ONE STEP TOO FAR BY LISA GARDNER Hardback Published by Century 20th January 2022
A Young man disappears during a stag weekend in the woods.
Years later, he is still missing.
But his friends who were with him that day are still searching for him. Still hunting for answers.
They hike deep into the wilderness. With them is missing person specialist Frankie Elkin.
What they don’t know is that they are putting their own lives in terrifying danger, and may not come back alive.
MY REVIEW
One Step Too Far is one of the most gripping thrillers of 2022.
Lisa Gardner is one of my favourite authors, where she always gives her readers a different topic of writing in every book. One Step Too Far is my favourite with its theme set in the woods.
Five guys set out into the woods for a bachelor party weekend, but little do they know that five guys, will become four. They have all been friends since college, and have very good experience in camping.
The five guys set up two tents, with two men in two tents, but Tim, the future groom , has a tent all to himself as this is his last night being single and sleeping alone.
By morning Tim and his friends realise that one of them is missing.
When the missing guy turns up, there’s a bigger search with the Sheriff, leading the search team, as Tim has gone missing, who was going to be married, and had his life mapped out with his future wife, to be. The question is if he never left the woods where did he go?
Praise for One Step To Far
Her plots and characters just don’t let you go, Lisa Gardner is at the top of the game by Kathy Reich
No one owns this corner of the crime genre the way Lisa Gardner does by Lee Child.
Lisa Gardner’s fast–paced novels twist when you expect a turn, and turn when you expect a twist. I couldn’t recommend her moreby author Karin Slaughter
I would like to thank century books for inviting me to take part in this fabulous blog tour, as I always look forward to Lisa Gardner’s new novels. Thank you so much for sending me a proof copy to read and review❤️
ABOUT AUTHOR LISA GARDNER
Research for One Step To Far
Lisa Gardner’s lead character for her first new series in over a decade was inspired by a BBC article she read about the incredible civilians who dedicatetheir lives to solving missing people cold cases. After exploring more about this amazing group of internet detectives and amateur P. IS, Kisa was inspired to write about a woman dedicating her life to finding missing people that the police and media too soon forget about. As with all her novels, Lisa conducted extensive interviews with law enforcement and missing persons specialists to uncover how people can simply disappear without a trace.
ABOUT LISA GARDNER
At the tender age of 27 Lisa Gardner became an overnight success with the publication of her first thriller, The Perfect Husband. Launching at the top of the New YorkTimes bestseller list, Lisa has since become an international bestseller of over 20 thriller novels, including the number one NYTbestselling series, the FBIProfiler series, the Detective D.D. Warren series and the Tessa Leoni series. She has had 4 books adapted into TV movies. At the Midnight Hour, The Perfect Husband, The Survivors Club and Hide, and has also made personal appearances on TruTV and CNN . Her novel, The Neighbour, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers and the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognised with the Daphne du Maurer Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter. Lisa received the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers in 2017 for her work on behalf of at-risk-children and the Humane Society.
A Balancing Kind of Love by Joanna CatesIndependently published 28th September 2021
Kirsty Young, a 40-year-old single woman, is at a crossroads in her life. She works hard and enjoys socialising, especially with her best friend Henrietta Green and the rest of the gang. However, something is missing. Has she left it too late to meet Mr Right and become a mother? With life-changing decisions to make, she packs her bags and travels off to Ibiza and Cyprus on a six-month sabbatical. Max Bright, now in charge of the family business, Brightside Hotels, is emotionally exhausted. All the travelling and keeping an eye on his mother and playboy brother is taking its toll. He is unhappy with his lifestyle, and he wants balance. Is there room in his life for romance? Max and Kirsty’s paths cross and it isn’t love at first sight. Fortunately, they head off in different directions. When fate and a little help from their friends intervene, they meet again. Is there such a thing as a second chance?
MY REVIEW
As soon as I received this book through the post I started reading it. When I looked at the envelope I thought oh wow! wow! Joanna Cates doesn’t live far from me, and I often go shopping for clothes in her home town.
