Release date - 4th May 2017 Book length - 352 pages Publisher - www.bonnierzaffre.co.uk Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB CAUGHT BETWEEN FAMILY AND DUTY - CAN SHE FOLLOW HER DREAM? Suffolk, 1925. After the death of her father, a much-loved Punch and Judy man, May Moon packs her bags and moves to the seaside in the hope of continuing his legacy. Already tasked with looking after her younger sister, May little imagines her summer will grow tougher still. Her long absent mother has finally returned - and with an agenda all of her own. But as May struggles to balance her family's competing demands - and honour her father's legacy - she's surprised to discover her passion for performing grows ever stronger. As the world around her begins to change, might she finally be able to find a dream of her own? A warm-hearted and nostalgic saga perfect for readers of Katie Flynn and Sheila Jeffries. 'Like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen.' Diane Allen MY REVIEW Heartwarming, charming, lovely, and captivating are just some of the words that I could use to describe THE PUNCH AND JUDY GIRL by Sheila Newberry. In this nostalgic tale set in 1925, we meet May Jolley, also known as Young May Moon, who promised her dying father that she would try to continue his legacy of performing The Punch and Judy show. At the tender age of 16, May has a lot on her shoulders as she is also looking out for her little sister, Pomona, with the help of their Aunt and some good friends along the way. And with the return of her flighty mother, Carmen, May will need her friends more than ever. For me, this story is split into two parts. The first section being that ever-important summer where strong friendships are made, where May reconnects with the mother who abandoned them, falls headfirst into the first throes of love, and really begins to grow up. The second part of the novel jumps forward nine years, and we see a determined, strong, independent May who struggles to decide between her heart and her head. Throughout this tale, the other characters are equally as compelling as May, and it was great to discover what happens with Bea, Pom, Danny, and the others. THE PUNCH AND JUDY GIRL by Sheila Newberry is just the perfect story to make you smile, and make you feel warm and happy. The descriptions are evocative and make you feel a part of the scene, and the characters feel like your family by the end. THE PUNCH AND JUDY GIRL by Sheila Newberry is a beautifully written historical story of love, family, and finding your own path, and I cannot wait to read more from this author! Author Bio: Sheila Newberry was born in Suffolk and spent a lot of time there both before and during the war. She wrote her first 'book' before she was ten - all sixty pages of it - in purple ink. She spent forty years living in Kent with her husband John on a smallholding, and has nine children and twenty-two lively grandchildren. They retired back to Suffolk where Sheila lives today. *I want to thank Imogen and Emily from Bonnier Zaffre, and Sheila Newberry, for the opportunity to review this heartwarming novel, and take part in this blog tour. Make sure to check out the other stops along the way! Read on for a lovely extract xx EXCERPT
They awoke to a tintinnabulation – they’d overslept and the church bells were ringing to proclaim the sabbath and herald the morning service. Most of the bedclothes appeared to be wound round Pomona, and her muffled voice said apologetically: ‘Happy birthday, May!’ It was Whit Sunday, 31 May, and now May was not ‘almost’ but actually sixteen. There was a scraping noise. Something was being pushed under the door. An envelope. May waited for a few seconds, listening for descending footsteps on the stairs before she jumped out of bed and retrieved it. Inside the envelope was a handmade card, with a pencil sketch of a Punch and Judy booth. Punch was front stage, and a bubble from his mouth proclaimed, HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUNG MAY MOON! Inside was written, Best wishes from Paddy and Danny. Her face flushed as she said, ‘Cheek! I didn’t say they could call me that… .’ A tap on the door. ‘May I come in?’ asked Jenny. ‘I heard you talking. Awake at last, eh? You must have been tired out.’ She was wearing her Sunday hat with a yellow silk rose fastened to a wide band, matching her shiny satin blouse. ‘Here’s your hot-water jug and two mugs of fresh tea! I’ll pop the tray on the washstand. The bells have just stopped ringing, I must dash, or I’ll be late for church. Oh,’ she turned at the door, ‘many happy returns, May! I didn’t forget! There’s a bowl of fresh eggs in the pantry, if you fancy ‘em boiled for breakfast. We had ours hours ago! The roast is already in the oven… . ‘Bye, my dears!’ Brigid was in the kitchen, peeling potatoes and dropping them with a splash into a large pan of water on the stove. ‘I must wish you a happy birthday, May! I thought our busy landlady might be glad of a hand with the spuds… Paddy and his dad are helping Percy. Danny took Toby for a run in the meadow, I hope you don’t mind?’ ‘Thank you, of course not,’ May replied. What else could she say? ‘It’s very kind of you all,’ she added. ‘Can I go outside until breakfast is ready?’ Pomona wheedled. ‘Put your shoes on, then. The grass will be damp, even though it’s looking to be a fine day,’ her sister said. ‘We’re all enjoying a day off – even Smokey! I’ll make sure he’s been fed and watered,’ Pomona said, as she wriggled her feet into her sandals without undoing the buckles. Danny was kicking a ball in the air and Toby leapt up to catch it. ‘She’s an old dog, you know,’ Pomona reminded Danny when she joined them in the meadow. ‘She can still do a back flip in the air,’ he said cheerfully. ‘So can I!’ Pomona promptly demonstrated, ending up with her skirt around her ears. Fortunately May was not there to remonstrate with her; she could be quite prim at times, Pomona thought, Mum was the one who was outrageous in our family. She’d only been four when Carmen went off, but she still missed her mother, quick temper and all. ‘You and Toby ought to be in the circus, I reckon.’ Danny pulled up a long blade of grass and demonstrated how to make an earsplitting noise by blowing over it. ‘You can both do tricks. Your talents are wasted in the Punch and Judy.’ ‘I play an important part, May says,’ she flared. ‘Paddy says May is jolly good, but she’s watered the story down! Punch is a real villain. He whacks his wife and baby and chucks them out of a window. He gets hanged for his sins. But at least you had the crocodile in it!’ ‘Don’t be so critical! My dad didn’t like violence. He said enough shouting went on with my mother!’ ‘So that’s where you get it from,’ Danny said unwisely, before he scooted off to the house with Pomona in hot pursuit. *Thanks again to Sheila Newberry and Bonnier Zaffre*
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Release date - 20th April 2017]
Book length - 273 pages Publisher - www.bonnierzaffre.co.uk Amazon UK - Invisible Women: It's Time to Talk About You! Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB Isn't it about time we talked about YOU? Tessa, Sandra and Harriet have been best friends through first crushes, careers, marriage and the trials of motherhood. After twenty years of taking care of everyone else's every need, they've found themselves hitting the big 5-0 and suddenly asking themselves: 'what about me?!' Sandra has a sordid secret, and Harriet is landed with her ailing mother-in-law. Tessa is looking for something to fill the gaping hole left by her youngest daughter's departure for uni, where it seems she's now engaged in all sorts of unsavoury activities, if Tessa's obsessive late-night Facebook stalking is anything to go by. When Tessa impulsively responds to an online message from an old flame, she soon finds herself waiting at Heathrow Airport for The One That Got Away. But what will the plane from New York bring her? The man of her dreams, or a whole heap of trouble? And could this be the long-awaited moment for Tessa to seize her life, for herself, with both hands? MY REVIEW INVISIBLE WOMEN by Sarah Long is an entertaining read about three friends who have grown into middle age together as they start to seriously question their own happiness. Tess, Harriet, and Sandra are all married, some with children who no longer need them for everything, and all with husbands who either see them as a nuisance or simply don't see them at all. Tired of feeling redundant in their own lives, Tessa and Sandra in particular, begin to take risks and revel in that all-too-fleeting feeling of excitement and need, while Harriet seems to have found a new career as a carer for her mother-in-law. But is the grass always greener on the other side? And how far will they go to make themselves seen? INVISIBLE WOMEN by Sarah Long is an unusual read for me as there were so many things that I loved about this story - the characters' loving friendship together, the banter, and the fabulous settings throughout - yet there were parts of the story that irritated me. Like the husbands, for example, with Tessa's husband being the worst offender. Matt is so rude and condescending and he really got my back up - I couldn't understand why Tessa let him away with so much. Harriet is such a soft, caring character and her ending in the story left me a little flat as I felt it didn't explain why her husband had treated so coldly. But even though there were parts of the story that didn't win me over, it still didn't take away from the overall narrative of the book which I really enjoyed. INVISIBLE WOMEN by Sarah Long is an emotional tale of love, friendship, and taking control of your life, and is sure to make you giggle at some point. Author Bio: Sarah Long worked in publishing before giving it all up to move to Paris with her husband and three children. She is the author of And What Do You Do? and The Next Best Thing. Following several years of the Parisian experience, she now lives in London. *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com Release date - 11th May 2017 Book length - 288 pages Publisher - www.caffeinenights.