BLOG BLITZ: A Testiment To Murder by Vivian Conroy

 

Title: A Testament to Murder

Author Name: Vivian Conroy

Genre: Cosy Crime

Release Date: 18th February 2019

Book Blurb:

Suspenseful from the first page to the last, A Testament to Murder is perfect for fans of And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, and Crooked House

A dying billionaire. Nine would-be heirs. But only one will take the prize...

At the lush Villa Calypso on the French Riviera, a dying billionaire launches a devious plan: at midnight each day he appoints a new heir to his vast fortune. If he dies within 24 hours, that person takes it all. If not, their chance is gone forever.

Yet these are no ordinary beneficiaries, these men who crossed him, women who deceived him, and distant relations intent on reclaiming the family fortune. All are determined to lend death a hand and outwit their rivals in pursuit of the prize.

As tensions mount with every passing second, retired Scotland Yard investigator Jasper must stay two steps ahead of every player if he hopes to prevent the billionaire’s devious game from becoming a testament to murder…

Chapter 9 Extract:

Hugh leaned his shoulder against the folly's white wood and sighed. Even that made his head ache. He needed another drink, but his hip flask was empty and he had forgotten to refill it before wandering out to avoid the scent of scrambled eggs and Cecily Jones' attempts to draw him out about getting his work into some gallery. She had no idea how hard the life of an artist was. People simply believed you could turn out masterpieces like clockwork, like a baker baked bread or a carpenter made cupboards. But there was no mould, no set design, nothing to recreate time and time again. Each creation was unique, the only one there'd ever be in the entire world. The idea was wondrous and intimidating at the same time.

When he picked up his pen or his chisel, his head was so full of all the expectations resting on him he could barely hold it without shaking. Not the expectations of a public, of buyers or patrons. No, the expectations of the works of art themselves. He was their creator; he had to give life to them. He had to make them into what they were supposed to be. And he always felt like he couldn't do them justice. Like they were more beautiful and grander than he could ever make them.

Hugh sighed sadly. He fingered his damp forehead, cringing as even that slight touch beat into his brain. His mouth was so dry he could hardly swallow. He'd better get back to the house for water or coffee. Or whiskey, which he felt he needed more. But his legs were too wobbly to move. He just stood there letting the structure hold him upright as tears of desolation and failure filled his eyes.

Links to Book:

Amazon (UK)

Kobo (UK)

Google Books (UK)

Apple Books (UK)

Author Bio:

Armed with cheese and chocolate, Vivian Conroy sits down to create the aspirational settings, characters with secrets up their sleeves, and clever plots which took several of her mysteries to #1 bestseller in multiple categories on Amazon US and Canada. Away from the keyboard, Vivian likes to hike (especially in the Swiss mountains), hunt for the perfect cheesecake and experience the joy in every-day life, be it a fiery sunset, a gorgeous full moon or that errant butterfly descending on the windowsill.

Social Media Profiles:

Twitter: @VivWrites

His Wife, Her Answer - Danielle Yosere

Synopsis:

Tyler needs a wife to fix his reputation. Lucy needs and answer to her problem. Are they one and the same? After a quick marriage agreements, they have a long journey ahead of them. Will they stay together? Or will things be more complicated that they expected? Come along for the ride! Find out what happens to Tyler and Lucy!

Review:

So Danielle and I actually met via instagram and that was when and how I learnt she was a published author. Me being me and having this blog I assured Danielle I would read and review her book for her once I purchased a copy. Wanting it as soon as possible I bought an Ebook copy and got right to it.

I had no idea what to expect from this book, well i mean i had a rough idea but nothing too exact. Pretty much right from the beginning I was imersed, as a reader you are thrown right into the thick of things, meetinb oth charracters and getting small hints of their deeper story but nothing too soon that would leave you knowing everything before it happened.

The book switches between two points of view, both being the mian characters, thankfully even though it is told through two points of views, there were no repeating of events, what you heard in one persons POV was pretty much non existent in the others. I fell for Lucy, she felt like a close friend of mine and Tylers felt the same and I just wanted to protect and love them both. The secondary characters int he story each add something lovely to the story, more depth and something i cant quite explain, but with both sets of characters the story moves smoothly along.

Danielle created and told events in such a way that make your emotions swirl throughout the book, there are unexpected twists and turns, laughs and moments of pure awghs. Something great about this book, one of the many, is that there is brief desciptions of both the characters and the settings which leaves room for the reader to fill in the gaps witht heir own mind which makes the experience different for each reader.

His Wife, Here Answer is an easy read, quick and sweet. I can not wait for what Danielle has in store for the rest of the series. a 4.5/5 from me, I just want more!

Kingdom Cold - Brittni Chenelle

Synopsis:

Attempted murder, that's how sixteen-year-old Princess Charlotte's engagement starts. It seems like the only thing she has in common with Prince Young of Vires is their mutual discontent.

