It’s that time again, another eagerly awaited Martina Cole novel arrives in October! The Faithless by Martina Cole.

To the outside world, Cynthia Tailor is a woman to envy; she has a devoted husband, a lovely home and two gorgeous children. But Cynthia is deeply unhappy with her lot; she has always craved the best things in life, and is determined to see that she gets them. Cynthia will let nothing stand in her way, even if it means devastation and tragedy for those nearest to her.

And the casualties are many: her husband Jimmy, weak and unable to fight the wife he can never please; her sister Celeste, from whom Cynthia steals her most precious possession; and her parents, Mary and Jack, who pick up the pieces. But the victims who suffer the most are Cynthia’s children. For James Junior and Gabby, the pain she causes will stay with them for ever…

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Phillip Murphy is a family man. He worships his old mum; he takes care of his siblings who help run his business empire in Southend; he dotes on his two young sons who will one day take over the reins. And then there’s his wife and saviour Christine, whom he loves with a vengeance. To Phillip Murphy, family is everything.

Christine has always understood this about her husband, it was one of the things that first attracted her to him. But there is another side to Phillip, and it’s a side he never wanted his wife to see. Though even if she did, could she do anything but stand by him? Because Phillip has rules, and he expects loyalty from his nearest and dearest. Once you’re in the family, you’re in it for life.

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Based on the many good things I had heard about J Lou McCartney both on dangerousLady.co.uk and from colleagues De Marco Empire was the safe bet novel to take on holiday.

It took me 3 days to get through De Marco Empire, mostly while sipping Pina Coladas on the deck of a cruise liner in the Med! A tough job but someone has to do it. Looking around the ship at others reading material there were lots of Martina Cole and Mandasue Heller novels in hand so I think those two ladies will be riding the recession out quite happily by the looks of things.

Plot outline:

Brothers, Antonio and Gianni de Marco originate from La Pregheira in Umbria, Italy. Having made their fortune and eager to escape their murky past they re-locate to London, England where they open a prestigious nightclub. When Katie Saunders and Lucy Carmichael manage to get a couple of jobs in the club, little do they suspect what is in store. From their normal, law-abiding and steady lives they are entering a world of mafia-style rivalry, turf wars, extortion, vice, corruption, drugs and murder. They impress those around them but also encounter jealousy, back-biting and malice but also love and romance. Katie is swept off her feet by Antonio de Marco, the club’s owner, and Lucy by his friend Stevo. But when a long standing vendetta against the de Marco family begins to rear its ugly head things begin to take a turn for the worse. With enemies old and new crawling out of the woodwork, just who is ultimately responsible for the devastation about to tear their whole world apart.

So what did I think of De Marco Empire? Overall, and out of 10, I would give the book 7. J Lou McCartney has been described as similar to Martina Cole, probably as the book is set in the world of the gangster. There were Martina Cole undertones however the characters, for me, did not come over as cold as they can in the Martina Cole novels, they were not as nasty or at least not conveyed as nasty as some of the Martina Cole characters can be.

I would have liked a little more background and character development on some of the peripheral cast, i.e. Eddie and Stevo.

The plot, on the whole, worked and kept me reading and I felt satisfied at the end of the novel that it had been an enjoyable read.

I will certainly be adding J Lou McCartney to my list of authors to stay upto date with and I reccommend De Marco Empire if you are looking for a holiday read.

Thanks for all your recommendations!

Danielle Crosby had a body to die for. A body she sold to the highest bidder. But she ended up paying for it with her life.

When a prostitute’s body is found lifeless, mutilated and brutally raped, DCI Annie Carr has never seen anything like it and never wants to again. Kate Burrows, retired DCI now consultant, has plenty of experience when it comes to murder – after all she caught the Grantley Ripper and broke the biggest paedophile ring in the South East. She is determined to help put the killer behind bars. But whoever it is won’t be easily caught. And when another girl’s body is found, even more horrifically disfigured than the last, it’s clear the killer is just warming up…

In a ruthless world where everyone’s out for themselves, Annie and Kate must dig deep if they hope to catch a callous serial killer who knows no limits and makes no mistakes. For some, prostitution is seriously big business. But how many people will pay the ultimate price?

Hard Girls by Martina Cole published October 2009

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As I have exhausted our Martina Cole library here at dangerousLady.co.uk thoughts turn to what to read next. I’m sure we will have a new Martina Cole novel arriving before long but in the meantime I need a good book!