ABalancing Kind of Love is book 2 in the Love is Crystal Clear Trilogy.
I loved reading A Balancing Kind of Love as it is a lovely relaxing novel, one that I recommend specially if you love opening a book and reading hot romance, with laugh out lines.
Single forty year old Kirsty Young, is finally ready to grow up. She isn’t happy with her life, all she wants to do is meet somebody, fall in love, and perhaps have a baby.
Kirsty packed her suitcase, with a Crystal dildo, and set off to stay with friends in Ibiza. She can’t wait to just sit by the pool and relax.
While at the airport she loses her cool with an inpatient man, but little does Kirsty know that soon she will meet him again and his mother.
Let’s talk about sexy romance!
Kirsty’s steamy adventure, is a page turner.
At Kirsty’s friends house she is left all alone. Kirsty’s fun is hotting up. In the heat of the sun with Kirsty in a bikini, she has sex with the pool man.
For the love of my favourite fun filled character Kirsty, I couldn’t wait to see if she would finally find romance.
If you love watching Emily in Paris TV series, you will love reading about Kirsty in her holiday destinations Ibiza, and Cyprus.
I would like to thank zooloos blog tours for very kindly inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for the author sending me a lovely paperback ❤️
About author Joanna Cates
Joanna Cates is married to a patient and kind man and is a mum to four children. She has a vivid imagination and is a born romantic. Although Joanna spent her working life as an accountant, she’s always felt far too creative for mere numbers—for which she blames her beloved mother, who introduced Joanna to Catherine Cookson and Stephen King at an early age.
Joanna loves photography, travelling, reading, health & fitness, and socialising with her friends & vodka. Easily distracted, Joanna visualises many of her tall tales while doing the housework.
Two years ago, Joanna decided that she wanted to write a book, oh and also to have a new wardrobe. She’s still waiting for the wardrobe.
Love is Crystal Clear is Joanna’s debut romance novel.
Breaking Fee by Eva Jean is aboutrecognising and surviving controlling behaviour.
If you are suffering from domestic abuse you must read this book. It will show you how to safely escape. I know you will think it’s impossible to leave your husband or partner but in truth you can.
Some women think that domestic violence is kicking you, grabbing you, strangling you, but Eva points out in her book there other forms of control.
There’s social control, medical social control, and more extreme social control. There’s financial control. Then there is where you have been treated badly through sexual control. Being controlled is really emotional. I know all about it I have been through it. I lost a lot of weight, weighing just 5 stone, through my ex husband demands and controlling. The best thing I ever did nearly 40 years ago was I made a plan how I was going to escape from him with my baby. I have been very lucky to have fallen in love again with my wonderful partner who I have been with for 29 years, who I’m relaxed to be around.
This book helps you to seek outside help. It lists all the people you can talk to.
If you are in need of someone to talk to please, please, contact helpline@womansaid.org.uk who have a online chat service 7 days a week, from 10am to 6pm.
My thanks to the book network for invitingmeto take part in the blog tour .
HOPE AND LEARNING Our Journey With Schizophrenia Linda Snow-Griffin
Published by Cherish Editions 30th September 2021
When her son was diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Linda Snow-Griffin, a psychologist in private practice, felt devastated and overwhelmed. There were thousands of questions going through her mind: How can I help him? What does he need to get better? Will he be able to get better?
This book combines personal experience with schizophrenia with substantial data to create a heartwarming and informative resource.
Hope and Learning narrates the 20-year journey Linda and her son embarked on, as they navigated their way towards recovery and a better understanding of what it is like to live with schizophrenia.
MY REVIEW
I have heard of the word schizophrenia, but haven’t fully known the meaning of the word and what someone would go through with schizophrenia.
Reading this book has educated me on this subject of schizophrenia.
This is the biography and autobiography personal memoir by Linda Snow Griffin ph.D.
