Book Review: All The Rage by Cara Hunter
A girl is taken from the streets of Oxford. But it’s unlike any abduction DI Fawley’s seen before . . .
Faith Appleford was attacked, a plastic bag tied over her head, taken to an isolated location . . . and then, by some miracle, she escaped.
What’s more, when DC Erica Somer interviews Faith, she quickly becomes convinced that Faith knows who her abductor is.
Yet Faith refuses to press charges.
Without more evidence, it’s looking like the police may have to drop the case.
But what happens if Faith’s attacker strikes again?
I was very excited to be invited to take part in the blog tour for All The Rage, the latest book from Cara Hunter.
A girl is found in a state, walking along the side of the road. It is obvious she has been attacked.
DI Adam Fawley and his team have little to go on, especially as the victim doesn’t want to press charges.
When a second girl disappears, Adam knows time is short.
This story really played on my fears. I did creep myself out whilst reading, jumping at little noises.
Cara Hunter is becoming one of my favourite authors in this genre.
This story did have a slightly different feel than the others I’ve read but in my opinion, that wasn’t a bad thing.
by 
Book Extract: Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall by Alison Sherlock
I am happy to be welcoming Alison Sherlock and the blog tour for her book, Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall.
Here’s a little about the book:
Romance blossoms under the stars in this feel good love story for fans of Milly Johnson and Heidi Swain.
Lily Harper is an events organiser, but her neat, ordered world has just exploded. First she lost her job, then she lost her fiancé. Her five-year plan is looking increasingly shaky.
Lost and lonely, Lily heads home to her childhood village, and accepts the position of live-in housekeeper at the grand but welcoming Willow Tree Hall. It’s not exactly her dream job – Lily is more used to arranging parties than pantries – but at least she’s working.
Her first task is to arrange the Willow Tree Hall summer fete. Lily is in her element, writing to-do lists and organising bunting and baking – until her old flame Jack Carter turns up in the village. Lily hasn’t seen Jack in over ten years, when he sped off on his motorbike, taking with him the pieces of her broken heart.
Lily vowed she would never forgive him. But as Willow Tree Hall weaves its magic, Lily finds she might just give Jack a second chance after all…
Full of warmth, tears, love and laughter, this is a gripping romance for fans of Heidi Swain and Philippa Ashley.
Alison and Aria have shared an extract today. Enjoy.
***** beginning of extract*****
Lily looked around the room again for Mark but couldn’t see him. Perhaps he was in the gents’, trying out his speech. She wondered what he would say. Would he go down on one knee, even in the middle of the dancefloor? She secretly hoped so. That was how she had always wanted it to be done. And now the time was finally near.
A small frown creased her forehead. In fact, the time was actually a little overdue according to her life plan. She had wanted to get engaged on her birthday, but Mark had given her a lovely necklace instead of a ring. He knew about her plans to be engaged by the time she was thirty, so he only had until her next birthday to propose.
But she could forgive him for the short delay, as it was such a glorious setting that summer evening and would make an amazing story to tell their children. Perhaps they would come back to the Natural History Museum when the kids were old enough to understand.
‘And that’s where Daddy proposed to Mummy. Right by that dinosaur.’
Lily smiled expectantly at her reflection in the hallway mirror. She tucked a stray lock of red hair behind her ear, but her ponytail and simple makeup had remained in place. Her green eyes were framed with just a lick of dark mascara, her lips painted with a natural matte colour. Nice and neat. Nothing too outlandish.
by My Writing Ramblings – Goodbye January, Hello February
We are about to say goodbye to January and greet February.
My niece turned 21 this month and if there is one thing that has done, it’s made me aware of time.
As I get older, I am finding that time is going so much quicker. It was something my Mum would warn me about but it’s easy to take time for granted.
Time. We always think we have more than we do.
Amongst other things, I have been thinking about the time I give to writing.
For many years, I have wanted to write a novel. It’s been my dream for a long time. Yet, I don’t allow myself the time and commitment it needs.
Why don’t I?
Confidence and not knowing where to begin are elements for sure, but I am coming to the belief that I am not respecting my goal to be a writer. Or in fact, my right to call myself a writer.
“I don’t have time.” “I would have done it but I ran out of time.”
These reasons are how I have justified it. When I sit back and look at it though, I realise that they are simply excuses.
by My January Favourites
Columbia Pictures
January favourites time. My first of 2020.
I love reading posts like this as you never know what you’re going to discover. So without further ado, let’s get into it.
My film favourite for January was Little Women.
Starring Emma Watson, Laura Dern and Saoirse Ronan, this adaptation was directed by Greta Gerwig.
I was one of those people who was a little sceptical about a new adaption of this novel. I didn’t hate the 1994 version but, like many classic novels, there are many.
I saw this one with a friend who is as in love with this story as I am.
The beginning was slightly confusing but when it becomes clear how the timeline is set up, it had a huge amount of charm. It’s a lovely adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel. I know I haven’t got much to compare it to seeing as we are only in January but it’s my favourite film so far this year. Upcoming films I do want to see include A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood starring Tom Hanks, Emma (yes, another adaptation,) and Bill and Ted Face The Music. It’s part of a classic series. Don’t judge me. Hahaha.
My favourite app this month is Procreate.
For anyone who is in to digital art or digital planning knows all about the Procreate app. I am in no way an artist but by following many tutorials online and things like drawing assistance, it has allowed me to produce doodles and artwork.
This app has so many incredible features and if you have an iPad or an iPhone then Procreate is a great app if you want to do creative things. It helps me when I am creatively blocked.
I am not being paid to say great things about them. I just love this app.
Netflix
The TV show I have been bingeing this month is Suits on Netflix.
The last series has been available for a while but I have been putting it off because I don’t want it to end. The law firm in this series has had more name changes than I’ve had pens though. I own a lot of pens.
I couldn’t put it off any longer thanks to someone I work with saying how good the last series was. I am loving this last lot of episodes and it is filling the void whilst I wait for the new series of Lucifer and Line of Duty later in the year.
It also makes a nice change from all the crime documentaries I have been watching.
I am going to miss Harvey when he goes. I have enjoyed Suits as a whole but I guess everything has to come to an end.
Abbie Emmons is my favourite You Tube channel for January.
by February Upcoming Book Releases
Michael Joseph
There has already been some great book releases already this year and we’ve only just made it through January.
With February approaching, I wanted to share some upcoming book releases that I am excited about.
The first book is from the fabulous Marian Keyes. Grownups is due to be released on 6th February and it sounds fantastic.
The basic premise is that the Caseys are glamorous. Three brothers, Johnny, Ed and Liam, their wives and kids. They spend a lot of time together. Birthdays, anniversaries and weekends away.
Things bubble under the surface though and secrets start to spill out. Each one of the adults eventually start to wonder whether it’s time to grow up.
Another novel due out on 6th February is Perfect Kill by Helen Fields. This is book six in the DI Callanach series.
Piatkus
Avon
Bert Campbell is alone in the dark with little chance of being found alive. He’s found himself locked inside a shipping container miles from his Edinburgh home.
DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach separate cases soon collide and with many lives at stake, they face an impossible task but failure is not an option.
Staying in the same genre, Golden in Death is the latest novel from J.D. Robb (the pseudonym of Nora Roberts) and it’s the new novel in the Eve Dallas series.
When Kent Abner is found dead in his home, Detective Eve Dallas and her team have a real mystery on their hands.
Who would want to kill the baby doctor, model husband and father?
by Book Club