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB DI Duncan Waddell has big problems. He’s borderline diabetic, his boss thinks he’s in the Army and the paperwork is piling up faster than the underwear at a porn shoot. The last thing he needs is the country’s biggest case to land on his lap. Three women have gone missing in the city he’s fast coming to despise, victims of the GLASGOW GRABBER as their assailant has been dubbed by local hack and all round pain in the backside, Catriona Hastie. Shelley Craig’s the Grabber’s latest victim, snatched as she and her boyfriend took a shortcut through Glasgow city centre. And she’ll do anything to make it home. Handling this baffling case is stressful enough without Waddell’s pal DC Stevie Campbell, who’s in a coma after being attacked by a suspect, starting to talk to him. Trouble is, only Waddell can hear him. Vile City is Book One in the Series Author Bio: Jennifer Lee Thomson is an award-winning crime writer who has been scribbling away all her life. She also writes non-fiction as Jennifer Thomson and fiction as Jenny Thomson. This is her first book as Jennifer Lee Thomson in tribute to her late father who passed away after a long battle with cancer. Jennifer is an animal rights and human rights advocate and has a rescue dog. As Jenny Thomson, she kills people for a living in the Crime File series of books for Limitless Publishing. Book 1, 2 and 3, are out now. They are in order, Hell to Pay, Throwaways and Don’t Come For Me and feature tough rape survivor Nancy Kerr and her ex-Special Forces boyfriend who fight crime together. In her spare time, she plans how to survive the zombie apocalypse. For more information: Blog www.ramblingsofafrustratedcrimewriter.blogspot.co.uk Website www.jenniferthomson.co.uk Twitter https://twitter.com/jenthom72 Facebook www.facebook.com/VileCitybyJenniferLeeThomson/ TODAY I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE AN EXCERPT OF VILE CITY FOR YOU ALL TO READ. ✢ ✢ ✢ Excerpt from Vile City✢ ✢ ✢
Seven months earlier Glass glinting in the sun, coming towards him. At first, it holds him in a trance. Then he reacts, aims a kick at the guy’s balls but misses. ‘Shit!’ Suspect’s on him now. Jab, jab, jab. Every cut burns. Broken bottle neck, ripping into flesh. And, he thinks, this is how I die. Bleeding like a pig, in a filthy alleyway, blood mingling with dirt, fag butts and takeaway cartons. I used to want to be an astronaut. ‘OFFICER DOWN, OFFICER DOWN,’ someone barks into a radio. Static. Voice a long way off. It doesn’t matter any more. Footsteps. Panting. Another voice. ‘Fuck, fuck. What have you done? On the ground. NOW! Or, you’re fucked.’ A face above him. Almost familiar. ‘You’re gonna be okay, mate. I’ll get help. An ambulance. Try not to move.’ If he’s going to be okay, why does it feel like dozens of blazing knives have been driven into his body? Eyelids heavy. So tired. Close them... just for a minute… Chapter 1 Stuart was hiding something. Shelley could tell. She was always the one who’d had to wake him because he could always block out the shrill of the alarm clock, but these days he was up before her, grabbing the mail whilst she slept. And, he’d started making breakfast – nothing much, just tea and toast, but that was more than he’d ever made her in their two and a bit years together. When she’d calmly ask him if anything was wrong, he’d shrug his shoulders, give her a wee smile and say everything was fine. But, she knew he was lying because his face went even paler, making his freckles stand out as if they’d been drawn in by a kid with a coloured pencil. She never pushed it, maybe because deep down she was worried that he’d tell her he’d met someone else. The No.76 bus was empty when they clambered on board – one of the benefits of working until eleven at night in a call centre, was that there was no need to scoot past a sea of legs and become a contortionist to get on and off a bus. Their cold breath filled the air with ghosts as they walked towards Waterstones, Shelley pausing to take a peek at the new crime fiction releases showcased in the illuminated windows, whilst Stuart fidgeted with his watch. He was always footering about with something since he’d given up cigarettes and it drove her mad, but at least it didn’t fill his lungs with tar and make the house smell like an overflowing ashtray. “I need to have a pee,” he announced, as they came to the dimly lit lane off Mitchell Street that reeked of eau de Glasgow: decomposing takeaway, urine and other bodily fluids. She groaned. “Can’t you wait until we get home, Stuart?” She knew