#Blogtour #Review #Q&A: Smart Moves by Adrian Magson @AdrianMagson1 @DomePress #SmartMoves20/8/2018 Release date - 16th August 2018
Book length - 320 pages Publisher - The Dome Press Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Emily from www.thedomepress.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. I also want to thank Adrian Magson for answering my questions which you can read further on. ABOUT THIS BOOK International troubleshooter Jake Foreman loses his job, house and wife all in one day. And when an impulsive move lands him in even deeper water - the kind that could lose him his life - he decides it's time to make some smart decisions. The trouble is, knowing the right moves and making them is a whole different game. And Jake, who has been happily rubbing along things he always suspected were just a shade away from being dodgy, finds it all too easy to go with the flow. Now he's got to start learning new tricks. If he doesn't, he could end up dead. MY REVIEW SMART MOVES by Adrian Magson is a gripping story that wasn't quite what I expected which was a good thing! Jake Foreman spends his days working as a troubleshooter, putting out fires with a payoff here and a quiet word there but when his life falls apart at the seams, he doesn't seem to be able to put himself back on track. First, he loses his job, then his wife, and then he finds himself involved with all the wrong people and his dealings begin to take on a deadly edge. I love Adrian Magson's Inspector Rocco series so I was intrigued to read SMART MOVES which is completely different in style but still has that sarcastic edge that I associate with this talented writer. The characters are flawed and engaging, and it was fascinating to be carried along for the ride with Jake as he tried to grasp at a new life and new beginning for himself. SMART MOVES by Adrian Magson is a cleverly written story of life and how our choices can throw one into a tailspin, and is well worth reading. Q&A Q1. What inspired you to become a writer? A: From reading comics, books and magazines from an early age and deciding it would be a cool way to earn a living. I soon realized it wasn’t that easy, but never lost the ambition. Q2. Who has influenced you in your writing career so far? A: My wife, Ann, who has always been my biggest encouragement. Without her I wouldn’t have done it. My agent, David Headley, who is always so enthusiastic about what I produce. And all the early authors I enjoyed reading because I wanted to do what they did. Q3. As a reader, who is your go-to author for a guaranteed good read? A: Leslie Thomas. John Sandford. Mick Herron. Robert Crais. The list is very long and growing. Q4. What is the most challenging part of being a writer? A: Doing it when you don’t feel like it. And the copy edit, looking for typos. But it’s part of the job so I just skuc it up. (Like that). Q5. Describe Smart Moves in three words. A: Lightheartedwithabitofcrime. Heartwarmingwithatouchofromance. Optimistic. Q6. When is your favourite time to write? A: When it suits me (which sometimes means late at night, very early in the morning and sometimes when I’m supposed to be doing something else). I do occasionally have to work when it doesn’t feel right, especially when a deadline looms, but I find going against the grain leads to more revisions and deletions than I like. As a general rule, though, I find late afternoon is most productive. No idea why. Q7. I always find it interesting to get a peek into the world of a writer. Have you any traditions or rituals when you write? A: Nothing specific. My wife says I always go into some sort of trance when I’m in the zone and develop the thousand-yard stare. I suppose that could be classed as a tradition. Q8. What have your readers got to look forward to next? A: Well, if they’re into crime fiction in France during the 1960s, my 6th Inspector Lucas Rocco book comes out sometime next year. It’s provisionally called ‘Rocco and the Price of Lies’. Q9. Have you any advice or tips for aspiring writers in your genre? A: If you have a favourite genre (and I have two – crime and spies), then read lots. Then forget them and write your own take. Don’t emulate, just do your own thing. Tell a great story with plenty of action, and enjoy what you’re writing. Do that and you won’t want to stop. Oh, and be professional. That means write it to the best level you can, edit the heck out of it to get it right, read and re-read it to kill typos and errors, then start submitting. Q10. Are you a plotter or a pantser when you begin a new book? A: Oh, definitely a pantser. I have tried plotting but I always go off-piste roughly halfway through the first chapter. I also write disconnected scenes as they occur to me, then join them up afterwards, so plotting as such doesn’t really work that much because I rarely know what comes next. AUTHOR BIO Adrian Magson is a British crime-writer, his books often involve conspiracies, and have two repeating main characters - Riley Gavin, a young female investigative reporter, and Frank Palmer, a former RMP (British Royal Military Policeman) now a private investigator. For more information: Website - www.adrianmagson.com Twitter - twitter.com/AdrianMagson1 Facebook - www.facebook.com/adrianmagsonbooks/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STEPS ALONG THE WAY!!
