Book Review: Tell No Lies by Lisa Hartley - Blog Tour

Title: Tell No Lies

Author: Lisa Hartley

Genre: Crime Fiction, Mystery/Thriller

Published: 19/2/18

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Synopsis: 

A tortured body is found in a basement. Drug dealing and people smuggling is on the rise. Then police start going missing.

There seems to be no connection between the crimes, but Detective Caelan Small senses something isn’t right.

Plunged into a new investigation, lives are on the line. And in the web of gangs, brothels and nerve-shattering undercover work, Caelan must get to the truth – or be killed trying.

And then there’s Nicky...

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This post is part of the 'Tell No Lies' blog tour - taking place from 27th of February to the 11th of March. Check out all of the other reviews and spotlights below for this awesome new release:

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When I first read the synopsis for 'Tell No Lies', I was so excited, it really sounds like an incredibly intriguing Crime fiction. However, I do feel like this read was slightly spoiled for me, which was entirely my fault, but because this is the second in a series of novels, and I have not read the first, the references to the first book were confusing and didn't give enough information for me to count this as a stand-alone novel! Therefore, if you're looking for a new series, I would recommend, but make sure to pick up the first Detective Caelan book first.

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Spoiler-Free Review:

This was a very typical Crime fiction novel, told from a detective point-of-view, which I find is a love it or hate it viewpoint I find in readers! I, myself, enjoy crime fiction and don't mind a detective story, as long as it's thrilling, and page-turning - and 'Tell No Lies' did not disappoint!

Told in the viewpoint of detective Caelan Small, with a gritty London setting, this story revolves around an interesting police case, involving intense drug-dealing, murder and human trafficking, among others. Long story short, and to avoid spoilers, Caelan's instincts tell her that crimes she sees are linked in some way, but finds it hard to convince others of her theories. As the novel unfolds we see Caelan's though process, trying to find the links and trying to find proof. Although Caelan has a team of co-workers, they aren't the closest and don't work incredibly closely together either, often a lot of the investigating and storyline, invovled Caelan independently!

Overall, the plot was mysterious and was thrilling! I was interested in finishing the book, and finding out who the 'villain' was! The plot-twists were intriguing and interesting, although not incredibly shocking, including the final reveal, which I did see coming, it wasn't the best, most surprising end and didn't blow me away - however, I do read an awful lot of thrillers and so I do find it hard to surprise myself now. If you read the odd thriller or don't need to be blown away then this won't be a problem for you. I still enjoyed the ending, the story was wrapped up well and I thought the plot-twists throughout were smart! Lisa Hartley writes well, and I found her writing incredibly easy to get into.

Therefore, if you like detective characters and viewpoints, and typical, twisty, mysterious crime fiction, then give Lisa Hartley a go! I'll definitely be picking up the third book in this series, and really do wish I'd read the first one!

*Buy it now: 

Tell No Lies (Detective Caelan Small Book 2)

*This book is released on February, 19th 2018 in the UK*

I received this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review and would like to say thank-you to Canelo for providing me with an advanced-readers-copy of this book. 



*Affiliate link - I make a small profit off of this link

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March TBR

Welcome Back!

Another TBR for you today, I'll be finished placement by the end of this month and will, hopefully, have some most content then, but for now - the books I'll be reading in March!

This month isn't very different, my TBR is focused very much on my E-Arc's which are being released in the coming weeks/months - Reviews coming soon!


The Girl With More Than One Heart by Laura Geringer Bass




Category: Children's Fiction
Publication Date: 17/4/18

Synopsis:

When Briana’s father dies of a heart attack, she feels a new heart grow inside her. Through this heart, her father’s voice guides her through her grief and helps her navigate her new, not-so-normal life at home.
 
When her mother’s own grief becomes overpowering, Briana feels like she’s responsible for her autistic little brother, Aaron. Spending much of her time and energy caring for Aaron, she wonders: Did his special needs hurt her father’s very fragile heart? The voice of Briana’s “new heart” helps her to cope with the messy uncertainties, as she balances her first feelings of romance, making new friends, and following her dream of writing for the school newspaper. And as Briana finds strength and knowledge in herself, she’s finally able to let go of her new heart and rely solely on her own.


The Good Daughter by Karin Slaughter





Category: Thriller/Suspense

Synopsis:

This story follows Charlie, who suffered a trauma during her childhood, with her sister Sam. The premise is that both girls are led into the woods at gunpoint, one runs and one is left behind. Twenty-eight years later, Charlie is now a defence-attorney and witnesses another tragedy in her hometown. This brings back all of the awful memories that Charlie has spent years trying to suppress, but she knows that they can't stay buried forever.

