Three strangers. Three secrets. And one big lie.

Title: Strangers

Author: CL Taylor

Published: April 2nd 2020 by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before.

These past couple of months, life has been quite busy, so I haven't had the time to read as much as I would have liked, and even less review the books I did read. But today I really wanted to share with you some special stories that I really enjoyed and I would highly recommend for a cosy afternoon by the fire with a hot drink in your hand: 

Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake - October 11th 2019 (One More Chapter)

What it is about: A Notting Hill nativity… what could go wrong?

Viola Smith plays the viola in an orchestra (yes really!) but this year she's been asked to stretch her musical talents to organising Notting Hill's local nativity.

Nate Williams isn't looking forward to Christmas but as his small daughter, Grace, has the starring role in the show, he's forced to stop being a Grinch and volunteer with Viola.

With the sparks between them hotter than the chestnuts roasting in Portobello market, Nate and Viola can't deny their feelings. And as the snow starts to fall over London, they find themselves trapped together in more ways than one…

Why I loved it: A couple of years ago, I read Covent Garden in the Snow by this author and I really enjoyed it, so I decided to pick Notting Hill in the Snow a few weeks ago to get into the festive spirit. It was definitely the perfect choice, as I enjoyed this magical christmassy story even more than the first one. Just so you know, this is not a sequel, it just has the cameo from some of the previous characters and some of the scenes are also set in the opera house in Covent Garden, where our main character plays de viola. 

I really enjoyed catching up with the old characters but the new ones, Viola, Nate and his daughter really stole the show. You could feel the connection between Viola and Nate since their first scene together and the sparks were really flying between them. I loved how they didn't rush into anything though and took their time getting to know each other and their families. It was a very heartwarming story that had many special and fun moments. I was left with a big smile on my face and I definitely had a great time reading about the nativity and everything else going on in this gorgeous story!

Rating: 5 stars 

What it is about: This December, unlucky-in-love Jess is following her dream and moving to Notting Hill. On the first night in her new house-share she meets Alex, the guy in the room next door. They don’t kiss under the mistletoe, but there’s still a spark that leaves Jess imagining how they might spend the year together — never mind the house rule against dating…

But when Jess returns from her Christmas holiday, she finds Alex has started seeing Emma, who lives on the floor above them. Now Jess faces a year of bumping into the man of her dreams — and, apparently, the woman of his.

Jess is determined to move on and spend the year falling in love with London, not Alex — but what if her heart has other ideas?

Why I loved it: Although the main characters, Jess and Alex meet in December, their story spans over a whole year. And although you can see that there might be something really special between them since that first meeting, it takes them a while to get there, which at the beginning had me a bit frustrated but as the story progressed and we got to know more about them, their backgrounds, their motivations and their dreams, I became really engrossed in their story and I enjoyed the story a lot. I was 100% rooting for them and I loved rediscovering London, one of my favorite cities in the world, through their eyes. 

This story really warmed my heart, not only because it had a love story as its core, but also because it talked about finding your place in the world, accepting who you are and how hard it is to be an adult! 

Rating: 4 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion. 

A Million Dreams by Dani Atkins - November 14th 2019 (Head of Zeus)

What it is about: Beth Brandon always dreamed of owning a florist, but today the bouquets of peonies and bright spring flowers are failing to calm her nerves. Because today, Beth has a life-changing decision to share with her husband.

Izzy Vaughan thought she and her husband would stay together forever, but sometime last year, their love began to fade. They both find such joy in their young son Noah – but is he enough to keep them together?

Eight years ago, something happened to these two women. Something that is about to bring them together in a way no-one thought possible...

Why I loved it: A Million Dreams is absolutely gorgeous. The story is narrated by two women: Beth and Izzy and at the beginning it is not clear how their stories are going to relate to each other. Thanks to this dual narrative, I got to really know these two characters and I felt really connected to them, I understood what they were going through and how it affected them. So when I discovered how they were linked, it shocked me to the core. Their story really brought up so many emotions!

I think the plot for this story was really original and surprising. It made me wonder a lot what I would do in their situations and question what is right and what is wrong. Definitely a very thought-provoking story. I really didn't know how the story was going to unfold but I think the author made a magnificent job with it. I closed the last page with tears in my eyes but a huge smile in my face. A highly recommended read from me. 

Rating: 5 stars

What it is about: Maria Birch is seventy years old and, for her, every week is the same.