0 Comments
Release date - 18th August 2018
Book length - 305 pages Publisher - Self-Published www.hilaryconnor.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Hilary Connor for providing me with such an emotional and powerful feature piece about why she was moved to write her first fiction novel and it was my absolute honour to shine a spotlight on this special story. ABOUT THIS BOOK A story of one girl’s truth in a world ruled by lies. As a child Saoirse Corcoran was rejected. As an adult she is sought out by strangers. The reason for both is the same – her power. Born in the mid-sixties to a mother who desperately wanted to keep her but couldn’t, put in an institutional crib and situation, she is visited by a guiding force who she will come to know in future days, who protects a baby born to survive inhuman treatment in a staunch Catholic society, and to change it with the strength of her life experience.. Saoirse’s mother Maisie, sleeps in a different part of St. Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home, sharing a collective sorrow that will haunt and mark Ireland’s social history. Saoirse is set apart from the beginning – marked with a psychic gift which serves as her greatest ally and strength against coming judgement and condemnation. When Lil and Joe Corcoran adopt her, she is four months old with an ancient soul. There is the hope of happy ever after. At first, their love is unconditional, but then the deeper aspect of her nature triggers their great fear. They reject her abilities, forcing her back into another convent, run by St. Agnes, who sees and treats Saoirse as evil.. Saoirse holds onto the truth that love is the only property to heal an emotionally enslaved, repressed Ireland. Her friendships give her hope. Her family become her greatest teachers. The search for her identity centres on her first shared sorrow, separated only by walls, a mother and her child who felt each other’s presence. On a harrowing journey, Saoirse is drawn to the deepest bond of all which is still a mystery.. She moves to re-unite, to find out who Maisie was and finds out more than who her mother was. She discovers what she knew all along, from the moment she was born. Her gift came from somewhere unknown and now returns to claim its source. She learns the name and nature of the presence that guarded her lonely crib. FEATURE How a tragedy and a passion to give voice caused me to self-publish a debut fiction novel focusing on Ireland’s Social History. Back in March 2017 I was not a person who religiously watched the daily news bulletins or read the daily news-papers. On March 3rd last year I called my mother to wish her a happy birthday. She related her gratitude and then asked me a question that was to change the direction of my life and the predominance of my thoughts forever. It was an innocent question about one of the biggest national scandals ever, that had broken that day. My mother asked: Did you hear on the news that nearly 800 babies’ bodies were discovered in a septic tank in Tuam, Co Galway? In that moment something took a tight grip on my heart. I still don’t know what it was, but it was painful, and I knew that somehow the scandal had deep resonance within me. My mother went on to relate the story revealed on the news. After finishing up the phone call I switched on the TV, checking Facebook at the same time to see that several friends had also tagged me in articles related to Catherine Coreless’ findings. In doing so, I quickly realised my kinship with these innocent lives. They were all born in a Mother & Baby Home, so was I. They were all born of ‘fallen women’, so was I. Their lives all began under the supervision of the nuns, so did mine. Throughout the coming days, more devastating news was revealed that similar secrets of disposed babies was likely in all the other Mother & Baby Homes around Ireland, all nine of them. I was born in 1974 in St. Patrick’s Mother & Baby Home, in Dublin, by far the largest Mother & Baby Home in our state. Over the following weeks, the outrage died down the scandal went off the radar. TV coverage moved on and less and less articles and conversations filled our social media news feeds. But my heart continued to break. Each day I walked around smiling outward through an abyss of silent devastation and sadness. The anger I felt towards state and church blew its punches to my being every day. Filled with grief, guilt and despair, I was lost. Tears flowed from my eyes, while the images of innocence in unrecognized graves haunted my mind. Being a Spiritual Practitioner and Hypnotherapist I had all the tools to deal with pain, anger, and grief, but in this instance none of these tools were effective. It was too big. I was helpless. The thought ‘it could have been me’ repeated in my mind over and over, followed by the guilt that it wasn’t me, and the victims lay silenced for decades, their soul legacy unknown to the world. The helplessness to fulfill a will to do my part was like a drug that paralyzed happiness and joy, and amplified frustration, anger and heart break. One morning, at the end of March I woke with a sense of everything being perfect in my world. It was a bright sunny morning. My husband lay sleeping beside me and my three daughters were also lost in peaceful slumber. Life was perfect, and all was well. That perfection lasted about three seconds and the devastation came thundering into my mind once again, it’s heaviness weighing down on my being before I rose