mags_louise's reviews
3677 reviews

Meet Clover a child actress/pop star who gave it all up for the love of a man. A man who she's just found out is cheating on her with her BFF and so Clover after confronting him and showing him the evidence (kindly provided by said BFF) walks away ready to reinvent herself and reclaim her career.

Which is how she meets grumpy, suit wearing, billionaire Joar. Who has just crushed her ex-Harrison and taken control of his company after its revealed he has been stealing from his clients.

And he's exactly the type of man Clover has sworn off.

Yet, Joar believes Clover is involved in her ex's misdeeds and is determined to get close enough to her to find out. But it doesn't quite go to plan. As once Joar lays eyes on Clover he's hooked and the pair spend eight hours trapped in an elevator having the hottest, dirtiest sex of their lives.

Only Clover has no idea who Joar really is and when she finds out she wants nothing to do with him. 

So, Joar creates a hate date in order to get Clover to go out with him, and it works.

However, their romance is far from easy as both have big trust issues and don't wholly believe the feelings they bring out in each other are real or will last forever. But they can't deny the sex is AMAZING!!!

And with sooo many spicy moments, great characters and some pretty awful ones. Yes, I do mean her ex! This was a great read. That had me completely hooked and it was the perfect story to introduce me to author Kaylene Winter and I would happily recommend The Hate Date to all. 

My thanks to Kaylene Winter and Valentine PR for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Hate Date. 😊

WOW!! Never has a book title summed up a story and the characters themselves as much as this one and what an incredible introduction to author Fiona Cummins.

As I was hooked from the very first page of the prologue and particularly from the moment a killer asks a mother to choose which of her two children should die; teenage daughter Galen or baby of the family Tom.

But before Christine Hardwicke gets to make her heartbreaking decision. The story takes you back to how this family unwittingly ended up in a room face to face with a pair of cold blooded killers.

And to how this pair of killers got started. Think a modern day Bonnie and Clyde with a lot less morals and care for human life.

And it's a cracking story. That is woven together beautifully. With the story told from multiple points of view including Christine Hardwickes, the killers Missy and Fox and the murder team including DS Saul Anguish. Who is leading the cross country chase to try and stop them.

And with so many twists and shocks. This was a dark thrilling and at times harrowing but completely unputdownable and memorable read. That is on par with The Twenty. As the best crime fiction, I've read this year, and I would thoroughly recommend All Of Us Are Broken to others.

My thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 😊

Lost Little Angels returns readers to Utah and specifically the closed small town of Hildale. Where mostly everyone is under the control of a cult run by a so-called prophet. Who is currently rotting in jail.

And where babies are going missing and mothers are too scared to speak out.

But for Detective Eve Bennet who escaped the community. The news strikes extremely close to home and evokes fear and memories she'd rather forget.

However, Eve is also determined to get answers and ensure whatever the community is up to is brought to light and stopped.

But to do that she has to face her step brother Aaron. The attorney for the county and part of the community that won't speak out.

Yet, a couple of brave members are willing to go against the others and offer Eve and her team scent details to go on. 

Which leads them, and particular Eve down a dangerous path and in the end provides evidence that could blow the case wide open.

That's if Eve and her team survive.

And with such a fascinating setting, intriguing characters and a storyline that had me gripped. Not to mention great pacing, shocks, twists and plenty of detail. This was a really enjoyable read and it's a story I would happily recommend to others, particularly because of the cult/closed community setting.

You or Someone Like You is a romance full of heart and a big dollop of sweetness.

As single dad Roman still grieving the loss of his beloved wife Emma is convinced by his Aunt Theodora to go on a blind date. With a member of her staff Margaux who she thinks is perfect for him.

But Margaux has suspected food poisoning. So she begs her twin sister Sloane to go in her place and to be as dull and undateable as possible.

And it works.

Until Roman bumps into Sloane whilst walking home and finds out she not only lives where his wife did when she first came to New York. But she's a huge fan of an elusive artist called Halcyon and now Roman wants to see her again.

Much to the real Margaux's despair and Sloanes shock.

But one conversation later it becomes clear why he wants to see her again. Although Roman makes it clear he's not looking to date.

Yet, time spent with Sloane soon has him ready to move on from Emma and Sloane soon starts falling for him too.

If only she hadn't lied.

And with a few emotional moments, sweetness, likable characters and some not so likable characters. Yes, I'm talking about the real Margaux. This was really easy and engaging read. That had me invested from start to finish and I'd happily recommend it to others. 😊

My thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of You or Someone Like You. 😊

Lilah f******g Love is back! In a story that packs a punch both in intensity, intrigue and emotion. 

As deputy director of the FBI and Lilah's direct supervisor has been murdered in what appears to be an assassination and now Homeland Security want Lilah to find out who did it.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this story. As Lilah's husband Kane is in Mexico ready to kill his uncle and install an ally as head of the family cartel.

However, it all goes wrong, and Kane is faced with a ghost from his past and a dilemma that has him seriously thinking leaving Lilah is his only way forward.

But the reappearance of a ghost and the death of Murphy can't possibly be a coincidence, can it?

And as Lilah scrambles to get her brother and team to safety and learn all she can about those now in charge. She's summoned to Washington. As another high-profile person has been assassinated and now Lilah has two murders to solve and no way of asking questions or interviewing potential witnesses. 

