Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar - Margaret Gardiner

Welcome to the world of model Joey Superstar - a whirlwind of cocaine, sex, and money.

Josaphina Brinkley seems to have it all: she’s a superstar model in 1980s America, a cover girl plastered naked on fashion billboards above Sunset Blvd. Women want to be her. Men simply want her.

But underneath the glossy veneer she hides a traumatic past. The end of her marriage to Italian Aristocracy led to a stint in rehab. As she returns to parties, premiers and modeling, she’s hoping a life of designer clothes and beautiful people won’t take her back to blow. If only she could be truly seen, heard and understood, perhaps she wouldn't self-destruct again?

Joey sets out to confront the roots of her wildness – but must admit to a youthful act that haunts her. As Joey fights from addiction to redemption, can she change the course of her life, deal with her dark past and become the superstar she was always destined to be? 

Former Miss Universe Margaret Gardiner gives readers the key to a secret world of supermodels, sex, style and scandal in her deliciously intoxicating debut, Joey Superstar, the first in an exciting Damaged Beauty series.

 

What did I think?

The world of fashion and modelling is not a subject I would usually read about but one of the great things about book blogging is that my attention is drawn to fabulous books that I might have otherwise missed.  Although it's often dark and disturbing, I really enjoyed my glimpse into the world of a supermodel in Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar. 

Joey is not a character I instantly warmed to as she seems to care little about other people's feelings (including her own), but there is a very good reason for that.  I have to admit that I actually disliked her at first but that soon changed as her story progressed and I could see that Joey has been shaped, and continues to be haunted, by past events that understandably dulled her emotions and taught her that it's better to feel nothing at all than hurt and pain.

There are a lot of dark and disturbing elements to the story but Margaret Gardiner portrays these delicately and sensitively.  I think it goes a long way to describe character development when my dislike for Joey at the start turned into admiration and respect at the end.  It also reminded me to never judge a book by its cover as those of us who are aesthetically challenged may envy beautiful people but what is perceived as a blessing may actually be a curse.

Honest, raw and powerful, Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar is an eyeopening glimpse into the world of beauty and it's an important and courageous book in the #MeToo movement.

Many thanks to Hannah Hargrave for the gifted ARC.  I chose to read Damaged Beauty: Joey Superstar and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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About the author:

Margaret Gardiner became an international cover girl at 16, Miss Universe at 18, and ultimately, the fashion editor at GoldenGlobes.com. She’s worked with A-list stars from Angelina Jolie to Zendaya. She knows what it is like to be on the red carpet, in the spotlight - and what goes on behind the scenes. With a degree in psychology, and a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, her debut novel is for every woman who has ever been made to feel less.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.margaretgardiner.com/

Instagram: @margaret_gardiner

Facebook: @MargaretGardinerOfficial

BLOG TOUR: The Seven O'Clock Club - Amelia Ireland

At seven o'clock one Tuesday evening, in a perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster, four strangers meet for the first time. They each have three things in common: all suffered a traumatic experience six months earlier; all exhibit a dogged inability to put it behind them; and all accepted an invitation to attend tonight's counselling session with the unconventional Genevieve - a determined woman with an unusual theory to test.

But this isn't a novel about psychotherapy or self-forgiveness. Because there is another reason these four people have been brought together. And when that perfectly ordinary tower block near Westminster turns out to be not quite so ordinary, all five are forced to make some unexpected - and, for some, impossible - decisions . . .

A novel about friendship, strength and love, The Seven O'Clock Club is a reminder that life can give you hope. Even in the darkest of spaces.

 

What did I think?

I. Am. Broken.  I have never been so completely blindsided by a book and had the rug pulled out from under me so effectively that I gasped out loud and felt my heart break at the same time.  Then my shattered heart was put back together piece by piece as I devoured every single beautiful word that Amelia Ireland had written in her extraordinary debut novel.

Written in five parts representing the five stages of grief, we are introduced to five characters: four (Victoria, Mischa, Freya and Callum) who are grieving and one (Genevieve) who has set out to help them through the process as part of an experiment.  I experienced a wealth of emotions as each character gradually revealed their own story of loss and it is evident that Amelia Ireland has poured her heart and soul into this novel.

