The Wild Roses by D.B Carter - [Review]

 The Wild Roses by D.B Carter
[Review]

Print Length: 366 pages (kindle edition)

Publisher: Mirador Publishing (31st October 2019)

Publication Date: 31st October 2019

Synopsis

Three friendships brutally severed by one chance meeting. In 1984 Sharon and pip are nearing their final days at school, finally on the precipice of adulthood. Pip and Sharon have been best friend for as long as people can remember and choose to befriend a badly bullied school peer Gavin. Gavin takes refuge in their friendship until one day it all changes. Their bright futures are suddenly darkened by Sharon meeting an older man who she falls in love with him at first sight. Their futures are no longer clear but clouded in drugs, corruption and betrayal but can they all hope to find a sunnier future. 

All three face very different paths but they all lead back to the same place, Sharon.

Follow their journey through love, loss and betrayal.

Review

Honestly, after finishing this book I cannot believe I haven't heard of it before as it really does take you on a heart-breaking but beautiful story where you really truly feel for each character. I didn't think the book would be teaching me such a vital lesson that although one bad decision may shape your future, it doesn't mean it cannot be rectified or that you won't still bloom. The character development in this book is amazing, in particular it shows how much Pip really grows into an independent and strong woman. I really adored the relationship Pip had with her Grandparents, particularly with her Gran. Pip really was a beautiful and gentle character throughout but she was dealt quite a few setbacks but continued to show her strength right up until the end. 

This was set in the 1980's where sexual harassment and substance abuse was extremely common in which D.B Carter magnificently portrayed accurately. This book had me hooked from the beginning, I needed to know if they all had their happy endings and were reunited once and for all. The ending broke my heart but really enforced the lesson that whilst we may not get the outcome we really wanted, it doesn't have to crush your future. 

Thank you to D.B Carter for writing this amazing book, I look forward to reading your other work. 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

Purchase 'The Wild Roses' here

About The Author

(Photo taken from goodreads)

D.B Carter is an author who lives in Devon, England. He was a son of two nomadic artists and grew up in a world filled with creativity. D.B Carter went to university and followed in a career in science and later on went into commerce. His philosophy is "if we look for the good, we will find it". Read more here.

Follow D.B Carter on Twitter: @DBCarterAuthor

Survive The Night by Riley Sager [Review]

 Survive The Night by Riley Sager
[Review]

(Photo from Amazon)

Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks

Print length: 320 pages

Publication date: 23rd December 2021

Synopsis 

November, 1991 and Charlie is in a car with who she suspects is the rumoured Campus Killer. Charlie is a movie-obsessed teen who lives life for the movies. She absolutely loved her degree but when her eccentric best friend Maddy was brutally murdered, Charlie knows she needs to leave College, her boyfriend and her current life behind, and that is why Charlie is a car with a person who is a complete stranger who very may well be a serial killer. Charlie just needs to survive the night and get back to her Nana Norma, however, Charlie is plagued with hallucinations and she can no longer trust herself, which leaves her to trust the only other person she is with, the potential serial killer.

My Review

Sadly for me, this book just didn't live up to the others that Riley Sager has written.

The book is based on a teenage girl Charlie who is movie-obsessed, awkward and an introvert. Charlie's best friend however, is eccentric and outgoing and can always convince Charlie to mix with the crowd and have a good time. Charlie adores Maddy and loves her for her eccentricity and that they share the common love of movies. When Charlies best friend Maddy is brutally murdered, Charlie knows that she has to leave Olyphant University, her boyfriend and her current life behind. She is crushed and devoured by grief and guilt as Charlie believes she is the reason Maddy was murdered. All of this led Charlie to ride share with a complete stranger, although she does express her concern as the Campus Killer is still lurking about and she is determined she will get back to Nana Norma safely. Grief is not a new feeling for Maddy, she lost her parents as a child and was brought up with her Nan - 'Nana Norma'. Following her parents grief, Charlie started to experience hallucinations which confused reality with the movies that she loved, this plays a big part later in the book.

I felt that the idea of jumping in a car with the first stranger you lock eyes on, who just so happens to be going to Ohio whilst her friend had just been brutally murdered was too unbelievable, yes, even for the 90's. Not long after she jumps in the car with this stranger, it becomes clear that 'Josh' isn't who appears to be. Charlie decides to tell 'Josh', who remember, is a complete stranger that she has hallucinations and of course, to no ones surprise, he uses this to his advantage. Regardless of this, the worst part for me was the numerous chances she had to get away from 'Josh' who she wasn't sure if he was the Campus Killer but instead changes her mind, every. single. time.

Once the action all started to happen, Charlie regains her confidence and the absurdity of the events just increase. There is shootings, fire and yes of course, some hero to come and save her. The twists will catch you off guard but mainly because they were just too ridiculous to consider in the first place.

