The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh Blog Tour

Today is my turn on the blog tour for The Good Girl's Guide To Rakes by Eva Leigh published by Mills and Boon, for my stop I have my review, enjoy.


The Good Girl's Guide to Rakes by Eva Leigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - Avon Books

Source - Review

Blurb from Goodreads

In USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh's new novel a notorious rake and an innocent debutante strike a scandalous bargain...

When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father issues an ultimatum: find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels, Kieran doesn’t know any ladies who fit the bill. Or does he?

Celeste Kilburn is a society darling, beloved by influential members of the ton. But keeping a spotless reputation leaves little room for adventure and she longs to escape her gilded cage, especially with her impending engagement to a stuffy earl. When Kieran—her older brother’s best friend and an irresistibly attractive rogue—begs for her help, Celeste makes a deal: she’ll introduce him to the right social circles if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London.

In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste—disguised as “Salome”—to rowdy gaming hells, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction builds to a desperate desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves… respectable or not.


My Review

Kieran Ransome’s is an absolute rogue, comes from money, does his own thing, wines and dines as he sees fit and sleeps around. Celeste is a debutante, the glimmering hope for her families solid stamp into the higher ranks of society. Living in a time where women are chaperoned, must act accordingly, smile, courtesy, preen and conform to all the societal expectations. When Kieran does something that forces his parent's hands they have had enough of his Casanova ways & he needs his friends sister, respectable Celeste to help him.

Oooooh all the fun and games he is a rogue, attractive, able to go and be wild without consequence. Celeste is the glowing respectable perfect societal lady and bored out of her head. Unlike the other females of her time Celeste wants fun, more than just a beautiful cage, so her and Kieran come to an understanding. She will get to see the unacceptable parts of society, have some fun whilst keeping her identity and most importantly her reputation safe!

It was really interesting to see how she got about enjoying what she wanted and the old actions and consequences for pretty much all of the characters. Normally when you read books set in the past the female characters are a bit shrinking violets but Celeste is pretty brilliant in that she has drive, a brain, thinks wants to enjoy what she can before fulfilling her families (and societies) expectations.

There is romance, sex and some graphic scenes with sex talk so if you are easily offended this is your heads up. The story has a whole mix, relationships, families (toxic in some parts), emotive, friendship, loyalty, boundaries - it has a good pull, starts well and keeps you intrigued to what is coming next. This was my first time reading this author, I would absolutely read her again, 4/5 for me this time.

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One For Sorrow By Helen Fields

One for Sorrow by Helen Sarah Fields
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2.5 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Avon

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

One for sorrow, two for joy
Edinburgh is gripped by the greatest terror it has ever known. A lone bomber is targeting victims across the city and no one is safe.

Three for a girl, four for a boy
DCI Ava Turner and DI Luc Callanach face death every day – and not just the deaths of the people being taken hostage by the killer.

Five for silver, six for gold
When it becomes clear that with every tip-off they are walking into a trap designed to kill them too, Ava and Luc know that finding the truth could mean paying the ultimate price.

Seven for a secret never to be told…
But with the threat – and body count – rising daily, and no clue as to who’s behind it, neither Ava nor Luc know whether they will live long enough to tell the tale…



Mt Review

Dear Lord. We are traumatised. Burst. Emotive. We need to go eat our feelings but it is also 04:32 and we need 😴 sleep. Those were the words I typed after I finished the book and I did indeed go and eat my feelings despite the time! This is book seven in the series, if you haven't read the previous, do yourself a favour and go read them. There is so much you have missed and the intensity of the relationships/friendships you just need the back story.

We have a bomber in Edinburgh and not just planting a bomb and causing chaos, the nature of the bombs are horrific and some add in some kidnappings just to make things worse. The killings are brutal, we have seen some sadistic killers before but this is another level.

