Release date - 18th September 2018
Book length - 432 pages Publisher - St Martin's Press Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Justine from us.macmillan.com/smp/ for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review via Netgalley, I also have an extract to whet your appetite which you can read further on (thank you Justine!). ABOUT THIS BOOK Cambridge, Massachusetts, Fall 1988 Spenser Collins An unlikely Harvard prospect, smart and athletic, strapped for cash, determined to succeed. Calls his mother—who raised him on her own in Chicago—every week. Dalton Winthrop A white-shoe legacy at Harvard, he's just the most recent in a string of moneyed, privileged Winthrop men in Cambridge. He's got the ease—and the deep knowledge—that come from belonging. These two find enough common ground to become friends, cementing their bond when Spenser is "punched" to join the Delphic Club, one of the most exclusive of Harvard's famous all-male final clubs. Founded in the nineteenth century, the Delphic has had titans of industry, Hollywood legends, heads of state, and power brokers among its members. Dalton Winthrop knows firsthand that the Delphic doesn't offer memberships to just anyone. His great-uncle is one of their oldest living members, and Dalton grew up on stories of the club's rituals. But why is his uncle so cryptic about the Ancient Nine, a shadowy group of alums whose identities are unknown and whose power is absolute? They protect the Delphic's darkest and oldest secrets—including what happened to a student who sneaked into the club's stately brick mansion in 1927 and was never seen again. Dalton steers Spenser into deeper and deeper recesses of the club, and beyond, to try to make sense of what they think they may be seeing. But with each scrap of information they get from an octogenarian Crimson graduate, a crumbling newspaper in the library's archives, or one of Harvard's most famous and heavily guarded historical books, a fresh complication trips them up. The more the friends investigate, the more questions they unearth, tangling the story of the club, the disappearance, and the Ancient Nine, until they realize their own lives are in danger. MY REVIEW THE ANCIENT NINE by Ian K. Smith is an intriguing and compelling mystery set amongst the hallowed halls of the exclusive, member-only houses in Harvard, during the 1980's. Spenser Collins is not your usual candidate for membership in one of the most exclusive and powerful private member houses in Harvard but when he gets the invitation he is more than intrigued, as is his close friends Dalton Winthrop. As Dalton, a trust fund student who has a defiant relationship with his elitist father, fills Spenser in on the mystery that surrounds these clubs and the myths of murder and more that are associated with them, Spenser becomes even more intrigued by it all. What would they want with him? And as Spenser and Dalton get sucked in deeper into this land of privilege and secrecy, they will be in a lot more danger than they could ever have imagined. I found the premise of this novel very interesting and I loved the elements of research, history, and that extra something special that flowed through each page making me want to read more. The story is set during the 1980's among the breeding ground of the elite and is very realistic to the time period so there are a lot of misogynistic moments throughout which may not suit all readers, but sadly reflect the time frame. At its heart, this story is a cracking good mystery that will turn you into a detective as you try to piece it all together alongside the characters and I could definitely see this story translate easily onto our TV screens. Overall I enjoyed THE ANCIENT NINE by Ian K. Smith and would recommend it to all mystery fans. EXTRACT PROLOGUE Halloween Night, 1927 The Delphic Mansion Cambridge, Massachusetts EMPTY ROPES CLATTERED against flagpoles, and street signs flapped helplessly in the shadowy night. Two boys sneaked down a cobblestone path crowded with heavy bushes and enormous signs that warned against trespassing. They stood there for a moment, their bodies dwarfed by the gigantic brick mansion. “That’s enough, let’s turn around,” Kelton Dunhill whispered. He had large competent hands and knots of compact muscles that bulged underneath his varsity letter sweater. He carried a long silver flashlight he had borrowed from the superintendent’s office of his residential house. “I’m going all the way,” Erasmus Abbott said firmly. “I didn’t come this far to chicken out. Just a few more minutes and we’ll be inside.” Dunhill looked up at the tall wrought-iron fence that had been reinforced with solid wood planks to obstruct any potential view into the rear courtyard. He was a tough, scrappy kid, a varsity wrestler who had been undefeated in almost three years of college competition. He was many things, but a quitter was not one of them. Very little intimidated Dunhill, the son of a banker and elementary school music teacher, but when he looked up at the mansion’s towering spires and turrets set against the ominous sky and the royal blue flag that snapped so loudly in the wind, something made him feel uneasy. At that very moment, if Erasmus Abbott had not been standing