PREVIEW: The Vow by Debbie Howells

I loved the premise of this finding out your fiance has been living a double life with another woman as well as yourself. As such I'm pleased to review the new novel by author Debbie Howells.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

Expected: 15 October 2020

The blurb 

Everything was perfect. And then her fiance disappeared....

Two weeks before her wedding, a stranger stops Amy in the street and warns her she’s in danger. Then that night, Matt, her fiancé, doesn’t come home. Desperate, Amy calls the police – but when Matt fails to emerge, she’s forced to call off her wedding day.

Then another man is reported missing, by a woman called Fiona – a man meeting Matt’s description, who was about to leave his fiancée for her.  He was supposed to be moving in with her – but instead, he’s vanished.

Amy refuses to believe Fiona’s lover can be her Matt – but photos prove otherwise, and it soon becomes clear that Matt has been leading a double life. As the police dig deeper, two conflicting, yet equally plausible stories emerge from two women who allegedly have never met.

The wedding day never happened. But the funeral might!

The review

I loved the premise of this finding out your fiance has been living a double life with another woman as well as yourself. It is told in alternating perspectives from Amy the fiancee, her daughter Jess, and the other woman Fiona also interspersed with events from 1996 from an as yet unidentified narrator.

There was lots to like but also some areas where it didn't quite fulfil its potential. The story and suspense built steadily throughout, with lots going on with the present day and past flashbacks to keep interest high. It also wasn't obvious the way it was going to pan out or who to suspect. However, that said the second half of the book lost a bit of momentum and I felt slightly let down in the way it turned out. In the end there were a lot of threads that didn't come to anything eg Matt's past love life, Cath and the mystery warning.

Most of the characters were really likable, particularly pragmatic, astute, loyal Jess and unreliable, contradictory Amy who will drive you crazy.  I was disappointed with Fiona though as her character less developed and consequently quite one-dimensional. I would have liked a bit more about what happened to her in the end.

So, overall a bit mixed but definitely worth a read.

The author

Debbie Howells is both a florist and best-selling author. Follow @debbie__howells on Twitter or visit www.debbiehowells.co.ukto find out more.

  

REVIEW: One Perfect Morning by Pamela Crane

I'm pleased to share my review of the latest psychological thriller by US author Pamela Crane. A genius twist but too much drama and too many unlikable characters in my opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Published: 20 August 2020

The blurb 

She’s made her bed, and now he’s lying dead in it…

Mackenzie, Robin and Lily have been inseparable since college. Twenty years on, they all live in the same neighbourhood with their perfect homes, perfect families, perfect lives.

But in their idyllic suburban town, no one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors. For each of these women is crumbling under the weight of a secret, a betrayal, a lie.

And when the worst happens, will the unbreakable bond of their friendship survive, though it’s started to fray at the edges?

One dead husband. Three women with motives. And they’re all best friends who have each other’s backs – or do they…?

The review

This had a bit of a 'Desperate Housewives' feel to it....three women all with glossy exteriors but hiding inner secrets, friends on the surface but loyal only to themselves. It starts with one of the women murdering their husband as he sleeps but we don't find out the identity of either. The book then sets revisits the preceding days establishing that they all have reasons to want somebody else dead - so literally anyone could be the victim and anyone the murderer. The action is also interspersed with flashbacks to the 1990s when the women met and where one particular event was kept secret until today.

And that's part of the problem with everyone having motives and secrets in the past and present there's just too much going on at times. Also what does go on is all fairly heavy covering rape, underage sex, domestic abuse, drug addiction and of course murder. None of it is particularly graphic or upsetting but it's just continuous.

It's hard to believe that one group of friends can have that much drama. And, also that after so much drama and betrayal, the characters are seemingly unaffected and forgive and forget a liitle too easily.

The other problem is that it's full of unlikable characters, not just because nobody in this story can be trusted but also because they are truly toxic particularly to each other. I would not want to be friends with any of these women.

I did absolutely love the clever twist though whereby the 'murderer' didn't actually kill the victim at all. Genius. Overall though a 3.5 rating, sadly rounded down to 3 stars. 

The author

Pamela Crane is a North Carolinian writer of psychological thriller, and wannabe psychologist. Follow @MentalMommyPam on Twitter or find out more at www.pamelacrane.com

PREVIEW: The Winter Garden by Heidi Swain

Another 5-star read by one of my favourite authors Heidi Swain. I'm pleased to review her latest novel 'The Winter Garden' prior to publication thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Simon and Schuster UK.

Expected: 1 October 2020

The blurb 

Freya Fuller is estranged from her parents and has been following her childhood dream of becoming a gardener ever since. When an opportunity to design a winter garden opens up at a Victorian property in Nightingale Square, Freya jumps at the chance to make a fresh start. But while the majority of the residents are welcoming, local artist Finn seems determined to shut her out, and when Freya's family make a surprise appearance, it seems that her new life is about to come crashing down

The review

This is the third in the nightingale series and a return Heidi Swain's best. Unlike the second one 'Poppy's Recipe for Life' this one once again focused fully on the square's residents and that's what I love most about Heidi's novels that sense of catching up with much loved friends. It never ceases to amaze me, however, that one small square can have so many gorgeous and eligible bachelors.

Don't worry though if you haven't read any of the others as each one focuses on a different lead character and story so it really won't matter. Like the others though it's another heart-warming tale of new beginnings, love and friendships with delightful characters and a idyllic setting. A simple formula but one that works so well!

Heidi Swain is one of my all-time favourite authors. With her trademark charm, effortless writing style and vivid descriptions, I could clearly picture the garden, square and every single character. Once again I fell in love with the place, wanting to up sticks and move there. 

The author

Heidi Swain is a popular Sunday Times Best Selling Author of romantic fiction novels. Follow author Heidi Swain on Twitter @Heidi_Swain or find out more at www.heidiswain.co.uk.