Blurb: Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice…She is not the only one. 

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation. 

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London. 

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding? 

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika. 

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

A page-turning thriller packed with suspense. If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter, discover Rob Bryndza’s new series today – at a special launch price.

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

I found it very interesting that some of the chapters were told from the murderer's point of view. Being inside their mind and knowing what they were doing and planning without knowing who they actually were was kind of addictive. I knew something was going to happen sooner or later and I all I wanted to do was shout to Erika to warn her. 

Erika's team, especially Moss and Peterson, added the perfect spark to this dark story. Even without really knowing her and her past, they sensed she was special. Their loyalty to her, who was not a bit fan of rules and liked to make things her own way, was admirable. There were also some members of the team though that didn't exactly approve of her and her methods so I couldn't wait for Erika to solve everything and prove them wrong. 

The Girl in the Ice is a fantastic psychological thriller. Dark and addictive, its plot twits and unravels in the most unexpected ways. For a moment there I thought I had everything figured out... I was wrong... Robert Bryndza completely surprised me and shocked me to the chore. Well done sir! I'm already looking forward to next installment. 

Rating: 

Blurb: When fashion boutique worker Amber Green is mistakenly offered a job as assistant to infamous, jet-setting 'stylist to the stars' Mona Armstrong, she hits the ground running, helping to style some of Hollywood's hottest (and craziest) starlets. As awards season spins into action Mona is in hot demand and Amber's life turned upside down. Suddenly she catching the attention of two very different suitors, TV producer Rob and Hollywood bad boy rising star Liam. How will Amber keep her head? And what the hell will everyone wear? The Stylist is a fast-paced, fun-packed rummage through the ultimate dressing up box.

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

Review: The Stylist is Rosie Nixon's debut and what a debut! As it says in the cover, it's perfect for The Devil Wears Prada and Shopaholic fans because it has that same fun spark that made those books so great. Actually, now that I think of it, this book would make a fabulous movie too with its fast paced plot and with the lovely Amber Green (almost) getting the hand of the crazy world of fashion and styling the stars.

But now to the story. I found it highly entertaining and fun. As I said, I really liked the main character, Amber Green (who was not named after the traffic lights, if you were wondering). She was really down to earth and naive enough to find herself in the most hilarious situations, like attending one of the most prestigious award ceremonies of the world in an onesie. She didn't have a great knowledge about fashion but by being in the right place in the right moment she landed a job for stylist to the stars, Mona. Or should I say crazy completely unreliable stylist to even crazier stars, Mona? You get the picture. Luckly, Amber seemed to have a natural eye for styling and was a real hard worker.

So as we follow Mona and Amber during award season, we immerse in the crazy world of stardom. But also we learn about how much work goes on behind the scenes. I love these stories that give us a glimpse to the other side of the story. I mean, who doesn't love checking what celebrity wore what in the Oscars? (I certainly do). But do you ever wonder why they chose that dress or those shoes? 

But the book not only focuses on fashion and what to wear. It is also about following your dreams, finding the courage to stand up for yourself and recognizing who the good people are. Ah! And how to care for a miniature pig too! Plus, we also got a good dash of romance with Amber's not one but two love interests during her adventures, I really liked one of them and was really happy with the ending. 

There was not a thing I didn't like about The Stylist. Rosie Nixon's style was fresh and fast paced and managed to entertain me non-stop for several hours. She is definitely an author to watch. I'm sure next time I check who wore what in the Oscars, I'll be reminded of Mona and Amber. 

Rating: 

The sixth blogiversary giveaway comes to you thanks to lovely book blogger Sophie, from Reviewed the Book, and you can win We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman (for me, Rowan's last was out of this world good, a heartbreaking but uplifting story that will leave no one indifferent)! First, I'd like to thank Sophie for helping me celebrate my 2nd blogiversary. The giveaway is International. The winner will be contacted via twitter or email and will have 48h to claim their prize. Good luck!

We Are All Made of Stars by Rowan Coleman

What if you had just one chance, one letter you could leave behind for the person you love? 

What would you write?

Stella Carey has good reason to only work nights at the hospice where she is a nurse. Married to a war veteran who has returned from Afghanistan brutally injured, Stella leaves the house each night as her husband Vincent, locks himself away, unable to sleep due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

During her nights at the hospice, Stella writes letters for her patients containing their final wishes, thoughts and feelings – from how to use a washing machine, to advice on how to be a good parent – and usually she delivers each letter to the recipient he or she has died.

That is until Stella writes one letter that she feels compelled to deliver in time to give her patient one final chance of redemption…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today I am over the moon to be part of the Blog Tour for The Stylist, the fantastic debut of Rosie Nixon. I enjoyed this read immensely and I am delighted to welcome Rosie to the blog for an interview: 

Blurb: Wickham Hall was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.

Holly Swift has just landed the job of her dreams: events co-ordinator at Wickham Hall, the beautiful manor home that sits proudly at the heart of the village where she grew up. Not only does she get to organise for a living and work in stunning surroundings, but it will also put a bit of distance between Holly and her problems at home.

As Holly falls in love with the busy world of Wickham Hall - from family weddings to summer festivals, firework displays and Christmas grottos - she also finds a place in her heart for her friendly (if unusual) colleagues.

But life isn’t as easily organised as an event at Wickham Hall (and even those have their complications…). Can Holly learn to let go and live in the moment? After all, that’s when the magic happens…

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: I have reached the conclusion that Cathy Bramley cannot write a book I don't fall in love with. I have loved every single word this woman has written so far. And with Wickham Hall, Cathy has surpassed herself again. I really like the structure of her books, given that they are first released as serialised novels, they always follow the same pattern: 4 parts with a little cliffhanger at the end of each that makes you want to keep reading non-stop to know what is going on. I actually always wait until the whole book comes out so I don't have to wait to know it!

In Wickham Hall we meet Holly, a lovely hardworking girl who has just landed the job of her dreams: assistant events organiser at the local Mannor House, Wickham Hall. She and her mother have always been regular visitors of the house and she has always felt connected to this place. But then, on her first day her new boss is a no show and she is left handling the events department on her own. We soon discover though that Holly's highly organisational skills and her love for the place are more than enough to handle it all. That's until gorgeous Ben enters the picture... The reluctant heir of the manor is being pushed by his parents to step up his game and become more involved in the state. So he ends up being Holly's new boss. And the sparks in their little office start flying!

I kind of fell a bit in love with Ben myself and I absolutely adored reading his interactions with Holly. They made each other better persons and their teasing and banter really brought a fun spark to the story. But Wickham Hall offers so much more than their story, starting with the lovely and lively cast of characters that work at Wickham Hall and finishing with the mystery of why Holly feels such a strong connection with the place and the mystery of who her father is, there's certainly no time for boredom reading it. With each page, there's something new to discover.

Talking about the characters of Wickham Hall, I can't not mention the lovely security guard who has a soft spot for every small creature and small child he encounters or the fierce and extremely talented chef who rides a Harley and makes the most delicious concoctions. They were my favourite ones but everyone had their own story to tell and added their little piece of heart to this lovely community. Ah! And let's not forget the Lord and Lady of the manor. Great leaders and highly involved in everything. They made such a cute couple. Even if they not always made things easy for Holly.

So if you need a bit of sunshine to brighten up your day and put you in the mood for spring, then Wickham Hall is your book. I can guarantee that you will fall in love with the setting and its characters and that by the end of it, you'll want to have your own Mannor! Or at least visit one! Another hit from Cathy Bramley, Wickham Hall is unmissable, it goes straight away to my list of favourite reads of the year. 

Rating: