A Single Act of Kindness by Samantha Tonge

 

A Single Act of Kindness by Samantha Tonge- Women’s fiction

Oh wow! Another one of Samantha’s books that wraps itself around you like a hug. One of my books of the year.

 Tilda is single and likes her routine- very much so. She likes order and convention and doesn’t like to veer away from this. She has been single since she discovered her last boyfriend was more interested in meeting her brother than in her. Milo is homeless and through a chance encounter Tilda speaks to him. What transpires is different from anything either of them could have ever imagined.

Oh heavens! This gripped me and made me smile and made me sad and the whole gamut of emotions in between. Both Tilda and Milo have their backstories and I'm sure like me some will resonate with other readers. “ You didn't get the best from people by criticising, by instilling fear. The power of kindness was like a secret you didn’t get to know about until it touched you”. Wow! This resonated with me beyond words. 

 I found myself willing things to happen, I’d quickly grown to care for both characters. It's a very special read, one I treasured and didn't want it to end. I could easily see this as a film (my version would possibly have Tom Conti and Emma Thompson in their younger days in the lead roles). If you like a read to restore your faith in human nature or even yourself, this could be the very thing. Of fortitude and bravery, of kindness and life. Stunning, brilliant and lots of other superlatives and most of all, be kind.

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A Single Act of Kindness 

Meet Tilda Wright… 

Tilda has done everything she can to make her life neat, protected, tidy. No longer the girl who was scared of everything, whose family pushed her away, who hit rock bottom. Now she runs her life – as she does her successful business – with the utmost organization. As long as she keeps everyone at arm’s length, she will be fine. She will be safe. 

But then a chance encounter with a man who’s fallen on hard times changes everything. Milo needs a break, and self-contained Tilda surprises herself by deciding she should help him. Just for a while. A few days at the most. 

Maybe all he needs is someone to organize him, to help him clean up his act? She is sure she knows how to kick-start Milo into turning his life around. 

What Tilda doesn’t know is that – with this single act of kindness – it might actually be her own life that’s about to change forever… 

 Purchase Link https://mybook.to/ActKindnessSocial 

Author Bio –  

Samantha Tonge is the bestselling and award-winning author of over 15 romantic fiction titles published by HQ, and most recently Aria. Her first book for Boldwood, Under One Roof, was published in February 2022 and her move to Boldwood marks a broadening of her writing into multi-generational woman’s fiction. She lives in Manchester with her family. 

Social Media Links –   

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamanthaTongeAuthor 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamTongeWriter 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthatongeauthor/ 

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SamanthaTongeNews 

Bookbub profile: Samantha Tonge Books - BookBub 

You Are Here by David Nicholls- General Fiction

 

You Are Here by David Nicholls- General Fiction

From the author of “ One Day” is a very different new novel. I read One Day when it first came out and have recently watched the new series of it, so seeing this I was drawn like a moth to a flame. It’s brilliantly written and cleverly draws the reader in and has maps of the walk along the way. Beautifully described it tells of a group on a walking holiday and mostly about Marnie and Michael. Most have done little walking and even being out in the countryside is a new experience being embraced. It's more about people and personalities than anything else and what drives people or indeed quite the opposite. It's a brilliant observation of human life and as the blurb says about finding the way home- in more ways than one. A compelling, warm, more than thoroughly enjoyable read. One that stands out from the crowd and one I hope becomes a TV programme/film. Stunning, brilliant. 

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Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers

Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers- Crime

DCI Lola Harris is concerned. There is talk of a man pushing people into the Clyde after hitting them on the head and now with a possible witness, the higher-ups don’t appear to want this investigated. Why on earth not? It potentially would solve eight murders which occurred over several years. She is meant to be investigating a possible fraud where a witness was run over- several times. What is going on in the city and why the possible cover up?

I really enjoy this series- they do stand alone quite happily so no worries if you haven't yet found the first two. Lola is a determined tenacious woman seeking justice for the victims and their families, politics be gone. I thoroughly enjoyed this and found myself reading that “ one more chapter”, to me the sign of a good read. A very solid four stars and I look forward to the next in the series.

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LOOKING GOOD DEAD by Stephen Puleston

 

LOOKING GOOD DEAD by Stephen Puleston- Crime

A woman is found murdered in her exclusive clothes shop, Looking Good, dressed in clothes from a bygone era which she was fond of. She has a string of businesses, so the police wonder if this and money could perhaps be the motive. Inspector Drake and team are on the case and when another body is found in clothing of the same era something strange is going on. Alternate chapters tell of the perpetrator making his plans. 

This is part of a series but happily stands alone - I hadn’t read all of the others (but may well do in the future). I liked Drake who came across well and found myself turning the pages very easily as this is well written and captivating. There are lots of twists and turns keeping the reader invested right the way through. A well thought out plot and clever writing make this an enjoyable, entertaining read. 

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Looking Good Dead (Inspector Drake Book 12)

Can DI Drake uncover the mysterious connection between two unconnected victims dressed in 1930s attire before more deaths? Two startled shop assistants find the body of well-known businesswoman June Bennett hanging in a shop premises she owns. Drake and his team immediately suspect her death is linked to the parties she organised where revellers wore 1930s style clothes. As suspicion falls upon her husband, the investigation takes an unexpected turn when the team uncovers 'spin-off' parties of a more scandalous nature. With the sudden death of an unrelated bank manager, Inspector Drake faces the formidable task of establishing a motive that links both victims. Tension escalates as the killer taunts Drake with chilling photographs from the scene of the second murder, attracting a deluge of media attention. Yet, Drake is determined to stay resolute, drawing upon the echoes of his past battles? Looking Good Dead is the twelfth book in the dynamic Inspector Drake crime series. If you like police procedurals, clever mysteries, and gripping page-turners, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s unnerving whodunit.

