Review: A Painkiller to Die For

 

It was difficult for Will Jeavons to imagine just how his life could possibly get any better. Having overcome a traumatic childhood, he had gone on to study molecular pharmacology and win tenure as a lecturer at his beloved Cambridge University. But his life was soon to become better still, the CEO of a biotech company. Will’s unique research led to the discovery of a non-addictive drug for chronic pain. A remarkable solution for the opioid epidemic which had claimed the life of his mother.

Will’s flourishing company was subsequently acquired, and this was when he first met Celeste Simmonds. The beguiling Celeste would steer Will away from his earlier hedonistic, womanising lifestyle. However, the only way he could ensure the success of his drug was to bury key safety data which could have led to the clinical trials being terminated.

Clinical trials which resulted in the husband of Lydia Goldberg falling into a deep coma. It was Lydia’s scientific training which led her to discover Will’s fraudulent cover-up. She was determined to seek vengeance and concocted an elaborate honeytrap and a decision for Will to make. A career ending confession or being submitted to a life-threatening game of Russian roulette.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Painkiller-Die-Dr-Martyn-Pritchard-ebook/dp/B0FC6Y9SXN/

https://www.amazon.com/Painkiller-Die-Dr-Martyn-Pritchard-ebook/dp/B0FC6Y9SXN/

Author Bio –

Dr Martyn Pritchard is currently moving towards retirement following on from a 35-year long career in drug discovery research focusing on neuroscience as well as novel medicines to treat pain. He is the author of over 50 scientific papers and book chapters along with one novel written under a nom de plume: A Practical Arrangement.

 

Social Media Links –

Instagram: martyn.pritchard1 (Instagram)

Facebook: (20+) Facebook

Review: Book Lover's Bucket List

A bucket list to change her life.

Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.

When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a deal: together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.

What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.

But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder truth: dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.

Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.
Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.

A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.

The Book Lover's Bucket List by Hannah Claire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An adorable book for summer's day! I loved the protagonists and the way they are pulled together for the very reasons they assumed they would never work. The use of books as plot device was so fun for this booklover. Kudos to Hannah Claire for keeping the romance real enough to be believable while still providing all the happy tingles necessary for a good romance. I also loved the setting -consider The Peaks on my travel wish list. I can only hope it will be this charming.

View all my reviews

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GX33FZ34

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX33FZ34

Author Bio – Hannah has always been a bookworm, loving nothing more than escaping into fictional worlds, and can't walk past a bookshop without adding to her already-overflowing To Be Read shelves. She writes contemporary romantic novels set against the beautiful landscape of the Peak District in Derbyshire, close to where she lives.

A firm believer in the power of love stories to offer comfort and escape, Hannah writes books that celebrate connection, hope, and the magic of second chances — stories designed to bring a little joy into busy lives.

She lives with her husband, their three children, two cats, and one very bouncy dog who still hasn't worked out that squirrels generally don't want to be her friends.

Hannah loves long sunny days spent outdoors and rainy afternoons spent indoors — ideally under a cosy blanket with a good book. Her favourite things include sparkly nail varnish, candles, bubble baths, and chocolate, and she remains convinced that there is no such thing as too many notebooks.

 

Social Media Links – @hannahclairewriter

Facebook and Instagram

Review: The Catalyst

When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA specialist Kat Crocker is assigned to uncover the cause of the mutations and stop them before they spread. But her growing visibility makes her a target. As attacks escalate, the trail leads her to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics—and to one man: the mentor who taught her everything, the father she buried years ago.

Review

The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, that was trippy. Goyan has created a bendy world where gaming blends with reality to create a super-race of animal-human hybrids. It's an extension of Ready Player One where the company wants more than allegiance- it wants to own every identifying piece of the participants. The book has some great reviews.

Overall, the story is written with immersive, detailed scene-setting and an excellent sense of suspense. It keeps you curious until the final reveal. I wish it had leaned a little heavier into the science. The "why" of it all is largely left untouched and I would've enjoyed knowing more about the transmission of DNA from one organism to another. However, the overall premise and good plot stitching help to keep the novel solid and intriguing. So while it isn't a perfect sci-fi, it has a lot to recommend it and is worth picking up.

View all my reviews

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/

https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/

 

Author Bio – Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025. Andrea also co-hosts MetaStellar Magazine’s “Long-Lost Friends” and “Storytime.” In her spare time, she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits. 

Many of her stories are available for free on her website.

Social Media Links –

Website Andrea Goyan,

Facebook Andrea Goyan Storyteller,

Bluesky Follow Andrea on Bluesky!