Have your tissues handy when you read this one as the tears come when you least expect it.  I thought I was all cried out but more tears kept appearing and I had a real lump in my throat at the end.  It's a bit of tearjerker but completely uplifting and hopeful too, so hold on to your tissues whilst you're riding The Seven O'Clock Club emotional rollercoaster.

Incredibly poignant and beautifully written, The Seven O'Clock Club is a stunning debut novel that took my breath away and left me speechless.  I'm not sure how Amelia Ireland is ever going to follow this book as she's set such a high bar but what a wonderful problem for a debut author to have.  A very highly recommended read and an easy five stars for this unmissable and unforgettable novel.

I received a gifted hardback copy to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

Amelia Ireland wrote The Seven O'Clock Club in memory of her mother, who died shortly after being diagnosed with early onset dementia. She travels extensively for work, beginning the novel on a flight to Kampala and finishing it in a Hilton in Frankfurt.

A lawyer by profession, Amelia lives and works in London. The Seven O'Clock Club is her first novel.

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BLOGATHON: Pure Evil (DC Jack Warr book 4) - Lynda La Plante

It was supposed to be a simple case: a young man arrested for armed assault.

But it was just the beginning.

As Rodney Middleton awaits trial, Detective Jack Warr is warned by his mentor DCI Ridley that they have only scratched the surface of the man's crimes.

Then DCI Ridley is suddenly removed from his post. No one is to contact him - and no one will say why.

As Warr digs into Middleton's past, Ridley calls pleading for help, now accused of a murder he insists he didn't commit.

To catch a monster and exonerate his friend, Warr must weed out the lies. But what awaits Warr if he uncovers the truth?

 

What did I think?

Pure Evil is the fourth book in the Detective Jack Warr series and although it does have its own self-contained crime storyline, I wouldn't particularly recommend reading it as a standalone.  The magnetism of the Jack Warr series for me is the man himself (and his family and colleagues) so whilst the crime part of the plot is gripping (and grisly) it's the personal storylines that kept me turning the pages.

Jack's life seems to be getting more complicated with each book; he has a young daughter, a busy doctor for a wife and a widowed mother at home as well as being run ragged at work.  Then he gets himself involved in his boss's mysterious problems and he barely has time to sleep.  Oh Jack, you've spread yourself too thin - I really wasn't sure how this one was going to turn out.

So Jack is very busy and the book is too.  There is an awful lot going on and I found it a little difficult to grasp onto each thread and keep track with the various stories.  The crime part of the plot is very good but I found I was more interested in Jack's and Ridley's personal lives, which forced the crime into the back seat for me.  I'm just too invested in these characters now and I can't wait for book 5.

Dark, gripping and intriguing, Pure Evil is an intricately plotted police procedural that is an integral part of the outstanding Jack Warr series.  I am on tenterhooks to see where Lynda La Plante takes this series next and there's not long to wait as Crucified is released next month.

I received a gifted copy to review for the Compulsive Readers blogathon and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Luminous - Silvia Park

The lonely worlds of three very unusual siblings collide in this breathtaking tale of what it means to be human

Three siblings. Two human, one robot. The spectacular new debut about what it means to be alive.

In a recently reunified Korea, robots have integrated seamlessly into society. They are our teachers, our bus drivers and policemen. They are our lovers. They are even our children.

Eleven-year-old Ruijie sifts through scrap metal in a Seoul junkyard, searching for anything that might repair her failing body. There amongst the piles of junk she happens across a robot boy: lifelike, strange and unlike anything she's seen before.

Across the city, estranged siblings Jun and Morgan Cho haven't spoken since the abrupt disappearance of their robot brother Yoyo, which shattered their childhoods and left a gaping hole in their lives. But Ruijie's discovery is about to bring the lives of brother and sister hurtling back together, forcing them to confront the reality of Yoyo's true nature, and the dark purpose their father never revealed.

At once a dazzling work of speculative fiction and a poignant family drama, Luminous is a timely, unforgettable story about what it really means to be human.

 

What did I think?

Luminous is an original and imaginative debut novel that is set in a scarily realistic future where robots live among us.  To say it is thought-provoking is an understatement as I can't stop thinking or talking about since I finished reading it.