I toyed with the idea of getting the recent Mandasue Heller novel Snatched but decided against it and went for De Marco Empire by a new British author Janet Louise McCartney, who publishes under the name J Lou McCartney.

I know little about her other than what I have heard over the web and what I have read over at amazon.co.uk:

Janet Louise McCartney was born and brought up in the beautiful Georgian town of Whitehaven, Cumbria which is located close to the Lake District. She is married to Gary and has a teenage daughter called Tamzin. After thirteen years of trying she has finally written her first novel. Her life time ambition is to one day be able to give up her day job and write full time giving pleasure and entertainment to all her readers. With her debut novel now under her belt she hopes to go from strength to strength and produce the next international best seller.

I have noticed other readers mentioning her work in the same breath as Martina Cole which can only be a good thing in my opinion. I will give the book a try and report back, have you read it? If so leave a comment below.

UPDATE 1 – August 9th.
My book has arrived! I will be off on hols soon so this will be coming with me. I will read and report back people!

UPDATE 2 – September 19th.
I have returned from my Summer holidays and read the book over 3 days while sipping cool Pina Coladas aboard a ship cruising the Med! As promised expect a full review in the next few days.

UPDATE 3 – September 30th.
Finally! Review added in the comments below.

Set in the East End of London from the tail-end of the seventies up until the present-day, THE BUSINESS is a tale of drugs, prostitution and a young girl’s fight for survival – against all the odds.

Imelda Dooley is scared. She’s played hard and fast and now she’s been caught. She’s pregnant and now she’s on her own. Her father, not a man to mess with, will see that somebody pays for this. And it’s not going to be her. So Imelda Dooley tells a lie. A lie that literally causes murders.

When Mary Dooley’s husband is killed in the night’s events, she knows she must graft to keep the family afloat. And graft she does, becoming a name in her own right. But she still has to watch her daughter’s life spiral into a vicious, hate-fuelled cycle of drugs and prostitution.

Caught up in the carnage that is Imelda’s existence are Mary’s adored grandchildren, Jordanna and Kenny. Pretty little Jordanna isn’t yet three and she already knows far too much. All she can do is look after her baby brother and try not to draw attention to herself.

The Business by Martina Cole published 2008

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Just before Danny Cadogan’s fourteenth birthday, his father, Big Dan, leaves his wife and children to face the wrath of the men sent to collect his gambling debt. Determined to protect his mother, brother and sister, overnight Danny becomes set on making his way in a violent and dangerous world. He becomes a Face.

Not just a Face, but the most feared Face in the Smoke. Out for all he can get. At any cost. Danny’s ruthlessness doesn’t stop at his front door. He rules his family with an iron will – and his fists. But if his wife, Mary breaks her silence, it could shake Danny’s criminal empire; right to the very core. And for a Face at the top of his game, there’s only one way to go. Down. Because, after all, debts can be paid without money…

Faces by Martina Cole published 2007.

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Patrick Brodie knows exactly how far he’s prepared to go to get what he wants. And he wants it all. Now. Before long, Patrick has become a legend in his own lifetime. Violently.

Lily Diamond is different from the kind of woman Patrick is normally attracted to. But together they are determined that their children will have everything they didn’t. Until the unthinkable happens and Lily is left on her own to look after their family in a dangerous world. The Brodies must stay close to survive. But as everyone knows, your sins will find you out.

Close by Martina Cole published 2006.

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Freddie Jackson is just out of prison. He’s done his time, made the right connections, and now he’s ready to use them. His wife Jackie dreams of having her husband home, but she’s forgotten the rows, the violence, and the girls Freddie can’t leave alone.

Bitter, resentful, and increasingly unstable, Jackie watches her life crumble while her little sister Maggie’s star rises. In love with Freddie’s cousin Jimmy, Maggie is determined not to end up like her sister.

The Take by Martina Cole published 2005.

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Nick Leary is having trouble sleeping, what with sultry heat and business and family problems weighing on his mind. His wife is sleeping beside him, when he hears a noise downstairs–and soon he has to decide how much violence he will use to defend his home and family.

The decision he makes is to change his life forever. Nick and his wife are taken to the very extremes of human behaviour–and he is obliged to decide how high a price he will pay to keep what he values most.

The Graft by Martina Cole published 2004.

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