Blog Tour: Do Her No Harm by Naomi Joy

One unsolved murder. A best friend determined to right the wrongs of the past.

On the 21st August Tabitha Rice disappeared without a trace. All the signs point to murder, but no signs point to a murderer. The easiest answer is her husband, Rick. But he protests his innocence and there is little proof he is the murderer. 

Annabella knows there is more to the story than what the police are telling. Tabitha was her best friend and she vows to uncover the truth. 

As Annabella delves further into the past, she uncovers sides to Tabitha that she never saw coming, and she finds herself asking the question... Was this murder? Or is there more to Tabitha Rice's story than meets the eye?

I'm delighted to finish off the blog tour of Do Her No Harm...

This book starts off with a scene from five years ago and I instantly wanted to know what happened to Tabby.  The book is split into different parts and alternates between different points in time (now, 5 years ago and 15 years ago) and the reader hearing different sides of the unfolding story and past of the characters (Annabelle, Tabitha and Rick).  This works well and I didn't find it confusing (unless I tried to read the book in short bursts as it's difficult to keep track); the story flows well and kept me wanting to know more.

Most of the 'action' takes place in the final part of the book and some readers may find the early parts a little slower than they were hoping for; this is not a fast paced thriller but it is a good read.  The early parts of the book really set the history of the characters and the disappearance of Tabby but the drama doesn't come for some time.

I had no idea throughout the book what had happened to Tabby; I had a couple of theories but they didn't come close to the truth which I found out only as I saw the story unfold on the pages.  I found the conclusion to be tied up and didn't leave me with any outstanding loose ends.

There are also some serious underlying themes in this book surrounding mental health affecting more than one of the characters we encounter.  A book of mystery, deceit, revenge and suspicion.

Do Her No Harm is out now on Kindle (free with Kindle Unlimited) and in paperback (prices correct at time of writing):

      

Finding Hope at Lighthouse Cove by Jessica Redland

When it feels like everything is against you, sometimes you just need a little bit of hope...

Married to her childhood sweetheart for over twelve years, Elise feels like starting a family is the next natural step. However her husband, Gary, has other ideas…

Suddenly single, Elise is completely heartbroken and struggling to start over on her own. But when she's enlisted to be bridesmaid to her best friend, Sarah, she has to put on a brave face, put her own feelings aside and find a way to get over Gary. Fast.

So when she meets handsome, recently-divorced, Daniel, she thinks he could be just what she needs. But why can’t she shake the feeling that he must be too good to be true?

Will she ever be able to take that leap and trust again?

This is the third book in the Welcome to Whitsborough Bay series and the focus of this book is Elise.  This book does follow on from New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms and so you do get to revisit some old characters - in particular, Sarah and Claire.  We also get to see Auntie Kay again which I loved.

In the previous book, the focus is on Sarah who has spent her whole life dreaming of being married, whereas this book focuses on Elise who dreams of becoming a mum.

I'm discovering that Jessica Redland is great at creating characters; the good and the bad!  Elise's journey was a little unexpected to start with, however, I loved going on it and I adored the ending which, for me, was just perfect and just what I'd been longing for!

A story of opening up about your past, being your true self and plain old fashioned romance.  Another book of Jessica's which I read within 24 hours of starting it!

Finding Hope at Lighthouse Cove is out now and can be purchased here on Kindle or in paperback (prices correct at the time of writing):

                

The Butterfly Cove and The Lavender Bay Series by Sarah Bennett

"A year of taking chances…

Mia is finally putting the past behind her and pouring all her savings into renovating a crumbling guesthouse in peaceful Butterfly Cove. But when her first guest, Daniel Fitzwilliam, arrives it’s soon clear that the tranquil seaside village has a few surprises in store!

Kiki is hoping for a fresh start after her marriage falls to pieces – and her sister’s guesthouse by the sea is the perfect escape. Yet when Aaron Spenser offers to share his cottage until she’s back on her feet, she realises she may have found more than just a new home…

Nee knows that returning to Butterfly Cove means facing Luke Spenser, the man she impulsively married, then left in the middle of the night. Running away was the biggest mistake of her life – but could coming home for Christmas be the best decision she’s ever made?

Three delightfully feel-good romances, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Rachael Lucas and Hilary Boyd."

     

"Could love be just around the corner?

Beth returns home to Lavender Bay to restore the beloved seaside shop of her childhood to its former glory. She never intended to stay for long, but she can’t help falling back in love with everything she left behind – including local chef Sam Barnes. But will he convince her to stay?

Eliza is hoping for a fresh start on the coast after her marriage fell apart. Meeting local farmer Jack Gilbert wasn’t part of the plan – and for him to be quite so gorgeous, too. So when her husband turns up, she must choose between the man she knows everything about or the man who makes her heart race!

Libby loved growing up in Lavender Bay, but finding love isn’t easy in this sleepy little town – until handsome Owen Coburn turns up! And as the snowflakes begin to fall, she realises she’s falling for him. But will the secret Owen has been keeping destroy everything…"

     

I have recently reviewed each of the three books in both The Butterfly Cove Series and The Lavender Bay Series by Sarah Bennett which you can view here (and if you've read any of these, you'll already know that I loved them):

Sunrise at Butterfly Cove

Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove

Christmas at Butterfly Cove

Spring at Lavender Bay

Summer at Lavender Bay

Snowflakes at Lavender Bay

I can't help but go on about how much I have come to love Sarah Bennett's writing and the characters, settings and stories that she gives to us!  

Having read these two series, I've come to adore the pattern of the series Sarah creates - each book in the series having the same location, being linked to a different season of the year and focusing on one of three people covered by the series.  The Butterfly Cove Series follows three sisters and The Lavender Bay Series follows three friends.

As well as the three main characters, there is a huge array of other characters within each series and they really do feature in all the books regardless of whether it is "their" book so you get to really follow their journey fully and I absolutely love this!

The series have so many common threads, however, Sarah is extremely talented as she still manages to make each series and each story completely unique and delightfully different in its own way.  

I found them all to be highly emotional, I think because I was so connected with the characters and cried at various points throughout all of the books.

Sarah creates real fairytale stories and I think I read each series within a week because I just couldn't put them down!

New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms by Jessica Redland

"Sometimes love can bloom where you least expect it…


For Sarah Peterson, it’s time for change. Coming out of a dead end relationship and having had enough of city life, she just needs to escape and have a fresh start – a new job, a new home and a new lifestyle.



So when her Auntie Kay unexpectedly offers her the opportunity to take over her flower shop, Seaside Blooms, the timing could not be more perfect. She could escape to the beautiful seaside town of Whitsborough Bay, start a new chapter in her life – and learn how to run a business!



But, as she packs up her life in London, she isn't prepared for the discovery of a clairvoyant reading that's been missing for twelve years. All of the predictions have come true, except one: she's about to meet the man of her dreams. Oh, and his name is Steven…

"

I loved this book even more than the first in the Welcome to Whitsborough Bay series.  Whilst it is part of the series, it can be read alone as it is stand alone to the first book in the series other than one character who we've met before.  However, the rest of the series follow in chronological order so best to be read in the correct order!

The characters are fantastic in this book - I loved Auntie Kay and I loved Sarah's Steven!  Whilst I don't necessarily believe in being able to predict the future, I loved the clairvoyant reading and how, when Sarah discovers it, so much of it has already become true.

Sarah's journey, away from London and having a new start, is a fabulous one to go on her with.  I read the book within 24 hours of starting it and jumped straight into the next in the series, Finding Hope at Lighthouse Cove.

New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms is out now and can be purchased here on Kindle or in Paperback (prices correct at time of writing):