she’d pronounced his name ‘Stew-art’ as she always did when she was annoyed with him, but she couldn’t help it. What made men think it was okay to urinate in public? Stuart looked pained. “Sorry, I can’t. Too much coffee tonight.” She let him walk on ahead of her and whilst he scooted down the alley, she stood outside the amusement arcade, pretending to look in so she wouldn’t be mistaken for a prostitute. Around here, at this time of night, unaccompanied women were likely to be mistaken for prostitutes. It’d happened to her once when she’d got off the bus alone. Stuart hadn’t been working that night. Five minutes later, she was so cold she couldn’t feel her nose and Stuart still wasn’t back. She turned the corner to look for him, fully expecting to see him ambling back towards her with that jaunty walk that always made her smile. But, he wasn’t there. Where was he? Anger welled up in her chest. Had he started smoking again? He swore he wouldn’t. There was one way to find out. She headed down the alley. The sole light was provided from some nearby buildings, so visibility was poor. She’d walked a few steps when she spotted a bundle of rags on the ground. Was someone sleeping there? She moved closer. Squinting into the dim light, she realised it was Stuart. He was lying motionless on the ground. He must have tripped and knocked himself out as he hit the concrete. She ran over to him, calling out his name, the squeezing in her chest waning slightly when she knelt down and heard him groan. She pulled her mobile phone from her bag to call for an ambulance. She didn’t make it to the third digit. A gloved hand clamped across her mouth and nose, cutting off her airways and the phone fell from her grasp, clattering onto the cobbles. Terror gripped her and she couldn’t breathe. As she struggled, her assailant pressed his mouth to her ear. He was so close that it occurred to her that if anyone saw them they would think he was her boyfriend whispering sweet nothings in her ear. “Your man’s been given a strong sedative. He’ll wake up with a sore head and nothing more. But, if you scream, I’ll kick him several times in the head and he’ll never get up again. Do you understand?” She didn’t recognise the voice, but there was an accent. Not from around here. His voice was cold and emotionless. She nodded under his hand. Then she did something he didn’t expect: she back-heeled him in the groin. There was a satisfying yelp as he released her. She ran, arms pumping away like Usain Bolt’s, down towards the café at the end of the alley and safety. She’d almost made it when he grabbed her arm and hauled her back. An electric shock shot from her elbow to her shoulder as she tried to pull herself free. He was too strong. She could offer little resistance as he dragged her towards him. Before she could scream, he punched her fully in the face and she went down with a thud, jarring every bone in her body, momentarily stunning her. As she fought to get up, he punched her in the back and she fell again. The last thing she saw was the pavement rushing towards her before she blacked out... ***TO BE CONTINUED*** *Thanks to Jennifer Lee Thomson for this excerpt. Release date - 28th April 2017 Book length - 230 pages Publisher - www.thedomepress.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - Sleeper Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB Sixteen-year-old Will Starling is pulled from the sea with no memory of his past. In his blazer is a strange notebook with a bullet lodged inside: a bullet meant for him. As London prepares for the Blitz, Will soon finds himself pursued by vicious agents and a ruthless killer known as the Pastor. All of them want Will's notebook and will do anything to get it. As Will's memory starts to return, he realises he is no ordinary sixteen-year old. He has skills that make him a match for any assassin. But there is something else. At his core is a deep-rooted rage that he cannot explain. Where is his family and why has no one reported him missing? Fighting for survival with the help of Mi5 agent-in-training, Anna Wilder, Will follows leads across London in a race against time to find the Stones of Fire before the next air raid makes a direct hit and destroys London forever. MY REVIEW SLEEPER by JD Fennell begins with the main character, sixteen-year-old Will Starling, in the throes of a secret mission set in England in 1941. Working as a trained soldier for the Agents of Viper, Will is sent to steal a very special notebook that could change the world as we know it. But Will has his own plans, and they do not involve the vicious Viper team whom he despises. Obtaining the notebook, Will is then on the run from Viper and The Pastor, a truly terrifying enemy. But when he almost drowns everything changes for Will. For when he wakes up he has lost his memory and must piece together the few clues he has to find the truth. From an unusual school for teenage