Final Girls by Riley Sager




Category: Thriller

Synopsis:

Another thriller, and apparently one of the best of 2017! This book is said to be similar to the slasher films of the 90's and early 2000's, like scream. And, if you know me, I LOVE slasher movies - so this one sounded like it was made for me. 

It follows three final girls, Quincy, Lisa and Sam, who each survived different traumatic experiences. Quincy is finally recovering from her attack, when she finds out that the first final girl, Lisa is dead and the second, Sam appears on her doorstep. Quincy is forced to relive the past and find out what really happened ten years ago.

You can follow my progress on my Goodreads: Here!

So, do you guys have a TBR for March, what are you wanting to read the most? Let me know down below!

Blog Tour Announcement: Tell No Lies by Lisa Hartley

Today's post is a little different - something I've not done before on this blog!

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I'm here to announce that I will be taking part in the Blog Tour of 'Tell No Lies' by Lisa Hartley!
This runs from the 27th of February to the 11th of March - I'll be posting a book review on the 4th of March!

SNEAK PEAK - I really enjoyed this one!

I'd like to say thank you to Canelo and to Ellie Pilcher for the chance to participate in this blog tour!

Also, check out all of the other blog posts in this blog tour (detailed below) - this will involve both Book Reviews and Spotlights! Moreover, check out the book!

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*Buy it now: 

At Amazon: Tell No Lies (Detective Caelan Small Book 2)

*This book is released on February, 19th 2018 in the UK*

I received this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review and would like to say thank-you to Canelo for providing me with an advanced-readers-copy of this book. 



*Affiliate link - I make a small profit off of this link

February TBR

Welcome Back!

I am still on my work placement with a crazy schedule! So, I'm sorry for the lack of content, any of which is currently scheduled from early January. I'll be back in late March, I promise. That being said, I couldn't leave you all with no content and so I'm back with my TBR for February.

Thinking back to my January TBR, I'm sad to say that I read only one of the books. However, I read A LOT of other books. This was due to getting a ton of E-Arcs very suddenly, and thus, my January TBR was sidelined for the time being.

This month isn't very different, my TBR is focused very much on my E-Arc's which are being released in February or March - Reviews coming soon!


The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen




Category: Thriller/Suspense
Publication Date: 8/2/18

Synopsis:

This is a debut novel which is marketed as The next blockbuster novel of suspense and follows the woman before, the woman after and the wife in between.

When you read this book, you will make many assumptions. It’s about a jealous wife, obsessed with her replacement. It’s about a younger woman set to marry the man she loves. The first wife seems like a disaster; her replacement is the perfect woman.You will assume you know the motives, the history, the anatomy of the relationships.You will be wrong.

The Collector by Fiona Cummins

Category: Thriller/Suspense
Publication Date: 22/2/18

Synopsis:

Jakey escaped with his life and moved to a new town. His rescue was a miracle but his parents know that the Collector is still out there, watching, waiting . . .

Clara, the girl he left behind, dreams of being found. Her mother is falling apart but she will not give up hope. The Collector has found an apprentice to take over his family’s legacy.

But he can’t forget the one who got away and the detective who destroyed his dreams. DS Etta Fitzroy must hunt him down before his obsession destroys them all. 

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

Category: YA/Contemporary/Teens
Publication Date: 8/3/18

Synopsis:

Every day Rev struggles with the memories and demons of the time before he was adopted. He’s always managed just fine, until a letter from his birth father brings hellfire, fear and danger back into his life

Emma escapes her life in an online game she built herself. Virtual reality is so much easier than real life. But then another player joins the game and suddenly ultra-violent threats start to stream in

When Rev and Emma meet, they are fighting a darkness they can’t put into words. But somehow they hear each other and together they might be able to find a way out

The Exact Opposite Of Okay by Laura Steven

Category: YA/Contemporary/Teens/Feminist
Publication Date: 8/3/18

Synopsis:

Izzy O'Neill here! Impoverished orphan, aspiring comedian and Slut Extraordinaire, if the gossip sites are anything to go by . . .

Izzy never expected to be eighteen and internationally reviled. But when explicit photos involving her, a politician's son and a garden bench are published online, the trolls set out to take her apart. Armed with best friend Ajita and a metric ton of nachos, she tries to laugh it off - but as the daily slut-shaming intensifies, she soon learns the way the world treats teenage girls is not okay. It's the Exact Opposite of Okay. 

