Sea Change by J. M. Simpson | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an ebook copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Sea Change by J. M. Simpson

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher: Independently published

Publication date: 1st March 2022

Blurb:

Sinister undercurrents at are work in the seaside town Castleby. A young boy goes missing and another dies in suspicious circumstances.

Jesse Stevens believes she is safe after escaping from a madwoman who tried to kill her. But soon her worst nightmare returns. Her ex-partner has escaped from prison and is hunting her. She believes he will find her and kill her this time.

Ex-special forces soldier Rob Fox (Foxy) moves to Castleby to live a quiet life, cope with his grief and forget his past. He becomes friends with Sophie Jones who has returned to Castleby to look after her father, while she desperately waits for news about her soldier husband, who is missing in action. Sophie is unexpectedly attacked, unearthing a twenty-year-old unsolved murder.

Two local thieves steal from the local mafioso and pay the ultimate price, leaving the police with a rising body count and a missing boy to find.

Review:

I was so excited to be back in Castleby for the next installment in the series. This book can be read as a standalone as a lot of the main information about book one is included as a backstory but I would definitely recommend reading Sea State first as it is great!

I loved going back to old characters that I loved, namely Jesse and Doug and seeing how their relationship developed from the first book. As well as being reintroduced to our characters from Sea State, we also have some newcomers.

Rob "Foxy" Fox is ex-special forces and buys a closed climbing place in Castleby. Sophie Jones' husband Sam has been missing in action for two years and she holds out hope that he is still alive, despite all odds. She moves back to Castleby to look after her father who is ill.

J.M. Simpson is a fantastic writer and what I love most about the Castleby series is the sense of camaraderie with the residents there and the stories of what the RNLI do. Just like in our first book, we have a unknown narrator too who is watching one of our characters - but why? We have that twisty storyline too with a sense of chase. Very gripping and I can't wait for book three! 

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A massive thank you to Literally PR for having me on the blog tour. You can find out more information about the other bloggers taking part in this tour in the graphic below.

Christmas In Castleby by J. M. Simpson | Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received a eARC of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.]

Title & Author: Christmas In Castleby by J. M. Simpson

My rating: 5/5

Publication date: 1st November 2024

Blurb:

When Tess Dutton arrives in Castleby to help in her sister’s restaurant for the Christmas period her worst nightmare awaits. Tess finds her sister unconscious at the bottom of her stairs, and a restaurant fully booked until Christmas.

Ex-Navy chef Griffin Jones returns to his late mother’s house trying to put his past behind him. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, and someone from his past won’t let him forget either.

Griffin steps in to help Tess in the restaurant, but he is haunted by his past. As he grows closer to Tess and their attraction blossoms, Tess receives a visit from an ex-lover, who wants to rekindle their romance.

Tess struggles when she finds out about Griffin’s past.

But he’s being persecuted.

And then Tess’s life is threatened.

Someone is so full of hate and so intent on revenge, that the only solution is to kill.

Review:

Did I read this book in less than a day? Yes, yes I did. I just couldn't put it down!

This is the sixth book in the Castleby series and I have loved every one of them, so when I heard there was a Christmas one coming, I was very excited. I would recommend going back and reading the other books in the series because they are fantastic.

Griff Jones is returning to the seaside town of Castleby, following his mother's death. Griff has had a tough few years and is looking to start over. At the same time, Tess has been roped into coming to help her sister Lorraine at her restaurant over the busy Christmas period. Tess has had a couple of heartbreaks recently, plus leaving her stressful job as a nurse.

The two cross paths when Tess takes over the restaurant for an injured Lorraine and is in need of a chef. Enter, Griff. But when Griff starts receiving threatening texts and letters about something that happened in his past, culminating in attacks both on him and his house, he realises he needs to tell Tess, but how will she react?

One thing I love about the Castleby series, is that going back to them feels so comforting. Griff and Tess are new characters but are very much welcomed by the locals who we came to love in the previous books (I'm looking at you Foxy and Maggie!). 

This is a shorter book than the rest but I always enjoy the pacing, tension and guessing that Simpson delivers. I just love the mix of small town vibes with some crime that keeps you on your toes! 

Sea Rift by J. M. Simpson | Blog Tour Book Review

[ad/gifted - I received an eBook copy of the book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

Title & Author: Sea Rift by J. M. Simpson 

My rating: 5/5

Publication date: 18th April 2024

Blurb:

Old wounds run deep. Revenge has deadly consequences.

A dead body is found hanging in local woods. It contains a sinister message for Mickey Camorra. It seems his dark past is catching up with him. As Detective Steve Miller finds another body, he ties both deaths to the Tao crime family. An old contact betrays them and the Camorra’s face their deadliest threat yet.

Mike Young is pleased to see an old flame return to Castleby. He’s hopeful they might rekindle their romance, but he soon discovers she is not all she seems.

Ex-soldier Foxy tries to move on after the death of his ex-wife. As he explores an unexpected new liaison, a rift with a close friend troubles him deeply, and he wonders about his future happiness.

Former hostage negotiator Nate Bennett moves back to Castleby, hoping the town will help heal his sick wife. When a baby is kidnapped from a cafe and the search intensifies, Nate finds himself face to face with the crazed kidnapper, as he desperately tries to save a baby’s life.

Review: 

Sea Rift in the fifth novel in the Castleby series and if you haven't read any of these books yet, you are missing out. I've read the other four books over the past couple of years and going back into this one felt like going home. 

This series is set in the fictional seaside town of Castleby and is perfect for fans of small towns, found family, the RNLI and organised crime thrillers.

Sea Rift introduces hostage negotiator Nate Bennett who has just moved back to Castleby. He lived there as a child but after his daughter was stillborn and Nate having made the tough choice to have his wife Viv sectioned due to her mental health following the birth, he thinks the town will be perfect for a fresh start for them both.

At the same time, crime boss Mickey Camorra is sent a message in the form of a dead body and all the signs point to another crime organisation, the Taos.

There are lots of POVs from multiple characters but Simpson writes in a way that leaves no confusion, each paragraph leaves you wanting more until you find that it's hard to put the book down! It is meticulously planned and super fast paced. I was dying to know how everything tied together.

I loved getting back to the lives of my old favourites; Doug, Foxy, Steve, Maggie, etc. It felt like a hug! 

I would say there are big trigger warnings for baby loss in this book but, wow! I feel like I want to go back and read them all again! 

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Thank you so much to Literally PR for having me on the blog tour. You can find information about the other bloggers taking part in the tour in the graphic below.