Kane - Jen Davis

Kane by Jen Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I couldn't resist starting this, the second on the Cooper Construction series, after finishing book one; Brick. Although this second book is about a different couple, Kane and Amanda, it still has the same characters as appeared in book one. It also gives a little glimpse at some of the members of the Cooper Construction team that we didn't meet in the first book.
This is the story of Amanda and Kane. In their early 20's they were in love and expected to spend the rest of their life together. Until something, or someone came between them. It isn't clear, to begin with, what it was that caused them to split up, but as the book progresses, their past is explained.
I enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters, that they had been together once was believable and for the most part, the reason that they split up worked. Particularly as it didn't present an insurmountable barrier to them being together once more.
Like the first book in the series, there is a very dark element to these books. This time Kane is part of a motorcycle gang. While he doesn't particularly enjoy much of their activity, he is tied up in that world and has to deal with it in order to allow he and Amanda to get together. Amanda's father is also an 'interesting character' and lives a somewhat shady life.
These first two books have been a great start to a new series and I'm looking forward to seeing what book three will bring, as well as finding out who's story it has to tell.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Brick - Jen Davis

Brick by Jen Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is quite a dark romance story, or perhaps that should be romance series as book 2 is also already available. There's something about a bad boy in romance stories and Brick is certainly one bad boy. Used and abused by local crime boss since his teenage years, Brick hates that life that he leads. He can see no way out, while his boss holds the threat of what might happen to his grandmother over his head, so finds himself being the kind of man that would have other people running scared. Olivia, who has just recovered from cancer, is perhaps the ideal woman to take on Brick, as she is all about living life to the full.
The two main characters work really well together. Despite his very dark lifestyle and actions, there is something that is immensely likeable about Brick. The idea of he and Olivia falling in love doesn't seem to be completely impossible and the two of them together work. He worries about how his life might impact on Olivia and how she might be used to control him even further.
Despite the really horrible things that Brick has done and continues to do throughout this book, he is written in such a way that you can't help feel for him and really want he and Olivia to get together. It's easy to have sympathy for his situation and that made this a really satisfying read. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the next book in the series straight away.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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A body in the Lakes by Graham Smith

A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I went into this book with such high hopes and I really wanted to love it. Sadly, it just wasn't for me. It's a real shame, as I usually particularly enjoy British crime novels and the idea of one set in the lake district really appealed.
Half of my problem with this book was that I just didn't like any of the characters. The main detective, Beth, just hadn't really got anything likeable about her. She also didn't seem very believable as a person. One of my other major issues was that much of the mystery was dealt with by jumping to conclusions from nowhere. More than once someone was arrested on the flimsiest of evidence and everyone spoke as though everything was solved and wrapped up. For example, in the first couple of chapters, a man is arrested and all of the police officers talk as though he is guilty and don't seem to be interested in any other lines of enquiry based on nothing more than a missing credit card and a letter that someone has written to the police accusing them. I don't think so somehow!
The mystery itself was interesting and there was a lot of potential here. For me, though it was just not very well executed, which was a shame. Add to that the really misogynistic attitude to rape from all of the characters and it was the final nail in any chance of enjoyment. I don't know if it was the writer's intention to wheel out all of the cliche's that re-enforce rape culture, but that's certainly what he did.
There seem to be plenty of high scoring reviews for this book, so some people certainly enjoyed it, so perhaps you will too, it just wasn't for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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Missing Pieces: A White Creek Novel - Tori Fox

Missing Pieces

I WAS READY TO START OVER.

At least that's what I keep telling myself.

Divorced at 26 and driving to Florida to move back in with my parents.

Until my car breaks down in Smalltown USA.

Not the place meant for a city girl.

Until I meet the cocky asshole that is fixing my car.

I should probably stay away but the pull is too strong.

He was just meant to fix my car but I think he might fix my heart.