It’s a brave decision for Linda Snow-Griffin to tell her story about her son’s schizophrenia.
It was 20 years ago that Linda who is a psychologist discovered that her son, Jacob, was suffering from schizophrenia. Linda first found out that her son, Jacob had schizophrenia by looking at Jacob’s notebook with the words written on it, My Schizophrenia Notebook.
At first she was in denial that her son had schizophrenia, after reading them words on Jacob’s notebook.
Jacob had the classic signs of schizophrenia hearing numerous voices in his head telling him what he had to do. The most upsetting thing here is if Jacob disobeyed this voice, he would get headaches. To block out the interference of the voices he would listen to music.
When Jacob was diagnosed with schizophrenia, Linda foundit difficult to come to terms it. I think think that any mother at first would be shocked knowing their child is suffering from schizophrenia.
In the past if someone were diagnosed with schizophrenia, they could expect months, if not years of hospitalization. Now thankful medical and psychological research, medicationsand treatmentshave improved.
I would like to thank literallypr for sending me this book for an honest review and for very kindly inviting me to take part in this special blog tour.
ABOUT LINDA SNOW GRIFFIN
Linda Snow-Griffin, Ph.D. has recently retired after thirty years from her private psychology practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. She worked with children and adults and specialized in hypnosis, trauma, and cognitive interventions. She has been active in the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and the Cincinnati Society of Clinical Hypnosis. She is a member of the Cincinnati Academy of Professional Psychology, Ohio Psychological Association, and the American Psychological Association. She served for seven years on the Butler County Mental Health Board. Prior to living in Ohio, she directed the counseling center at Eckerd College and was a staff psychologist and EAP Director at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
At the age of 61, Cassandra, a single and peripatetic Brit, was asked to pack up her house and move to Italy to take up the offer of a much-needed job. 15 months later she was made redundant, leaving her unnerved, broke and unable to return home. Her dream of a new life was rapidly turning into a nightmare and, saddled with all her belongings, her antique furniture, over 800 books and her aged Siamese cat she had nowhere to go.
A kind friend offered them sanctuary in a tiny converted former barn in his family’s ‘Borgo’, a cluster of rustic properties grouped around a late-Medieval manor House in the mountains; the beautiful and mysterious Emilian Appenines of northern Italy. There she was befriended and watched over by the owner; an eccentric octogenarian, his household ghosts and 14 semi feral cats.
The experience proved to be challenging yet deeply transformative as she struggled to recover her equilibrium and rebuild her life.
MY REVIEW
Tales From The Hamlet by Cassandra Campbell Kemp is an page turning memories of Italy. I’m such a big fan of Cassandra’s books. Cassandra bravely opens up about her own life and family.
Cassandra made me laugh, while she was at boarding school she discovered a way of being funnymaking people laugh. Cassandra being quite bright at languages got A in French and Russian. How amazing Cassandra spent 30 years living and working in Spain, Greece and Italy, and travelled to many other countries where she did business with and made friends in all of them. With a low point in Cassandra’s private life she suffered some health problems, but bravely had a gastric bypass with amazingly loosing half her body wein just an incredible 18 months.
Cassandra’s parents moved to a beautiful 200 year old house in a village on the outskirts ofPalma de Mallorca. But when Cassandra was working in Greece she returned to work in London, where sadly Cassandra there’s difficult times ahead as she has to help her parents through difficulties .
Tales From The Hamlet by Cassandra Campbell Kemp is one of best women’s biographies.
ABOUT AUTHOR CASSANDRA
Cassandra is a somewhat eccentric, fiercely independent, and unconventional former senior international real estate executive who spent over 30 years living and working in various European countries, including Italy, Greece and Spain.