spies to high-speed chases and an otherworldly weapon, SLEEPER by JD Fennell ties everything together perfectly set against the backdrop of the War. With plenty of characters that are very compelling, Will is by far the most interesting. As a reader, we are there alongside Will as he desperately searches for the truth about who he is and trying to decide who he can trust, and this really makes you feel a part of the story. Thrown into the action from the start, the energetic pace is conveyed perfectly through short and catchy chapters, and excellent narrating. SLEEPER by JD Fennell is aimed at a YA crossover audience and I think it absolutely hits the mark. It is the kind of book that you know would translate perfectly onto the screen. I thoroughly enjoyed SLEEPER by JD Fennell and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: J.D. was born in Belfast at the start of the Troubles, and began writing stories at a young age to help understand the madness unfolding around him. A lover of reading, he devoured a diverse range of books – his early influences include Fleming, Tolkien, Shakespeare and the Brontës. He left Belfast at the age of nineteen and worked as a chef, bartender, waiter and later began a career in writing for the software industry. These days he divides his time between Brighton and London, where he lives with his partner and their two dogs. For more information: Website - www.sleeperbook.com Twitter - twitter.com/jd_fennell Facebook - www.facebook.com/JDFennellAuthor/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel *I want to thank Emily from The Dome Press and JD Fennell for the opportunity to review this book, take part in this blog tour, and this fabulous Guest Post that I have for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! GUEST POST FROM JD FENNELL
There is one question I keep getting asked about Sleeper time and time again. During the blog tour it has come up a few times, and at an event in Waterstones recently, someone asked it. I also spoke separately with two publishers at different book launches and they asked the same question; both times I tried not to notice their furrowed brows and puzzled expressions. What was the question? Well, a smart and innocuous one, actually. “Why did you set your book in 1941?” In my head, the publishers were thinking I had written something that would never sell. Although neither said as much, I had heard that young people were not interested in historical fantasy books. Looking at the book charts to see what is selling, one could easily draw that conclusion. However, it never occurred to me once to write for the market. I knew from the beginning what I wanted to write, and as I told the audience at Waterstones and the wonderful blogging community: in essence, I wrote the book I wanted to read. If you have not read my book and need some context, here is a summary: Sleeper is a thriller set in 1941. It follows sixteen-year-old Will Starling who is pulled from the sea with no memory of the past. In his blazer is a strange notebook with a bullet lodged inside: a bullet meant for him. The notebook is Will’s only way of uncovering who he is. He soon discovers it is more than that and other people want it. As London prepares for the Blitz, Will finds himself pursued by vicious agents and a ruthless killer known as the Pastor. Sleeper is inspired by my love of fast, paced thrillers with twists and turns. I also love the period and really wanted to set an action/adventure with fantastical elements during a familiar time in our history. The Second World War, in particular the London Blitz and a disintegrating London, was just the perfect setting for a thriller. I just had to write it. My heroes, Will and Anna, must fight for survival against evil villains, but they also have to navigate a city that is being destroyed around them. I wanted back to basics action without high-tech aides such as mobile phones, internet or laptops. Also, as a writer, weaving Sleeper into the timeline of 1941, and setting it in real places, during real events provided an authenticity, which I hoped makes the story believable. So take a measure of Jason Bourne. Add a sprinkling of Da Vinci Code and mix in some Raiders of the Lost Ark. Fold in liberal quantities of London during the Blitz and you have the makings of an explosive cake... erm... story. If this concoction whets your appetite, then you may well enjoy my novel. Sleeper was a labour of love. For me it was a year spent in 1941, dodging bullets, fighting psychotic villains and solving mysteries as London crumbled around me. What’s not to love about that? This is the closest I will get to being a Time Lord. Very soon, I will be returning to that period to continue with book two. I can’t wait. *Thank you JD Fennell for such an interesting Guest Post! Release date - 18th May 2017