There are two strands to the story and both are linked by Yoyo, a robot who was once the sibling of Morgan and Jun but is found in a junkyard by Ruijie.  Ruijie's story really got to me as despite all the robotic enhancements to her body, her time on this earth is limited.  At least getting to know Yoyo enhances her life as her previous solitary existence is turned into an adventure.

Morgan and Jun have very different memories of Yoyo and memory is a very thought-provoking theme in the book.  I couldn't help but wonder whether what makes us unique is perhaps our own individual memories but if you could transfer these memories to another being when you die, do they effectively become you?  This is just one of the thoughts that this inventive book has planted in my brain but there are many more to provoke and challenge every reader.

I don't read a lot of speculative fiction so I did get a bit lost in the narrative sometimes, however, I couldn't put the book down as I was completely immersed in the fascinating world created by Silvia Park.  It's a world that is very easy to imagine as its reality is perhaps closer than I might think.

Evocative, thought-provoking and alluring, Luminous is a wonderful debut novel that has stayed with me long after turning the final page.  It's well worth a read if you're looking for something different and a must-read if you're already a fan of speculative fiction.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

SILVIA PARK grew up in Seoul and has spent most of their life in Korea. They received their BA from Columbia and their MFA from NYU, in addition to completing the Clarion Workshop in 2018 on the George R.R. Martin “Sense of Wonder” Fellowship. Their short fiction has been published in Black Warrior Review, Joyland and Tor.com, nominated for a Pushcart and reprinted in the 2019 Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. They teach fiction at the University of Kansas and split their time between Lawrence and Seoul.  LUMINOUS is their first novel and a TV series is under development with Media Res Studio. 

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BLOG TOUR: One in a Million - Beverley Kendall

A fun, spicy romcom with the poignancy of Abby Jimenez and a modern twist on “surprise baby” for fans of Jasmine Guillory.

Megastar Whitney “Sahara” Richardson has everything planned - including when she’ll have kids. But a medical mix-up makes her the biological mother of a child she didn’t carry and whose father she’s never met. 

 

World-famous Whitney “Sahara” Richardson is at the top of her game. With four Grammys, an Oscar nod, and a half-billion-dollar clothing line, her career is skyrocketing. Even her headline-grabbing dating life is looking up. And if everything goes as planned, marriage and children are just a few years away. However, a mix-up at the fertility clinic where her eggs are stored puts the cart before the horse, and Sahara suddenly has a daughter... whose biological father is reluctant to share.

What did I think?

Having read Token last year (which gave readers a sneaky peek at One in a Million), I was like a cat on hot bricks as I patiently awaited Sahara's story.  I have to say that it was well worth the wait as I absolutely loved it.

Sahara is a global megastar but when the cameras stop rolling she becomes Whitney Richardson, a down-to-earth woman who might want children some day.  That day comes a lot sooner than she planned when the fertility clinic calls to admit to a terrible mistake: Whitney's egg has been mixed up with another woman's and there's now a mixed-race 6 month old little girl who is paying the consequences of this horrendous error. 

Holly Redmond demanded a DNA test when she suspected that baby Haylee wasn't her daughter...but to complicate matters further, the DNA test confirms that Holly's husband Myles is Haylee's father.  As soon as her suspicions are confirmed, Holly gives Myles an ultimatum: choose either her or Haylee.  Myles doesn't have to think twice so it's him and Haylee from now on...until Whitney asks to meet her.

Whoa the chemistry between Myles and Whitney almost causes sparks to fly off the page and the sexual tension crackles and fizzles until the inevitable conclusion.  I loved seeing how Miles and Whitney's relationship grew as well as witnessing Whitney's instant love for Haylee.  

Fun, emotional and a little bit steamy, One in a Million is a fresh and flirty romance with a lot of heart.  It's a bit like an adult fairy tale with a Wicked Witch, a Prince Charming and not one but two Princesses but you'll just have to read it for yourself to see if they all lived Happily Every After.

 

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: What You See - Hilly Barmby

Harriet (Haitch) Boswell’s career as an artist could be about to go stratospheric. She’s been nominated for a prestigious bursary that would change everything. To secure it, she needs to see off five other hopefuls and charm the man who holds the purse strings during a weekend at a stunning location in Spain.