On Monday, she does her weekly shop. On Tuesday, she goes for a blow-dry. On Wednesday, she visits the laundrette. But Thursday is her favourite day of all – everything hurts less on a Thursday.

Every Thursday Maria walks to her local café. Waiting for her at one of the red gingham-topped tables is Albie Young, a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and an impressive collection of tweed flat caps. Every week, the pair share a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea.

Except, one week, Albie doesn’t turn up.

When Maria finds out what has happened, her perfectly ordered life is ripped apart at the seams. Suddenly, she is very lonely. Without her Thursday friend – her only friend – she no longer has the energy to circle the weekly TV listings, she has no reason to leave her apartment, no reason to laugh.

Then she discovers that Albie isn’t who she thought he was, and she’s left wondering if she knew her friend at all. But Albie has left behind a legacy – a handwritten list of wishes he never got the chance to complete.

Maria is resigned to facing the rest of her days heartbroken and alone. But fulfilling Albie’s wishes could hold the key to her happiness – if only she’s able to look past his secret…

Why I loved it: The Wish List of Albie Young has a very unique main character, and no, it is not Albie Young, but his close friend, Maria Birch. Maria, who is in her seventies, has a very closed off life and Albie is her one and only friend. So when one week he doesn't come to their weekly tea and cake date, her whole life crumbles. 

But "thanks" to Albie's death, we follow Maria in an amazing journey of self discovery and of kindness to strangers. We soon realize that Albie was a very special and giving man, so Maria, following his footsteps (quite reluctantly), enters a whole new world, in which she surprises even herself. This is a very touching and uplifting story that reminds you to appreciate your own life more and especially, it reminds you how a small act of kindness can change someone's whole life.

Rating: 4 stars

Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One deadly lie.

Someone’s going to sleep and never wake up…

Today is my stop in the blog tour for CL Taylor's latest psychological thriller and I am sharing my review for this clever and addictive psychological thriller. Do you dare to sleep?

Title: Sleep

Author: CL Taylor

Published: April 4th 2019 by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: All Anna wants is to be able to sleep. But crushing insomnia, terrifying night terrors and memories of that terrible night are making it impossible. If only she didn’t feel so guilty…

To escape her past, Anna takes a job at a hotel on the remote Scottish island of Rum, but when seven guests join her, what started as a retreat from the world turns into a deadly nightmare.

Each of the guests have a secret but one of them is lying – about who they are and why they’re on the island. There’s a murderer staying in the Bay View hotel. And they’ve set their sights on Anna.

Review: Sleep has all the ingredients I love in a psychological thriller: it is creepy, twisty, atmospheric, and above all, addictive. I loved how it started with a letter from the main character saying that if someone was reading it, it meant she was dead. My curiosity was certainly picked from page one and it only grew as the story unfolded.

In this book, CL Taylor takes us to a remote island in Scotland, where our main character, Anna, has escaped to to forget about a traumatic accident. But soon after her arrival, 7 guests come to stay at the hotel she is working in and things start going wrong, very wrong, in all possible ways.

I loved getting to know all the characters and trying to figure out who is lying and who is keeping secrets. I found this cast of characters fascinating and they made this story even more interesting.

As the story got darker and darker, I had my heart in my mouth. The suspense was superbly written and the ending took me completely by surprise. This well-crafted and absorbing book is probably my new favorite by the author. I cannot recommend it enough.

Last week, I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favourite authors, C.L. Tayor about her latest psychological thriller The Fear (you can read it here) and today I am sharing my thoughts on this dark and compelling story:

Title: The Fear

Author: C.L. Taylor

Published: March 22nd 2018 by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: When Lou Wandsworth ran away to France with her teacher Mike Hughes, she thought he was the love of her life. But Mike wasn’t what he seemed and he left her life in pieces.

Now 32, Lou discovers that he is involved with teenager Chloe Meadows. Determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, she returns home to confront him for the damage he’s caused.

But Mike is a predator of the worst kind, and as Lou tries to bring him to justice, it’s clear that she could once again become his prey…

The million copy Sunday Times bestseller returns with a taut, compelling psychological thriller that will have you glued to the edge of your seat. 

Review: after her fantastic YA debut, C. L. Taylor is back with a new clever and absorbing psychological thriller. In my opinion, she is one of the best authors in this genre and she did not disappoint at all with The Fear.