from the bed. I got up that day and got the kids off to school, by now, behind the mask of my smile, my eyes were already swollen with the familiar sting of tears. I had nowhere to turn. I desperately wanted to step up and do something to make this better, but I had no idea what that was or how. With eventual acceptance that my own efforts were ineffective and knowing I could not continue to live in this abyss of devastation, I eventually turned to God. I stood in my bedroom, with a broken heart, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I looked up and asked for help: “God, help me see this differently, because I cannot find a way forward” That is always my last resort question. Usually I ask, then I let it go in the knowing that later that day the answer will come, be it through people, places, a movie or some other medium. However, within moments something happened that would go on to consume my every thought from that moment to this. The plot for what was to become my first fiction novel began to download in my mind. It was about a baby girl, born in a Mother & Baby Home in mid-sixties Ireland. She was given up for adoption by a mother who loved her without condition and the story followed her childhood of rejection and judgement due to the consciousness of Irish Society. To add to the mix the young girl had a beautiful psychic gift, including clear communication with her spirit guides, angels and an ability to see beyond the veil of illusion into realms beyond the third dimension. When you throw in Roman Catholic Ireland’s stance on that one, you get a good sense of where the story goes. If I am completely honest, writing the story that downloaded in my mind made perfect sense to me, while scaring the living day lights out of me at the same time. I loved writing, and, in the past, I had thrown out the odd self-help article, admittedly with deliberate caution, targeting the audience whom I knew would say, something like ‘Gosh Hilary that was great, well done you!’ But to write a novel? That was a whole different realm. In fact, that was HUGE. I didn’t know the first thing about creative writing, albeit effectively and certainly not to the standard of a good author. The last time I encountered the task of creative writing was when I was seventeen years old sitting my Leaving Cert. But this felt right. I wanted to give voice to those who were silenced, it didn’t even matter if no one heard or read my work. The point was I was doing something for these treasured angels and for all those magnificent mothers who still carry the pain to this day caused by the aristocracy that controlled our nation. Once I wrote the story, did my very best and shared it out there, I knew I was doing my part, for them. Of course I hoped that someone listened and heard, but control of same was out of my hands and I knew I just had to show up, be the vessel and pray for the best outcome. The purpose of the story was to help the thousands of innocent souls be heard, have voice, and be seen for the pure innocence that they were. It was also my way of contributing towards healing the pain within the hearts and minds of the thousands if not millions at the effect of the judgement and condemnation that controlled our society. In some way it made sense that giving life to this novel would go towards doing all the above. So, about an hour later I sat down and wrote the words that flowed from my mind. The words, the purpose and story has continued to dominate my mind every moment from that day to this, mostly in the hope that I do it justice. Tomorrow, I am due to receive the first draft from the printers. So today is kind of a special day, just before ‘Saoirse’ is born. In a sense, it is those last few hours before a mother gives birth and it’s just her and her baby in utero, knowing new life is nigh. Will I continue to nurture Saoirse? You bet I will! Will I continue have her back and guide her in the right direction as best I can? Nothing will stop me. Do I hope that she lives a life that gives hope, healing and inspires forgiveness and joy within the hearts and minds of all whom she encounters? It is my prayer every single day. My wish for all who read Saoirse is two-fold: I hope and pray that she inspires freedom to all effected by her story, because in some way it resonates with you. I dearly hope and pray that she gives just voice to the souls who inspired her, and helps their light shine bright in recognition of their perfection, wherever they are. With Love, Hilary Connor Spiritual Wellness Coach. AUTHOR BIO Website - www.hilaryconnor.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hilaryconnorspiritualdevelopmentcoach/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/HilaryBauthor Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hilary.connor/ #Review: Best Practice by Penny Parkes @CotswoldPenny @simonschusterUK @BookMinxSJV #BestPractice17/8/2018 Release date - 28th June 2018 (Paperback)