next to him, he would’ve turned on his heels and run like hell. The only thing that kept his feet planted was his greater fear of the humiliation he would face once the others got word that the scrawny Abbott had showed bigger nerve. “If we get caught, we’ll be fried,” Dunhill said in his most persuasive voice, trying to sound rational rather than scared. “Technically speaking, we’re trespassing, and they can do anything they want to us since we’re on their property. I don’t need to remind you of what happened to A. C. Gordon.” Erasmus Abbott took the milk crates they had been carrying and stacked them in a small pyramid against the fence, then slipped on his gloves and pulled his hat down until it settled just above his eyes. He was dressed all in black. Now completely disguised, he turned and faced Dunhill. “There’s no proof Gordon ever made it this far,” Abbott contested. “And besides, I never believed the whole business about his disappearance anyway.” Abbott turned toward the platform of milk crates, then back at Dunhill, and said, “So what’s it going to be? I’m making history tonight with or without you. The answer is in there, and I’m not gonna stop till I find it.” “Jesus Christ,” Dunhill mumbled under his breath before pulling down his own skullcap and stepping up to the fence. It all started out as a dare, but Abbott had taken it more seriously than anyone expected. This would certainly not be the first time a student had tried to break into the well-guarded Delphic mansion. There had been many attempts over the years, but according to legend, the farthest anyone had gotten was the external foyer. No one had ever penetrated the interior. What most worried Dunhill, however, was that few had lived to share their story. “And what’s your plan once we get on the other side of the fence?” Dunhill said. Abbott ran his hand over the small canvas bag strapped to his waist. “Everything we need is in here,” he said. “Once we get to the back door, I’ll have the lock open in well under a minute.” Abbott had been practicing on diferent doors all over Quincy House in the middle of the night. His best-recorded time was twenty-nine seconds with a blindfold covering his eyes and a stopwatch hanging around his neck. Abbott was not particularly athletic, but he scaled the crates easily and in one motion hoisted himself over the top of the fence and its row of pointed spears. Dunhill heard him land hard on the other side, then made a small sign of the cross over his heart, climbed onto the crates, and hurled himself over the fence. He landed on the firm slate tiles with a jolt. They stood on the perimeter of a large courtyard dotted with elaborate marble sculptures and a fountain whose water sat motionless in a wide, striated basin. There were no lights to guide them, but moonlight cut through the heavy canopy of trees that towered overhead. A formidable, sturdy brick wall that was even taller than the fence they had just climbed surrounded them on two sides. Abbott had correctly chosen their entry point into the yard. A gust of wind sent small piles of leaves flying sideways from one corner of the courtyard to the next. The mansion was eerily dark except for the dull flicker of a light in a small window just underneath the sloping angle of the tiled roof. The enormous building looked cold and menacing and unforgiving. “She’s massive,” Abbott whispered. “I didn’t think she’d be this big. Must’ve cost them a king’s fortune to build it.” “It’s not empty,” Dunhill said, pointing at the lighted window. “I still say this isn’t a good idea. We’ve already proved our point. Let’s get the hell out of here while we still can.” Abbott pretended he hadn’t heard a word Dunhill said. He walked quietly across the courtyard toward a set of stairs that led to a large door with small panes and a brass doorknob that glistened under the moonlight’s glow. He cupped his face to the glass and looked inside. He turned and waved Dunhill over, but Dunhill remained motionless underneath the fence, still not believing they had actually gotten this far. Abbott unzipped the canvas bag, pulled out a couple of tools, and quickly went to work on the lock. That’s when Dunhill glimpsed a shadow moving across the courtyard. He looked up toward the lighted window and saw something that he would never forget. It was the ugliest, scariest, blackest face he had ever laid eyes on. His heart tightened in his chest, and his lungs constricted. He tried to scream but couldn’t get the air to move in his throat. He turned to Erasmus to warn him, but it was too late. The door was open, and he was already inside. Copyright © 2018 by Ian K. Smith in The Ancient Nine and reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Press. AUTHOR BIO Ian K. Smith is the author of nine New York Times bestselling nonfiction books, several of them, including Shred and Super Shred, #1 bestsellers, as well as one previous work of fiction, The Blackbird Papers. He is a graduate of Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. For more information: Website - doctoriansmith.com Twitter - twitter.com/driansmith Facebook - www.facebook.com/Dr.IanKSmith Instagram - www.instagram.com/doctoriansmith/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!
