for the majority of the story.

Cassie is an archaeologist, inspired by her aunt Aggie who adopted her and her sister after they lost their parents. The love between Cassie and her aunt and sister was so strong it was almost tangible and Cassie would do anything she could to help fulfil her Auntie’s dying wish.

The story was set amongst the sand house and catacombs in Doncaster which really exist and I think that Lynda has created an amazing story in a fascinating and very special real life place.

The love interest was the very hunky Noah who sounded absolutely gorgeous and I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship growing from the friendship they had at Uni. The creepy character in the book made my skin crawl and the description of his intimidation meant I could practically feel him, breathing down my neck.

Lynda is fantastic at building suspense and this book was brimming with it on every page. She has cleverly interwoven a brilliant plot with historical facts. I really couldn’t read this book fast enough and couldn’t put it down. I think this would make a fantastic film which along with the book would make a brilliant tribute to the mysterious Sand house especially as it has now been filled in for ever. 

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Lynda grew up in the mining village of Bentley, Doncaster, in South Yorkshire and went to both Bentley New Village School, and Don Valley High School.

She is currently the Sales Director of a stationery, office supplies and office furniture company in Doncaster, where she has worked for the past 25 years. Prior to this she'd also been a nurse, a model, an emergency first response instructor and a PADI Scuba Diving Instructor ... and yes, she was crazy enough to dive in the sea with sharks, without a cage.

Following a car accident in 2008, Lynda was left with limited mobility in her right arm. Unable to dive or teach anymore, she turned to her love of writing, a hobby she'd followed avidly since being a teenager.

Her own life story, along with varied career choices helps Lynda to create stories of romantic suspense, with challenging and unpredictable plots, along with (as in all romances) very happy endings.

Lynda joined the Romantic Novelist Association in 2014 under the umbrella of the New Writers Scheme and in 2015, her debut novel House of Secrets won the Choc Lit Search for a Star competition.

She lives in a small rural hamlet near Doncaster, with her 'hero at home husband', Haydn, whom she's been happily married to for over 20 years.

Come and find me at www.lyndastacey.co.uk to hear my latest news. You could follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lyndastaceyauthor or watch out for my tweets @Lyndastacey

Come say hello. I'd love to hear from you. Oh and if you love the book, I'd be really grateful if you'd take the time to leave me a review.

The Dare by Carol Wyer

Jane’s daughter is a good girl. But what is she hiding?

When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm. With her blonde ponytail and red school jumper, someone must have spotted Savannah.

Detective Natalie Ward is determined to help the distraught mother – her own daughter is the same age as Savannah. But before Natalie and her team can get started, their worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrubland.

Evidence points towards a local recluse, but just as Natalie closes the net around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing. Harriet might look grown up and sophisticated but she is only fourteen…

As Natalie delves into the lives of both girls, she soon discovers a sinister video on both their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours. She’s sure this is the key to the case, but before she can act, Harriet’s body is found discarded on a roadside.

Natalie’s superiors don’t have to put any extra pressure on Natalie. Devastated, she and her team work without sleep, watching that video over and over. But just as she thinks they’re getting close, the person Natalie loves more than anything goes missing.

Natalie is no stranger to loss. She is terrified and the clock is ticking. Can she push through her fear to catch this depraved killer, before her loved one becomes the next victim?

This gripping rollercoaster of a read will have you up in the small hours turning the pages. Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Caine and Robert Dugoni will love The Dare. 

Title: The Dare 

Author: Carol Wyer (Book 3 Detective Natalie Ward crime thriller series)

Published By: Bookouture

Publication Date: 25th April 2019

Links; Amazon

 

Our Review

If you want to read something that makes your blood pump through your body at a hundred miles an hour then this is the book for you.

Flawed detective Natalie Ward embarks on another thrilling investigation where time runs out far too quickly for her to catch a serial killer who kidnaps and murders teenage girls. The subject matter is very upsetting as you would expect with a serial killer book. The premise of the Dare is so very sinister and something that could realistically be done in this age of online challenges that young people can be so tempted with these days. 

The whodunnit elements are brilliant as there are so many suspects to choose from and the threads are very cleverly interwoven with no loose hands left hanging. The descriptions are so vivid that I felt like I was completely immersed in the investigation and helping to find the killer as the plot tore along at an incredible pace. 