As a single woman, she lived happily alone and unencumbered, falling in love with the countries and their people, culture and food. She made lifelong friends, learnt several languages, and had lots of adventures. Among other things, she was mistaken for an opera singer (and somewhat worryingly asked to sing!) in Poland, and drinking litres of Ouzo in Greece, while trying to negotiate a real estate deal with a local crime lord. She learnt to count in Greek whilst playing Blackjack in a casino in Thessaloniki, has been stopped by Russian Mafia in Poland who were posing as local speed cops and who were somewhat surprised when she spoke to them in Russian – made them laugh and thus escaped with her car and her life intact. A life that has been anything but “normal”!
Now happily (and safely) retired and back in the UK, She lives alone with her rescue cat Felix and her somewhat eclectic library in a quintessential 17th century cottage.
Jason considered himself a hyper ambitious, productive type before his diagnosis. At age 20, he envisioned his ten year plan to include performing Pink Floyd concerts in Tanzania, writing a novel,starting a podcast, obtaining two phDs, developing Wegner’s Corporation, founding two charities and becoming a teacher. But these optimistic and grandiose ambitions would quickly meet with depression, lethargy and self-loathing. Manic Man uncovers Jason’s journals of his profound mood swings and psychosis that would eventually lead to a full-blown manic episode.
MY REVIEW
As I was reading all about Jason’s manic episodes I thought this is a raw read, one of the toughest books about mental illness that I have ever read.
I really learned quite a lot about bipolar disorders that I didn’t know before reading Manic Man. I didn’t even know that bipolar disorder effects one out of every 100 people.
As Manic Man is a true account I believe this book would be a great book club choice to discuss its chapter sections and for everyone to express their feelings and give support for those who suffer from bipolar disorders.
I feel that it is very brave of Jason Werner talk openly about how he was wheeled into the acute psychiatry ward in a hospital, suffering from Bipolar 1 disorder which is a mental illness that causes mood, energy, activity levels, concentration and the ability to carry out day to day tasks.
Jason in quite open about these are known as manic episode. With bipolar 1 that usually requires hospitalisation. The deepest question is what is it like living with bipolar 1 disorder, well this was my favourite part of the story Jason explains what’s it’s like and how to recover from it. My second favourite part of the book is how Jason talks about depression. So many people go through depression but the hardest part is explaining what depression is to someone who has never experienced it, and the side effects to depression are discussed.
For Jason the writing process of this book is part of his treatment of how he ended up in hospital and with confronting his actions into his behaviour during his manic episodes, and to come to terms with his severe mental illness.
I would like to thank literally pr for sending me Manic Man to read and review and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
Paperback/hardback published by Moonflower Books 2nd December 2021
Fourteen year old Bluebonnet Andrews is on the run across the republic of Texas. An accident with a gun killed her best friend but everyone in the town of Blessing thinks it was murder. And murder is punishable by death.
On the road, she meets Jet, a pregnant young woman born in Mexico. Jet wants to abort the pregnancy the result of rape. But the penalty for abortion is death.
Together, they want to get to America. But first they will have to get across the lawless Republic and over the wall. And Texas will not let them go without a fight.
MY REVIEW
Blue Running is a gripping coming of age thriller set in post secessionist Texas. As possible as today’s headlines. For fans of Station Eleven and Thelma and Louise. When guns are law nothing is forgiven. Lori Stephens is a massive new talent in the literary fiction thriller scene.
Blue Running pulls no punches it’s a fast paced page turning, chilling thriller that is unforgettable and important.
I was amazed at finding out Blue Running is the authors Lori Stephens first book to be published in the UK.
I found the paperback Blue Running very easy to get into.
Bluebonnet Andrews and Maggie Wisdom are best friends. But both of their lives are completely different.
When Bluebonnet turned fourteen Maggie Wisdom moved into her home town in Blessing.
Maggie wore fancy clothesand had a rich daddy. The Wisdom family live in one of the biggest houses in Blessing.
Blue wears ugly clothes and her father is a policeman but are very poor and live in a mobile house.
In Blessing it’s the rules that everyone should carry a gun, even ninth grade pupils.