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Release date - 6th September 2018
Book length - 352 pages Publisher - Headline Review Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK 1939. Madeleine, an orphaned young woman, fears that life at her beautiful family home Summerhill will change for ever when her adored sister Georgina returns from London with a handsome and charming fiancé. Maddie fears that the man Georgina loves is not all he seems. And even idyllic Cornwall is falling under the shadow of war... Today. Chloe is newly pregnant. This should be a joyful time, but she is fearful for the future despite her husband's devotion. When her work takes her to Summerhill, she's drawn into the mystery of what happened there decades before. And the past reaches out to touch her in ways that could change everything... MY REVIEW SUMMER OF SECRETS by Nikola Scott is an excellent dual timeline story that beautifully expresses each time period with characters that will capture your heart. In 1939, Maddie has cocooned herself in the safety of Summerhill's grounds ever since the death of her father but she is content and has all she needs. Delighted that her beloved and often wild sister, Georgina, is returning home, Maddie knows that together the threat and fear of war won't harm them. But Georgina does not return alone and Maddie has a foreboding feeling that her future brother-in-law is a dangerous man. In the present day, Chloe appears to have the perfect life and now with her pregnancy, everything should be complete. But looks can be deceiving and beneath it all Chloe struggles with a controlling husband and worries over her very ill brother. When she finds herself in Summerhill, she is drawn to the history and mystery of the place, and will soon find a connection that could change her future in many ways. Compelling, descriptive, and very emotional, SUMMER OF SECRETS by Nikola Scott is everything you want in a story that blends past and present together. There are plenty of surprises along the way and I never felt that the detail was too drawn out or unnecessary. I loved both of the main characters and their time periods, but I did enjoy Chloe's parts of the book that little bit more but I don't really know why as the entire narrative is expertly written and gripping at all times. SUMMER OF SECRETS by Nikola Scott is an exceptional book and I look forward to reading more from this wonderful author. AUTHOR BIO Nikola Scott was born and raised in Germany and studied at university there. Having been obsessed with books from a young age, Nikola moved to New York City after her Master's degree to begin her first job in book publishing, a career in which she could fully indulge her love of fiction! She spent ten years working in publishing in New York and then in London, editing other people's books, before she decided to take the leap into becoming a full-time writer herself. She now lives in Frankfurt with her husband and two sons. For more information: Website - nikolascott.com Twitter - twitter.com/nikola_scott Facebook - www.facebook.com/NikolaScottAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/nikolascottauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! Available now in e-book
Paperback Release date - 20th September 2018 Book Length - 276 pages Publisher - Orenda Books Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK You need to know who your husband really was… When Paula Gadd’s husband of almost thirty years dies, just days away from the seventh anniversary of their son, Christopher’s death, her world falls apart. Grieving and bereft, she is stunned when a young woman approaches her at the funeral service, and slips something into her pocket. A note suggesting that Paula’s husband was not all that he seemed… When the two women eventually meet, a series of revelations challenges everything Paula thought they knew, and it becomes immediately clear that both women’s lives are in very real danger. Both a dark, twisty slice of domestic noir and taut, explosive psychological thriller, After He Died is also a chilling reminder that the people we trust the most can harbour the deadliest secrets… MY REVIEW This was my first time reading anything written by Michael J Malone, I know, where in God's name have I been living? But I can safely say that after finishing AFTER HE DIED I am happily buying everything this man has ever written. Yes, this book is that good! Paula Gadd had the perfect life - a son that she adored and a husband that made her feel cherished and wanted. After they lost their son to a hit and run accident, Paula and Thomas drifted apart a little but Paula never gave up hope that they would find their way back to each other again. But when a heart attack suddenly takes him away too, Paula is completely broken. As grief weighs her down, Paula finds a note suggesting that Paula didn't know her husband as well as she thought and as Paula begins to delve into the events leading up to her husband's death, it will spark a chain of events that is even more horrifying than she could ever imagine ... Absorbing, disturbing, and utterly unputdownable, AFTER HE DIED by Michael J Malone tackles the tough issues of grief, poverty, drugs, and betrayal while keeping the reader hooked from start to finish. My heart definitely went out to Paula throughout this book but it was Cara who really stood out for me - a character that took the crappy hand that life dealt her and decided to help those around her, to fight for justice, and to be who she needs and wants to be regardless of everyone else. There is a haunting tension that settles over you when you read this book and the pace is perfect, never bogging you down in unnecessary descriptions. There is so much more that I would love to say about AFTER HE DIED by Michael J Malone but I really don't want to give too much away and suffice it to say you really should read it yourself as quickly as possible. AFTER HE DIED by Michael J Malone is an engrossing story that is certainly making my top ten list for books to read this year - at this rate they will all be Orenda Books!! AUTHOR BIO Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns' country. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize from the Scottish Association of Writers. Other published work includes: Carnegie's Call; A Taste for Malice; The Guillotine Choice; Beyond the Rage; The Bad Samaritan and Dog Fight. His psychological thriller, A Suitable Lie, was a number-one bestseller, and the critically acclaimed House of Spines soon followed suit. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) has has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. For more information: Website - www.mjm-ink.com Twitter - twitter.com/michaelJmalone1 Facebook - www.facebook.com/themichaeljmalonepage/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!! Release date - 6th September 2018 (UK Paperback)
Book length - 272 pages Publisher - Orenda Books Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for giving me the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK When the body of a young mother is found washed up on the banks of the Mataura River, a small rural community is rocked by her tragic suicide. But all is not what it seems. Sam Shephard, sole-charge police constable in Mataura, soon discovers the death was no suicide and has to face the realisation that there is a killer in town. To complicate the situation, the murdered woman was the wife of her former lover. When Sam finds herself on the list of suspects and suspended from duty, she must cast said her personal feelings and take matters into her own hands. To find the murderer... and clear her name. MY REVIEW FINALLY!!!! Finally, it is my turn to share my thoughts on OVERKILL by Vanda Symon. Now those of you who read my blog regularly will know that I adore Orenda Books (and the wonderful Anne Cater for introducing me to them!) and that they cannot really do anything wrong in my eyes but with OVERKILL they have blown my expectations out of the water and completely frazzled my mind. This book is AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Ok, I'm going to get a grip of myself now and try to put it a little more succinctly just how amazing this story actually is - I just had to get that burst of excitement off my chest first 😉. Mataura is a small town in rural New Zealand where apart from the odd tractor theft, nothing that interesting really happens, but Sam Shephard, the local police officer, loves it in her own way. When local woman and mother, Gaby, is found in the river, it seems obvious to most people in the community that she committed suicide. But some things just don't seem to line up properly for Sam and when she starts digging she soon realises that she has a murder case on her hands. As the big guns come in to take over, soon Sam will find herself at the centre of their inquiry - after all, Gaby was the woman who married the man of her dreams and took the life that Sam should have been living - but nobody knows the people of Mataura like a local and Sam is determined to get justice for the woman she envied. Someone in their small town is a killer and she will do whatever it takes to find out who. First off, I have to comment on the Prologue. This throws you straight into the harrowing action and actually made me feel nauseous (I'm a mum so this part absolutely broke me). So from the outset, I knew I was going to be gripped to the very end and this proved to be true. The chapters are short and snappy which works perfectly to keep up the frantic energy surrounding the case and for holding my attention. Sam Shephard is a fantastic character who says it like it is and doesn't take any crap and I loved the relationship she has with Maggie. I inhaled this story within a couple of hours because I just had to know how it all would end and then when it was over, I had to take a moment to let it all digest. OVERKILL by Vanda Symon is EVERYTHING you want in a gripping thriller, combining a perfect mystery with excellent police work, and rounding it all off with excellent prose and a way to enthral a reader that defies description. OVERKILL