Two Heads Are Better Than One

by Anita Frank

SYNOPSIS

From the author of The Lost Ones, shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award and Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award…

Jack Ellison’s war is over, but the battle for his family has just begun.

When Jack left for the war, he made a parting pledge to his pregnant bride, Gwen, that he would never return. It was, after all, best for everyone that he didn’t.

Now, as celebrations erupt for Victory in Europe, Gwen is terrified that Jack will renege on his promise, threatening the life she has built for herself and their son on the family farm.

But war has changed Jack, and he is coming home, determined to claim a place in Gwen’s life – and her heart.

As events of the past come back to haunt them, Jack and Gwen find themselves facing their greatest battle – and it is a fight neither of them can afford to lose.

In this sweeping historical story with huge heart, Anita Frank weaves a glorious tale of love and loss, secrets and promises

MY REVIEW

Very happy to be part of the Blog Tour for this unforgettable story of Jack and Gwen.

I really enjoyed the dual timeline of this novel, set on a farm in 1939 just before war breaks out and also in 1945 as the war has ended.

When Jack turns up out of nowhere and saves Gwen after she falls from her horse, her father gives him a job working on their farm. He is a hard worker and willing to learn. He is running from his past in Newcastle, and can never return. All Jack wants from life is somewhere to call home. And Gwen, who sadly does not reciprocate his feelings.

Gwen is besotted by the wealthy and charismatic Gordon, fully expecting he will marry her now that she is pregnant with his child. When he announces his engagement to another woman she is devastated but Jack steps up to protect her reputation. Not long after, he goes off to war promising he will never return as that will be best for everyone.

At the end of the war, Jack breaks his promise and returns to the farm hoping to find a home and a family but he is not welcomed with open arms as he had hoped.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s last book, The Lost Ones, and although I was expecting this one to be a similar ghost type story it was completely different but I enjoyed it just as much but for different reasons.

The characters were very well written and the hard life running a farm in those years was made very obvious. 

Completely absorbing.

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

About the Author

Anita Frank was born in Shropshire and studied English and American History at the University of East Anglia. She lives in Berkshire with her husband and three children and is now a full-time carer for her disabled son. Her debut novel The Lost Ones was shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award and the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award. The Return is her second novel.

By Melanie Golding

Publication date 11/11/21

SYNOPSIS

When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl’s mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn’t take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn’t dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.

Two seemingly unrelated events. But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing truths start to come to light that connect the man to the mother and child, and suddenly it’s not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it’s too late…

Weaving together the trademark folklore inspiration that readers loved in Little Darlings, with the procedural narrative force of a brilliant mystery, this is the excellent and unnerving new novel from Melanie Golding.

MY REVIEW

Having read Little Darlings by this author I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of The replacement and be part of the blog tour.

A mix of folklore around Selkies and police procedural gives this book a unique storyline. 

A little girl, Leonie, is found alone outside a seaside shop in the cold and the shopkeeper contacts the police. Social Services arrive but as her mother arrives at the same time, distraught over her daughter who ran off, no action is taken.

At the same time DS Joanna Harper is at the scene of a man found in a bath with a serious head wound. He has a faint pulse but it does not look good for him.

What is the connection between these two events?

Ruby is a loner. She had a troubled upbringing and now lives alone in a council apartment. When she meets ‘Yoga Guy’ whom she has been watching from her window, she thinks this could be the start of something. A relationship at last. Unfortunately Yoga Guy has secrets. Including the fact his ex and their daughter are living with him. As Ruby gets to know his ex and their child she begins to realise he has a dark controlling side.

Why is Constance staying with him? What is this ‘skin’ she says he has hidden and without which she is unable to leave?

A deliciously dark and creepy tale which will have you addicted. 

I loved little Leonie, and also found Ruby and Constance to be well written and I enjoyed getting to know them. Gerard was a fabulous baddie! 

Melanie Golding has a real talent for writing books set in the ‘real world’ but incorporating folklore. I can’t wait to read what is next from her.

Thank you HQ for my place on the tour and my early copy of this book.