As with all of Carol’s crime books we are given an insight into the killer’s thought process and why they do what they do and dare I say I actually feel a bit sorry for them for what happened to them in the past, however that empathy does not stretch to the murderous version of them as they are usually particularly evil.

I really want to be a detective when I read Carol’s books.

I just have one problem with this book and that is that it was over too quickly.

I already can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Carol Wyer is an award-winning author and stand up comedian who writes feel-good comedies and gripping thrillers.

Her book, GRUMPY OLD MENOPAUSE won The People's Book Prize Award for non-fiction 2015.

Carol moved to the ‘dark side’ in 2017 with as series of thrillers. LITTLE GIRL LOST became the #2 best-selling book on Amazon, #9 best-selling audiobook on Audible and a Top 150 USA Today best-seller.

The DI Robyn Carter and DI Natalie Ward series have sold over half a million copies, earning her acclaim as a crime writer.

Carol has been interviewed on numerous radio shows discussing ''Irritable Male Syndrome' and 'Ageing Disgracefully' and on BBC Breakfast television. She has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly' featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and the Huffington Post.

To learn more about Carol, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk or follow Carol on Twitter: @carolewyer.

Carol also blogs at www.carolwyer.com

Follow the rest of the blog tour here...

Our Little Lies by Sue Watson

Marianne has a life others dream of. A beautiful townhouse on the best street in the neighbourhood. Three bright children who are her pride and joy.

Sometimes her past still hurts: losing her mother, growing up in foster care. But her husband Simon is always there. A successful surgeon, he’s the envy of every woman they’ve ever met. Flowers, gifts, trips to France – nothing is too good for his family.

Then Simon says another woman’s name. The way he lingers on it, Caroline, gives Marianne a shudder of suspicion, but she knows she can’t entertain this flash of paranoia.

In the old days, she’d have distracted herself at work, but Marianne left her glamorous career behind when she got married. She’d speak to a friend, but she’s too busy with her children and besides, Simon doesn’t approve of the few she has left.

It’s almost by accident that Marianne begins to learn more about Caroline. But once she starts, she can’t stop. Because what she finds makes her wonder whether the question she should be asking is not ‘should she be jealous’, but... ‘should she be scared’?

Title: Our Little Lies

Author: Sue Watson

Published By: Bookouture

Publication Date: 11th October 2018

Links: UK: Amazon   US: Amazon

Our Review

Omg what a ride that was.

This amazing breath-holding, heart-stopping psychological thriller was told completely from Marianne Wilson’s point of view. We are in her head the whole time and are privy to her innermost thoughts and that gives a strong feeling of intimacy with the main character.

Marianne has many flaws and is on medication for various reasons. From the outside her life looks perfect but it soon becomes apparent that it’s just a facade and is crumbling behind closed doors.

Her mental state is called into question throughout the book but it’s a guessing game as to whether it’s all in her head or she’s right to feel paranoid.

The tension builds up really quickly at the start of the book and continues to race until the end. I felt so on edge reading this and I felt like I was holding my breath as some parts made me furious.

As we delved into what had happened to cause Marianne to act and feel the way she did my heart bled for her and I felt as though I was going through every step of this journey with her and at some points felt so angry at what was happening to her. But then another twist would raise my suspicions as to whether her view of the situation was a genuine one.

This was such a realistic and genuine portrayal of someone being subjected to mental torture that to me it felt like a memoir rather than a work of fiction. The sense of helplessness that Marianne feels really comes across so strongly.

It reminded me of Big Little Lies crossed with Girl on the Train and Gone Girl.

I've really enjoyed Sue’s romance books and would like to say a huge congratulations to her for this debut psychological thriller and I look forward to reading more from her in either genre.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Sue Watson was a journalist then TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

She's now written thirteen novels - many involving cake - and her books have been translated into Italian, German and Portuguese. Originally from Manchester, Sue now lives with her husband and teenage daughter in Worcestershire where much of her day is spent procrastinating while eating cake (for research purposes), and watching 'My 600lb Life,' on the sofa.

Sue explored the darker side of life for her latest book 'Our Little Lies,' a dark, psychological thriller completely devoid of cake. She's hoping this change in direction will be reflected on the weighing scales.

For more info visit Sue's website; http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/

Sue would love to meet you on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/suewatsonbooks

Follow Sue on Twitter @suewatsonwriter