I was horrified but couldn't put it down I had to know why dear lord why and what was coming next because you knew this was just the beginning. I have rooting for Luc and Ava every single book, they are work colleagues, they are friends, the are room mates looking after their bestie, they are attracted but one thing or another always gets in the way. This case is going to push them and the team to their limits. The killer isn't going to stop until someone stops them but how do you stop someone who is so random and deadly.

We also have the before and meet Quinn, such a nice girl, family orientated who we follow through a relationship of control, manipulation and a different kind of horror. It is a busy book, the investigation, Ava dealing with a personal loss and trying to pull through one of the toughest cases ever and the before with the young woman and a different thread of horror, the worst side of humanity and whilst the book is fiction we know the issues very much exist! 4.5/5 for me. This book will knock you sideways - it covers a lot of the worst sides of humanity, it is dark, gruesome, gory, horrific, soul destroying, page turning and brilliant, say goodbye to your day. Hope Fields hurries up and pens the next, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS COMING NEXT!

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Grown Ups by Marian Keyes

Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages - 656

Publisher - Michael Joseph

Source - bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Johnny Casey, his two brothers Ed and Liam, their beautiful, talented wives and all their kids spend a lot of time together - birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, weekends away. And they're a happy family. Johnny's wife, Jessie - who has the most money - insists on it.

Under the surface, though, conditions are murkier. While some people clash, other people like each other far too much . . .

Everything stays under control until Ed's wife Cara, gets concussion and can't keep her thoughts to herself. One careless remark at Johnny's birthday party, with the entire family present, starts Cara spilling out all their secrets.

In the subsequent unravelling, every one of the adults finds themselves wondering if it's time - finally - to grow up?


My Review

I do love Keyes books you get to leave your own life and woes behind and jump into someone elses and Keyes does give us some class characters/dramas. Ed, Liam and Johnny are brothers and couldn't be more different. We follow their relationships, family gatherings and everything in between.

The book opens with a family gathering and Cara, Ed's wife, tells some home truths after a knock to the head and some shocks to the family. We then flip to six months before the event and get to know the characters.

Some we love, some misunderstood and we get more depth as we go on. Dysfunctional relationships at it's best. I am struggling to read with a lot going on at home, lack of sleep etc however despite this being a chunky monkey over 600 pages I got through it in 4 days.

There are a lot of issues these folk are experiencing, some will be very hard hitting with some people. Second marriages and the fall out, mental health issues, relationship issues, families, wealth, popularity, money issues - it has a whole bag. Some characters you will love, some not so much and all you want to know what is coming next. This isn't my first Keyes, it won't be my last, 4/5 for me this time.

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Strangeways: A Prison Officer's Story by Neil Samworth

Strangeways: A Prison Officer's Story by Neil Samworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time Taken To Read - 1.5 days

Pages - 304

Publisher - Pan

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Neil ‘Sam’ Samworth spent eleven years working as a prison officer in HMP Manchester, aka Strangeways. A tough Yorkshireman with a soft heart, Sam had to deal with it all – gangsters and gangbangers, terrorists and psychopaths, addicts and the mentally ill. Men who should not be locked up and men who should never be let out.

Strangeways is a shocking and at times darkly funny account of life in a high security prison. Sam tackles cell fires and self-harmers, and goes head to head with some of the most dangerous men in the country. He averts a Christmas Day riot after turkey is taken off the menu and replaced by fish curry, and stands up to officers who abuse their position. He describes being attacked by prisoners, and reveals the problems caused by radicalization and the drugs flooding our prisons.

As staffing cuts saw Britain’s prison system descend into crisis, the stress of the job – the suicides, the inhumanity of the system, and one assault too many - left Sam suffering from PTSD. This raw, searingly honest memoir is a testament to the men and women of the prison service and the incredibly difficult job we ask them to do.


My Review

I have been finding myself drawn more and more to these type of real life stories books, learning more about some of the jobs some folk just couldn't/wouldn't do. Working in the jail has to be the top of a lot of lists. Neil Samworth takes us through his years briefly before becoming an officer, his early days on the job then throughout his years to what finally lead him to leaving and life after being an officer.