But just before she’s due to leave, she falls ill. There’s no way she can attend the event. Perhaps there’s a solution… her twin sister, Tilda.

But Tilda’s life is in turmoil. Her husband Sam has left her, declaring his love for a mystery woman. Spending a weekend schmoozing with the cream of the creative world while pretending to be her sister, is the very last thing she wants to do. But the bonds of sisterhood are strong. Haitch begs her, and Tilda agrees.

What if she’s discovered as an imposter? There’s Haitch’s egotistical agent Damian to get past first. Then there’s the small matter of surviving the selection process – all five nominees are pitted against each other in an intellectual beauty contest.

And then when someone discovers a body the next day, no one is prepared for what comes next...

 

What did I think?

Oh this book was so good and I simply couldn't put it down.  There are so many layers of intrigue to hold the reader's interest and I was well and truly hooked.

Haitch and Tilda are identical twins but although they may look alike they are very different in nature.  Haitch is the outgoing one who says what she thinks and Tilda is the quiet nerdy one who thought she had found the perfect man with whom to spend the rest of her life...until he left her.  

Tilda is reeling from Sam's bombshell so a change of scenery could be just what she needs so she doesn't take much convincing to impersonate Haitch when Haitch falls ill and can't attend a prestigeous event in Spain.  It looks like the twins have got away with their ruse but complications arise when a dead body is discovered after the event.

Oh this is very intricately plotted and I loved every minute of it.  Hilly Barmby's vivid and captivating writing cleverly drew me in to an amazing web of deceit before going in for the kill with a superb twist.  What an absolute cracker!

Intriguing, gripping and twisty, What You See is an outstanding psychological thriller that hooked me from the start and didn't let go.  A very highly recommended read.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: The Awful Truth About The Sushing Prize (The Awful Truth Book 2) - Marco Ocram

Should I tell him about Sushing or play dumb?

Sticking in my comfort zone, I played dumb.

Writer Marco Ocram has a secret superpower—whatever he writes actually happens, there and then. Hoping to win the million-dollar Sushing Prize, he uses his powers to write a true-crime thriller, quickly discovering a freakish murder. But Marco has a major problem—he's a total idiot who can't see beyond his next sentence. Losing control of his plot and his characters, and breaking all the rules of fiction, Marco writes himself into every kind of trouble, until only the world's most incredible ending can save his bacon.

Fast, funny, and utterly different, welcome to the weird world of The Awful Truth.

 

What did I think?

Well I can definitely say that I've never read a book quite like this before!  It's a story that is being written as if in real time so there are plot holes and dead ends that the author must find his way out of in often very amusing ways.  This is book two in The Awful Truth series and it works really well as a standalone but I do think I would have benefitted from reading book one beforehand.

The author (the real one, Denis Shaughnessy not the fictional Marco Ocram) is very astute and has highlighted several writing habits that I had never even noticed before.  Of course the next book I read after this one just had to mention that the vehicle had tinted windows and I nearly fell off my seat laughing.   

I think this is a book that deserves a second reading as I probably missed a lot of the more subtle nods at writing styles and crime fiction tropes.  I say 'nods' as although it might seem like a dig at first, it's not done nastily and it's all true anyway.  After the tinted windows thing, I'm sure to spot many more things that Marco Ocram has pointed out.

Sharp, witty and totally bonkers, The Awful Truth About the Sushing Prize is a unique and imaginative crime spoof that is incredibly entertaining and completely unforgettable.  It's well worth a read.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/sushingprize-zbt

About the author:

Denis Shaughnessy is the author of the mold-breaking Awful Truth series, published under the name Marco Ocram. His books, which break all of the rules of fiction, have been described as ‘a dazzling tour de force', 'mind-bending’, 'wildly inventive', 'an entirely new type of narrative' and 'utterly unique’. He has won two CIBA first prizes for Humor and Satire and was shortlisted for the prestigious Thurber Prize. He has a PhD in quantum theory and lives on a small-holding in the New Forest. He is currently working on a middle-grade novel featuring a junior Marco Ocram.

Denis’ Social Media

Twitter: https://x.com/denishaughnessy

Website: https://www.theawfulauthor.com/

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