Book length - 389 pages Publisher - reddoorpublishing.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - Child Taken: A chilling page-turner you will be unable to put down Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB How could such a thing happen? But it did happen. I wasn't one of the others, observing. It happened to me. One hot summer's day, two-year-old Jessica Preston disappears from the beach. The police are convinced she drowned, but Sandra Preston won't give up hope that her daughter is still alive. How can she? Twenty years later, another child goes missing, and Sandra is approached by a young journalist who raises questions about what really happened to Jessica Preston all those years ago. But when the journalist discovers someone with an explosive secret, it threatens not only to reveal what's been covered up for so long, but puts both their lives in danger. MY REVIEW Ok, I am going to say it: this is the best thriller I have read. Full stop. As a mother myself, I was very anxious about this terrifying and emotional topic and worried that I might not be able to read it, but Darren Young has such a flawless way with words, that I became completely submerged in the story and time stood still as Laura, Danni, Sandra, and Jessica's story finally became clear. On a busy beach, little Jessica Preston wanders off into the crowd and is never seen again. The police believe she drowned, but her mother knows she was taken. Twenty years later and Jessica's mother is in a psychiatric unit, her father is dead, and her brother, who went into foster care, has his own life. But where is Jessica? Laura Grainger is working as a trainee reporter but knows that all it takes is one big break to make her career skyrocket. When she comes across the case of Jessica Preston from twenty years ago, it fascinates her, and after talking to Sandra, Jessica's mother, she believes her. Somebody took Jessica all those years ago, and Laura will do whatever it takes to find out the truth. Danni Edwards had what many would call the perfect childhood, but now in her early twenties, her life just seems to be spiralling downhill. Her beloved mother has tragically died in an accident, her father has shut down and seems to be hiding something, and her ex-boyfriend is stalking her. And when Danni finds a slip of paper in the back of her mother's address book, it leaves her with more questions than answers. As the individual characters start to piece the past back together, there are shocking revelations and devastating secrets revealed, some of which may even be deadly. CHILD TAKEN by Darren Young is excellently paced with short, snappy chapters telling the story from different characters point of view. Laura and Danni are strong, determined and headstrong characters who want the truth and I really admired them, especially Laura. Reading Sandra's story broke my heart as her life passed before her eyes, waiting and hoping that some day her little girl would find her way back to her. Sandra lost everything the day Jessica disappeared. Her entire life fell apart. And I definitely held my kids a little longer and tighter after reading this novel. This novel got everything right but it was the emotional element that really stood out for me - I felt their fear, despair, sadness, and terror and for me, that's what makes a novel really outstanding. While I did suspect some of the twists and turns, it is so fantastically written that I continuously second-guessed myself throughout, and oh my God what an ending. The suspense, the devastation, the betrayals, and lies, are all on point in this extraordinary debut (Yes, it is a DEBUT!!) and it gave me chills from beginning to end. You have to read CHILD TAKEN by Darren Young - you just have to read it!!!! BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖📖 5********************************************************* Author Bio: Darren Young lives in Nottingham with his wife, Luisa and their two children, Alessio and Emilia. Away from writing, he has a background in financial services and an MBA from the University of Wolverhampton and helps organisations to improve their customer service, whilst also being involved in producing papers and a weekly blog on the subject. He wanted to write something different; a story he’d like to read, one about ordinary people thrown into extraordinary positions and had the ideas but wasn’t sure that there was enough time, or coffee, to fit it into his already busy life. However, he started working on Child Taken in 2014 and found that there was. He’s currently working on a new version of the book he wrote for ‘practice’ before embarking on Child Taken and after two years writing about child abduction, he wanted to explore something a little lighter; heart transplants. For more information: Website - darrenyoungauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/darrenyoungbook Facebook - www.facebook.com/darrenyoungauthor/ *I want to thank Anna at RedDoor Publishing, and Darren Young, for the opportunity to review this unbelievable novel, and take part in this blog tour. Release date - 9th May 2017
