Hero- Samantha Young BLOG TOUR

I am delighted that Books with Bunny is one of today's stops on the blog tour for Samantha Young's stunning new release Hero!

 

 

 

The Blurb

 

Author Samantha Young

Alexa Holland's father was her hero-until her shocking discovery. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets. But when she meets a man who's as damaged by her father's mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

 

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa's efforts at redemption, but it's not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and all-consuming affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for, and when they're on the precipice of danger, he finds he'll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again . . .

 

The Review

I started to hear a lot about Samantha Young last year when bloggers were raving about her on twitter, and as a result of that I vowed to get my hands on her Dublin Street books.  However, as it happened I was invited to be part of the Hero blog tour before I got chance to read them so this is my very first time reading a Samantha Young book!

 

And it had me from the off. 

 

As soon as Alexa and Caine's paths cross there is a sizzle in the air and tension fizzing off the pages-this is hot stuff!  I absolutely loved their stubborn natures and how every interaction was a battle of wills, and that their relationship had to be kept a secret made it all the more attractive.  And there's a reason why businessmen are so often at the heart of erotic romances- suits are undeniably sexy!!!

 

Alexa has a feisty personality but it is apparent that deep down she longs for approval and affection. As the story develops and more is revealed about her family history, the reader will discover why it's no wonder she wants stability and honesty.  Her relationship with her Grandfather was quite the emotional read.

 

And Caine.  Caine, Caine, Caine.  There were times when I really warmed to him, especially when there were hints towards his soft and generous nature, but there's enough jealousy and power in there for those of you who love a bad boy too- he really is the hero who's got the lot!  Anyone who's best friend's with the Grandma-figure who lives in the same block has to be a sweetheart deep down and that was where Caine won me over.

 

There's family drama, long kept secrets and explicit sex scenes throughout the book and I rampaged through this romp in two sittings, putty in Ms Young's authorly (which isn't a word, but so should be) hands.

 

If you enjoyed Sylvia Day's Crossfire series or Christina Lauren's Beautiful books then Hero could be right up your street.

 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

 

Hero by Samantha Young is published by Piatkus in paperback and eBook. You can find of all Samantha Young’s titles on the Kobo website here .

 

And the tour continues.  Drop by these blogs to see what THEY thought of Hero...

 

 

 

 

Death of an Avid Reader- Frances Brody BLOG TOUR

 

I've been swept along by the resurgence in 'cosy crime' and Frances Brody is an author I've been wanting to try for some time now.  Her Kate Shackleton books have already got quite a following, one which is growing with each instalment of the series.

 

And the beautiful covers (I mean look at this one- how beautiful can you get?) are old-school mystery with enough of a modern hint to grab the attention of readers of all ages.

 

I can hear what you're saying though... 'Covers are all well and good, but it's what's inside that counts...' so let's get going with the review!

 

The Blurb

 

A lady with a secret
Kate Shackleton's sterling reputation for courageous sleuthing attracts the attention of the venerable Lady Coulton. Hidden in her past is a daughter, born out of wedlock and given up to a different family. Now, Lady Coulton is determined to find her and puts Kate on the case.

A mysterious killing in the library's basement
But as Kate delves deeper into Lady Coulton's past, she soon finds herself thrust into a scandal much closer to home. When the body of the respected Horatio Potter is found in the Leeds Library basement, the quiet literary community is suddenly turned upside down with suspicions, accusations and - much to Kate's surprise - the appearance of a particularly intelligent Capuchin monkey!

The most puzzling case in Kate's sleuthing history yet
Convinced an innocent man has been blamed, Kate sets out to discover the truth. Who would want Dr Potter dead? Does Lady Coulton's missing daughter hold a vital clue? As the stories start to emerge in the seemingly quiet Leeds Library, Kate is learning fast that in this case, she can't judge a book by its cover . . .

The Review

 

There is nothing better on a cold autumn evening than curling up with a wonderfully written mystery and getting totally transported to a different time and place.  Death of an Avid Reader whisked me away to a bygone age, one which in many ways was easier- more simplistic and straightforward.  However, for sleuth Kate Shackleton, life is anything but simple.

 

Lady Coulton is desperate to find her illegitimate daughter and calls upon Kate's expertise in the hope of a speedy discovery.  Yet name changes, family dramas and moving inland from the Yorkshire Coast mean Kate's job is not as easy as it may at first seem.  And before long Kate has the additional challenge of finding a murderer as well as reuniting the mother and daughter...

 

There was a lot to love about this book.  The writing style manages to be fluid and flowing whilst still containing oodles of description which makes it extremely engaging and fast paced.  The quick, snappy dialogue also adds to this, making it a quick, easy read.  On a personal level, I loved the scenes in Scarborough-our UK holiday destination of choice.

I also really warmed to Kate, she is a likable character and a strong woman against the 1920s backdrop.  Death of an Avid Reader is entertaining and a good old-fashioned mystery without the gore and brutality which is often a by product of crime/thriller writing. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Death of an Avid Reader from beginning to end.  It is a gentle, mildly humorous book and I am now a fully paid up member of the 'converted to Kate' crew.  I want to get hold of the rest of the books now and see what other adventures are in store!

FOLLOW THE TOUR!

 

 

 



 

Death of an Avid Reader is released on Thursday 2nd October and available for pre-order now from all good bookshops and online stockists.

 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Dream Lake-Lisa Kleypas

I was absolutely thrilled to be approached by Carol at 'Dizzy C's Little Book Blog' to review a copy of 'Dream Lake' by Lisa Kleypas.  Carol and I have known each other through the online community at the Read It Swap It site for a long while now, but have had more communication over the last fortnight than ever before-it has been lots of fun discussing books and blogs.  So as well as an enjoyable read, I feel I have gained a new friend through this book. 

You can read my review here.

Many thanks to Carol for giving me the opportunity to guest on her blog, and Piatkus for allowing me to review 'Dream Lake'.

You can find out more about Piatkus books here.