The Tides of Memory by Tilly Bagshawe writing as Sidney Sheldon

 Synopsis :

The members of the formidable and captivating De Vere family of London live enviable lives in the world’s most powerful and desirable places, from London’s poshest neighborhoods to influential boardrooms. 

But when old secrets begin to unravel and threaten everything the De Veres have worked for, the ramifications are deadly.

This is what I say :

I know, I know...it's too soon for another Tilly Bagshawe title. Especially one that she wrote as Sidney Sheldon but what can I say, I got hold of another copy and if I dont read it now, I will probably forget to read it.

While not that original, the characters in The Tides of Memory was quite refreshing. There's Alexia De Verve, Home Secretary with more than one secrets.  Hubbie Teddy and son Michael and daughter Rozie. British.

On the other hand, there's daughter Summer, mum Lucy and dad Arnie. American.

The focus are more on Alexia and Summer.  And someone from Alexia's past named Billie.  All characters are connected one way or another...the way it's written, it's like it's all ready for a movie or tv version. Very clear and visual like.

I must confess that I made a guess as to how the story twist would be like and I am snobbishly pleased that I was right!

Anyway, I think I will stay clear from Tilly Bagshawe writing as Sidney Sheldon for now but then you never know.  

 

Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson

 

Synopsis :

DCI Alan Banks reluctantly investigates DI Bill Quinn with Inspector Joanna Passero. Quinn, convalescing at St Peter’s Police Treatment Centre, was killed by a crossbow on the tranquil grounds, and left compromising photos. 

Quinn may be disreputable, linked to a vicious crime in Yorkshire and to a cold case – English Rachel Hewitt 19 vanished in Estonia six years ago.

This is What I Say :

I have not read any titles by this author prior to this title. Watching the Dark is the first title that I read but it's the 20th installment in the universe of Chief Inspector Banks.  

It's a murder/crime investigative title and it was quite good. Good enough for me to read right till the end although it took me quite a long time...over a period of months actually.  I am happy to complete it finally so that I can move on to other titles.

There's a couple of murders in this story and they are in a way related so reading Watching the Dark is like watching the investigation of these crime.  Can't say much about character development. The focus is on investigation development so if you like that you will like Watching he Dark.

Reckless (Tracy Whitney #3) by Tilly Bagshawe writing as Sidney Sheldon

 

Synopsis :

#1 New York Times bestselling author Sidney Sheldon’s most popular and enduring heroine—Tracy Whitney of If Tomorrow Comes and Sidney Sheldon’s Chasing Tomorrow—finds herself caught in a nefarious and far-reaching scheme involving international terrorism and corruption in this compelling thriller packed with heart-stopping twists and breathtaking action

Once upon a time, Tracy Whitney was one of the best thieves in the business. Then she settled down and had a child—a beautiful, bright, mischievous boy who was the center of her life. Tracy planned to spend the rest of her days quietly, living anonymously deep in the stunning Colorado mountains, devoted to raising her son. But tragedy forces her to face her greatest nightmare. Now, with nothing left to protect, this superb con artist, jewel thief, computer wizard, and cat burglar returns to the hunt, more dangerous, ruthless, and reckless than ever.

The world faces a new terror threat from Group 99, a diverse collection of global hackers intent on the
collapse of capitalism and private wealth and the creation of a new world order. When the group turns to violence—kidnapping an American investigative journalist, shooting a British military hostage, and blowing up an international industrialist—the mysterious woman pulling their strings, a wily and wealthy American known only as Althea, becomes the CIA’s most sought criminal.  But their only hope of finding her is a woman with a dark and dangerous past of her own. A woman who has also successfully evaded detection by the authorities around the world: Tracy.

Convinced that Althea is behind the deadly act that shattered her life, Tracy sets out on a global hunt to flush out her prey. But as she soon discovers, the truth is as elusive as her target. Hampered by corruption, lies, and enemies masked as allies, Tracy will be pushed to the brink, where she must face her darkest demons. All of her experience tells Tracy that the answers are right in front of her—if only she can look at the clues in the right way.

Propelled by an unquenchable thirst for revenge, and with the fate of so many resting in her hands, just how reckless will Tracy become when she has nothing left to lose?

This is what I say :

Make no mistake. This is written by Tilly Bagshawe. Not by Sidney Sheldon.  It's Tilly Bagshawe writing as Sidney Sheldon and continuing Sidney Sheldon's legacy and the universe of Tracy Whitney.

A bit of history. Sidney Sheldon wrote If Tomorrow Comes in the 80s. It's one of the best selling titles of Sidney Sheldon and it's one of my favourite titles.  I think I read more times than I can remember. I gave my thoughts on it 10 years ago here.

Sidney Sheldon passed away in 2007.  His estate then commissioned Tilly Bagshawe (a renowned author in her own right) to wrote a few sequel for his famous titles and Chasing Tomorrow which was a sequal for If Tomorrow Comes was one of them.  Like all businesses, potentials are there especially among fans of Sidney Sheldon and new fans, Tilly churned out more titles, some hits, some misses.

Reckless is the third title in the Tracy Whitney universe.  I read Chasing Tomorrow 5 years ago and I quite forgot about this third book and it was only recently that I came across it and a few new titles that Tilly wrote as Sidney Sheldon.

I quite like Reckless but at the same time I noticed a  lot of misses and also loopholes in storyline and plot.  I quite know how the story would take us but there's a bit of surprises also.  All in all while there's elements of Sidney Sheldon, it's just not the same if it was written by the master himself.  I kinda wish the estate will not continue Sidney's legacy as somehow whole the intention can be good, it can backfire as the it wasn't up to par.