The Fear is slightly different than Taylor's previous books. I had the feeling that the pace was faster and the action was more intense. Also, in this story there was no woman being chased by her past or by an unknown evil but three women doing the chasing. As soon as I started reading, I couldn't stop and without realizing I was almost done. Time definitely flew by. 

The three women all had a very strong voice. Thanks to the story being narrated by the three of them, we really get to know them and understand what their motivations and fears are. You soon realize that they have more in common than you first thought and the scenes they were together were the most unexpected and interesting ones. 

The main theme of this story is a difficult one, with many uncomfortable scenes. But unfortunately, so is the reality with sexual predators. I think Taylor developed it in a very clever way and you wanted to keep reading as you never knew whether justice was going to be served.

Definitely a highly recommended read for fans of the genre, looking for something different and shocking. 

Rating: 5 stars

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Today is my stop in the Blog Tour for The Fear and I'm over the moon to welcome author CL Taylor to the blog for a Q&A. Her psychological thrillers are always a highlight of my bookish year and The Fear is no exception, gripping, tense and so unexpected!

Hi and welcome to Alba in Bookland. First of all, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Alba, thanks for inviting me to visit your blog. I’m C.L. Taylor, otherwise known as Cally, and I’m the author of five psychological thrillers and one young adult thriller (all of them published by HarperCollins). I live in Bristol with my partner and our six year old son. 

Can you now tell us a bit about your new book, The Fear?

The Fear is about three women whose lives are changed forever as a result of meeting one man, karate teacher Mike Hughes. When Lou Wandsworth, the girl he ran away to France with when she was just fourteen, returns to her home town to clear her late father’s house, the three women’s lives intersect, and more than one of them are in danger.

Reviews seem to agree that The Fear is your best book yet. What do you think makes this story so special and shocking?

I am absolutely thrilled that reviewers think The Fear is my best book yet. The Fear is slightly different from my other books (where women find themselves in strange or dangerous situations) because Lou actively goes after Mike, to confront him for what he did to her when she was fourteen. She’d the strongest, most pro-active female character I’ve written so far, although she’s also quite vulnerable. I also write from the point of view of Wendy and Chloe, the other women in the book and I think what makes the book quite powerful is that each of their stories are gripping and unusual and, when they all meet for the first time…well, that would be telling. 

Characters in your stories are always complex and feel very real. How do you research your characters? Do you talk to experts, go to places where they go too, base them on real people?

Thank you, that’s a huge compliment. When I start writing my books I normally know what each character wants (their goal), what their flaw is and what they fear. I spend a lot of time thinking about their past. What happened before the stories starts that made them the way they are? We’re all the result of our childhood and the relationships we’ve had since, whether we like it or not and I spend a lot of time thinking about my character’s pasts. They evolve as I write them and I am always surprised by the person they become. I had no idea when I started writing The Fear, for example, that Wendy would turn out to have such a twisted sense of humour! 

Which character do you hold closer to your heart? And which is the one most similar to you?

My all-time favourite character is Wendy. She was an absolute delight to write. I literally never knew quite what she was going to say or do next and I smiled a lot when I wrote her scenes. All of my main characters are a little bit like me in some way but the character most like me is probably Claire Wilkinson from The Missing. She’s a mother, a people pleaser and she puts her family’s happiness before her own. She’s also a little bit of a control freak, like me.

How do you feel coming back to the adult psychological thrillers after your latest YA release? Do you write both genres in the same way or do you take different approaches?

I’m very lucky in that I get to alternate between adult psychological thrillers and YA thrillers. My adult thrillers are much more emotionally taxing as I tackle much darker themes so I almost need to brace myself emotionally before I start writing one. I go to much darker places in my head. My YA thrillers are about three quarters of the length of the adult books and, whilst I still work as hard to plot and research them, I can have more fun whilst writing the action scenes and I really enjoying tapping into the fears and preoccupations of my teenaged self. 

And finally, can we expect another book from you soon? Do you have any more YA stories in the pipeline? 

This year is another busy one for me as I’m currently writing my sixth psychological thriller for adults. Then, almost as soon as I’ve completed my edits etc, I need to start writing my second YA thriller. I recently spoke to my YA editor and she signed off on my idea. It’ll be quite different from The Treatment and I can’t wait to start writing it. 