I absolutely love Riley Sager and I will continue to read his books but this one really didn't compare to his previous novels.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 stars).

Purchase Survive The Night here

About The Author

Riley Sager is a pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer who has previously published thriller novels under his real name. 

Riley Sager's first thriller was Final Girls which became a national and international bestseller. Riley Sager has also published three other books called 'The Last Time I Lied', 'Lock Every Door' and 'Home Before Dark' which are New York Bestsellers. Find more about Riley Sager here.

Follow Riley Sager on Twitter: @riley_sager

Hoglets' Christmas Magic by Lynette Creswell - [Review]

 Hoglets' Christmas Magic by Lynette Creswell 
[Review]

Author - Lynette Creswell 

Illustrations - Doriano Strologo

Publisher: White Rabbit Books

Genre: Children Fiction 

Release Date: 28th August 

My Review 

Yes it's August and yes, this is a Christmas book but we all know how fast Christmas approaches, so be prepared by buying your children's soon to be new favourite Christmas read now. 

This is a fun family friendly book that is full of beautiful illustrations to keep the reader and others engaged all throughout. The story starts by a family of hedgehogs preparing the Christmas tree when they discover their Christmas tree topper is broken, so off they go and search for a new replacement.

Whilst on their search for the perfect replacement, who do they bump in too? Santa, of course! Santa needs some assistance and the hoglets are more than happy to help Santa (I mean who wouldn't be?). Along the way, you meet a few colourful and interesting characters who bring just that extra sprinkle of magic. 

If you're a parent, you probably search for the perfect Christmas book for your children for the festive season, so why not bring an extra bit of magic that only the perfect Christmas book can bring to your home? Tuck up in bed on Christmas eve with a mug of hot chocolate and read this wonderful story to your children who are bound to love this imaginative Christmas story. 

Purchase your copy here! 

Follow Lynette Creswell on Twitter at: @creswelllyn

Poison In The Pills by August Raine - [Review]

 Poison In The Pills by August Raine
Review

Synopsis

There is an illness going around causing severe pain and an itch that you just can't scratch. It is said that there is a drug responsible for this illness called the 'Dose'. Jack Bright is a scientist who worked on the trials for the cure but when something goes wrong, he knows that someone is covering up the truth. In determination to seek out the truth, Jack makes himself a target, he has to go through increasingly questionable actions to bring the justice that the public so rightly deserve. This is a story about drugs, corruption, an incurable sickness and it's all linked and Jack just needs to find out how. 

Review

A medical thriller that has you on the edge of your seat

The premise of the story is that an incurable sickness is crippling the city of Manchester and that the cause is said to be from using the drug 'dose'. It feels very realistic and with the current circumstances it was also fairly relatable. I really could imagine this very situation happening and like all governments, there are secrets. Secrets which Jack will go to extreme lengths to find out to bring justice to the public. 

Jack Bright is a scientist who worked on the trials for a cure for the 'itch' but he was certain that something was wrong and that somebody was covering the truth up. The story is very fast pace and begins having you on edge from the moment you open the book because just as Jack is determined to find the truth, its clear someone is also just as determined to keep it secret. August did a fantastic job with creating Jack, he is a likeable character from the start but with just the right amount of mystery and grief to him that makes him extremely intriguing. I couldn't put the book down, it is filled with action and I was just as desperate as Jack to find out the truth! 

This is August's debut novel and he has done an amazing job creating a strong plot and characters such as Lizzie and Erin. Lizzie is Jack's co-worker and friend who just so happens to be married to a police officer, and although Jack is very wary about trusting Lizzie, she is feisty, funny and brilliant. Lizzie helps Jack as much as she can despite the clear consequences and it is obvious that they have a good solid friendship. Whilst Jack is trying to find out the truth, he turns to an unlikely source for help, a woman called Erin. From the first time of them having a conversation, I could almost taste the tension. I was curious as to why Erin would help Jack, especially when she knows the police are searching for him but of course, August cleverly reveals a massive twist in the story and leaves room for a possible sequel? I sure hope so.

Yet another unlikely and dislikeable character is Klaus, this really reveals August's talents to create a character who is extremely dark and deranged and just out for themselves. Klaus loves people depending on him, he enjoys purposely degrading those desperate people and finding their limits, but Klaus does prove to be useful, despite him being a disgusting character. 

This book really is full of fast pace action and keeps you gripped until the truth is finally revealed. I think this is superbly written, full of complex characters and enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. If you are looking for a medical thriller that will blow your brains, then this is it! 

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars).

Purchase on amazon here

About the author

August has always enjoyed writing and after many years, he self-published his debut novel 'Poison In The Pills' via Amazon. August spent his twenties traveling and now works full-time and in his spare time, he can be found writing. To find out more about August Raine, click here.