About the Author

Melanie Golding took the MA in Creative Writing program at Bath Spa University, and has recently completed work on a PhD which examines the use of folklore in contemporary thrillers. In recent years she has won and been shortlisted in several local and national short story competitions, which have been chosen to be recorded as podcasts by the Leicester-based festival Story City, and to be performed at both the regular Stroud Short Stories event and their special ‘best of’ event at Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Melanie has had a varied working life, including working as a teacher in prisons, young offender’s units and residential schools for children with special educational needs. Her first novel, Little Darlings, became an ebook bestseller and has been optioned for screen by Free Range Films, the team behind the adaptation of My Cousin Rachel.

by Helen J Rolfe

Out in e-book now and paperback next year.

SYNOPSIS

Can three sisters stitch their family back together? 

Loretta loves running the little village sewing shop in Butterbury. Some of her most precious memories are sitting with her three daughters Daisy, Ginny and Fern, stitching together pieces of material – and their hopes and dreams.

But this Christmas the family is coming apart at the seams: Fern feels like she’s failing at motherhood and marriage, Ginny’s passion for her job as a midwife is fading, Daisy is desperate to prove she ‘ s changed since her wild younger years – and most of all, Loretta seems to be hiding something…

As they come together to create a new festive quilt, the bond between the sisters begins to heal. But when Loretta reveals the real reason she’s brought them all home, can the sisters mend the quilt, and their family, in time for Christmas?

Full of kindness, community and festive magic, this is a treat to curl up with this Christmas! Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Jenny Colgan and Ali McNamara

I‘m very happy to be part of the blog your for this lovely cosy Christmas read and I recommend you add to your Christmas reading pile.

A story of three sisters who used to be very close. Nicknamed The Three Sewing Girls by their grandad who was over the moon they loved sewing as it was the family business – a sewing shop. There is also a family secret to be revealed.

The sisters sadly grew apart and two of them lost interest in sewing. One is now married with two sons but her marriage is far from perfect. Another left Butterbury to become a midwife and then travel. The youngest daughter stayed to help her widowed mum run the shop although her heart lies in photography.

When Loretta, the girls’ mum, pleads with them all to have a family Christmas with their grandad they are concerned he may be seriously ill and all agree to put their differences aside for the sake of their beloved grandad. 

Will they build bridges and become a tightly knit family again?

Well I was certainly hoping they would. 

I enjoyed the way the book was written from the mother and each daughter’s POV in alternating chapters. I got to know each daughter and the mother and the reasons for their choices in life. 

I also enjoyed the possibility of romances between the two single sisters and two brothers who all grew up in Butterbury. 

The Christmas theme yarn bombing was brilliant. I live seeing photos of post boxes with knitted Christmas tops pop up in the news!

I was very surprised to read in the acknowledgements that the author was not a quilter as it felt like it was written from the heart. The girls bonded over making a quilt for their grandad and it was the focus of the story.

I truly did fall in love with this gorgeous story.

Thank you Ellen at Orion Books for my place on the blog tour and my e-copy of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

by Teresa Driscoll

Delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for Teresa’s new psychological thriller, due out 1st November 2021.

SYNOPSIS

A gripping psychological thriller from the bestselling author of I Am Watching You. The perfect family? Or the perfect lie?

It’s their daughter’s graduation and Rachel and Ed Hartley are expecting it to be one of their family’s happiest days. But when she stumbles and falls on stage during the ceremony, a beautiful moment turns to chaos: Gemma has been shot, and just like that, she’s fighting for her life.

PI Matthew Hill is one of the first on the scene. A cryptic message Gemma received earlier in the day suggests someone close to her was about to be exposed. But who? As Matthew starts to investigate, he finds more and more layers obscuring the truth. He even begins to suspect the Hartleys are hiding something big—from him and from each other.

While Gemma lies in hospital in a coma, her would-be killer is still out there. Can Matthew unravel the family’s secrets before the attacker strikes again?

MY REVIEW

Well Teresa has done it again with yet another gripping psychological thriller I raced through.

A parents nightmare. Their daughter is shot right in front of them at her graduation ceremony, which should have been one of the happiest days of her life. As she lays in hospital in a coma, secrets are revealed and there is a race against the clock to find the shooter before the graduation ceremony is rescheduled.