You can follow my progress on my Goodreads: Here!

So, do you guys have a TBR for February, what are you wanting to read the most? Let me know down below!

Book Review: Feel Free by Zadie Smith

Title: Feel Free

Author: Zadie Smith

Genre: Non-Fiction

Published: 8/2/18

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Synopsis: 

The one and only Zadie Smith, prize-winning, bestselling author of Swing Time and White Teeth, is back with a second unmissable collection of essays No subject is too fringe or too mainstream for the unstoppable Zadie Smith. From social media to the environment, from Jay-Z to Karl Ove Knausgaard, she has boundless curiosity and the boundless wit to match. In Feel Free, pop culture, high culture, social change and political debate all get the Zadie Smith treatment, dissected with razor-sharp intellect, set brilliantly against the context of the utterly contemporary, and considered with a deep humanity and compassion. This electrifying new collection showcases its author as a true literary powerhouse, demonstrating once again her credentials as an essential voice of her generation.

Spoiler-Free Review:

It's hard to review a collection of essays - there's not much you can really say without sharing the essays themselves. I'll do my best to capture what I think about the collection as a whole, rather than referring to specific pieces, as this is spoiler-free and pre-release. 

Firstly, Zadie Smith's writing is very good, she writes beautifully, captivating the readers' attention and making you want to read this whole book in one sitting. However, I think that this is a collection of essays, and that you could read them in different ways, for instance, reading one essay per day, over a longer period of time, reading one of five sections of the book or reading the whole book in one day. I read this on and off, and ended up reading around one section per sitting. 

I really enjoyed reading this collection of essays, I'm a fan of sets of poems, anthologies and essay collections as I enjoy picking these kinds of books from my bookshelf and reading small excerpts, dipping in and out. My favourites were the essays focused on politics or media, because I found these the most interesting and engaging - probably as these are topics I enjoy reading about, whereas I didn't enjoy the essays which discussed and commented on art etc. Some of these were interesting but the majority felt like a page-filler. 

I would recommend this collection of essays for those who like dipping in and out of these kinds of reads, and would recommend reading this in parts. I will look out for Zadie Smith's books in the future!

Let me know your favourite essays and why down below! I'm interested in what you all think.  

*Buy it now with FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=ReadingRuby

*This book is released on February, 8th 2018 in the UK*

I received this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review and would like to say thank-you to Penguin for providing me with an advanced-readers-copy of this book. 



*Affiliate link - I make a small profit off of this link

Book Review: Little Liar by Clare Boyd

Title: Little Liar

Author: Clare Boyd

Genre: Thriller

Published: 1/2/18

Star Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Synopsis: 

The perfect family... or the perfect lie?

When a child’s scream pierces the night, Mira does what any good neighbour would do: she calls the police. She wants to make sure that Rosie, the little girl next door, is safe.

Opening her front door to the police the next morning, Gemma’s picture-perfect family is forced under scrutiny of social services.

As her flawless life begins to crumble around her, Gemma must fight to defend the family she loves and protect her daughter from the terrible secret she’s been keeping.

But who has Rosie been confiding in when Gemma’s back is turned? And why has she lied to the police?

When Rosie disappears without a trace, Gemma thinks she only has herself to blame. That is, until she finds a little pink diary containing a truth even more devastating than the lie… 

Spoiler-Free Review:

I really enjoyed Little Liar, it was tense and suspenseful throughout the story, and was well-written, with a decent pace and good characterisation. This one has been on my TBR for a long time and it did not disappoint. I will be looking out for more of Clare Boyd's books in the future.

Overall, the plot of Little Liar was very thrilling, gripping me from start to finish. However, there is one difference, this doesn't really have plot-twists, it's partly predictable, but even when it's not, it's more the suspense building towards the next event, rather than a sudden change in plot. However, the suspense is brilliant and keeps you hooked, everything just gets worse and worse, and the characters get into more and more problems. That being said, the ending wasn't great, I was a bit disappointed, as I knew exactly what I needed from it to wrap-up the story for me, and it just didn't deliver. I can't go any further, as this review is spoiler-free, but it didn't quite do it for me.
The characterisation was a highlight of this novel, Boyd created some characters which could be extremely unlikeable, and yet you were still invested in them, keeping your interest in the story even more. For instance, at times I was confused over what I even thought about Rosie's character, was I rooting for or against her, I honestly don't know? I was also left with so many questions about her when the book ended, and she felt somewhat unresolved. Gemma was creepy at times, but I liked the darker side to her, and Mira was just quirky and completely unlikeable, yet you still appreciate her point of view and still find her extremely interesting. 