About the Book:

Title: The Fear

Author: CL Taylor

Published: March 22nd by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK

This year, for my Christmas feature, I've invited several authors and book bloggers for a fun Christmas Interview. My next guest is author Bella Osborne:

Hi Bella and welcome to Alba in Bookland. First of all, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi Alba, Thank you for having me on your blog today, it’s lovely to be here. I live in Warwickshire, England with my husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog and I write romantic comedy novels that have a bit of a gritty side too.

You have a new story, Ottercombe Bay, out later this month of December. I see it's the first part of a serialised novel. Tell us a bit about what it'll be about.

My fourth novel ‘Ottercombe Bay’ is set in a fictional Devon seaside town. It’s the story of Daisy who is forced to return to Ottercombe Bay when a relative leaves her something unusual in their will. As the place where her mother died the town holds sad memories as well as a number of questions for Daisy, so she must come to terms with her past before she can make something of her future. With a cast of quirky locals, a few gin cocktails and a black pug with lots of attitude, there’s more to the sleepy town than Daisy remembers.

Ottercombe Bay is being released as a four part e-book serial. Part one is out 28th December with the others following at six week intervals and the paperback of the whole story will be published summer 2018.

Now that Christmas is fast approaching, let's talk Christmas presents. Have you bought all your presents already or you'll have to squeeze a last minute shopping trip on Christmas' Eve?

I’m a big forward planner so my Christmas shopping is all done, there’s just the wrapping to do which is the part I really love. There’s nothing more festive than sitting down by the fire with a glass of Baileys and a Christmas film whilst being knee-deep in wrapping paper and bows! And I usually have a the cat to ‘help’ me too!

Which book is on top of your wish list this year? 

There’s a few on my list this Christmas but I think the one I’ve been itching to read is Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, because everyone’s been talking about it this year.

Is there a movie or a book you always revisit during the holidays? 

Yes! I always watch Love Actually (I’m a huge Richard Curtis fan) and Home Alone on the run up to Christmas. I also love to dig out the Royle Family Christmas Specials because they are so funny and I really miss the series.

Who's your Favourite Christmas Villain from these? 

- The Grinch

- The angry elf in Elf

- Old Man Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life

- Scrooge in a Christmas Carol

That’s a tricky one but I’ll go with Scrooge because he’s such a Christmas icon and it’s a story I enjoy whether it’s reading the book, watching the black and white Alastair Sim film or the Muppets musical version.

And finally, if you could spend Christmas with a fictional character, who would you pick?

That would have to be Harry Potter, who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas at Hogwarts and have a jumper knitted by Mrs Weasley?

Many thanks for having me on the blog. Here’s wishing you and all your followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you so much Bella for stopping by and sharing some Christmas cheer with us! 

Connect with Bella Osborne:

Twitter: @osborne_bella

Facebook: Bella Osborne

About the Book:

Title: 

Author: Bella Osborne

Published: December 28th 2017 by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK 

Blurb: Escape to the Devon coast, with Part One of a brand-new four-part serial from the author of Willow Cottage.

Daisy Wickens has returned to Ottercombe Bay, the picturesque Devon town where her mother died when she was a girl. She plans to leave as soon as her great uncle’s funeral is over, but Great Uncle Reg had other ideas. He’s left Daisy a significant inheritance – an old building in a state of disrepair, which could offer exciting possibilities, but to get it she must stay in Ottercombe Bay for twelve whole months.

With the help of a cast of quirky locals, a few gin cocktails and a black pug with plenty of attitude, Daisy might just turn this into something special. But can she ever hope to be happy among the ghosts of her past?

Today I'm reviewing C.L. Taylor's latest psychological thriller, The Escape. After loving her previous novels, I was really looking forward to discovering a new story by her. Here are my thoughts on it: 

Title: The Escape

Author: C. L. Taylor

Published: March 23rd 2017 by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: The new psychological thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Accident, The Lie and The Missing.

"Look after your daughter's things. And your daughter…"

When a stranger asks Jo Blackmore for a lift she says yes, then swiftly wishes she hadn't.

The stranger knows Jo's name, she knows her husband Max and she's got a glove belonging to Jo's two year old daughter Elise.

What begins with a subtle threat swiftly turns into a nightmare as the police, social services and even Jo's own husband turn against her.

No one believes that Elise is in danger. But Jo knows there's only one way to keep her child safe – RUN.