What shone through for me was Rachel’s bond with her daughter. She did not move from her daughters side the whole time she was in hospital. Playing her music, reading to her and kissing her forehead. Hoping she was getting through to her. Having had a troubled upbringing herself Rachel wanted nothing more than to do everything possible to make her daughter have the happy childhood she missed out on.

My favourite character was Matthew, the Private Investigator who just happened to be out with his family in the vicinity of the cathedral when the shooting happened and headed straight there to help. He is just an all round lovely caring bloke and if Teresa ever decides to write a series he would be a great character to set it around! 

I enjoyed how the book was written from the POV of multiple narrators. I do enjoy first person narration with detailed thoughts and feelings.

Lots of fabulous twists along the way to keep you guessing. A very clever reveal I did not see coming!

Thank you Rhiannon Morris at FMcM Associates for my place on the tour and for my copy of the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

by Sarah Morgan

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this brand new Christmas romance novel to curl up with in winter 2021!

Due out 28th October 2021

SYNOPSIS

The new Christmas book from the Sunday Times bestselling author of One More for Christmas and A Wedding in December! 

It was supposed to be Christy Sullivan’s perfect Christmas escape – a dream trip to Lapland with her family and best friend, Alix. But facing a make-or-break marriage crisis, Christy desperately needs time alone with her husband, Seb. Her solution? Alix, along with Seb’s oldest friend, Zac, can take Christy’s daughter on the planned Lapland trip, and they will all reunite there for Christmas Day. After all, what are friends for?

There’s nothing Alix won’t do for Christy, but Christy’s plan to save Christmas is testing their friendship. Especially as Alix and Zac have a difficult history of their own.

As long-held secrets unravel, and unexpected romance shines under the Northern Lights, can Christy and Alix find the courage to fight for the relationships they really want? And could this Christmas escape save the precious gift of each other’s friendship?

MY REVIEW

Thank you to HQ for my place on the book tour and for my advance copy of the book.

A beautifully atmospheric setting of Swedish Lapland at Christmas had me captivated by this story of mending important relationships. I was completely there and absorbed in the life of beautiful snow, dog sledding, hot chocolate and the aurora. This is so on my bucket list to visit Lapland! 

Robyn and Erik run The Snow Spa in Swedish Lapland. Robyn ran away from her life in England after falling out with her sister and has never looked back. Out of the blue she receives an email from Christy, her niece, who wants to come and meet her. Robyn has mixed feelings as she has not seen Christy since she was a child and now Christy is married with her own child, Holly.

Alix has been best friends with Christy since they were children. They were inseparable until Christy married Seb and she now feels she is no longer needed. She did not think Christy was doing the right thing by marrying just because she fell pregnant as she had not known Seb long and he had a bit of a reputation

When Christy asks Alix and Zac to take Holly to Lapland ahead of her it pushes them together in an unexpected way.

Relationships and the importance of talking about feelings is very much the main thread of this book.

A lovely book with a message of the importance of talking through problems which I would definitely recommend if you want to lose yourself in a gorgeous Christmassy setting.

by Jessica Redland

SYNOPSIS

Sometimes you just need a little Christmas magic to make your wishes come true…

When master chocolatier, Charlee, takes the leap to move to the picturesque seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, she is determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps and set up a chocolate shop.

Luckily, she finds the perfect location for Charlee’s Chocolates on beautiful Castle Street… Now she just has to refurbish it in time for Christmas!

With a useless boyfriend and countless DIY disasters, Charlee doesn’t know if she’ll make it in time.

With no ‘traditional’ family to support her, she feels lost in her new surroundings and the secrets of the past are weighing her down.

But the warmth and festive spirit of the Whitsborough Bay community will surprise her, and when plumber, Matt, comes to the rescue, it might be that all of Charlee’s dreams could come true this Christmas, and she could learn what family really means…

Escape to Castle Street for the perfect uplifting, festive read from top 10 bestseller Jessica Redland.

Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop was originally released as Charlee and the Chocolate Shop.

Now re-released with a new title and new cover, this version has been freshly edited and features several new chapters.

MY REVIEW

Firstly thank you to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources fir having me on the tour and to Boldwood Books for a copy of the book to review.

Ahhhh what a lovely feel good story of love, friendship, Chocolate, family, more Chocolate, dreams coming true and CHRISTMAS!! 