When her kingdom's attacked, Charlotte's parents renegotiate her hand in marriage to a handsome stranger with a sinister plan. With the people Charlotte loves dying around her, and her kingdom's future at stake, the only person she can turn to is the prince she betrayed. But, should she save her kingdom or her heart? One must fall.

Review:

This book suprised me, I must admit that much at least. Part of me was expecting some cliche teenage romance story with a love hate start and all the usuals but I was knocked back when reading it as in fact it isnt that at all!

The story itself differs in perspectives, switching between several characters POV's at one point. Mainly it switches between Pricness Charlotte's and Prince Young's POV which you would expect as the story is primarily theirs. It follows the teenagers as they meet for the frist time since they were practically toddlers, this time it is for their wedding prepared by their families. Charlotte has no filter when it comes to Young, in the sense she has no issue in telling him how she really feels even if it may take a pinch of alcohol to losen her tongue.

Soon enought events happen which are written so perfectly, I was imersed and in love. We meet so many characters throughout the book all but one are really likeable for me just because I know what the other character is like. There is something truly compelling about each of the characters, all the way from our main characters Charlotte and Young all the way through to the secondary characters scattered throughout the book. Each characters plays their part and adds a certain note of realism to the story even though it doesnt follow the typical structure of a book. This element alone makes it my cup of tea and in the end i was bound to love the story anyway.  

Charlotte is young but she knows what she wants, she is protective and selfish and all of these things that are just natural to a girl in such circumstances but she if fierce and wonderful, I wish I knew her. Young is just a little older than Charlotte and hes brave and loyal, protective and kind, nothing like what people know him to be which is that he never smiles, like he's never happy but with Charlotte even though I'd hate to admit it if i were him, he is happy around her. Minseo is one of Young's older brother who accompanies him throughout the book is exactly like Young but theres something different to how he does it all that makes him nothing like his brother at all. 

The one thing I absolutely adore about this book is the journey and growth the characters show but that isn't the only best quality of Kingdom Cold and theres no chance of me choosing the best one. 

With each page you are subjected to the cruetly of being both a royal and human, Kingdom Cold is bound to build you up and break your heart and you wont even see it coming. Following the end of the book the only thing I could truly want, is one more very long moment within it,  it became somewhat of a natural feeling and a new home to me. Take me back. Brittni has crafted a wonderful story within 300 pages and I can not wait to see what else Brittni has in store for us. A definite 5/5 from me and a must read for any YA reader in need of another heart break. 

BLOG TOUR: The Lost Man - Jane Harper

Synopsis:

Two brothers meet at the border of their vast cattle properties under the unrelendting sun of the outback Queensland, in this stunning standalone novel from New York Times bestseller Jane Harper.

They are at the stockmans grave, a landmark so old, no can remember who is buried there. But today, the scant shadow it casts was the last hope for their middle brother, Cameron. The Bright family's quiet existence is thrown into grief and anguish. Something had been troubling Cameron. Did her lose hope and walk to his death? Becuase if he didnt, the isolation of the outback leaves few suspects.

Reivew:

I dont think its any news that I'm a huge fan of Jane Harper and her work, The Lost Man doesnt change that fact either. This is a stand alone compared to her other two books which are a part of a series. I first heard of this book way before it got its name, before it was even written, back when Jane was off on a journey to research which already had be hooked with her tales and photos of her journey.

Her fantastic atmospheric way of writing pulls you in to the setting, holding you there, making you feel the blaring heat of the outback heat, the isolation and her character driven plots are incredibly engaging. Jane is for sure one of the finest writers.  Although I fell in love with Janes books that are part of a series, hearing this was going to be a stand alone book gave me hope to see  what Jane could come up with and how it would effect its readers. 

The book follows Nathan, one of Camerons brothers and he searches for an answer, was Cameron murdered or was it suicide? Well throughout the book there is nothing that points to the deininte answer, not until the very end, nothing comes across as something that an ammetur couldnt do, it was al so realistic.

There is no chance for you to not be shocked by this book, its unepected twists will floor you. Although i have read psychological thrilllers that i have beena ble to solve and ride out the twisty plots, Harper managed to yet again create another book with an journey and ending i couldnt see coming. The Lost Man is a tale of family dynamics, all too familiar abuse and a minimal list of people for you to choose from to guess the final outcome before the reveal. It's nothing new for me to aboslutely suck at guessing before the reveal. 

Theres so many things to this book that make it amazing, at some point you suspect everyone, and the passing between past and present brings the reader to an emotional climax after a tense journey alongside Nathan and his family. Jane hasnt dissapointed in transporting me as a reader to places I could only dream of visiting. If you enjoy emotionally charged, character driven stories do yourself a favour and pick up a copy of The Lost Man. Its only the begining of February but this book will remain int he top 10 best books ir ead in 2019 without a doubt. It's a 5/5 from me.