Book length - 528 pages Publisher - Simon & Schuster UK Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THIS BOOK Dr Alice Walker has become accomplished at presenting a façade to the world – to anyone watching, she is the epitome of style, composure and professionalism. But perhaps it was to be expected that the cracks might begin to show at some point. Thankfully Grace is on hand to offer both friendship and support when it’s needed most. Meanwhile, Dr Holly Graham has her hands full both professionally and personally. Planning a wedding with Taffy Jones is challenging enough, even before some surprising news changes everything. At least beloved Larkford resident, Elsie, still has a few tricks left up her sleeve! Dr Dan Carter, on the other hand, has decided to throw himself into his career – the best antidote he’s found to unrequited love. When tragedy strikes in the heart of Larkford, Dan makes it his mission to help the community. MY REVIEW Oh, how I wish I lived in Larkford! When I settled down to read BEST PRACTICE by Penny Parkes I knew within the first few pages that this was a story that I would fall in love with and I was so right. In the close-knit community of Larkford, the doctor's practice plays an essential role for everyone who lives there. And the gang who work there are doing so much more for the area than just stamping their card, as they are a group who really care about those they come in contact with and yearn to give the best possible care to all of their patients and friends no matter what. But that doesn't mean that they don't have their own problems or baggage to deal with at the same time and sometimes asking for help can be the hardest thing to do. Can Alice really give up her beloved furry friend when he helps her in so many ways to deal with the secrets she hides? And how can Holly explain to Elsie, who is like family to her, that an extravagant wedding just isn't for her especially now with her latest news? And when someone he cares deeply for is in danger will it force Dan to take a leap of faith and risk it all for love? When the health service they provide is threatened by suits in urban centres intent on shutting them down, will the community of Larkford join together to make themselves heard? You can bet on it! While the setting of Larkford in this novel is beautifully described, it is the community and the residents which really make it come alive for the reader. The characters in this story will capture your heart as you battle alongside them for what they believe in, and as you become privy to their own insecurities and doubts, your heart will swell with love for them. Of course, love and friendship play a huge part in this wonderful tale but there is also the message of support for the NHS and the amazing work that they do. With cutbacks and its horrific consequences shown in this story, this will make you stop and think about it, and may even fire you up enough to make your own peaceful protests like some of the characters in this book. BEST PRACTICE by Penny Parkes is the third book in the Larkford series and while it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the complete series so far - there is just so much on offer in these books so you won't regret it! There are laughter and tears, friendship and pain, and a sense of belonging and home all set amongst the pages of this truly magnificent story and I cannot wait for more from Penny Parkes. AUTHOR BIO Penny Parkes lives in the Cotswolds. She has appeared at literary festivals around the country and has written for The Telegraph as well as extensively in her local media. She is very active on social media. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/CotswoldPenny Facebook - www.facebook.com/PennyParkesWrites/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/cotswoldpenny/ Release date - 15th August 2018 (Paperback)
Book length - 256 pages Publisher - No Exit Press Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Jean Mason has a doppelganger. She's never seen her, but others* swear they have. *others | noun. A peculiar collection of drug addicts, scam artists, philanthropists, philosophers and vagrants – the regulars of Bellevue Square. Jean lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and two kids. The proud owner of a thriving bookstore, she doesn’t rattle easily – not like she used to. But after two of her customers insist they’ve seen her double, Jean decides to investigate. Curiosity grows to obsession and soon Jean’s concerns shift from the identity of the woman, to her very own. Funny, dark and surprising, Bellevue Square takes readers down the existentialist rabbit hole and asks the question: what happens when the sense you’ve made of things stops making sense? MY REVIEW This is my first time writing a review where I'm still not sure what exactly I have just read, almost like I need a while to try and process it all, but I shall do my best to put my feelings into words. Jean lives in Toronto and runs her own bookstore which she loves. When two different people accuse her of being someone else, they all come to the same conclusion - Jean has a doppelgänger or twin out there in the city. A little shaken by this knowledge, Jean decides to track down this woman and see for herself what she is dealing with, but as Jean becomes immersed in the people and setting of Bellevue Square, will she lose who she really is in the process? BELLEVUE SQUARE by Michael Redhill is compelling, gripping, and hypnotic while also being confusing, uncomfortable, and making you question everything that you read on the page. This is a dark story with sinister undercurrents throughout and the storytelling is unique in that it is a little bit all over the place (I enjoyed this aspect of the story but this may not be for everyone). Bellevue Square and its inhabitants effortlessly come to life and they are the real star of this novel, even more so than the character of Jean, and as I turned the final page the word 'enjoy' doesn't quite fit with how I was feeling but I'm unsure what word would work with this distinctive story. BELLEVUE SQUARE by Michael Redhill kept me entranced with its storytelling and dark narrative and will definitely appeal to readers who like an unusual style and plot. AUTHOR BIO Michael Redhill is an American-born Canadian poet, playwright and novelist. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Redhill was raised in the metropolitan Toronto, Ontario area. He pursued one year of study at Indiana University, and then returned to Canada, completing his education at York University and the University of Toronto. He was on the editorial board of Coach House Press from 1993 to 1996, and is currently the publisher and editor of the Canadian literary magazine Brick. His play, Building Jerusalem, depicts a meeting between Karl Pearson, Augusta Stowe-Gullen, Adelaide Hoodless, and Silas Tertius Rand on New Year's Eve night just prior to the 20th century. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/stet_that Instagram - www.instagram.com/stet_that/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! Available Now
Book length - 434 pages Publisher - ZunTold Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Emily from zuntold.com for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK 1779. On tumultuous waters a girl is born as pirates board the ship . . . Jiddy Vardy is a survivor. Rescued at birth, she grows up in Robin Hood’s Bay, a community which harbours a dangerous secret, one that could get you killed. Always the outsider, with her dark skin and hair, at sixteen Jiddy is clever, brave and headstrong, soon risking her life and freedom to play her part in the Bay’s clandestine activities. Then, just as romance blossoms and Jiddy finally feels like she belongs, figures from the past threaten to tear her world apart, and she has to decide where her loyalties truly lie. A thrilling tale of one girl’s search for identity and love, set against a backdrop of wild seas, smuggling and violence. MY REVIEW Instantly thrown into the action, JIDDY VARDY by Ruth Estevez is a compelling story set during the Eighteenth Century that will set your heart racing with danger and adventure. From the day she was born, Jiddy Vardy, has been a survivor, growing a tough skin in order to survive amongst the others in Robin Hood's Bay, but she has never really belonged with them. She has never really belonged anywhere. But as young love begins to heal the hurts of the past, Jiddy will find herself the focus of danger as secrets come bubbling up to the surface ... I really enjoyed this historical, young adult tale of love, strength, and the quest to discover who you really are. Jiddy is a very likeable character who shows real grit and determination in her life and I wanted her to find the right person and path to follow in her life. The middle part of the story is a little slower in pace than the beginning and end, but as this is to build an image of the world that Jiddy inhabits, it makes sense. JIDDY VARDY by Ruth Estevez is perfect for historical fiction fans, YA fans, and for anyone who just enjoys an adventure story with a little romance, and is definitely worth a read. AUTHOR Website - artgoesglobal.wordpress.com Twitter - twitter.com/RuthEstevez2 Facebook - www.facebook.com/ruthestevezM/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/ruthestevezwriter/ Release date - 9th August 2018
Book length - 416 pages Publisher - Headline Publishing Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne from randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK It's time for Beti Winter to dance to her own beat. After three failed engagements Beti is in desperate need of a fresh start. What better place than the sun-drenched hills of southern Spain? But it's not all sangria and siestas. Beti finds work on an old Andalucian cherry farm where there are cherries to be picked, trees to be watered and her fiery boss, Antonio, to win over. As the sun toasts her skin, Beti finds herself warming to the Spanish way of life. Embracing the art of flamenco, she discovers there is much to learn from the dance of passion. She just has to let loose and listen to the rhythm of her heart. MY REVIEW After a stressful day, I decided to pick up SUNSET OVER THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Jo Thomas and I have to say it was the best decision I could have made as I fell in love with this wonderful story and amazing place and it completely made my night! Beti Winter understands that life can throw you a curveball, after all, she has been engaged three times, but working at a job she hates at the airport and fleetingly passing her fiancé, Will, in the hallway, isn't the stuff that dreams are made of. So when she impulsively decides to take her meagre savings and move to Spain to finally open her own bar, she is relieved when Will jumps onboard with the idea. But plans often go awry and soon Beti finds herself dumped and broke when Will does a disappearing act with a new woman on his arm. As Beti works hard to stay in Spain, she finds a job and friendship among the locals and as she begins to piece her life back together again, she may just find out who she really is in the process ... There is laughter, tears, friendship, jealousy, and passion all vying for attention against the stunning backdrop of rural Spain. Jo Thomas has such a beautiful way with words so that you can almost taste the exquisite food, smell the blossoms on the breeze, and feel