A hug in book form which left me feeling all warm and fuzzy and excited for Christmas. Oh and also wanting to train as a chocolatier and open my own chocolate shop! 

When Charlee’s beloved nanna dies she decides to make a new start and move to Whitsborough Bay with her boyfriend, Ricky, and follow her dreams by opening her own chocolate shop.

Having reluctantly sold her nanna’s house where she was brought up as her mother abandoned he

r, she finds the shop premises she has fallen in love with has surprisingly just come up for sale. She jumps at the chance to buy it. As her dream is taking off, her life with her boyfriend is going downhill as he seems to want to spend all his evenings getting drunk with his old mates. She begins to have serious doubts about him and when she meets the handsome Matt, the plumber who saves her shop from disaster, it is love at first sight for Charlee. Only problem is he is engaged to be married to someone else! 

The close circle of independent and supportive shopkeepers gives this such a warm community feel. I would love to visit this little street to do my Christmas shopping.

I loved so many of the characters in this book. The villains of the story were also really well written and I loved to hate them!

Tears were shed on more than one occasion during the reading of this book so if you are a sensitive soul like me get those tissues ready! 

A fabulous uplifting read to get you in the mood for Christmas which I would not hesitate to recommend.

Please take a look at the other blog tour reviews:

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3j0FZrF

Author Bio –

Jessica Redland writes uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community set in Yorkshire where she lives. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast and her Hedgehog Hollow series takes them into beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds. 

Social Media Links – 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JessicaRedlandAuthor

Twitter https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jessicaredlandauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up Link http://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNewsletter

Bookbub profile https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-redland

Today is my stop on the Blog Tour, arranged by Rachel’s Random Resources

SYNOPSIS

Snuggle up under your favourite blanket and escape to the beautiful village of Pebblestow this winter, for one of
the most heartwarming stories of the season…
When Cara Mia Shaw makes a desperate wish one night, while riding on a carousel at a Christmas market, little does she know her small, but safe world is about to spin off its axis.
Befriending a fascinating returnee to the village, an elderly woman called Perdita with a jaunty pink beret and the wisdom of a life well lived, might set Cara on a different, albeit harder, course, if she’s brave enough to listen. Art was always her passion, after all, even if fate seemed to have other ideas.
And then there’s the new man in her life, who her friends think is perfect for her because they set her up with decent, reliable Greg in the first place. Cara’s been hurt enough times to know the difference between a good man and a feckless one. Until Wilfred comes along – moody, sarcastic, and scattered -just to complicate matters and meddle with Cara’s resolve, to the horror of almost 
everyone around her. But is either man ultimately meant for her, anyway? And will she self – sabotage as usual, or gamble everything this time, including her heart?
It might take the highs and lows of friendship, the risk of a forbidden romance, and a Pomeranian called Loki – not to mention some much – needed Christmas magic – before Cara finally realises the wish she made that night on the carousel might just be about to come true.

MY REVIEW

Firstly I would like to thank Rachel for my place on the tour.

This was my first Christmas read of the year and already I am feeling Christmassy! I love a Christmas romance.

What a heartfelt story of love and friendship with an ounce of magic thrown in to the mix. A ‘modern romance set around the festive season’ as Perdita would describe it.

Cara has been dragged along on a blind date to a Christmas market with her friends who have found the perfect new man for her. Unfortunately Cara is not really interested and wanders off and finds a beautiful carousel. She takes a ride and the carousel owner tells her to make a wish….

She returns later to find the carousel is no longer there. Already I had the magic feels.

I adored Perdita with her pink beret and scarf who Cara meets in the coffee shop where she works and they begin a lovely supportive friendship. Perdita has lots of pearls of wisdom to share about life and love and Cara finds herself opening her heart to this lady who is like the grandmother she never had.

I have to say Perdita was my favourite character in the book I just loved her out there personality and sense of fun.

Cara is taken advantage of by Jojo, her ex-employer who has Cara running around after the family and walking the dog, but Cara feels this is her payment for living rent free in her annexe so doesn’t complain. I found Jojo very difficult to work out, but a revelation later in the story helps.

Cara is a people pleaser who puts the needs and feelings of others before herself. When she meets a man she should absolutely not start a relationship with she must decide whether to go for it or listen to the advice of her caring but overbearing friends. 

