The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer

                                         

 Ebook:    262 pages      

Genre: Contemporary Psychological Thriller, Fiction                                           

Publisher:   September 6th 2024 by Bookouture

Source:  NetGalley - My Kindle

First Sentence: She crouched in the dark, the only sound the trickle of water as it flowed into the cramped cellar.

Review Quote: 'Had me hook, line and sinker from the very first page!… I always love Leah Mercer's books, but this is my new favourite!… The twists are incredible… Wow!’ Goodreads reviewer

Setting: France

My Opinion: 

Leah Mercer, who also publishes as Talli Roland is an author I have been following since 2010 when she published her first novel.  I have said this before, but her writing seems to go from strength to strength. Once again she has wowed me with her latest addictive thriller. 

In 'The Summer Reunion' a group of friends gather for a holiday at a villa in France, where they had last met up twenty years previously, when they were fresh from attending university together.  Now with careers, partners and families they plan to recreate that time of their lives and the fun they had together.  It doesn't work out as expected as straight away lies and secrets start to surface. Apparently things were not quite as their memories led them to believe.

I have always enjoyed reading the work of Leah Mercer over the years and followed the development of her style with interest. Her recent psychological thrillers have all kept me riveted to the stories, so along with her earlier ones recommended for fans of the genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Six friends on holiday. A secret worth dying for.

In a gorgeous French stone villa, a group of friends reunite for a weekend of reminiscing and laughter. But as glasses of wine are poured, they find they aren’t alone. 

Standing at the door is a man the friends thought they’d never see again. With a ferocious storm raging and roads closed, they have no choice but to let him in. Instantly the dream weekend takes a dark turn.

Because someone invited him here.

Because someone has been living a lie.

And someone wants revenge.

But when the truth is revealed, will anyone make it out alive?

Previous Reviews:
The Playgroup.      

The Mother Next Door

Author Profile:                

                                                                                                                                    

                                           Courtesy of Goodreads

Leah, who was born in Halifax, Canada, can't remember a time when she didn't love writing. From creating fake newspapers to writing letters to the editor, scribbling something was always on the agenda. Even the rejections she received after completing her first novel at age 13 didn't dent her enthusiasm.

So it makes sense, then, that she pursued a career in anything but writing. Public relations, teaching, recruitment, editing medical journals -- even a stint painting houses -- until she finally succumbed once more to the lure of the blank page. 

When she's not being jumped on by her young son or burning supper while thinking of plot-lines, Leah can be found furiously tapping away on her laptop, trying not to check Twitter or Facebook. 

Leah also writes romantic comedies under the name Talli Roland. 

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Author -Official Website  Facebook Profile   Leah Mercer - Twitter Profile

Instagram Profile

Your Little Lies by Sue Fortin

                                          

Ebook: 338 pages      

Genre:  Contemporary Psychological Thriller                                    

Publisher:  September 6, 2024 by Storm Publishing

Source: NetGalley

First Sentence: They say you should never meet your hero in real life, that you'll be disappointed should everything you thought about them turn out to be an illusion.

Review Quote:  ‘Wow!!! This book was so good! Right from the start I was drawn in and stayed that way until the end. THIS is what domestic suspense is about!!’ Reader Review,

My Opinion:  

So glad I decided to add this title to my NetGalley Bookshelf. It is always a risk to select an unknown to me author, when I have so many books I want to read from authors I know.  Now I have another author to follow.

A dual time line thriller 'Your Little Lies' is centred around the female protagonist Hannah. She has just moved with her family to their dream home. It is a shock when she recognises a neighbour as someone from a past life she has kept secret from her partner.  The storyline jumps between what is happening in the present and events of ten years ago. So many twists and turns, although I did work out some of what was happening correctly, but there were still many surprises!

An addictive read that I raced through and would definitely recommend to fans of domestic thrillers. 

With thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review 'Your Little Lies'

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Jasper puts his arm around my shoulder and kisses the top of my head. ‘Happy new home, darling.’ A shiver runs through me. Will I be happy here? Will I finally be safe?

When Hannah and Jasper move to Silverbanks, a luxury gated neighbourhood, it’s a dream come true. This house, with its floor-to-ceiling glass doors, direct access to the sandy beach, and close-knit, caring community, will be the perfect place to raise their precious daughter, Pia.

And then Hannah meets her next-door neighbour. The flicker of recognition in his eyes only lasts for a second, but it’s enough. Suddenly, her safe haven has become the most dangerous place she could be. Unless she does something about it…

Author Profile:                

                                                        

                                       Photo Courtesy of Goodreads Profile

Bio from Author Website:

Suzanne writes historical fiction, predominantly dual timeline and set in France. Her books feature courageous women in extraordinary circumstances with love and family at the heart of all the stories.

