 Release date - 3rd February 2022 Book length - 336 pages Publisher - Aries Fiction (Head of Zeus) BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Andrew from headofzeus.com for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with an e-copy of this book from Netgalley. ABOUT THIS BOOK Ever so wholesome. Ever so deadly... When a local man is found murdered in an English Trust stately home, the community is shaken to its core. None more so than newcomer Astrid Swift, who finds the body. When she moved from London to the sleepy Dorset village and got a job at the house as an art restorer, she thought she was heading for a quieter life. Far from it. Because it turns out that rather than being the genteel organisation it seems on the surface, the Trust is a hotbed of politics and intrigue. As Astrid's new friend Kath from the village says: 'It's like the mafia, but with scones.' As the suspicious deaths mount up and the threat draws closer, Astrid must use every gadget in her restorer's toolkit to solve the mystery, save her reputation – and maybe even her life. MY REVIEW A cosy mystery with a wonderful collection of quirky characters, THE TRUST by M.H. Eccleston is an entertaining and enjoyable read from start to finish. Astrid Swift loves her perfectly ordered life with her perfectly ordered job and her perfectly ordered relationship with her husband (and boss), Simon. But when she accidentally discovers that he has cheated on her with her best friend, she needs to get away from him, and the country house that her Uncle left her in his will, seems like the perfect idea. Except the house is a run-down old houseboat that needs a lot of tlc, and when Astrid walked out on Simon, she also walked out on her career. But luckily for Astrid, the local Trust is looking for an art restorer for the local stately home and as she begins to get to know the locals and even make some friends, things might just be looking up. Until Astrid discovers a dead body on the grounds of Sherborne Hall and realises that the local policeman doesn't seem to be up to scratch to catch the killer. As the bodies begin to pile up, can Astrid uncover the truth before the murderer strikes again or will she become the next victim? THE TRUST by M.H. Eccleston is the perfect book to cosy up on the couch with of an evening with a cup of tea. The setting is fantastic and I love stories centred around small communities where you can really get to know the characters. Astrid isn't immediately likeable as she comes across as snobbish and condescending at times, but as she settles into her new life, she starts to relax and re-evaluate many things and becomes much more relatable and loveable. I always enjoy a good mystery and this one does not disappoint - is it the formidable English Trust who are knocking people off in their own backyards, or, is it someone closer to home? You'll have to read it to find out. Throw in an ex-husband arriving at the worst possible time, new friendships, rivalry between the elderly volunteers, and the possibility of a new romance, and Astrid's fresh start has become a lot more complicated than she could ever have imagined. I thoroughly enjoyed THE TRUST and I cannot wait for more from M.H. Eccleston. AUTHOR INFO M.H. Eccleston has had a fairly meandering career – starting out as a radio presenter for the BBC, then staying at the Beeb as a journalist and producer for six years. After that, it's a bit of a blur – he spent a couple of decades, at least, freelancing as a foreign correspondent, TV presenter, voice-over artist and film critic. For the last few years he's been a full-time screenwriter and now novelist, with some wildlife gardening in the summer to keep himself sane and pay the bills. To keep up-to-date with this author, you can follow along here: Twitter - twitter.com/MarkEccleston1 DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! 