Now I have read a few books on healthcare in prisons, inmates in prison so it was a different take this time. The inmates behaviours are often shocking especially if you haven't read these types of books before - I think one of the things that stood out in this one was also the behaviour of some of his colleagues, shocking to say the least.

The prison system is shocking and this gives an eye opener to just how bad some of it is, what the officers have to endure, cuts, stress, violence, lack of support so so much that is just horrendous. Samworth is very honest about the struggles, personal, professional, the good and the bad, it is a very honest, brutal and at times shocking. Some dark humour (when you work in places like this and your person and health, physical/mental are constantly pushed/beaten upon you develop it), depressing and challenging passages aswell as giving ideas of what he thinks would improve the system. 3.5/5 for me this time, some of it was hard going, some of it is almost diary like and I imagine this book helped the author's mental health and dealing with issues long after he has left this job behind. Not for the easily offended or squeamish, a stark look at life behind the bars as a prison officer in the UK.

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Mollie Mack Private Detective by Linda Dobinson Blog Tour

Today is my turn on the blog tour for Mollie Mack Private Detective by author Linda Dobinson, please check out the other stops as we all offer different content. This is a Rachel's Random Resource tour.

About the author

Linda Dobinson was born in Croydon but grew up in Barbados – endless sunshine and never to far from the beach. She has worked in fashion, the motor industry, and been a PA. In the 90s she picked up her pen and started writing poetry. Her work has appeared in poetry magazines, and for two successive years she had poems selected for the anthologies Southern England and South-West England. Her second collection Encounter reached the top of Amazon’s poetry charts. Since then she has started writing middle grade novels and has discovered that immersing herself in a plot is a great distraction from a pandemic.

Social Media Links where you can find the author

https://goodreads.com/author/show/6077640.Linda_Dobinson

Linda's Twitter

https://www.instagram.com/baspoet/

www.amazon.co.uk/Linda-Dobinson/e/B00J0ZVZ14/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Molly-Private-Detective-Linda-Dobinson-ebook/dp/B09NL5Y8Y1/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Molly-Private-Detective-Linda-Dobinson-ebook/dp/B09NL5Y8Y1/

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/mollie-mack-private-detective?utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_medium=web&utm_source=FNAPortugal

For my stop I have my review and a giveaway for x1 ebook which is open INTERNATIONALLY please use the entry form below the review, good luck.

Mollie Mack, Private Detective by Linda Dobinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 218

Publisher - Indie

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Mollie is excited!
She has been a private detective for six months, and FINALLY a BIG case has landed on her desk. If she solves it, it will make the papers and make her agency famous. She needs to give it her full attention; BUT, she already has three cases she is working on. And when she gets an unexpected lead for her oldest case, she HAS to run with it.
Could her new BIG case be linked to her oldest case?



My Review

Mollie is almost twelve years old, a regular kid except she has her own detective business along side school and the usual stuff. With two cases on the go and just having picked up another, school and chores she is a busy little bee. The new case is a big one and could be what finally puts her on the map and get the word. Juggling three cases and a little help from her friend we follow Mollie as she investigates.

I picked this up after reading a really horrific crime book so I was delighted to step into a book that was a bit more innocent. A sweet young girl and two cat characters (they don't play huge parts but are involved in at least one case and mentioned throughout) so you always get a thumbs up for a kitty or two. I know not everyone loves or appreciates cat characters or ones that have any thinking/internal talking but for me and at this point in time it was grand.

We follow the three wee cases, very simplistic but good thinking for a bairn. Some of her behaviours you are like aw hell no for an eleven year old and some young readers may try and copy - I mean she was working a case so needs must lol. A great wee book for an escapism, very innocent but enough happenings to keep you entertained. It is a really innocent feel good type book, intrigue, mystery, investigation by a pre teen and co.