I was rooting for Cara to find happiness and a way out of the rut she is in. I really couldn’t put the book down and read it in a day!

I will definitely be reading more from Lottie.

Purchase Link 
https://bit.ly/AChristmasWishOnACarousel

Author Bio 
Lottie Cardew was born during the Great Lockdown of early 2021, and writes uplifting, heartstring – tugging romcoms with no mention of anything remotely resembling a pandemic. 
She lives in North Wales, subdues the other members of Novelistas Ink if they misbehave – including the popular authors Trisha Ashley and Sophie Claire – and is a huge advocate of diversity and OwnVoices in fiction. Lottie has previously written as Valerie-Anne Baglietto, and is diagnosed 
autistic with suspected ADHD. Her home is currently overrun by husband, not – very – small children, and a ball of fluff masquerading as a Pomeranian, so Lottie often takes refuge at her pop-up desk in the bedroom.
Lottie guarantees her books will have a HEA ending, and some might possibly have a tiny hint of 
magic, too. They will always be warm, emotional, and witty (she hopes), and transport her readers 
to lovely places because everyone n
eeds somewhere safe to escape to at times.

Social Media Links –

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MsLottieCardew

Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/bossynovelista

Newsletter sign up: 
https://bit.ly/LottieCardewSignUp

by Anne O’Brien

published in hardback by HQ 16 September 2021 and in paperback on 31 March 2022

SYNOPSIS

England, 1444. Three women challenge the course of history…

King Henry VI’s grip on the crown hangs by a thread as the Wars of the Roses starts to tear England apart. And from the ashes of war, the House of Paston begins its rise to power.

Led by three visionary women, the Pastons are a family from humble peasant beginnings who rely upon cunning, raw ambition, and good fortune in order to survive.

Their ability to plot and scheme sees them overcome imprisonment, violence and betrayal, to eventually secure for their family a castle and a place at the heart of the Yorkist Court. But success breeds jealousy and brings them dangerous enemies…

An inspirational story of courage and resilience, The Royal Game, charts the rise of three remarkable women from obscurity to the very heart of Court politics and intrigue.

MY REVIEW

Im very happy to be part of the blog tour organised by the publisher, HQ.

I have only read one of Anne’s books before this one – The Queens Rival – which I absolutely loved. I jumped at the chance of reading an advance copy of Anne’s new book and to be a part of the blog tour. 

Anne’s skill for writing historical fiction with characters you get to know in depth and places you feel you are part of is second to none. Again I was lost in the rich history of the time and living the lives with these people. It is clear Anne has a very in depth knowledge and interest of history and her love for writing shines through the pages.

In this novel we follow the Pastons. Just as Anne’s last book is mainly focussed on the strong female character of Cecily Neville this one has a strong main focus on Margaret Mautby Paston who has married into the Paston family following the usual arrangement by the two families which will benefit both sides. She becomes such a strong lady, having to deal with battles, wars, births and deaths, illness and the constant fight to hold on to the family property and assets for her place in society and her children’s inheritance.

These are the Middle Ages. In the years leading up to The Wars of The Roses. Families marry their children off for status and wealth. Perhaps love will blossom perhaps not, as this is not the reason to marry. Women are expected to produce heirs to the family estate. People have to be careful when discussing the Yorks and the Lancasters as they dare not be seen to be on the wrong side. 

There are two other ladies we follow in this novel. The second lady we hear from is Elizabeth Paston who has not had a suitable marriage arranged and worries about her future constantly as the years are passing along with her hope of finding a suitable husband.

The last ‘main’ character is Anne Haute who is also hoping for a suitable marriage and sets her hopes on marrying into the Paston family.

The Pastons were prolific letter writers and it is fortunate many of their letters have survived to this day to tell the first hand stories of life and all its troubles during the 1400’s. 

I am now looking forward to Anne’s next book where she will follow the Pastons.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne O’Brien was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire. After gaining a BA Honours degree in History at Manchester University and a Master’s in Education at Hull, she lived in the East Riding for many years as a teacher of history.

She now lives with her husband in an eighteenth-century timber-framed cottage in depths of the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire on the borders between England and Wales.

by Alice Feeney

SYNOPSIS

Ten years of marriage.

Ten years of secrets.