is my favourite book from Orenda Books so far and I cannot wait to read more from Vanda Symon (which translates into everything she has ever written and will ever write!!), so buy this book now. Happy reading 📚 AUTHOR BIO Vanda Symon is a crime writer and broadcaster from Dunedin, New Zealand. Books in her Sam Shephard series have hit number one on the New Zealand bestseller list. and she has been a three-time finalist for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. She currently lives in Dunedin, with her husband and two sons. For more information: Website - www.vandasymon.com Twitter - twitter.com/vandasymon Facebook - www.facebook.com/vandasymonauthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/vandasymon/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!! Available Now
Book length - 266 pages Publisher - Crimson Cloak Publishing Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Rachel from www.rachelsrandomresources.com for giving me the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Josie James is an ordinary 13 year old until something extraordinary happens during her summer holidays. Whilst staying at her great grandmother’s cottage in the country she finds herself swept into the cursed world of Suncroft where it is perpetual winter. Her new friends believe she could be the Chosen One who it is foretold will lift the curse but there are more pressing matters. The Teardrops of Summer – magical crystals that render the owner immortal – have been stolen. Along with her telepathic husky-dog Protector Asher and her new friends, Josie must race to find the Teardrops and prevent catastrophe for their world. MY REVIEW JOSIE JAMES AND THE TEARDROPS OF SUMMER by Lily Mae Walters is a wonderful tale brimming with magic and mayhem, with an intelligent female character that will charm your socks off. Josie James is an ordinary girl with ordinary problems but when she visits her grandmother's house in the countryside she finds herself caught up in an adventure like no other. With magical worlds hidden within our own, creatures of all different types, and a curse that needs to be lifted by the Chosen One, Josie and her new friends have their work cut out for them. For if Josie doesn't stop the Teardrops of Summer from getting into the wrong hands, it could be the end of everything that she has come to care for. Very easy to read and suitable for all ages, JOSIE JAMES AND THE TEARDROPS OF SUMMER by Lily Mae Walters is a wonderful and entertaining story that will enchant all those who read it. I really enjoyed Josie's character and loved reading about a young, intelligent, compassionate girl who isn't afraid to be who she is and make a difference. The book is well-paced and there is never a dull moment from start to finish. Overall, this is a delightful, magical tale that will appeal to children and adult's alike and is definitely worth popping on to your to-buy list. AUTHOR BIO Lily Mae Walters chose her pen name in honor of her beloved Grandparents who also star in the Josie James series. She is married with two teenage children and two Huskies who are the inspiration behind Murphy and Asher in the books. Lily Mae lives in Nuneaton, England and finds herself using local places and even her old school in her stories. Family and friends mean the world to Lily Mae and many will find themselves popping up throughout the series. Lily Mae also writes for adults under the name of Florence Keeling. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/LilyMaeWalters1 DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! I was absolutely delighted when I was given the opportunity to read this wonderful collection of eclectic and important stories from canongate.co.uk (thank you so much Jamie!) that have entered the hallowed halls of The Canons, recognised for their importance and excellent craftsmanship of the written word. . Crime fiction, romance, historical fiction, and a little fantasy here and there are the staples of what I read day to day but every now and again I like to delve into something different, and classics have always held a special place on my bookshelf. With The Myths collection, Canongate has taken legendary tales and given them a twist or a new voice from some of the world's greatest contemporary writers, so where could they possibly go wrong? The simple answer is they can't go wrong. Each story has a fresh perspective with depth and substance that will make you reflect and ponder, and I enjoyed each and every one of these books for their exquisite prose that jumped off the page. If I had to pick a favourite it would have to be The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood but all of the other stories are breathtaking in their own right. I have to mention the stunning covers which really are a sight to behold and look wonderful on the shelf - eye-catching enough to make me stop and pick it up to re-read it again which is always its intention. Read on to find out all you need to know about each story and why not treat yourself to the complete set? Go on, you deserve it!
