It's all about the thrill

Your best friend deserves the truth. But it will ruin her life. What would you do?

In summer, the small Cornish village of Gorran Haven fills with tourists, but in the colder months its pretty narrow streets are blissfully quiet, the bell on the village shop door rings only for locals, the beach is unspoilt, empty and safe.

It’s been over twenty years since four very different teenage girls sat on that beach, and swore to be best friends forever. Their lives went different ways after Emily left. But each remembered that promise. And none truly found friendship like it again.

Now, Emily’s back, with a secret she can’t face. She tries to hide away, take time to heal and make some difficult choices, but she runs into one of her old friends, and soon the four are reunited. Lolly, warm as ever, is a successful physiotherapist, married with kids. Yet smart, strong Amanda, who cherishes her teenage daughter, is alone and seemingly stuck in a dead-end job. And creative Jess is so much quieter than Emily remembers.

The bond is still there, and Emily realises their friendship might keep her together, but there are reasons why the women fell out of touch. Secrets that have lain dormant for decades start to surface, and then one of the women discovers a betrayal so big, it could turn each of their lives upside down.

It’s always those we’re closest to who have the power to tear us apart. Can friendship give Emily and her friends the strength to survive a devastating shock, or are some things unforgiveable?

Full of truths about friendship, marriage, and the relationships that define us, Her Best Friend’s Secret is a powerful, relatable and emotionally gripping novel for fans of Jojo Moyes, Diane Chamberlain, and The Silent Wife.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07MW5F9XFSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2taT8or

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2SvNOue

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/ZyAT30nBXlE

My Thoughts

Best friends forever? They made the promise during their teen years and so much has happened since then, is it still possible? This is an emotional story that drew me in right from the start. I was absolutely intrigued with the lives of these four women. Why did it hold my interest so intently? It is because their stories are so darn easy to relate to! These women could be my friends that I grew up with!

I feel like everyone has that group of friends that they grow up with and they truly believe that they will always be there for each other. Yet as the years go on they drift apart. Much as these girls did, it had been 20 years since they had seen each other. After a chance run in where Lolly bumps into Emily, they plan a get together with all the girls. This will go one of two ways...either really awkward or they will pick up right where they left off!

This story is so well developed, that I felt like I know each woman personally. I loved each one and all their little insecurities, because let's face it, everyone has them. They had secrets they had kept from each other and little lies they had told. It begged to ask the question is it worth it for the truth to come out if it will destroy another person's life? Especially someone you care deeply about? Are some things best left unsaid?

It is so easy to put yourself in their place because each one worried that the other would judge them on their life's choices. As they got more comfortable with each, little by little things surface. Things that can destroy lives.

I loved the "girl power" feel of this book. As this group of women stick with each other through good and bad, thick and thin. Albeit all the obstacles they will be forced to overcome and the walls they have built up with time. Is it possible to be BFF's after all these years? Step into the inner circle of Lolly, Emily, Jess and Amanda and find out if all can be forgotten.

Thank you so much to Noelle and Kim at Bookouture for the opportunity to come along on this Books on Tour. Also a huge thanks to Anna Mansell for this fantastic book! I am looking forward to her next one!

Author Bio:

Anna had a brush with 'fame' as a magician's assistant back in 1977. She later decided that being sawn in half by her magical performing father, at barely 6 months old, was too submissive a role. She vowed to channel the trauma in to something much more pro-actively creative. Having failed at acting, singing and professional murder mystery parties (she was ALWAYs the one to die!), she fell to something much more solitary: writing. She has written three novels, published by Bookouture, her fourth - HER BEST FRIEND'S SECRET - comes out on April 1st, 2019. Anna lives on a dairy farm in Cornwall with her two children, her husband, and her ex-racing greyhound, Olive Dog.

Author Social Media Links:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaMansellWriter/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AnnaMansell

WEBSITE: https://feelthefearandwriteitanyway.wordpress.com/

Is it better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved?

Paul Starr, Ireland's leading cardiologist, has died in a car crash with a pregnant young woman by his side. A woman who is not his wife.

Evie, Grace and Annalise never thought they'd meet, but now they have to uncover the truth of their pasts. And suddenly they find themselves united by a man they never really knew at all.

As these women begin to form unlikely friendships they discover that Paul's death could prove to be the catalyst they needed to become the people they always wanted to be...

A heart-warming story of love, loss, family and friendship. A compelling debut for fans of Sheila O'Flannigan, Veronica Henry and Jane Fallon.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H1j6DM

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2NMQdfm

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2TBnv6A

iBooks: https://apple.co/2Ut8y3i

My Thoughts

Oh my dear charming Paul, you certainly like to have your cake and eat it too! As a well respected heart surgeon in Ireland Paul can have his pick of any woman of his choosing it seems. With his charismatic personality and good looks, he seems to sweep women off their feet. After showering them with attention and monetary comforts it ends in marriage, again and again. Until Paul moves on to his next love of his life.

Wow this book grasped me right from the very first chapter. After Paul's sudden death I found myself gasping in disbelief as his secret life was revealed. As soon as I was convinced this must be it for surprises, yet another bombshell would drop. Dear Paul you charming devil, what on earth were you thinking?

Don't be mislead in thinking this is a typical woman scorned book. This book delves so much deeper than that. We experience how each person in Paul's life is forced to struggle with not only the grief of the loss of Paul but also their feelings as they learn who Paul really is.

I must admit I was completely intrigued with the absolute scandal of it all. It boggled my mind that Paul was actually able to pull this off and for such a long period of time. Even more so how this group of women bound together to help each other cope with the wild range of emotions their beloved Paul has left them with.

This group of amazing women took an unthinkable situation and turned it into something that was quite frankly beautiful. I loved taking this journey with them of love, loss, betrayal and watching them grow.

Thank you so much to Victoria Joss at Aria for inviting me on this tour and Faith Hogan for such a wonderful book to read and review!

About the author

Faith lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and two very fussy cats. She has an Hons Degree in English Literature and Psychology, has worked as a fashion model and in the intellectual disability and mental health sector.

Follow Faith:

Twitter: @GerHogan

Facebook: @faithhoganauthor