Blog Tour Book Review: Facing a Twisted Judgment by K. J. McGillick

Synopsis:
What happens when tunnel vision clouds a police investigation?

Is it true that once you are labeled a person of interest you really are the prime suspect? Can you trust the legal system? Probably not.
After a bitterly contested legal battle over inherited property, the hard-won art collection and its owner Samantha Bennington disappear. Both have vanished without a trace.

When blood spatter is discovered under the freshly painted wall of the room in which two of the paintings were hung, the theft becomes the opening act in a twisted tale of jealousy, revenge, and murder leading to a final judgment for all involved.

As the list of suspects narrows, the focus lands squarely on the husband. Some labeled Samantha’s husband a corrupt attorney, others an opportunist. Either way, he’s in the crosshairs of law enforcement and they are calling him a murderer. But is he the only viable suspect? What about the missing woman’s drug-addicted sister and her convicted felon brother? Both were furious over their loss at court and have more than enough reason to hate Samantha. 

Guilty until proven innocent leaves Alexander Clarke facing a twisted judgment.

My Review:

Welcome, Welcome to my stop on the Blog Blitz for K. J. McGillick 'Facing a Twisted Judgment' A huge thanks to both Kathleen McGillick and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources for asking me to read and review and join this tour, As most people will know my usual reads are chick lit so I jumped at the chance to read something different to my usual and I am so glad I did.

This is the second in a series however like I did, you can also read this as a standalone.  I never felt once that I had missed out on anything from the first book.  This was my first K. J. McGillick and it will not be my last, I have already planned to go back and read the first book.

This thriller, mystery book was a page turner keeping me guessing the whole way through.  Each chapter jumps between two voices, Dalia Grey who works for Bristol's who insures a collection of paintings that have been in the Bennington family and recently owned by Samantha Bennington.  The other character is Alexander Clarke newly married to Samantha and also her attorney who helped her win the art collection through a bitter legal battle with her siblings.

As the Synopsis states Samantha disappears along with the art collection and Alex is at the top of the suspect list.

I really enjoyed following the team and I felt pulled into the investigation along with them finding out whether Alex was the murderer and thief.

Of course I won't give away the ending but just to say I really liked the way it played out however the tiniest part of me felt it was a little rushed and I could have quite easily have kept reading a little more.

All the characters were written well especially on the investigation team, I liked reading how well they worked together trying to solve the puzzle but keeping in some light comedy which I enjoyed.  I also liked reading the relationship between Dalia and Declan the Detective, it was nice to have just a little romance added into the mix.  It was interesting to read Alex's point of view as you don't always get to read the other side of the investigation, although the more I read of him the more I disliked him, there was no sympathy for him during the book.

Of course my favourite character throughout was Mary, What a lady! I really enjoyed reading her scenes, what a fantastic quirky character to write, she deserves her own series!

Thank you again to Kathleen McGillick and Rachel Gilbey for getting me intrigued into the mystery world of all things thriller!

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Author Bio

K. J. McGillick was born in New York and once she started to walk she never stopped running. But that's what New Yorker's do. Right?

As she evolved so did her career choices. After completing her graduate degree in nursing she spent many years in the university setting sharing the dreams of the enthusiastic nursing students she taught. After twenty rewarding years in the medical field she attended law school and has spent the last twenty-four years as an attorney helping people navigate the turbulent waters of the legal system. Not an easy feat. And now? Now she is sharing the characters she loves with readers hoping they are intrigued by her twisting and turning plots and entertained by her writing.

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http://www.kjmcgillick.com/ 

Book Review: Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain

Synopsis:

Amber is a city girl at heart. So when her boyfriend Jake suggests they move to the countryside to help out at his family farm, she doesn't quite know how to react. But work has been hectic and she needs a break so she decides to grasp the opportunity and make the best of it.

Dreaming of organic orchards, paddling in streams and frolicking in fields, Amber packs up her things and moves to Skylark Farm. But life is not quite how she imagined - it's cold and dirty and the farm buildings are dilapidated and crumbling.

But Amber is determined to make the best of it and throws herself into farm life. But can she really fit in here? And can she and Jake stay together when they are so different?

My Review:

My second book by Heidi Swain and what a fabulous feel good book this was.  To start how beautiful is the cover, it really does capture what the book is all about.  It was lovely to revisit another part of Wynbridge and to pop back to the Cherry Tree Café, catching up with Lizzie and Jemma, I am a huge fan of when authors include snippets of past characters, I always struggle to let them go after finishing a book!

I loved Amber, down to earth and quite simply the nicest character you could ever meet in a book.  A City girl with a high flying career at her fingertips she decides to shake things up when her boyfriend Jake (hotttiieee) asks her to relocate to the countryside to help out on his family's farm.  Swapping high heels for wellington boots Amber grabs farm life with both hands and with heaps of determination to make the best of it.

Home on the farm is cold, dirty and tougher than Amber had imagined, however the warm welcome from Jake's spinster Aunt Annie more than makes up for it. Annie, what a fun character she was!  Annie is everything you imagine an aunt to be, warm, loving, feisty and fun.

Amber settles into farm life pretty quickly, rolling up her sleeves and getting on with the numerous jobs on the farm, making new friends and feeling part of the family however as we know nothing stays rosy in Wynbridge!  Amber feels that Jake is keeping secrets, secrets she is sure that everyone else is in on apart from her and she is determined to find out the truth.

When the secrets are exposed threatening to ruin the loving home Amber has made for herself, will Jakes past break their relationship?

Heidi's books give you that warm fuzzy feeling and twice now I have finished her book with a massive smile on my face.  This book has everything you need, a beautiful farm, family, friends, romance, a few twists and turns, cake competitions (yes please!) and lastly it features a chicken named Patricia! LOVE!

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