Follow August Raine on Twitter for more updates: @gusraineauthor

The Maid by Nita Prose - [Review]

 The Maid by Nita Prose
[Review]

Synopsis

Molly is an eccentric maid working for a highly respected hotel which she loves. Molly is different to most other people, she lives by strict rules, and cleanliness is her speciality, so it is only natural that Molly is a brilliant maid. Molly has recently lost her gran and is struggling with the grief, work is her saviour, however, when she finds one of the most popular guests dead in their bed, solving the mystery turns Molly's very predictable and orderly life upside down.

Review

Perfectly suspenseful with just the right amount of mystery and charm.

The prologue definitely sets the scene for the story, it caught me hook, line and sinker. It leaves you curious as to who the maid truly is and what secrets she has hidden. From the beginning of the book you learn that Molly was raised by her wonderful but very orderly grandmother and that this is where Molly grew fond of living life by the rules. Molly has recently lost her Gran and has nobody else she really considers a friend, she lives her life by the rules her Gran embellished, however, it becomes clear that Molly's grief is insurmountable as throughout the book, Molly often considers what her Gran would do in her situation, still eager to make her Gran proud in any circumstances and that she still talks to her Gran when she is at home. I really enjoyed learning about the strong bond that held those two together and felt remorseful for Molly as she lost the one person who truly understood her and her mannerisms. It's very obvious that Molly is different to her peers, she isn't able to quite grasp social ques and understand other people's mannerisms, I related quite heavily to Molly for this, as I too, struggle with social skills and understanding people in general. Molly was easily a likeable character, despite her very literal and awkward deposition, she was also funny and charming and very relatable. Nita has done a wonderful job on creating such a complex character whilst still making her enjoyable to read, I felt very much that Molly could have been a close friend of mine but sadly, even wishing her into existence didn't work. 

Once Molly discovers one of the most popular guests at the hotel deceased in his bed, things for Molly start to change. I absolutely loved following this storyline and when I thought I knew what had happened, it soon turned out to be untrue. It kept me guessing right until the end. As Molly is different to her peers, some of those wish to take advantage of her naivety and involved Molly into a scene which she would never willingly partake in. The whole time I was reading this, I felt like screaming to Molly that they're taking advantage and this situation is dangerous but obviously, I did what any other engrossed reader would do, I kept reading and damn, I did not regret it. Molly's different line of thinking led the police to suspect her with connection to the deceased man and was considered a suspect based on what felt like little proof and plenty of bias. Thankfully to a few of Molly's co-workers, she is not completely alone in this new and chaotic world in which she finds herself the suspect of a possible murder.  

The ending had me reading between my fingers, I wanted the very best for Molly and wasn't sure whether she would be able to carry out the essential mission she was given to clear her name and then there is the actual end, which is something I did not see coming. I am not going to even delve into what that possibly could be, you will have to read and find out for yourself 😉

I think this book is brilliant not only for its suspenseful story but also for the potential lesson to others, just because someone is not the same as you, it doesn't make them any less human than yourself. 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars).

Pre-order The Maid by Nita Prose here

Follow Nita Prose at: @NitaProse

Publisher: HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction.

About The Author

(Picture taken from Nita Prose - Home)

Nita Prose is a long-term editor, serving many bestselling authors, she is currently Vice President and editorial director at Simon & Schuster in Toronto, Canada. The Maid is Nita Prose's debut novel which is released in 2022. Nita also states that if you're curious, her house is only moderately clean. 

Find more about Nita Prose at About - Nita Prose. 

In The Heart Of The Void by Tanweer Dar - [Review]

 In The Heart Of The Void by Tanweer Dar 
[Review]

Synopsis

A fast paced sci-fi horror which is impossible to put down.

A crew of an interstellar cargo ship are on a routine mission, however, they soon find out things are not quite right on board. Eight of the crew members are faced with a terrifying possibility that they may never make it back home after one of the crew members goes missing. The team begin to sense that Captain Gunnar, Johansen may be withholding vital information that is crucial for their survival. Faced with the horrifying possibility that something is hunting them, their only option is to fight to secure the cargo ship and hopefully be able to return home.