I want to thank Jamie again for providing me with such a special book parcel and I urge you all to add these wonderful books to your collection as soon as possible. Happy reading!!! Available Now
Book length - 282 pages Publisher - Self-Published Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Susie Murphy for providing me with an e-copy of her book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK It’s 1828, and Ireland is in turmoil as Irish tenants protest against their upper-class English landlords. Nineteen-year-old Bridget Muldowney is thrilled to return to the estate in Carlow she’ll inherit when she comes of age. But since she left for Dublin seven years earlier, the tomboy has become a refined young lady, engaged to be married to a dashing English gentleman. Cormac McGovern, now a stable hand on the estate, has missed his childhood friend. He and Bridget had once been thick as thieves, running wild around the countryside together. When Bridget and Cormac meet again their friendship begins to rekindle, but it’s different now that they are adults. Bridget’s overbearing mother, determined to enforce the employer-servant boundaries, conspires with Bridget’s fiancé to keep the pair apart. With the odds stacked against them, can Bridget and Cormac’s childhood attachment blossom into something more? MY REVIEW A CLASS APART by Susie Murphy is a richly detailed, historical tale of love against all odds and I enjoyed it from start to finish. In 1828 Bridget Muldowney is happy to return to Carlow and is no longer the little rascal that she used to be, but rather a refined and intelligent young lady with a wealthy English fiancè. Her childhood friend, Cormac, now works on the estate and while you would imagine that their altered lives would mean they no longer have anything in common, this does not prove to be the case. As they get reacquainted, their friendship blossoms as they learn so much about what has happened in the intervening years, and as they spend more time together, their feelings only grow stronger. But there are those who will do anything to keep them apart ... A CLASS APART by Susie Murphy is like a tapestry upon the wall - wonderful to look upon and as you focus closely on each part it unveils even more to the eye. As you read this story you will fall deeper and deeper into the history of Ireland at the time, into the characters themselves, and into the emotions that are so vividly described that you cannot help but be caught up in it all too. The harsh reality of life for many is touched upon but ultimately this is a story about love and its power and strength. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next in this series. AUTHOR BIO Susie Murphy is an Irish historical fiction author. She loves historical fiction so much that she often wishes she had been born two hundred years ago. Still, she remains grateful for many aspects of the modern age, including women’s suffrage, electric showers and pizza. A Class Apart is the first volume in Susie's A Matter of Class series, which begins in Ireland in 1828. For more information: Website - susiemurphywrites.com Twitter - twitter.com/susiemwrites Facebook - www.facebook.com/susiemurphywrites/ Release date - 6th September (Paperback)
Book length - 368 pages Publisher - Trapeze (Orion Books) Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Tracy Fenton for giving me the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and Alainna for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK A surprising and emotional story starring an unforgettable heroine, for fans of Together, The Lovely Bones and The Time Traveller's Wife When Rachel and Aidan fell in love, they thought it was forever. She was a brilliant, high-flying scientist. He was her loving and supportive husband. Now she's gone, and Aidan must carry on and raise their daughter alone. But Rachel has left behind her life's work, a gift of love to see them through the dark days after her death. A gift called iRachel. MY REVIEW THE AFTER WIFE by Cass Hunter is a powerful and impressive story that really took me by surprise and made me quite emotional. Rachel and Aidan have a marriage based on a deep and everlasting love. While Rachel is a high-powered, extremely intelligent scientist, Aidan is content to work in a more relaxed setting while taking care of their fifteen-year-old daughter, Chloe. But when Rachel dies very suddenly, Aidan and Chloe are lost and miss her more than words can say while feeling every possible emotion under the sun as they grieve. But Rachel was nothing if not organised and has left them something to ease their way over the next few months, in the shape of iRachel, a special robot that looks, talks, and interacts like Rachel with Rachel's memories programmed into its core. But iRachel is more than just a robot and as she develops alongside this family, everything becomes heightened for everyone involved, and then there are those who would take iRachel away if they knew she existed ... THE AFTER WIFE by Cass Hunter portrays the grief and shock surrounding sudden loss excellently throughout and I really felt for Chloe in particular who missed her mum so much while also feeling angry and upset that their relationship wasn't as easy and comfortable as she would have wished for. While Aidan and Chloe struggle initially with iRachel, it isn't long before they find some peace from it, and then as the story continues iRachel became a person and character in her own right to me, and my heart broke for her as she became aware of her own limitations and restrictions. THE AFTER WIFE by Cass Hunter is a unique and enthralling story that makes you question life and whether we are living it to the fullest with those that we love, and while technology is obviously amazing in so many ways it makes you question, is there a point where we, as a society, can go too far? This novel is a gripping read and I highly recommend it to fiction fans everywhere. AUTHOR BIO Cass Hunter was born in South Africa and moved to the UK in 2000. She lives in North London with her husband and two sons. Cass Hunter is the pen name of Rosie Fiore, whose novels include After Isabella, What She Left, Babies in Waiting and Wonder Women. For more information: Website - www.casshunterwriter.com Twitter - twitter.com/C_HunterAuthor Facebook - www.facebook.com/casshunterwriter/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!! |
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