Book length - 417 pages Publisher - St. Martin's Press us.macmillan.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - The Book of Summer Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB Physician Bess Codman has returned to her family's Nantucket compound, Cliff House, for the first time in four years. Her great-grandparents built Cliff House almost a century before, but due to erosion, the once-grand home will soon fall into the sea. Though she s purposefully avoided the island, Bess must now pack up the house and deal with her mother, a notorious town rabble-rouser, who refuses to leave. The Book of Summer unravels the power and secrets of Cliff House as told through the voices of Ruby Packard, a bright-eyed and idealistic newlywed on the eve of WWII, the home's definitive guestbook, and Bess herself. Bess's grandmother always said it was a house of women, and by the very last day of the very last summer at Cliff House, Bess will understand the truth of her grandmother s words in ways she never contemplated. MY REVIEW THE BOOK OF SUMMER by Michelle Gable is a wonderful story centred on family, secrets, and the connections one can forge with a special place in their lives. When Cliff House is close to being reclaimed by the water, Bess Codman is forced to return home to try and persuade her eccentric mother, Cissy, to leave the house to its fate and leave peacefully - a job which is much easier said than done. As mother and daughter begin to get to know each other more, we start to understand that Cliff House is so much more than a house - it is their history, their memories, and their secrets. Switching from the past to the present, with the help of newspaper articles and entries into the Book of Summer (a book where everyone who visits the home leaves an entry), a story of two generations unfolds, which will make you nostalgic and consider your own family history. In THE BOOK OF SUMMER by Michelle Gable, the writing is truly beautiful, and the setting really shines brightly in this story, equally matched by its colourful characters. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed THE BOOK OF SUMMER by Michelle Gable, and look forward to reading more from this author. BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖 4******* Author Bio: Michelle Gable is the NY Times bestselling author of A PARIS APARTMENT, I'LL SEE YOU IN PARIS and the forthcoming THE BOOK OF SUMMER. A College of William & Mary graduate, Gable currently resides in Cardiff by the Sea, California with her husband, two daughters, one lazy cat, and a very feisty rabbit. For more information: Website - michellegable.com Twitter - twitter.com/MGableWriter Facebook - www.facebook.com/michellegable *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com Release date - 1st May 2017
Book length - 141 pages Publisher - www.millsandboon.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - Conveniently Wed To The Greek (Mills & Boon Cherish) Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB A marriage for the sake of her baby… When luxury hotelier Alex Mikhalis encounters the blogger who once nearly destroyed his reputation, he wants to get even. Only Adele Hudson isn’t exactly as he remembers. She’s pregnant, alone and he can’t stop his protective instincts kicking in! After a difficult break up, Adele is very wary of all relationships. She had no choice but to accept the Greek tycoon’s offer of a job, despite their complicated past. But his next suggestion is much more intimate: becoming his convenient wife! MY REVIEW CONVENIENTLY WED TO THE GREEK by Kandy Shepherd is a modern, entertaining tale of two adversaries discovering just how much they need each other in ways they could never imagine. Adele Hudson is a top food blogger in Sydney, but now she finds herself out of a job, divorced from her childhood sweetheart, and giving IVF one last ditch attempt in the hope of achieving her dream of being a mother. But when she bumps into Alex Mikhalis, millionaire extraordinaire, who had threatened her in court a few years ago, Adele wants to avoid him at every turn. But Alex is not the same ruthless businessman that she met before. After a tragedy in his own life blew his world apart, Alex had removed himself from the spotlight, and now with a new venture on the horizon, he could do with a sassy, opinionated, clever right-hand like Adele Hudson. But as they work together, they begin to build a deeper friendship alongside their business, and never mind the sexual attraction that flares between them at every turn. But Alex has shut his heart down to the prospect of love, and Adele is struggling with her own situation. And when another tragedy threatens Alex, is it possible for them to enter a marriage of convenience and then walk away from each other at the end? CONVENIENTLY