High Force by LJ Ross

High Force by L.J. Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the author, in return for an honest review.

This is the fifth part in the DCI Ryan series of books and I have to say, the plot just continues to thicken. The end of Angel (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #4) saw The Hacker make an elaborate break from prison, arriving at the door of an unsuspecting DI Denise MacKenzie. This left me so many unanswered questions which I needed answers to. Thankfully, Ross wasted no time in putting pen to paper and satisfying my ever growing curiosity.
Always one step ahead of the game The Hacker, aka Kier Edwards, does his best at keeping DCI Ryan running in circles. Little clues dropped, but nothing to give away his whereabouts or whatever transport he may be using. It takes a great deal of police manpower to piece together the clues and come up with a viable solution - each time leading them up a dead end street! Edwards is the master of games and loves playing with the emotions of Ryan, however maybe this time he's bitten off more than he can chew. For the first time, we get an insight into how Edwards was shaped from an early age into the dangerously calculated killer that he later became and we learn a little more about his childhood.
Overall, this is a very tense read which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Think you've got Edwards sussed? Think again because there's more twists and turns which will keep you guessing till the very end. Can Ryan and his colleagues save MacKenzie before it's too late? Does she have the strength to keep going or will she give up before her captor? Will everyone survive or are more victims on the cards? Will Edwards ever be caught? These were all questions running round my head whilst reading High Force and the answers surprised even me.
Brilliantly written and engaging. I am now desperate to see how all the loose ends tie up and, as usual, Ross left me with unanswered questions and the need to get my hands on her next book, Cragside - I can't wait!!

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Hotter Shoes - Newcastle Upon Tyne

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited along to the Hotter Shoes Blogging Event in Newcastle and I have to say that as this was only my second event of this kind, excited was an understatement!

Situated inside Eldon square is a brand spanking new Hotter Shoes store filled with shoes to suit all tastes and ages - I felt like a kid in a sweet shop when we were invited to choose some and have fun trying them on. It was also really nice finally being able to meet a few fellow bloggers from around the North East - such a lovely group of ladies! We were given a little demonstration and provided with drinks and nibbles making it a very enjoyable and relaxed evening.

Hotter Shoes are a British company who have rapidly expanded over the last few years going from just 5 stores in 2010 to over 80 in 2016 - now that is an achievement! They are also the UK's biggest shoe manufacturer and manage to turn out a pair of shoes every 20 seconds. Their call centre is based in Lancashire where experienced staff are waiting to help customers from both the UK and the US so there's always somewhere to turn if you have any problems - which I'm pretty sure you won't!
Ladies shoes are available in sizes 3 to 9 and many come with extra fit options to make them uniquely adapted to the size of your feet. There are also wide fitting shoes available in many of the range for those who struggle with wider feet. some may think that the prices are a little steep, but when you consider the quality, the fit, the excellent service and aftercare as well as the comfort factor, they are definitely worth every penny.

Now, many of you may already be familiar with the Hotter brand but assume that they only produce styles that appeal to the older generation, well, I'm here to tell you that you couldn't be more wrong! Hotter have been working really hard in recent years to be more on trend and cater for you younger folk too, providing a wide range of shoes for both men and women. Here are a few examples of what you can buy.....

As you can see, there are flats, wedges and heels and some of the shoes even have matching handbags to help complete the look. The first pair of shoes I tried were the Antoinette Heels in white and black - and it was whilst trying these on that I experienced my Hotter Moment! I have NEVER felt such comfort. From the second my foot was in the shoe, I could feel the soft cushioning beneath my feet and the shoes simply hugged them making them feel uber comfy and like they belonged. I also tried on the Christie Shoes in red and wow, they felt sublime. Luxuriously soft and very flattering when worn, I really loved these ...but they weren't what I opted for in the end.

I simply couldn't tear myself away from these beauties ......

These are called Sandy Shoes and I fell in love with them the minute I saw them. They were available in 3 colours but I opted for Mauve Shadow/Pink as they're more my style. I actually wore these to come home in after the event, and despite having to walk to the metro station, then walk from the metro to my car, I felt no discomfort whatsoever, and that's a rarity for me when wearing new heels. The heel is just a nice size to add a bit of height but not too big that I was unsteady on my feet, and I know I could wear these for a good few hours without worrying about blisters or rubbing. For me, they were THE most comfortable shoes I have ever had the pleasure to wear and look fab with various outfits, including jeans. I also noticed that the shoes I wore to the event, had me impersonating an ice skater as I attempted to walk through Eldon Square but my new beauties helped me keep my dignity and walk with my head high and no fear of slipping.