the warmth of the sun on your face as you turn the page. Beti is a wonderful character who I instantly connected with and I loved watching her become the stronger version of herself that I knew was hidden inside. With fiery temperaments, community spirit, and the true meaning of love and family at the heart of this story, SUNSET OVER THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Jo Thomas is the perfect novel to while away an evening with and I look forward to more from this glorious author. AUTHOR BIO Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before moving on to Radio 4's Woman's Hour and Radio 2's The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children. For more information: Website - jothomasauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/jo_thomas01 Facebook - www.facebook.com/JoThomasAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/jothomasauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!! Release date - 2nd August 2018
Book length - 320 pages Publisher - The Dome Press Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Emily from www.thedomepress.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book for review. I also want to thank Rachael for providing me with a fascinating feature post which you can read further on. ABOUT THIS BOOK Love is a riddle, waiting to be solved... Clued-up career girl Cassy Brookes has life under control until one disastrous morning changes everything. When she finds herself stuck in a doctor's surgery, a cryptic message left in a crossword magazine sends her on a search to find the mysterious puzzle-man behind it. Cassy is soon torn between tracking down her elusive dream guy, and outwitting her nightmare workmate, the devious Martin. Facing a puzzling love-life, will she ever be able to fit the pieces together and discover the truth behind this enigmatic man? MY REVIEW PUZZLE GIRL by Rachael Featherstone is entertaining, fun, and a feel-good read that will brighten up the dullest of days. Cassy Brookes has everything in order in her life - a long-term relationship and a career that seems to be taking her to the top. Until suddenly it all gets thrown into disarray. Dumped unceremoniously and fighting for a promotion that she deserves against her arch nemesis, Martin, life just seems to be a little more difficult than she thought it would be. When she finds herself injured and at a doctor's office, Cassy jumps into a puzzle while waiting and when she discovers that someone has responded, she wants to know who this person is. Could this mystery man be everything she ever wanted in a relationship? And is it possible to have it all? From the very beginning, I was hooked by this easy and often laugh-out-loud romance that never falls flat. Cassy is a determined and feisty character who finds herself in the strangest of situations at times, and you can't help but fall into her life and want the best for her. There is devious deeds, friendship, and love throughout PUZZLE GIRL by Rachael Featherstone that has a cast of characters that will melt your heart (and a few who will drive you mad!). PUZZLE GIRL by Rachael Featherstone is a must-read for fiction fans across the board and I cannot wait to read more from this wonderful author. GUESTPOST “Never judge a book by its cover”. We’ve all heard it said. And yet, how many of us are guilty of it? That quick glance as we pass the books and magazines in the supermarket; a double take at a billboard as the train pulls away from the platform. Or walking into a bookshop and gazing over the table of books in the centre, waiting for something to grab our interest. Because that’s what a good book cover does. It grabs you. It makes your hands reach for it and maybe turn it over and read that all important blurb on the back, as your mind starts racing – is this book really as good as it looks? A good cover fits the genre but a great cover makes it stand out from the rest. I don’t think it will come as a shock to many writers out there that whilst I was drafting Puzzle Girl, I found myself daydreaming about being published one day and I did the odd doodle of a cover design. Now, I do have a GCSE in Art but I’m no designer and let’s just say those designs stayed well and truly where they deserved – on the margins of a manuscript page. It was around this time that I started to really think about the different elements that go into a cover. Yes, there’s the image, but there’s the author’s name, the title, possibly a tag line, and, if you’re lucky maybe even a quote from a beloved author who’s read an early copy. It’s finding the right balance of all of these elements that helps your book make the perfect first impression with the reader. When I met my agent, one of the first things he said to me was: “I can already see the cover for this”. He told me about it and I could hear in his voice how enthusiastic he was about the project and I knew he was the agent for me. Fast forward a year or two and I got an email from my editor, the cover designs were back from the designers. I double clicked on the JPEG before I had enough time to be nervous. The cover opened full screen and I gasped. The cover literally took my breath away. It was just as my agent had imagined it. Puzzle Man and Puzzle Girl, set on a backdrop of the London skyline with office windows lit up to form a crossword grid. But it was so much more than I had ever imagined and it was a really emotional moment for me. Suddenly my manuscript had taken on its