My Review

Missing Pieces: A White Creek Novel by Tori Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good 3 1/2 star read.
I've read a few books set in small towns in America, where someone from the city comes and then falls in love both with it and someone who lives there. This one was one of the better-written ones.
I have to admit that to someone who grew up in the UK and now lives in New Zealand, the idea of being stranded in a town because your car has broken down and needs thousands spending on it for repair is a bit of an odd concept. A day or so maybe, but not long enough to take a job in order to pay for the repairs. Does public transport just not cover these areas? I'm guessing that it's mostly down to scale, America being so much bigger and taking longer to travel across.
I liked Harper, she had been royally screwed over by her ex-husband and is running home to her parents' post-divorce. Of course, this means that she's also carrying lots of emotional baggage. Her new love interest, mechanic Eastern, also has similar baggage, so they make a good pair. There's always a danger with this kind of pairing, that they are too damaged for one another, but it seemed to be a good balance.
There was quite a bit of going to and fro, particularly for Harper. Would she stay there or not. At one point it seems everyone thinks she has changed her mind (including her) and they get angry with her. It was a little odd because as far as I could see, there was no indication that she was going this way before it all blew up. Like many romance books, much of the upset and hurt could have been avoided with more communication. I know that there might not be a story with no misunderstandings and conflict, but in this case, I think that a little more talking would have helped the storyline.
I'd certainly be interested in reading the next book in this series.

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Murder by Matchlight - E.C.R. Lorac

Murder by Matchlight by E.C.R. Lorac
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great golden age mystery, again from another writer that I haven't come across before. I used to think that I was quite well read when it came to those classic British mysteries from early to mid last century, this series from poisoned pen press just keeps on showing me how wrong I was about that.
This story is set during London in the second world war. This adds a special twist to the mystery itself, with much of it taking place in darkness, in the middle of the blackout. In fact, in many ways, what makes this a mystery to puzzle out, only works because of this setting, with two people witnessing the murder, but due to the blackout, not really being able to see much at all.
One of the joys of these books has been the way that it shows the period in which they are set so clearly. If you were interested in wartime history in England but were not that bothered about mystery books, I think that you would still get a lot out of this. It sets the scene so well.
I have to admit that I didn't solve this one until right at the very end when it all became obvious. It worked well as a mystery and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Murder at the Old House - Betty Rowlands

Murder at the Old House by Betty Rowlands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series. Each one just gets better and better. This time, the story takes place away from Melissa's village. Her father has been murdered and her mother is the prime suspect. Mel hasn't seen her parents for over twenty years (possibly nearly thirty?) as they threw her out when she got pregnant with her son Simon and wasn't married.
Although the story is a murder mystery (one which I didn't actually solve this time, I was barking up the wrong tree completely) much of the actual story is about Mel and her relationship with her parents. We have been told that they are estranged previously and why, but it has only really been mentioned in passing. Now we not only get to meet her mother, but we find out more about both Mel's past and her parent's relationship.
We also see much more of Mel's agent, Joe in this book. He has been a background character in previous stories, particularly because Mel has wanted to keep him at arm's length. In this book, he not only features quite prominently but Mel herself come to rely upon him more.
There are another two books still to go in this series and I have one earlier one to go back and read. I'm loving them and I'll be disappointed when they finally come to an end. The Mel Craig series is highly enjoyable.

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Kill for me - Rebecca Bradley

Kill For Me by Rebecca Bradley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It seems a long time since I last had the pleasure of reading a DI Hannah Robbins book, in actual fact, it's only been five months. However long it is, it's always a please to tuck into one of these well-written mysteries, that have the added bonus of being set relatively locally to where I grew up.
I have thought with previous books that I hope that Rebecca Bradley never decides to go on a murderous rampage. She seems to have an uncanny knack of thinking up some of the most devious and disturbing ways to commit murder. Not, in this case, at least, the way that the murder actually was done, but the background that leads to it. She also likes to tell stories that push seemingly ordinary people beyond the limits to act in a way that they never dream to be possible.
This time around, I did wonder a few times if people really would go to these lengths? I really don't know. It was a gripping read in any case and I really enjoyed it.
If you haven't read any of the series as yet, then I really would recommend going back to the beginning and reading all of them. It doesn't really matter though if you'd prefer to start with this one, it's a great read and works just as well as a standalone novel. I'm looking forward to finding out what Hannah will face next time.


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