Overall, I would recommend this book, if you're looking for a slow burning, steady and suspenseful thriller. The characterisation was very well done and the writing contributed to the gripping plot-line. I will be looking out for further Clare Boyd books. 


*Buy it now with FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: http://www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=ReadingRuby

*This book is released on February, 1st 2018 in the UK*

I received this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review and would like to say thank-you to Bookouture for providing me with an advanced-readers-copy of this book. 



*Affiliate link - I make a small profit off of this link

January E-Book Haul

Hello Everyone!

Today's post is going to be a bit shorter than usual, a book haul of all of the books I've been receiving lately!

However, I'm going to do this in two-parts, one is an E-Book haul of all of the E-Arcs I have been receiving from publishers and the second is going to be a physical book haul of all of the books I have been buying lately. I have been on a book-buying binge...it's a dangerous road.

Anyway, let's get into this:



Where We Went Wrong by Andi Holloway

Category: Thriller/Mystery
Publication Date: 24/12/17
Arc Received From: Red Adept

Synopsis:

Two families’ pasts unravel when the last person to see a missing girl alive is murdered and the victim’s crime-writing father becomes the prime suspect.

Second wife Harper Stone’s life is nothing like she imagined. A talented writer bound for the kind of greatness she inspires in her husband, Harper exchanges her lifelong dreams of becoming a bestselling author for the ready-made family of her nightmares.

With her eight-year-old stepson at the center of a missing person’s investigation, Harper struggles to balance the obligations of motherhood with her calling as an author, ultimately sacrificing her success in support of her husband, whose crime-writing career is fueled by their ordeal.

It’s only when he becomes the prime suspect in his son’s murder, years later, that she begins asking the difficult questions about his past, about their marriage, and about the disappearance of the little girl whose remains have never been found.

As Harper looks into the cold case where their problems began, she discovers people aren’t who they seem. Not the missing girl’s mother. Not Matthew, the last person to see the girl alive. Not her husband, whose obsession with the disappearance has caused an irreparable rift between them. Not even Harper herself, a woman trapped by obligation and circumstance.

In the throes of an investigation based in the past, solving Matthew’s murder means getting to the bottom of what happened all those years ago. Two families are destroyed by a single bad decision. The question is which decision, and whose was it?

The Echo Killing by Christi Daugherty

Category: Thriller/Mystery
Publication Date: 1/1/18
Arc Received From: HarperCollins

Synopsis:

Fifteen years ago her mother’s killer got away. Has he finally struck again?

MURDER SHOCKS PEACEFUL NEIGHBOURHOOD

A woman in her thirties. Found naked and stabbed on the kitchen floor. Discovered by her twelve-year-old daughter after school.

As top Savannah crime reporter Harper McClain stares at the horrific scene before her, one thought screams through her mind. This murder is identical to another murder she has witnessed. Her mother’s murder…

For fifteen years, Harper has been torn apart by the knowledge that her mother’s killer is walking free. And now, it seems he’s struck again. There are no fingerprints. No footprints. No DNA. Yet still, Harper is determined to discover the truth once and for all.

But that search will come at a cost…and it could be one she isn’t ready to pay.

Everless by Sara Holland

Category: Fantasy/Mystery/YA
Publication Date: 4/1/18
Arc Received From: Hachette Children's Group
Link to Full Review: Click HereSynopsis:

Time is a prison. She is the key. Packed with danger, temptation and desire - a perfect read for fans of The Red Queen.

In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything - even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.

Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family.

There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever ... and possibly the future of time itself.

If I Die Before I Wake by Emily Koch

Category: Thriller/Mystery
Publication Date: 11/1/18
Arc Received From: RandomHouse

Synopsis:

HOW DO YOU SOLVE YOUR OWN MURDER?

Everyone believes Alex is in a coma, unlikely to ever wake up. As his family debate withdrawing life support, and his friends talk about how his girlfriend Bea needs to move on, he can only listen.

But Alex soon begins to suspect that the accident that put him here wasn’t really an accident. Even worse, the perpetrator is still out there and Alex is not the only one in danger.

As he goes over a series of clues from his past, Alex must use his remaining senses to solve the mystery of who tried to kill him, and try to protect those he loves, before they decide to let him go.