Review

The book starts off with giving you details about the crew members and their ranking, it becomes clear that this is a tight knit crew and that they mainly operated as a group of friends, instead of the Captain issuing strict orders. It quite quickly becomes clear that all is not right on board, the crew members have been awaken from stasis early without any known reason. This book doesn't give you a chance to put it down, it immediately throws you into the panic of the cargo ship as they realise one of the crew members have disappeared. It becomes clear that Captain Johansen may know more than what he is telling and I found myself very eager to know whether he is playing a part with what is going on with the ship. Captain Johansen finally relents and admits that the 'Omega protocol' has been activated, no one bar Johansen knows about this protocol and he quickly explains that it is activated to prevent biological threats and contaminants from reaching the earth and therefore, sends the ship on a different course away from Earth until the threat has been dealt with. The crew are very forgiving, although a few members still believe that the Captain is withholding further details but they are soon forced to face the reality of the situation when one of the newest crew members 'Minh' discovers the missing crew members mangled body. I absolutely loved that this book didn't give you a chance to get bored as you were always in suspense of what is going to happen next, it is very fast paced and quickly appears that the crew members are dealing with some kind of alien. The tension on board builds until Captain Johansen admits that he may know something more about what is happening on board and that it may be linked to corporation called 'TerraTech'. Personally, I felt that the other crew members were too forgiving of Captain Johansen and I know I certainly would be angry at the betrayal but the crew quickly move on and try to deal with the ongoing threat. The ending absolutely crushed me and I felt so strongly for each of the crew members, Tanweer did a brilliant job of fleshing out his characters and really making them feel like people. 

My only wish would have been to know more about 'TerraTech' and why such a project would be allowed. It would have been great to know exactly what 'TerraTech' were planning and exactly how they were going to clean up the mess they had made.

For any sci-fi fans, this book is a must read!

My final rating is ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars).

About the author

(Picture taken from https://www.tanweerdar.com/about)

Tanweer Dar was born in Birmingham, UK. He is a qualified teacher and studied Ancient & Medieval History at the University. Tanweer enjoys sci-fi, horror and fantasy in the form of books and films. He has published horror, poetry, sci-fi, fantasy and a children's book. To learn more about Tanweer Dar, please visit his website at https://www.tanweerdar.com/about.

For purchase link, please click here.

Follow Tanweer Dar on Twitter at: @Tanweer_Dar

Chasing The Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar - [Review]

 Chasing The Boogeyman - by Richard Chizmar

[Review]

Synopsis

Written from the author Richard Chizmar's point of view tells a true crime story which whilst contains part truths, is actually a work of fiction. Richard Chizmar moves back to his childhood home Edgewood after finishing college but as luck would have it, a serial killer is tormenting the people of Edgewood by murdering and mutilating teenage girls which are then posed purposely for people to find. As Edgewood is a small town, Richard who is obsessed with the dark and morbid things in life, cannot help but find himself engrossed in the murders. Whilst Edgewood has had crimes in the past, nothing prepared them for this and people cannot help but to be convinced that something unnatural is the cause of these murders. People who were unfortunate to catch a glimpse of the suspected killer were certain that there was something supernatural about them and soon enough the killer is named 'The Boogeyman'. Whilst Richard finds himself wrapped up in the mess of the murders, he also suspects that The Boogeyman themselves is taunting him. 

My Review

This book is like no other, it is written as part memoir and part fiction which Richard does an absolutely stellar job in creating an authentic and thrilling true crime story. This book felt so real that I had to keep looking back to the beginning of the book where it states that the murders were completely and utterly fictional. 

It's based in 1988 where Richard has moved back to his parent's house to cut down on expenses to save for his upcoming wedding and to launch his horror magazine 'Cemetery Dance'. Richard often reflects on his childhood growing up in Edgewood and all the mischievous stunts that he pulled with his friends as children. I was so invested in this story from the beginning, it really felt like you are not only getting to know about the author Richard but have also entered into a dark and spine-tingling world of horror where there may be a supernatural killer lurking at every corner. 

Richard manages to get inside intel from his friend Carly, who conveniently is a journalist for the local newspaper. Carly's character is written so well, that you can perfectly picture who she was and you had a real grip on her personality. I was eager to learn more about Carly and what would happen to her in the aftermath of the killings. 

As if I wasn't already in the throws of this story, it also includes very realistic photographs of the crimes, victims and of various different parts of Edgewood. This was an excellent touch and made it feel all the more authentic, I was honestly convinced throughout most of the story that I was indeed reading a true crime story. 

After 30 years, the crimes are still unsolved until DNA shines a light on who 'The Boogeyman' really is, the ending was deliciously satisfying and the story that had begun as a marvellous concept was then executed perfectly. This is the best book that I have read in a long time and is certainly the only book of its kind that I have ever read. Do not hesitate in purchasing this book, it's a haunting and riveting book that is next to impossible to put down.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars).

About the author

(Photo taken from About Rich – Richard Chizmar) 

Richard Chizmar is a New Yorks Times bestselling writer, screenwriter, and producer. He is the co-author with Stephen King of the best-selling novella Gwendy's Button Box. Richard is also the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance Magazine and Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint.

Find out more about Richard Chizmar here. 

Follow Richard on Twitter at: @RichardChizmar

Find Richard on Facebook here.

Find Richard on Instagram here.

Visit Richard Chizmar's website: www.richardchizmar.com