STEPHEN PULESTON Stephen Puleston was born in Holyhead/Caergybi, Ynys Môn, in Wales. After leaving university he trained and practised as a lawyer. He is now a full time author presently writing two crime series. Both are based in Wales, a country rich in history and spectacular scenery. The Inspector Ian Drake books involve a detective inspector based in North Wales, the area where he was born and raised, who faces his own demons while solving gruesome murders. The Inspector John Marco series follows the adventures of John Marco an inspector based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. He’s from a Welsh-Italian family catching the killers at large in the bustling city of Cardiff. All the novels in the Inspector Drake and Marco series are available as audiobooks. All are narrated by experienced professional actors. Stephen lives with his family in Ynys Môn/Anglesey.

The Writer by Miranda Smith

 The Writer by Miranda Smith-psychological thriller

Becca is trying to be a writer but struggling. She has written one book which so far has been rejected and now appears to have writer's block. She is encouraged by her writing group to do short stories to “clear the palette” and slowly begins to write long into the night after having a nightmare. For the last ten years she has been occasionally receiving black hearts with short rather threatening messages on them, she knows not from whom and hence the police can't do anything. Ten years ago, she and a friend were unwittingly caught up in a crime that happened to another close friend. Becca then discovers that local crimes are reflecting her work and the crime of the past. Could someone in the group be behind this and if so why?

This was a read that bloomed as I read it. A nice steady beginning and then the pace accelerated. There are lots of twists and turns which kept me wondering right the way through and I couldn't wait to find out as to who the perpetrator was and if my guess was correct (which switched a few times along the way- I was still wrong!). A brilliant premise, so very well executed. A thrilling, gripping read.

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Book Description:

Her body was found close to the university. She was on her way home after a night out. Just like in the story I wrote…

Every Monday, I meet my writing group in a warm, lively bar to drink a glass of wine or two. It’s the highlight of my week. But now something terrible is happening.

At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal. My tires were slashed. A woman was hit by a car outside my apartment. Then, yesterday, someone was murdered. And all the details are copied from the stories we shared.

Am I going mad, or is someone in my group a killer?

I thought they were the only people I could trust, since what happened ten years ago. But now I’m terrified one of them knows the truth that lies buried in all my work—the secret I’ve tried so hard to hide. And they want to make me pay for it.

I have to know who’s bringing my stories to life… but will the answer cost me everything?

A completely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you glued to the pages! If you like Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and The Wife Between Us, then you’ll love The Writer.

Author Bio:

Miranda Smith writes psychological and domestic suspense. She is drawn to stories about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Before completing her first novel, she worked as a newspaper staff writer and a secondary English teacher. She lives in East Tennessee with her husband and three young children.

https://mirandasmithwriter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MirandaSmithAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/mirandasmithwriter/

https://twitter.com/msmithbooks

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Miranda Smith here: https://www.bookouture.com/miranda-smith

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CS6QFGL9social

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh

 

Bloodshed on the Boards by Judy Leigh- Crime/ Mystery

We are back in Cornwall with Morwenna and her friends. This is the second in the series but happily stands alone. There’s a play in town and when the unpopular director, owner and lead is killed on stage for real there are plenty of suspects, but there is one who knows Morwenna will be using her detective skills to discover the real perpetrator. The police have said it's a natural death from a heart attack but Morwenna is sure that there is more to it and the more she finds out the more someone is threatening her- but who?

This is one of those reads that you can happily sit by the fire and snuggle down with. One that puts the reader in the heart of the action and in Cornwall, and occasionally in the sea as Morwenna swims. There’s a great cast of characters who make you feel at home and mentions of scones and jam and toasted teacakes after a bracing swim. This is another of Judy’s wonderful reads that is more than thoroughly enjoyable. It's a cozy type mystery with family, drama and even a little romance thrown in, showing that you are never too old- for anything if you put your mind to it. A brilliantly entertaining read, I look forward to more in the series. 

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Bloodshed on the Boards There is excitement in the air as the travelling theatre arrives in Seal Bay. When The Spriggan Travelling Theatre Company arrives in Seal Bay to perform a Cornish version of King Arthur the locals flock to be entertained. But for Morwenna Mutton, sexagenarian librarian, wild swimming enthusiast and amateur sleuth, the theatre brings intrigue too. Actor and director Daniel Kitto is not the most popular member of the cast and unbeknownst to him, his role of Uther Pendragon on the opening night is to be his swansong. In front of a horrified audience, he collapses during the dying moments of the performance in a pool of fake blood, and although the police are content that the causes of his death are natural, Morwenna isn’t so sure. And once it becomes clear that there are a number of people who stand to gain from Daniel’s death, Morwenna’s investigation takes a dangerous turn. If you love Miss Marple and The Thursday Murder Club, then you'll love The Morwenna Mutton mysteries. Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/bloodshedboardssocial

Author Bio – Judy Leigh is the USA Today bestselling author of The Old Girls’ Network and Five French Hens and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset. Social Media Links – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judyleighuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudyLeighWriter Instagram: Judy Leigh (@judyrleigh) • Instagram photos and videos Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JudyLeighNews Bookbub profile: Judy Leigh Books - BookBub