An anniversary they’ll never forget.

Adam and Amelia are spending the weekend in the Scottish Highlands. The remote location is perfect for what they have planned.

But when their romantic trip takes a dark turn, they both start to wonder – can they trust the one they’re with?

Because every couple tells little white lies. Only for Adam and Amelia, the truth is far more dangerous.

MY REVIEW

I’m very happy to be part of the blog tour for this gripping, edge of your seat, psychological thriller.

The book is written from the points of view of both Adam and Amelia in alternating chapters. I very much enjoy this way of writing as we get to know what the characters are thinking.

Dotted throughout the book there is an annual anniversary letter written to Adam from his wife, giving an insight into the state of their marriage. It is becoming more obvious they are beginning to grow apart as the years pass. These letters are written but will probably never be read by Adam.

We also have a third narrator, Robin, and we find out where she fits in to their lives towards the end of the book. I did not see that coming at all! 

Adam is a screenwriter and has been trying to get his own novel, Rock, Paper, Scissors, made into a film for years. He has a little known condition called prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which means he is unable to recognise anyone‘s face not even his own face in the mirror. We join Adam, Amelia and Bob their Labrador as they are driving through heavy snow to get to a chapel in Scotland having ignored the weather warning. Amelia won a weekend away in a raffle where she works, Battersea dogs home, and they are both hoping a weekend away will help save their marriage. They are running out of petrol and it is like driving in a white out with the windscreen wipers on Amelia’s old Morris Minor struggling to cope. The chapel is locked when they eventually find it but having walked around it to try to find another entrance they return to find the doors unlocked. The description of the chapel is just as spooky as I’d hoped with locked doors hiding who knows what and a creepy damp dark crypt. Everywhere is covered in dust so it appears no one has stayed there in a long time. There is no mobile phone signal so they are stranded without being able to call for help. There is that little cottage down the road with smoke coming out of the chimney…

I will not go into the storyline any further but hope that little taster of my review makes you want to buy the book immediately.

Find out more about the author at:

alicefeeney.com

SYNOPSIS

With their long necks and matching buns and pink tights, Dara and Marie Durant have been dancers since they can remember. Growing up, they were trained by their glamorous mother, founder of the Durant School of Dance. After their parents’ death in a tragic accident nearly a dozen years ago, the sisters began running the school together, along with Charlie, Dara’s husband and once their mother’s prized student. The three have perfected a dance that keeps the studio thriving.

But when a suspicious accident occurs, just at the onset of the school’s annual performance of The Nutcracker-a season of competition, anxiety, and exhilaration-an interloper arrives and threatens their delicate balance.

MY REVIEW

This dark, disturbing but strangely addictive story takes us into the strange lives of sisters Dara and Marie and Dara’s husband, Charlie.

After their parents die, Dara and Marie take over their mother’s ballet school. They teach around 100 girls and a handful of boys and we join them as they are working towards their annual production of The Nutcracker. 

Ballet always appears to be such a magical world to the outsider but in this book we are given plenty of descriptions of the pain, the blackened toe nails, the injuries, the back stabbing, the pushy parents which play a part in this beautiful art. At the beginning there are a fair few references to ballet moves which, not being a dancer, I did not know but it didn’t spoil the story. I could always look them up! A ballet background would have been a benefit for me!

Dara, Marie and Charlie live a strange and disturbing life. They have lived in the same house together since the girls parents died. Charlie was brought into their small close knit family when he was a teenage student at the ballet school and has lived with them ever since. We what appears to be a happy family on the outside is not what it seems.

Following a fire at the dance school, Derek the contractor is hired to carry out the repairs and suggests improvements he could make to the school. Reluctantly he is hired. Dara has a feeling Derek is hiding something and unfortunately she is correct. Derek has some dark secrets and as he worms his way in,their lives become irreversibly changed in a way which will have devastating consequences. 

I felt this was a very well written book and delved into areas we are not always comfortable reading. It is dark and mysterious and yet a compelling read. I had to read it over a few days as it was quite heavy but I did very much enjoy it. I had not read any of the author’s previous books so did not know what to expect but I have since learned Megan is known for this type of book. 

Thank you to Grace Vincent at Little Brown for the gifted copy of the book and for my spot on the blog tour.