I also wish that this would be the last of Tracy Whitney and they would just let her live her life in peace.

Silver Tears (Faye's Revenge #2) by Camilla Lackberg

 

Synopsis :

She's had to fight for it every step of the way, but Faye finally has the life she believes she deserves: she is rich, the business she built has become a global brand, and she has carefully hidden away her small family in Italy, where Jack, her ex-husband, can no longer harm them. She even has the wherewithal to occasionally turn a business trip to Rome into a steamy tryst. 

But when several major investors--women Faye had trusted implicitly--suddenly sell off their shares in the company, and the police officer who helped search for her daughter discovers the dark secret of Faye's childhood, and she learns that Jack is no longer locked behind bars, Faye has no choice but to return to Stockholm. Not only does she have to fight again to keep her family safe, but now, at long last, she is forced to face the truth about her past.

In this bold, mesmerizing story of seduction, deceit, and female power, a woman's secret cannot stay buried forever. 

This is what I say :

Silver Tears is the second book in a two book series.  You can check out out what I said about the first book, The Golden Cage here.

I must confess that I quick/fast read Silver Tears as I just wanted to see how the story progress and ends.  I got tired of how trashy Camilia Lackberg writes in these two books.  Totally very different from the earlier titles that I read.   If I had started with these two titles in reading what she road, I would not have read the Erika and Patrik Series which were very good.

Sliver Tears ended with a potential  for book 3 but I think we should all just leave Faye alone to get on with her life.  Even if there's a third book, I dont think I would be keen to read it.

Traveling in August 2022

I will be travelling again the next couple of days.

This would be the 4th trip that I am making this year. The first two trips were personal travel and the third trip was work related which I shared about here.

These are all travel to the capital city although I was at different part of the city each time.

This time round, it's yet another personal travel to meet up with a family member and I am looking forward to the quality time together as well places we have planned to visit.

I haven't decide which book i will bring along with me. As usual, I will bring a title. There are times when I would have selected a title by now but there are times when it will be a last minute selection. this time round, it seems that it will be a last minute selection.  Let's just wait and see.

The Golden Cage (Faye's Revenge #1) by Camilla Lackberg

 

Synopsis :

Faye has loved Jack since they were students at business school. Jack, the perpetual golden boy, grew up wealthy, unlike Faye, who has worked hard to bury a dark past. When Jack needs help launching a new company, Faye leaves school to support him, waitressing by day and working as his strategist by night. With the business soaring, Faye and Jack have a baby, and Faye finds herself at home, caring for their daughter, wealthier than she ever imagined, but more and more removed from the excitement of the business world. And none of the perks of wealth make up for the fact that Jack has begun to treat her coldly, undermining her intelligence and forgetting all she sacrificed for his success. 

When Faye discovers that he's having an affair, the polished facade of their life cracks wide open. Faye is alone, emotionally shattered, and financially devastated--but hell hath no fury like a woman with a violent past bent on vengeance. Jack is about to get exactly what he deserves--and so much more. 

In this splashy, electrifying story of sex, betrayal, and secrets, a woman's revenge is a brutal but beautiful thing. 

This is what I say :

Camilla Lackberg to me, is one great author. I like the way she writes and also the plot and storyline were always unique and different.  I especially loved the Fjallbacka Series that features husband and wife, Patrik and Erica.  I have read all the titles in that series and you can check out my review in my previous posts (just go to List of Authors page, click C and look for Camilla Lackberg and the revews on the Fjallbacka Series would be there)

However, The Golden Cage is very different from The Fjallbacka Series.  While Erica might be nice and kind and helpful and all things nice, Faye is the total opposite.  I wasn't really expecting that when I started this title.  The Golden Cage was also more 'trashy' in everything possible and there's a few x-rated scene.  Again, wasn't expecting that.

However, as I read along, I was guessing how the storyline would progress and I am happy to share that I wasn't wrong.  It went exactly the route I predicted it.

Honestly, I dont like it as much as the Fjallbacka Series but I was quite happy to read The Golden Cage just to read and experience the way Camilla Lackberg write.

Books two is entitled Silver Tears.  I will certainly check it out.

True Blue by David Baldacci

 

Synopsis :

Mason "Mace" Perry was a firebrand cop on the D.C. police force until she was kidnapped and framed for a crime. She lost everything: her badge, her career, her freedom--and spent two years in prison. Now she's back on the outside and focused on one mission: to be a cop once more. Her only shot to be a true blue again is to solve a major case on her own, and prove she has the right to wear the uniform. Even with her police chief sister on her side, she has to work in the shadows: a vindictive U.S. attorney is looking for any reason to send Mace back behind bars. Then Roy Kingman enters her life.

Roy is a young lawyer who aided the poor until he took a high-paying job at a law firm in Washington. Mace and Roy meet after he discovers the dead body of a female partner at the firm. As they investigate the death, they start uncovering surprising secrets.

Soon, what began as a fairly routine homicide takes a terrifying and unexpected turn . . . into something complex, diabolical, and possibly lethal.

This is what I say :

I just finished reading True Blue. It's one of the few copies of David Baldacci titles that's been on my shelf for years.  

While I really like The Camel Club Series by David Baldacci, I quite like his other stand alone titles or other titles that features other characters too.  

True Blue isn't too bad.  The characters were not too likable but then they are not too unlikable as well.  The plot and storyline wasn't that original and unique but they are not too bad either.  Compared to some of the author's title, this rank quite in the middle of likability factor.  

Basically it's just a so- so title and I am glad it's not off my TBR shelf.