​Suzanne was a bookworm as a child and this naturally progressed to wanting to write her own stories. It wasn’t until she was on maternity leave with her fourth child, that she thought it was now or never and finally managed to write a complete novel. Having joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association under their New Writers’ Scheme, writing then as Sue Fortin, she sent her manuscript off for a critique.

After another year of working on the novel, Suzanne self-published United States of Love – a contemporary romance. This was then picked up by a traditional publisher, HarperCollins and under their imprint HarperImpulse (now One More Chapter) this book was republished. Writing as Sue Fortin, another seven books in the romantic suspense genre were published with HarperCollins.

More recently, Sue has moved to writing historical fiction and publishes under the name of Suzanne Fortin, with her debut in this genre, The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger released in early 2021 with Head of Zeus imprint, Aria Fiction.

​A self-confessed Francophile, Suzanne has a home in the Morbihan region of France and visits as often as she can with her husband and family. The region has been a huge inspiration for Suzanne’s books and is often the backdrop to her writing.

​Suzanne was born in Hertfordshire but had a nomadic childhood, moving often with her family, before eventually settling in West Sussex.

​Married with four children and two grandchildren – when not behind the keyboard, Suzanne likes to spend her time with them, enjoying both the coast and the South Downs, between which they are nestled.

​A keen amateur photographer, Suzanne’s favourite place to hang out on social media is Instagram.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Sue Fortin - Official Website.     Goodreads Profile.      Amazon Profile

Facebook Profile.     Instagram Profile.    Twitter Profile

Beneath the Lemon Trees by Emma Burstall

                                         

Ebook: 252 pages      

Genre:  Contemporary Women's Fiction                                    

Publisher:  September 6, 2024 by Boldwood Books

Source: NetGalley

First Sentence: Katerina opened her laptop and squinted at her inbox.

Review Quote:  A charming, warm-hearted read... Pure escapism' Alice Peterson

My Opinion: 

Set in Crete, a place I love and with such a beautiful cover, how could I resist ' Beneath the Lemon Trees'. Breaking my own strict rule of never judging a book by its cover, it serves me right that I was a little disappointed. The novel was not the laid back summer romance that I expected.

Stella and her friend Louise plus their respective teenage children have rented a villa in Crete to give them a much needed break. The holiday did not turn out to be the relaxing one they had expected as there was so much tension between everyone. Unsurprisingly really as Stella, rather an unlikeable person actually, had definitely been asking for trouble with her attitude towards her family.

Transport yourself to Crete with this story of love and loss. It is perfect escapism if you are looking for an easy read full of descriptive paragraphs about beautiful scenery and delicious food.

With thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review 'Beneath the Lemon Trees'

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Heartbroken after the loss of a friend and the collapse of her marriage, Stella hopes that this trip to the idyllic Greek island of Crete will give her and her family a chance to heal. And when she first steps into the breath-taking Villa Ariadne, with its views over the azure waters and intoxicating scent of lemons, Stella’s troubles seem to melt away.

Until the arrival of an old acquaintance, and an unwelcome revelation, threaten to undermine the peace at the villa, and Stella is forced to make a difficult decision.

But with the help of Crete’s beautiful scenery and the kindness of its locals, Stella is about to discover that Villa Ariadne can still offer an escape… and so much more. Can she open herself up to the possibility of love and find the strength to start again?

Author Profile:                

                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                                    Courtesy of Goodreads Profile

Emma Burstall in her own words: 

Before I became a novelist, I was a journalist for newspapers and women’s magazines.

I started out as a cub reporter for The Western Morning News in Plymouth, where I seemed to spend a lot of time racing around the Devon and Cornwall countryside in my ancient red Mini. Later, after a short stint as associate producer for a Sky TV chat show/magazine programme, I became features editor of Woman and Family Circle.

I've also written freelance pieces for national newspapers and women’s magazines including The Guardian, Independent on Sunday, Red, Good Housekeeping and Woman & Home.

I read English at Cambridge University and I can still just about get by in French and Spanish. I work out – occasionally – at my local gym, and you might spot me jogging in Richmond Park with a gaggle of friends and badly behaved dogs. As you've probably guessed, we're rather slow.

I live in South West London and I have three children.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Emma Burstall - Official Author Website.   Amazon Author Profile.  

Goodreads Author Profile  Twitter Profile