Review: C. L. Taylor is back with a new clever and absorbing psychological thriller. For me, she is one of the best authors in this genre and she did not disappoint at all with The Escape. 

When we start reading this story, we have no clue of what is going on, but neither does Jo Blackmore, the main character. We all know though that something or someone dangerous is looming in the darkness, Jo and her daughter are not safe. This first part of the story is really tense and I couldn't stop reading to try to find out more about what was going on, collecting clues, trying to decide who was trying to help and who was trying to harm them. 

Little but little, we start figuring out what is going on and soon realise that Jo's worse fears are no longer fears but her new reality. A new reality where she is no longer sure about anything or anyone. Not only her present is hunting her but also her past. This fact adds a new storyline to the novel that intertwines with the main one perfectly, surprising us readers with quite a few unexpected twists and revelations. 

As I said, I raced through the first part of this story. I couldn't wait to know more. But as I started realising what was happening I started reading way more slowly, fearing what would happen next. But also taking in all the details the author adds to the story, like the eerie atmosphere of the Irish village where the story takes us or all the complexities and different versions of each characters. 

If you want to be surprised, if you want to feel fear, if you want to read a cleverly written story... then don't look any farther. The Escape is the book you are looking for. Another hit by C.L. Taylor. 

Rating: 5 stars

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

Today I share my review for C.L. Taylor's latest psychological thriller, The Lie. I was lucky enough to get an early review copy, so thank you Avon! And I devoured it in a weekend. Here are my thoughts: 

Blurb: You love your family. They make you feel safe. You trust them. Or do you…?

When fifteen-year-old Billy Wilkinson goes missing in the middle of the night, his mother, Claire Wilkinson, blames herself. She's not the only one. There isn't a single member of Billy's family that doesn't feel guilty. But the Wilkinson’s are so used to keeping secrets from one another that it isn't until six months later, after an appeal for information goes horribly wrong, that the truth begins to surface.

Claire is sure of two things – that Billy is still alive and that her friends and family had nothing to do with his disappearance.

A mother's instinct is never wrong. Or is it?

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: After loving C.L. Taylor's previous two psychological thrillers, I'd say The Missing was one of my most anticipated books of the year. So I am glad to report that it did not disappoint at all. In fact, I think it's going to be difficult to express how much I loved this book without giving anything away. But let's try.

The Missing revolves around the disappearance of Billy Wilkinson and it is told from her mother's, Claire, point of view. When we start reading, Billy has been gone for 6 month already and the atmosphere at the Wilkinson's couldn't be more tense. Claire and her husband doesn't seem to be able to communicate with each other and even less with their older son, who has decided that drinking is the only way of action. Plus, Claire is sure Billy is out there and she must find him, her baby, no matter what, a feeling that not everyone seems to share so deeply.

From here, C.L. Taylor takes us on a chilly and gripping journey to find Billy and the truth about his disappearance, lead by Claire. I found her to be an amazing character. From page one, you can feel her despair and helplessness, she slowly creeps in your head and you end up sharing all her pain. It was equally astonishing and brutal to walk this journey alongside her and just as her, I doubted about everyone in this story, even about her. Seriously, every time I thought we might be closer to the truth, Taylor surprised me and stirred the story another way. It was a bit like playing cat and mouse, and I loved every minute of it.

Between chapters, we can read Snapchat conversations between two users from before Billy's disappearance. We don't know who they are but they held little clues that can help the reader figure it all out. I found this idea simply brilliant, they added a new perspective to the story and made me understand the story and the characters involved even better. Plus, in the world we live, where nothing happens unless you have posted it online, these conversations added the perfect touch to make this story even more realistic and relatable.

Something I love about C.L. Taylor's writing is how she takes a situation and stretches it to its limits to see how the characters involved react. In The Missing, I found the dynamics between the family fascinating. Claire's deepest fear has come true, her baby (even if he is already 15) has been taken away from her. But what if this actually wasn't her deepest fear? What if someone she loved, someone close had taken him? The stress and the pain this family goes through is palpable during the whole story and how all of them interact with each other might held some clues for Claire and for the reader as well.

For me, The Missing is another hit from C.L. Taylor. It is so cleverly written and so absorbing that I completely forgot about everything else while reading it. Unmissable.  

Rating: 

Blurb: Ever thought about recycling your ex?

Best friends Catherine, Rachel & Sarah are fun, smart, successful and single – just like millions of women with a low tolerance for idiocy in their dates.

Mr. Right hasn't turned up yet, and Mr Right-Now isn't worth booking a wax appointment for. So when Catherine, London’s finest matchmaker, gets Rachel and Sarah to join her dating site where they can recycle their ex-boyfriends in exchange for an upgrade, they soon realise that anything could happen...

Three best friends, proving that sometimes it really isn't you… it's him.

First of all I would like to thank the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: Something I really like about Michele Gorman is that her stories are always so original. With her, there's no girl meets boy; with her, there are strong down to earth women who might be looking for love but also have a thousand other things in their heads too, they have dreams, concerns and expectations. And above all, they have each other's backs. And that's exactly what Match Me If You Can is about. 

Reading the blurb, I expected a fun story about online dating and its disasters. But what I got was way deeper and so self-affirming. Actually, the online dating is quite present in the stories of these three women, Catherine, Rachel and Sarah, but it's not the main focus. Catherine is the one who actually runs the website where you have to register with an ex and evaluate them so you both can find better fitted people for you. She actually owns it and other dating services with her ex-husband. Who is marrying a (quite) younger girl. Catherine was probably my least favourite character. She was OK in general but I didn't really care for her. It was interesting to find out more about her but her parts were the ones I enjoyed less.

Then there's Rachel, an architect who works with her ex-boyfriend. They are actually competing for a project, which made for some scenes between them. They join Catherine's website together and soon Rachel starts getting quite the attention. Rachel is quite stubborn and proud so I really enjoyed seeing her out of her comfort zone in her dates. And I was really happy with the ending of her story. She deserved it. 

And finally there's Sarah. She was my favourite of the three, I guess because at the beginning she was kind of lost, never bothering to leave the house and focusing all her energies on baking for her loved one and forgetting about the rest of the worl. She really needed to find herself and during the story we see her growing and learning to love herself. But the star of the story for me was Sarah's sister. She was such a special character. I'm sure you all will love her.

All in all, Match Me If You Can is a very entertaining story that flows easily. It has relatable characters and an original idea. It manages to surprise you more than once and it definitely makes you giggle. 

Rating: 

         

Hi Kerry and welcome to Alba in Bookland. 

Alba, thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog. It’s lovely to be here. 

First of all, tell us a bit about yourself: 

I live in Surrey with two work-in-progress teenagers, a husband who never reads anything I write (but is quite lovely in other ways) and a naughty Lab/Giant Schnauzer called Poppy. I love cooking and seem to have developed a middle-aged obsession with gardening of late. I find a disproportionate amount of joy in seeing my seeds turn into flowers. 

Your latest novel, The Island Escape, is about a woman who escapes her real life and marriage and revisits an island where she spent a summer when she was young. Where did the inspiration for this story come from? 

I lived in Corsica as part of my French degree when I was nineteen. It’s a fabulous island, with the strong perfume of wild rosemary, thyme and gorse everywhere, carpets of wildflowers and the clearest sea. It’s the perfect setting for romance so I chose it for The Island Escape. The idea of the story came from hearing so many women in their forties expressing dissatisfaction with the way their lives have turned out. 

You're quite a traveler yourself, what's the best place you have ever visited and would like to escape right now? 

I love Sydney. There’s such a variety of things to do/see/eat, I can’t imagine ever being bored. The last couple of months have been so busy, I’d like to do the Bondi-Coogee coastal walk, which passes through the peaceful Waverley Cemetery. It sounds macabre but it’s an exquisite graveyard overlooking the sea. I love reading all the old-fashioned names on the headstones and wondering about their lives. 

And what place you haven't visited yet would you love to discover? 

I’m really keen to go to Iceland – the scenery is supposed to be spectacular. 

Are the characters in your novels completely fictional or are they ever based on anyone in real life? 

It sounds odd but I find it more difficult to make real people convincing than entirely fictional ones. What I do take from real life are characteristics or personality traits – a way of standing, a nervous tic, an aggressive or unfortunate manner… 

Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on at the moment? 

I’ve just finished novel three. It’s a very contemporary story about how small secrets can grow huge as they contaminate the next generation, intertwined with a humorous look at how challenging parenting can be. 

And now the important questions ;) 

Secret guilty pleasure: I hardly ever watch television but I do love I’m A Celebrity. I get completely frustrated when contestants won’t even have a go at trials. 