I read it in less than a day - pretty much one sitting, a perfect read to just tap out of your everyday and slip into a more simplistic time/adventure/characters. This was my first time reading this author I would absolutely read her again, 4/5 for me this time.

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The Daisy Chain by Al Campbell

Today is my turn on the blog tour, for my stop I have my review - enjoy.

The Daisy Chain by Al Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 252

Publisher - RedDoorPress

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Set in an incredibly exciting period of history, a pacy debut, brimming with adventure and romance England, 1771: Recently orphaned Daisy Salter moves from quiet Suffolk society to the hustle and bustle of London. A talented botanical illustrator and amateur scientist, frustrated Daisy finds herself governess to the daughter of her sister and brutish noble brother-in-law. However, a chance encounter with pre-eminent scientist Joseph Banks changes everything and, when the extent of her talent is revealed, Daisy not only becomes Artist in Residence at the magnificent Kew Gardens, but confidante of Queen Charlotte, King George III's wife. But whilst science and plant hunting expeditions are flourishing, at sea the 'triangular trade' is in full swing and Daisy is unwittingly inveigled into espionage, tea smuggling and the slave trade. Who is friend and who is foe? Can Daisy work out whom to trust before disaster strikes?


My Review

So this is my first time reading this author and I feel I am now at a point where I can't say I don't really read historical fiction because that is now quite a few and I have liked them all. Set in 1717, England we meet Daisy. For the time period the females are settling, married, babies, Daisy is somewhat different, she is into science, painting specifically flowers and never really been fussed with male attention. She is bright, gifted and devoted to her father, after his death she has to go and live with her sister and brother in law where everything changes and even Daisy can't ignore the gentlemen callers. Although not all are what they seem!

So set in the time period there is racism, slavery, classism, sexism, skulduggery, shady and underhanded behaviour but there is more to this story. I really do like Daisy, she isn't fainting at the least thing nor gushing over any suitable males. She is interesting, knowledgeable, feisty (for that time period) all things women of that time period would be shunned for.

You have family issues, the shady brother in law with money and his fingers in some really dodgy stuff. As we see Daisy start to take interest in the opposite sex but continue to expand her learning, love of flowers/painting. I loved reading up on some of the characters, flowers, places - it was just nice to sink into. I felt at the beginning it was a bit of a genteel paced book and that was how it was going to be however there are some really dark elements but done without harrowing details or being sensationalist with it.

This was my first time reading this author, I really liked so much about Daisy that I really hope this is a start of a series for her and not a one off. She is very interesting and the book gives some history whist wrapped up in a tale of adventures, mystery and romance, 4/5 for me this time!

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Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 6 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Michael Joseph Books

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

We can't choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become?

In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett's death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a traditional Caribbean black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child, challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage, and themselves.

Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor's true history, and fulfill her final request to "share the black cake when the time is right"? Will their mother's revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

Charmaine Wilkerson's debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names, can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch.


My Review

When Eleanor dies she leaves her children, Byron and Benny, a recording that plays about eight hours long. Her son and daughter haven't spoken in years but come together, as she knew they would, after she passes. Eleanor was a unique lady and her children are about to find out just how strong, resilient and secretive she was!

The book bounces around a fair bit, then and now, between different characters, not just Eleanor but many people who played or influenced largely in her life. It is a strong debut novel that examines how unfair life can be but how survival, strength, friendship and love can get you through.

The characters have their own woes and things that have happened or happening in their lives that shape who they are or their journeys. We learn about the Black Cake, culture, heritage and how important identity is and the cost some people face to survive and what they lose in the process.

There is a lot of hurt, love, loss, lies, secrets and large centering around decisions and the reach/impact they have not only on the person making them but those left behind. The book chews off a lot and I think the author does well dealing with many of them, I enjoyed a lot about this book but I got a bit lost in the shifts between people, places and time. I could follow it but it was a lot so it took a bit to get through as I had to keep checking xyz, 3.5/5 for me. I liked it though so will keep an eye out for the authors next offering!

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