And with a ghost assassin hanging around and a ghost resurfacing. Not to mention pressure mounting from the highest levels of government who may not be telling Lilah the whole truth.This was a gripping read. That had me hooked from start to finish and I can't wait for the conclusion of this story and to find out how Lilah and Kane are going to work their way out of this.

I would thoroughly recommend The Ghost Assassin and the Lilah Love series as a whole to others.     

Her Detective Katie Scott is back in a cracker of a story.

As Katie faces her toughest case to date. As she and partner McGaven investigate a potential serial killer who is basing their kills on convicted killer Simon Holden.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. As a month ago Katie's fiancée Chad disappeared whilst on a romantic weekend break with Katie. And there have been no sightings of him since or evidence to explain what happened. Apart from some drops of blood and a bottle of champagne laced with drugs.

However, Katie and her entire department are determined to find out what happened and bring Chad home. 

The only problem is the more Katie searches for answers the less anything makes sense. Especially when it appears Chad's disappearance is linked to the killer she is currently hunting.

But how? 

And will finding the killer mean finding Chad and bringing him home safely or has Katie lost him forever?

And with a storyline that grabbed me from the very first page, great pacing, shocks, twists and moments where I was literally screaming 'no way' at my Kindle. This was a brilliant read and my favourite of the series so far and I genuinely can't wait to find out what's going to happen next.

I would thoroughly recommend Her Dying Kiss to all.

Detective Inspector Lexi  Bennett and the murder investigation team are back. With another tricky case to solve. 

As thirteen year old Olivia "Olly" James falls to her death. But did she jump or was she pushed?

That's what Lexi is intent on discovering. Especially when she learns that Olly was friends with her nephew Sam. Who insists Olly would never harm herself. 

Although all the evidence says otherwise. Lexi is sure something else is happening and then the next day another teen dies supposedly by their own hand.

Yet, Lexi isn't convinced and is more sure than ever something far worse is going on. 

And she is soon proven right.

But her rash actions and desperation to save lives cause a viable lead to disappear and another teen to be discovered dead.

And now Lexi really wants answers.

However, with little evidence to go on and no signs of murder. How is Lexi and her team going to find who is responsible and stop more teens from dying?

And with a twisted killer to catch, danger, shocks and surprises. This was an engaging and enjoyable follow up to the brilliant The Girls on Chalk Hill and I'd happily recommend this series and author to others.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Girl's Last Cry. 😊

Meet Jane, a retired librarian who looking for a new challenge and a way to supplement her small pension applies for a job to archive eccentric collector Cam Clewes collection of rare books and artefacts.

And a challenge is exactly what Jane gets. When she finds a body in Cam's library, and Cam immediately comes under suspicion of murder.

However, Cam is determined to prove his innocence, believing his vast intelligence and deductive reasoning can easily solve the case.

Only with limited social skills, anxiety and a touch of agoraphobia. It's not quite as easy as he thought.

So, Jane steps in determined to find the killer. But to do that she has to ask tough questions and face the possibility that her new boss may actually be a killer after all.

And with a nice amount of mystery and likable characters. This was an enjoyable if a little slow paced read. That I'm sure fans of cosy crime will love.

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of A Cryptic Clue. 😊

Her Last Tear is another cracking addition to the Nikki Hunt series. 

As Nikki is enjoying a fireworks display with boyfriend Rory, daughter Lacey and Rory's family including Mark. The man wrongly imprisoned for killing Nikki's parents.

When a young mother Brittany Walker alerts a nearby volunteer to the fact her two daughters Thea and Abby have disappeared. And as a frantic search ensues. Nikki is determined to help find them. 

But with the noise of the fireworks, a lack of CCTV, marinas and no witnesses. How are they ever going to find them?

And as the investigation unfolds and a body is discovered Nikki learns the Walker family are keeping huge secrets.

However, they're not the only ones. As a witness comes forward with a description that puts somebody close to Nikki at the heart of the investigation.

And as the pressure mounts, Nikki is going to have to pull out all the stops if she is to find the person responsible and bring the remaining Walker sibling home.

And with huge twists and turns and a killer I did not expect. Not to mention a confrontation that had me on the edge of my seat. Her Last Tear was a terrific and gripping read. That I'd one hundred percent recommend to others.

DCI Matilda Darke is back in another gripping prequel story which I read in just one sitting it was that good!

As Matilda, Sian and new team member DC Rory Fleming are called in when a body of a teenage girl is found in the boot of a car.

And the case soon gets weird. As the victim (Daisy) was reported missing by her mum along with her friend Andrew. Whom she was supposed to be meeting and who Sian swears she recognises. She just doesn't know where from.

But it doesn't take long for the team to learn why Sian knew his face. As Matilda's husband James arrives with shocking news.

News that turns the investigation on its head and has Matilda looking to the past and questioning everything. Especially when Adele reveals that Daisy died of natural causes.

So why make it look like murder?

And where is Andrew now?

That's what Matilda is determined to find out. Even if that inadvertently means putting herself and James in danger.

And with Michaels signature twists, shocks and humour. Not to mention a happy reminder of characters past. This was a cracking unputdownable read and reminder of just what an awesome series this is. 😊

I'd one hundred percent recommend to all.