WED TO THE GREEK by Kandy Shepherd is a sharp, enjoyable romance that is the perfect read for a sunny afternoon. Adele is a strong character who knows what she wants, and Alex is a reformed character who is desperate to right the wrongs of his past, as together they struggle with their feelings. Overall an easy, charming read. BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖 4 Author Bio: Kandy Shepherd left a fast-paced career as a magazine editor to write award-winning romantic fiction. Kandy lives in a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband, daughter and a menagerie of four-legged friends. She believes in love-at-first-sight and real-life romance—they worked for her! For more information: Website - kandyshepherd.com Twitter - twitter.com/KandyShepherd Facebook - www.facebook.com/Kandy-Shepherd-Author-Page *I want to thank Mills & Boon for the opportunity to review this book as part of their Mills & Boon Insiders team. Happy Reading! Release date - 18th April 2017
Book length - 336 pages Publisher - www.harlequin.com Amazon UK - Any Day Now (Sullivan's Crossing, Book 2) Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB The highly anticipated sequel to #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr's What We Find transports readers back to Sullivan's Crossing. The rustic campground at the crossroads of the Colorado and Continental Divide trails welcomes everyone—whether you're looking for a relaxing weekend getaway or a whole new lease on life. It's a wonderful place where good people face their challenges with humor, strength and love. For Sierra Jones, Sullivan's Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She's put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn't yet clear. A visit with her big brother Cal and his new bride, Maggie, seems to be the best option to help her get back on her feet. Not wanting to burden or depend on anyone, Sierra is surprised to find the Crossing offers so much more than a place to rest her head. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she's always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it's a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. In Sullivan's Crossing Sierra learns to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose. MY REVIEW ANY DAY NOW by Robyn Carr is the second instalment of her hugely popular Sullivan's Crossing series, and even though I did not read the first book, it didn't take anything away from this engaging novel which can easily be read as a standalone story. Sierra Jones has moved to Colorado to be closer to her brother and his new wife and hopes that Sullivan's Crossing will be the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. A recovering alcoholic, Sierra is determined to leave her troubled past behind and wants to reconnect with her brother who was always there for her as a child. But when danger trails behind her and tries to pull her under, Sierra will discover so much more from this warm-hearted community who have taken her under their wing. Through beautiful descriptions, this community comes alive and is the kind of place you long to live in. The characters in this story are so loveable because they are realistic - they have flaws, troubles, hopes, dreams, and fears, just like everyone has in the real world. Sierra is a remarkable character and I love her honesty, strength, and determination from start to finish in this story. ANY DAY NOW by Robyn Carr is a well-paced, captivating story of love, family, and fighting for your future, and I highly recommend it. BOOK RATING - 📖📖📖📖 4.5********** Author Bio: Robyn Carr is an award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River and Thunder Point series, as well as highly praised women’s fiction titles such as Four Friends, What We Find, and The Life She Wants. Robyn has won a RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, and in 2016 she was awarded RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the genre. Her novels have been translated into 19 languages in 30 countries. Originally from Minnesota, Robyn now resides in Henderson, Nevada, with her aviator husband; they have two grown children. When she isn’t writing, Robyn puts her energy into community service: she has mentored a seniors’ memoir-writing group, attends book club chats in and out of state whenever possible, and is working with her local library on the Carr Chat Series, a program centered on fundraising and visiting author events that bring writers, their books, and the community together. For more information: Website - www.robyncarr.com Twitter - twitter.com/RCarrWriter Facebook - www.facebook.com/RobynCarrWriter/ *I want to thank Katie & Claire from Little Bird Publicity, and Robyn Carr, for the opportunity to review this delightful book. Happy Reading! |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
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