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces by Lynn Weingarten

Category: Thriller/Mystery/YA
Publication Date: 11/1/18
Arc Received From: Egmont Publishing

Synopsis:

No one is good enough for Xavier. Not according to Sasha, his best friend. There's nothing Sasha wouldn't do to protect Xavier from getting hurt, especially by his cheating ex Ivy, who's suddenly slithered back into the picture. Worried that Xavier is ready to forgive and forget, Sasha decides to do a little catfishing. She poses as a hot guy online, to prove cheaters never change.

But Sasha's plan goes wrong fast, and soon the lies lead down a path from which there's no return . . .

Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker

Category: Thriller/Mystery
Publication Date: 11/1/18
Arc Received From: Bookouture

Synopsis:

How far would you go to protect your child?

Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to lock herself in her bedroom with her child. But Maggie knows why she’s come… 

Someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as he says or their child disappears. This stranger in her home has until dawn to follow his orders… but Maggie too has the ‘choice’ to make. Can she put the pieces together to stop the cycle before her time is up?

Perfect Match by Zoe May

Category: Rom-Com/Woman's Fiction/Contemporary
Publication Date: 12/1/18
Arc Received From: HQ Digital

Synopsis:

Can you ever find true love online?

Sophia Jones is an expert in all things online dating: the best sites, how to write a decent bio, which questions to ask and the right type of photos to use. The only thing she’s not so great at? Picking the guys…

After sitting through yet another dreadful date with a man who isn’t quite what she expected, Sophia is just about ready to give up on the whole dating scene. But her flatmate, Kate, persuades her to give it one more chance, only this time she must create a profile describing her ‘perfect’ man.

Yes, he must look like Robert Pattinson and needs to own a multi-million pound business, but there are a couple of other deal breakers, too! So, when a guy comes along who ticks every box, surely there’s got to be a catch?

The Silent Girls by Dylan Young

Category: Thriller/Mystery

Publication Date: 19/1/18

Arc Received From: Bookouture

Synopsis:

‘Ambulance and police. Something’s happened. I don’t know what. But my little girl.’ A sob choked off the sentence… ‘It’s my daughter.’

When a young girl disappears from the edge of the local forest, the Gloucestershire police are convinced she’s been taken by the same killer who stabbed to death beautiful, young Emily Risman eighteen years ago. They’re desperate to finally have the evidence to put him away. To save another girl before it’s too late.

Only Detective Anna Gwynne thinks he isn’t the real killer.

Anna can’t find proof and as time is running out, she realises she needs to get inside the killer’s twisted mind. And she knows just who to ask. Hector Shaw, in prison for killing the six men who caused his own daughter’s death.

Can Anna get what she needs from Hector before another life is lost, or could he lead her down a path that puts her own life in grave danger?

Fear by Dirk Kurbjuweit

Category: Thriller/Mystery

Publication Date: 25/1/18

Arc Received From: Orion

Synopsis:

You'd die for your family. But would you kill for them?

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Family is everything.

So what if yours was being terrorised by a neighbour - a man who doesn't listen to reason, whose actions become more erratic and sinister with each passing day? And those you thought would help - the police, your lawyer - can't help you.

You become afraid to leave your family at home alone. But there's nothing more you can do to protect them.

Is there?

How to Fall in Love With A Man Who Lives in a Bush by Emmy Abrahamson

Category: Contemporary/Adult Fiction

Publication Date: 25/1/18

Arc Received From: HarperCollins

Synopsis:

Julia is looking for Mr Right, but Ben is more Mr Right-Now-He-Could-Do-With-a-Bath..

You may think you know what kind of novel this is, but you’d be wrong.

Yes, Julia is a single-girl cliché, living alone with her cat in Vienna and working in a language school. And yes, a series of disastrous dates has left her despairing of ever finding The One – until Ben sits next to her on a bench. He’s tall, dark, handsome…

…and also incredibly hairy, barefoot, a bit ripe-smelling and of no fixed abode.

You guessed it – they fall in love, as couples in novels do. But can Julia overlook the differences between them, abandon logic and choose with her heart?

29 Seconds by T.M. Logan

Category: Thriller/Mystery

Publication Date: 25/1/18

Arc Received From: Bonnier Zaffre

Synopsis:

Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear . . .

When Sarah rescues a young girl in trouble, she expects nothing in return. But her act of bravery puts a powerful and dangerous man in her debt. He lives by his own brutal code, and all debts must be repaid - in the only way he knows how.

He offers Sarah a way to solve a desperate situation with her intolerable boss. A once-in-a-lifetime deal that will make all her problems disappear.

No consequences. No comeback. No chance of being found out.

All it takes is a 29 second phone call.

Because everyone has a name to give. Don't they?