Why not pop along to your nearest Hotter Shoes and see what takes your fancy! I have a discount code especially for my readers offering £10 off the total order value of any full priced items in the Hotter range (excluding shoe care products and accessories) plus FREE delivery! Minimum order value is £25 and this offer can not be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer, sale or factory clearance items or gift vouchers, and can only be used on 1st orders only. Simply enter code PPATEN at the checkout.
This offer expires on 30/06/2016

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The New AW2015 Collection from Bcharmd

Photos by Nicole

As some of you who follow me on Twitter will know, I was lucky enough to attend the Bcharmd VIP Launch Event in Newcastle Upon Tyne last week for a sneak preview of their AW 2015 collection. This is the first event of this kind that I have attended so really had no idea what to expect. I took my daughter along as she's been doing a photography course at college and I thought she could help me out a little with the pics.

Photos by Nicole

I met the very lovely Lindsay who not only works at Bcharmd, but also has a wonderful blog called Confessions of a Mummy which is well worth checking out. She showed me how to style some of the amazing jewellery that I saw which is why I've tried to show a close up of the necklace she got me to try. Believe it or not, but this is actually 3 necklaces intertwined and held together with a silver clasp ...and it looks amazing! Something I'd never have thought of doing myself but you have to agree that the end result looks absolutely stunning! She also showed me a few other tricks on the best way to wear the statement pieces which I've definitely taken on board and will no doubt have fun with.

Here are a few pics of some of the gorgeous jewellery pieces on offer ......

Photos by Nicole

Photos by Nicole

Photos by Nicole

One of the things I found really amazing was the fasteners on some of the necklaces. Unlike a standard fastener which can often be fiddly if you're cold or have long nails, Bcharmd offer the perfect solution ...simply pull the two ends to tighten! This was also a great idea for the bracelets too as like a few others, I really struggle to get bracelets to fit me as I have really skinny wrists. The fasteners on some of this collection fasten the same as the necklaces so you can adjust the size accordingly making it perfect for everyone, regardless of size .....

Photos by Nicole

If I had a bottomless pitt of money, I easily could have spent a small fortune whilst I was there. Unfortunately it fell before my pay day so that gives me a good excuse to go back in the near future and treat myself.

The Prodigal by Nicky Black

Now available to buy is the fantastic gripping new crime novel The Prodigal by Nicky Black.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy free of charge, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After many years away, Detective Sergeant Lee Jamieson is about to return to Valley Park in Newcastle where he grew up, to help tackle crime in the local area and to meet his daughter for the very first time. 

Life in Valley Park has been on the decline over recent years, with the area vast becoming a bit of a crime capital. It's not helped by the unemployment rate and unruly kids out pinching cars night after night, which is a far cry from how Lee remembered it all. Keen to help put the hard men behind bars, rid the streets of drugs and generally make Valley Park a place worth living in again, Lee embarks on the seemingly impossible task of clearing out the trash. 

When he unexpectedly falls for the wife of local hard man Micky Kelly, things begin to take a sinister twist. An uncooperative work force with out dated ideas, means that Lee has to come up with a new strategy, and fast! Every lead appears to be hampered until he gets the information he so desperately needs - but will this risk the lives of those he loves?

I really don't want to give away any more of the storyline, all I can say is that I tip this to be a big selling hit for 2015 and you really ought to get out there and buy it!!

I had only read the odd excerpt before reading The Prodigal in full, so only had a very small idea of what to expect. A few pages into the first chapter, and I knew this book already had me gripped. 

The Prodigal is exceptionally well written and the characters are so well described that you actually live the story with them. Their hurt, pain and joy can all be felt by the reader, so be prepared for giggles, repulsion and even maybe a few tears along the way. The dialogue is spot on and the essence of Tyneside has been captured to a tee making the story a believable one. There are several unexpected twists which keep you gripped and desperate to find out what happens next. 

The ending wasn't quite what I expected, but for me I preferred this as it was unpredictable and kept me guessing all the way. 

I cannot thank Nicky enough for allowing me to read The Prodigal, I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan to shout about it to everyone I know! I wish Nicky every success and look forward to her next novel with great anticipation.

Go grab your copy now from Amazon.co.uk for only 99p - you really can't go wrong for that and it is a fantastic read!!

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