Ultimate Book boyfriend: I’ve just read Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey and I loved her American bomber pilot, Dan. He had all the ingredients for a romantic hero – decent, brave, kind and respectful. 

Best plan for a Saturday night: I like to party but am probably happiest when the whole family is at home, with a film we all agree on (rather than our usual scenario of arguing about every film on Netflix before it gets too late to watch anything!) Add in the dog snuggled up with me on the sofa, a glass of Sauvignon blanc and all mobile phones banished to the kitchen – perfect! 

Thank you for having me.

Thank you Kerry for stopping by and answering all my questions. I would love to be in Corsica right now, but I think I'll have to settle with reading the fantastic The Island Escape.

Haven't you read this fantastic read yet? Find out more about it: 

Title: The Island Escape

Author: Kerry Fisher

Published: May 21st 2015 by Avon

Amazon | Amazon UK

Have you missed any stops on the tour? Check them out for more fantastic content, reviews and interviews with Kerry: 

Blurb:  I know your name's not really Jane Hughes...

Jane Hughes has a loving partner, a job in an animal sanctuary and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She's happier than she's ever been but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes does not really exist.

Five years earlier Jane and her then best friends went on holiday but what should have been the trip of a lifetime rapidly descended into a nightmare that claimed the lives of two of the women.

Jane has tried to put her past behind her but someone knows the truth about what happened. Someone who won't stop until they've destroyed Jane and everything she loves...

*First of all I would like to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Review: I think it's going to be difficult to express how much I loved this book without giving anything away. The Lie combines two story lines, one in the present and one that happened 5 years ago, linked by one person: Jane Hughes. She and three more friends went on holiday to a retreat in Nepal and since coming back, she has tried to bury and forget all about the hell that it turned out to be. But it seems that her past is hunting her to present day and her new life is about to take some unexpected turns.

With a really face paced and descriptive narrative, C.L. Taylor takes you in a dark and scary journey to Nepal. As you read (a better way to put it would be devour) this thriller, you soon realise that you have no idea what is going to happen next, and even less who you can trust. Page after page I could feel the tension building and my heart biting faster. My advice, don't read it alone at night because every little noise is going to make you jump. Also, when you pick it up, make sure you have plenty of time to dive in because once you start The Lie, it's gonna be difficult to put it down.

Taylor handles topics such as friendship and trust but also some darker ones, like trauma, envy (and others you'll discover through the story, much much darker). I found it really interesting to see how she played with the dynamics of a group of female friends, stretching them to their limits and seeing how all the emotions lurking there started appearing and new truths revealed themselves.

I always find it great when at the end of a story there are notes from the author, or in this case, a conversation with C.L. Taylor in which she talks about why she wrote this story or how she thought the ending, because it always makes you think about something maybe you have missed or you saw differently.

The Lie is an utterly gripping psychological thriller that you won't forget for a long time. Dark and creepy and wonderfully written.

Rating: 

Welcome to Bookish Recipes, a feature on the blog where I cook or bake a recipe from a book I have loved and share the result with you. This week's recipe is inspired by the book As Good As It Gets? by Fiona Gibson. In this family tale that will make you laugh out loud more than once, our heroine, Charlotte, works in a (posh) potato chip factory. She can take home all the damaged-packages of chips she wants and her family has started to be a bit fed up with so many chips. So she comes up with the idea of baking some cookies with potato chips and her recipe is a real success.

Since reading this book, I have been wanting to try potato chip cookies. So after browsing the Internet for a good recipe, I finally decided to trust our beloved Martha Steward and adapt her recipe to create my own: 

3) Add flour, baking soda, and salt, and beat on low speed until combined. Stir in half of the crushed potato chips and the nuts.

4) Make little balls with the dough and put them on a baking sheet. Remember to leave enough space between them or they'll stick together in the oven. Add the rest of the crushed chip on top of the balls.

“Midlife crisis? WHAT midlife crisis?!”

Charlotte Bristow is worried about her husband Will. With her 16-year-old daughter Rosie newly signed to a top modelling agency, and Will recently out of a job, things are changing in their household.

As Will dusts down his old leather trousers and starts partying with their new, fun neighbours, Charlotte begins to wonder what on earth is going on.

So when Fraser, Charlotte’s ex – and father of Rosie – suddenly arrives back on the scene, she starts to imagine what might have been…