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 Release date - 20th January 2022 Book length - 368 pages Publisher - Mantle Books BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com Independent - www.kennys.ie I want to thank Amber from www.midaspr.co.uk for providing me with a copy of this book for review and for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour. ABOUT THIS BOOK In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days. Only I know the truth of her disappearance. I’m no Hercule Poirot. I’m her husband’s mistress. Agatha Christie’s world is one of glamorous society parties, country house weekends, and growing literary fame. Nan O’Dea’s world is something very different. Her attempts to escape a tough London upbringing during the Great War led to a life in Ireland marred by a hidden tragedy. After fighting her way back to England, she’s set her sights on Agatha. Because Agatha Christie has something Nan wants. And it’s not just her husband. Despite their differences, the two women will become the most unlikely of allies. And during the mysterious eleven days that Agatha goes missing, they will unravel a dark secret that only Nan holds the key to . . . MY REVIEW During the pandemic, I rediscovered my love of all things Agatha Christie so when THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR by Nina de Gramont arrived in my letterbox, I couldn't wait to sit down and start reading. The only problem I encountered was that I didn't want to put the book down!!! In 1926, after a shocking conversation with her husband where he demands a divorce because he wants to marry his mistress, Agatha Christie drives away from her home and disappears without a trace for eleven days. As police begin to search and Agatha's husband becomes concerned, it is the unlikely combination of a war-injured policeman and Nan O'Dea, the mistress, who will begin to unravel this mystery. Where did she disappear to and why? And as some questions get answered, new, darker mysteries will surface and unlikely alliances will form so that the truth can be uncovered. THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR by Nina de Gramont is superb in every way. The story is told from Nan's point of view and although it is not always reliable, I felt very connected to and cared for this character, which is unusual considering her role in Agatha's life. Nan suffered greatly in her young life and when her heart was bruised and broken in Ireland and again at times in England, we get to see and feel the harshness of that time - from the after effects of the war on soldiers and their families, to the despicable cruelty of the mother and baby homes in Ireland. But through it all, Nan remains strong and determined and you cannot help but admire her courage and spirit. Agatha is only beginning to become famous and cannot fathom her husband leaving her after dedicating her life to him. But watching her and Nan begin to connect on a different level was inspiring, and Agatha show herself to be another strong and capable woman who is undervalued in many ways. While this isn't exactly an Agatha Christie novel, the mysteries, secrets, and betrayals involved all live up to what one would expect from Agatha herself, and I cannot wait to see this story transform onto our screens someday soon. An excellent story in every way! AUTHOR INFO Nina de Gramont lives with her husband and daughter in coastal North Carolina, where she teaches Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Her interest in writing about Agatha Christie began in 2015 when she first learned about the famous author's eleven-day disappearance. Christie's refusal to ever speak about this episode particularly intrigued Nina, who loves the fact that someone who unravelled mysteries for a living managed to keep her own intact. The Christie Affair is her fourth novel. To keep up-to-date with Nina, you can follow along here by clicking on the link: Website - ninadegramont.com Twitter - twitter.com/NinadeGramont Instagram - www.instagram.com/ninadegramont/   Release date - 3rd February 2022 Book length - 160 pages Publisher - Piccadilly Press BUY LINKS: Worldwide - www.bookdepository.com UK - www.amazon.co.uk US - www.amazon.com Independent & Irish - kennys.ie I want to thank Molly and www.piccadillypress.co.uk for sending us a copy of both the first book (Big Sky Mountain) and this book for review. ABOUT THIS BOOK Welcome to Big Sky Mountain: a home for everyone! There is never a dull day on Big Sky Mountain! Rain or shine, there is always something that needs doing. Rosa and Grandma Nan are busy building a bigger cabin when a storm strikes, and a host of animals descend for shelter. There is one unexpected visitor: a tiny wolf cub. This little wolf doesn't seem like the scary, giant-fanged forest wolves that Rosa has heard about! Can the cub really be part of their pack? Rosa and Grandma Nan set off into the forest to find out . . . OUR REVIEW My youngest and I were very excited when we received Alex Milway's latest children's books as we have loved his previous stories before, and BIG SKY MOUNTAIN THE FOREST WOLVES is no exception. Just as Rosa and Grandma Nan are starting to build a bigger cabin so Rosa can have more space, a huge storm hits the mountain and everyone must take cover together, including some quirky animals who trust Nan and Rosa. It' s been a long time since wolves were spotted where they live but they soon see a little wolf cub that might need some help. Even though wolves are supposed to be scary and dangerous, this won't stop Nan and Rosa from helping an animal in distress so they set off into the forest to see for themselves. Aged for kids 5-8, this book is the perfect size with a great blend of text and illustrations to hold their interest. My youngest is obsessed with animals and mixed with an adventure in the woods made this a perfect story for him. The idea of not judging a book by its cover is subtly woven throughout this tale, as is acceptance and caring for each other, which makes this children's book even more special. It's always such a pleasure when your child finishes reading a book and asks if there is another one in the series, so we are looking forward to the next Big Sky Mountain installment already! AUTHOR INFO Alex Milway was born in Hereford, UK. He is the author/illustrator of 12 books for children, ranging from the Mousehunter trilogy, The Mythical 9th Division series as well as Pigsticks and Harold's four adventures. His new series for Piccadilly Press, Hotel Flamingo, is all about a girl who runs a hotel for animals. Alex loves to draw and make things, especially cake. To keep up-to-date with Alex, you can follow along here: Website - www.alexmilway.com Twitter - twitter.com/Alexmilway Facebook - www.facebook.com/alexmilwaybooks Instagram - www.instagram.com/alexmilway/ YouTube - www.youtube.com/user/guidolfo
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WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! 
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