Blue and Maggie have a fall out, with Blue desperately wanting to be friends again with Maggie, she goes to Maggie’s house to say sorry, when a tragic accident happens in maggie’s house with Blue’s gun, killing Maggie.
I would like to say a huge thank you tomidaspr for inviting me to take part in thisvery special book .
I would like to thank midspr for sending me an early proof copy to read and review and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
ABOUT LORI ANN STEPHENS
Lori Ann Stephens is an award winning author whose American published novels include Novalee and the Spider Secret, Some of the Orange Moons. Her short stories have appeared in Glimmer Train Stories, and other literary presses. She is also the winner of The Chicago Tribune’s Nelson Algren Awards. A lifelong Texan, she’s seen the best and worst of her home estate and has come to the conclusion that Texans are truly fabulous at heart. She teaches creative writing and critical reasoning at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Lori Ann Stephens lives in Texas with her family.
PAPERBACK PUBLISHED BY RED DOOR PRESS16TH SEPTEMBER 2021
240 pages
ISBN 9781913062668
Ilana’s important work illustrates the raw nuts and bolts of life, and it is soul food for grounding, healing and discovery of one’s spiritual core. There are so many unveiled truths effortlessly presented that our society needs to hear. May her words touch your spirit as they have mine.
Maegan Coker, Spiritual Medium, Intuitive
Ilana Estelle grew up not knowing she had a disability; it took forty-six years for her to find out that she was living with cerebral palsy. Spirituality has helped Ilana on her journey and in this book she uses her experience of mental and physical disability in the healing process, to create positivity and healing for others.
Based on her own experiences of spirituality and healing, she shows how focusing on values such as understanding, compassion, tolerance, creativity and acceptance can help us find our inner calm.
This book will help you to:
– Improve emotional balance and wellness
– Boost confidence and self-esteem
– Stay self-aware, grounded and patient
– Appreciate life and each other
– Accept changing circumstances
– Enhance positive emotions and personal healing
Packed with inspiring messages and real life vignettes, Ilana’s book shows how spirituality can help us cope with the modern world and reset our moral compass.
MY REVIEW
I am interested in spirituality healing and how different types of people help themselves through spirituality healing.
I found it incredible how Ilana, who suffers from cerebral palsy, has found spirituality healing a help in her life .
For anyone struggling with an health issue this self help book is your guide and inspiration, taking you through what is spirituality, Spirituality as belief system, Nurturing a spiritual life, Spirituality a way of life and through the process.
Ilana’s first introduction into spirituality and healing was when she finally decided it was time for her to stop ignoring the Paranormal phenomenon that had occurred around her for as long as she could remember.
This may be happening to other people, that feel like they are spiritual in some way. Ilana has taken steps to offer a guide into into spirituality and healing your self.
You to can discover self-healing by understanding your own body, thoughts and emotions, through Ilana Estelle’s book , as Ilana helps readers through different stages, how spiritual you are depends on how you get to make the connection between your emotional spiritual health.
Spirituality Healing and Me by Ilana Estelle is a very interesting book to read that opens your eyes up to another way of healing through difficult times.
About the author
Ilana was born with a disability she didn’t know she had until the age of 46, when through her medical notes she discovered she had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of 2.
That discovery turned out to be a unique and life-changing experience that has forced Ilana to stand back and look at her life experiences differently. On her late diagnosis, Ilana set up her website The CP Diary and uses her experiences to explore her emotional and physical health, with an inspiring message advocating resilience and change.
Ilana likes to spend her days writing and blogging about anything that contributes to her health and wellbeing. She is an animal advocate and is passionate about environmental issues. When she is not writing to tending to her blog, Ilana enjoys days out exploring the Yorkshire countryside.
Ilana lives with her husband and their much-loved cat, in Yorkshire. Her grown up son and daughter both live in London.
THE CRYSTAL CRYPT POPPY DENBY INVESTIGATES BY FIONA VEITCH SMITH
Paperback published by Lion Hudson 19th November 2021
But accidents can still happen. Perhaps there was something out of her control, something she couldn’t have foreseen. Like someone plotting to kill her.