own identity. For the first time, I was seeing Puzzle Girl the way it would be showcased and sent out into the world for readers to find. So, to all of you readers out there, I would just like to say, I hope you love the cover as much as I do and more than that, I hope that you like the book as much as the cover! AUTHOR BIO Rachael Featherstone was born and raised in Woodford. Her path to writing was a little unorthodox. After reading Mathematics at Oxford University, New College, Rachael went to work in research. When Rachael's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, Rachael decided to take a chance, quit her job, and fulfil a life time ambition to write a novel. She went back to university and completed a Masters in English Literature and had several short stories published. Rachael now lives in Hampshire with her husband, Tim and baby daughter, Elodie. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/WRITERachael Facebook - www.facebook.com/RachaelFeatherstoneAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/rachael_featherstone/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! Release date - 9th August 2018
Book length - 368 pages Publisher - Head of Zeus Books Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Blake and Florence from headofzeus.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK 1967: Four female scientists invent a time-travel machine. They are on the cusp of fame: the pioneers who opened the world to new possibilities. But then one of them suffers a breakdown and puts the whole project in peril. 2017: Ruby knows her beloved Granny Bee was a pioneer, but they never talk about the past. Though time travel is now big business, Bee has never been part of it. Then they receive a message from the future--a newspaper clipping reporting the mysterious death of an elderly lady. 2018: When Odette discovered the body, she went into shock. Blood everywhere, bullet wounds, flesh. But when the inquest fails to answer any of her questions, Odette is frustrated. Who is this dead woman that haunts her dreams? And why is everyone determined to cover up her murder? MY REVIEW I have to admit that when it comes to time travel books I either love them or loathe them - there is no in between with me - so I'm always a little nervous when starting one because I really want it to be a hit. I can 100% say that I LOVED this story so much and not just because the time travel element is wonderfully executed, but also because of the rich characters, the depth of the relationships involved, and the sheer exquisiteness of the words on the page. In 1967, four female pioneers create time travel. These women are not only top of their field but they are also friends and comrades in what is often a lonely existence. When one of the group suffers a mental breakdown, she is shut out and abandoned. But she hasn't lost all of her friends as the future proves ... In 2017 Ruby adores her Granny Bee who yearns to time travel one more time before it is too late. But when they receive a message from the future about a murder, they are unsure if it is a warning or a threat. But Ruby will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves. When Odette comes upon a gruesome scene and discovers a body in 2018, she cannot move on and forget about it as everyone advises. She needs to know who the victim was and what happened to her. She needs to know the truth, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL by Kate Mascarenhas is everything I wanted it to be and so much more. Each chapter sucked me in and I felt a part of this cleverly plotted story more and more as I turned the page. The settings, the characters, the detail, are all perfect and this book would definitely suit the silver screen - I would queue for hours to see that movie! There is danger, science, strong and intelligent female characters, friendship, power, love and so much more nestled within these pages and whether time travel is your thing or not, THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL by Kate Mascarenhas is the novel for you - it's a novel for everyone! AUTHOR BIO Born in 1980, she is of mixed heritage (white Irish father, brown British mother) and has family in Ireland and the Republic of Seychelles. She studied English at Oxford and Applied Psychology at Derby. Her PhD, in literary studies and psychology, was completed at Worcester. Since 2017 Kate has been a chartered psychologist. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, bookbinder, and doll’s house maker. She lives in the English midlands with her partner. Her new novel, The Psychology of Time Travel, will be published by Head of Zeus in August 2018. For more information: Website - www.katemascarenhas.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/KateMascarenhas DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! |
WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
Privacy PolicyNo-one may use Books Of All Kinds content without my permission. Books Of All Kinds does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store information about your visit to this blog for use other than to analyse content performance through the use of cookies, which you can turn off at anytime by modifying your internet browser's settings. Books Of All Kinds is not responsible for the republishing of the content found on this blog on other Web sites or media without our permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice.
Archives
November 2023
|