Reporter Sleuth, Poppy Denby, is asked to investigate the mysterious death of an up and coming female scientist in an Oxford laboratory known as the Crystal Crypt. The official verdict is that Dr June Leighton died in a tragic accident, but Dr Leighton’s lab assistant believes it wasmurder. However when Poppy discovers that the colleague has spent time in a mental institution and has an unresolved murder in her own past, Poppy wonders if she is being misled. But then, another female academic is attacked and Poppy herself becomes a target.
MY REVIEW
The Crystal Crypt is the sixth book in the Poppy Denby investigates series. After reading my much loved book in the series, The Art Fiasco, I instantly became a fan of Poppy Denby.
When I found out the author Fiona Veitch Smith had published another book in the series The Crystal Crypt, I just had to read it. What I like about this series is that any of the books can be readas a stand-alone.
Reporter Poppy Denby in 1920 on her first day in her job for The Daily Globe, had to take up her first case, with a political editor of the paper she was working for is found dead in a mysterious circumstances.
When an Oxford young female DSc graduate from Somerville College was found dead by electrocution, Poppy Denby can’t investigate without any evidence that this was no accident. This death of Dr June Leighton, triggers Poppy into the journey to find out more about her life.
I would like to thank Lion Hudson for sending me this brilliant new novel by Fiona Veitch Smith to read and review and for very kindly inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
About Author Fiona Veitch Smith
Fiona Veitch Smith has workedas a journalist and universitylecturer. Her debut novel in the Poppy Denby Investigates series, The Jazz Files, was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association’s Historical Dagger Award.
Here is the listof all Poppy Denby investigates books by author Fiona Veitch Smith.
Ten years ago, the disappearance of firearms police officer Jonah Colley’s young son almost destroyed him.
A GRUESOMEDISCOVERY
A plea for help from an old friend leads Jonah to Slaughter Quay, and the discovery of four bodies. Brutally attacked and left for dead, he is the only survivor.
A SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH
Under suspicion himself, he uncovers a network of secrets and lies about the people he thought he knew forcing him to question what really happened all these years ago.
MY REVIEW
This one if the best thrillers I have read in a long time. I personally think that this thriller should be made into a film.
Please don’t miss ordering your copy of The Lost ( Jonah Colley book 1,) ahead for 2022.
Ten years ago his son disappeared. It’s not the missing who are in danger. It’s those left behind.
The Lost is the first book that I read by the international bestselling author and it won’t be my last. After reading The LostI’m following the author closely for his next release.
Author Simon Beckett certainly knowshow to write a good thriller that gave me the shrivers.
Gavin and Jonah had been best friends since school and joined the Met doing their training together.
Jonah was meeting Gavin at an old derelict warehouse called Slaughter House, not a place to be in the dark. If I was watching this as a film I would have shut my eyes as what happened in the Slaughter House is really scary.
Ten years ago Jonah Colley takes his son Theo to the park where he goes missing, all Jonah can find is Theo’s bobble hat. Firearms police officer Jonah blames himself for his son’s disappearance.
The Lost is a brilliant twisting police procedural where Jonah Colley becomes under suspicion himself
Simon Beckett has written a cast of characters that I loved reading about, with believable dialogue, and I enjoyed the how the author weaved the present day and the past scenes.
If you like reading police procedurals that are tension filled then I recommend The Lost to you.
Wow ! I’m so greatful to compulsive readers for sending me Lost a gripping new thriller from the multi-million copy bestseller, Simon Beckett.
ABOUT AUTHOR SIMON BECKETT
imon Beckett is the No.1 International Bestselling author of the David Hunter series. His books have been translated into 29 languages, appeared in the Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller lists and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. A former freelance journalist who has written for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent on Sunday and The Observer, the inspiration for the first David Hunter novel came after a visit to the world-renowned Body Farm in Tennessee introduced him to the work of forensic
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