Release date - 23rd May 2017
Book length - 352 pages Publisher - Lake Union Publishing Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Bea has barely been scraping by since her husband died. After falling for a telephone scam, she loses everything and is forced to abandon her trailer. With only two-thirds of a tank in her old van, she heads toward the Pacific Ocean with her cat—on a mission to reclaim what’s rightfully hers, even if it means making others pay for what she lost. When fifteen-year-old Allie’s parents are jailed for tax fraud, she’s sent to a group home. But when her life is threatened by another resident, she knows she has to get out. She escapes only to find she has nowhere to go—until fate throws Allie in Bea’s path. Reluctant to trust each other, much less become friends, the two warily make their way up the Pacific Coast. Yet as their hearts open to friendship and love from the strangers they meet on their journey, they find the courage to forge their own unique family—and begin to see an imperfect world with new eyes. MY REVIEW Catherine Ryan Hyde is a new author to me and now that I have read ALLIE AND BEA I am eager to read more. Bea's life is falling apart at the seams - in her 70s she has lost her husband, her home, and what little money she has left. Packing up her van and her cat, Phyllis, she decides to take a road trip in the hopes that she can reclaim what is rightfully hers. But she never expected to encounter Allie... Allie's life has also been turned upside down when her wealthy parents end up in jail, and she is thrown into a group home with dire consequences. Terrified for her life, Allie escapes. Desperate, her and Bea's paths cross and both of their lives will change. ALLIE AND BEA by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an emotional story that will make you really think and appreciate the important things in life like true friendship, kindness, and hope. The characters are realistic with plenty of good and bad points, and the unusual pairing of Allie and Bea really works as the story evolves. The harsh realities of life for many people is well depicted throughout and while some of these situations are upsetting and unsettling, it is offset throughout by the genuine kindness and humanity of strangers along the way. ALLIE AND BEA by Catherine Ryan Hyde is an emotional and powerful story that will capture your heart as well as your imagination and I highly recommend it. Author Bio: I'm the the author of 30 published and forthcoming books. My newest releases are Ask Him Why, Worthy, The Language of Hoofbeats, Take Me With You , Where We Belong, Walk Me Home, Subway Dancer and Other Stories, When You Were Older, Don’t Let Me Go, When I Found You, Second Hand Heart, The Long, Steep Path: Everyday Inspiration From the Author of Pay It Forward, Always Chloe and Other Stories, and 365 Days of Gratitude: Photos from a Beautiful World. Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight. I have two forthcoming new novels due out in 2016 from Lake Union/Amazon Publishing, Leaving Blythe River and Say Goodbye For Now. Other novels include Jumpstart the World, Becoming Chloe, Love in the Present Tense, The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, Chasing Windmills, The Day I Killed James, and Diary of a Witness. I am co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide. For more information: Website - www.catherineryanhyde.com Twitter - twitter.com/cryanhyde Facebook - www.facebook.com/CatherineRyanHyde/ *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
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Release date - 12th January 2017
Book length - 327 pages Publisher - www.troubador.co.uk/matador.asp Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Grace is thirty-nine and not remotely convinced that life begins at forty. When her grandmother dies she volunteers to pick up her belongings from the sheltered accommodation. It is the last place she expects to have a chance encounter with the first man she has been instantly attracted to in a very long time, particularly as she is dressed almost head to toe in her grandmother’s clothing and accessories. Grace’s granny alter ego elicits a conversation with the man about love, death and the universe, which she is convinced would not have happened otherwise. This inspires her to throw caution to the wind and turn what should have been a simple case of mistaken identity into a dating introduction opportunity for the real her. A decision which sets Grace on a rollercoaster adventure of lies, secrets and lust, making her thirty ninth year one she won’t forget, but might well regret... MY REVIEW GRANNY WITH BENEFITS by Marilyn Bennett is a laugh-out-loud novel with a truly unique twist. Grace is thirty-nine and wants to find love but is definitely sick of the dating scene where men put on an act just to get their leg over. While clearing out her deceased grandmother's room in sheltered accommodation, Grace decides to play dress up and transforms herself into an old woman, with a wig and all to boot! But when Dale, a sexy guy her own age who is interested in the room for his dad, stumbles across her and mistakes her for an older lady, Grace is too embarrassed to explain the situation - and so Louise is created. As Dale begins to really talk to Louise about life and love, Grace realises that maybe this is the way to get to know the gorgeous Dale, and comes up with a plan where 'Louise' will introduce him to her lovely niece, Grace. But like plenty of ideas, things don't always go to plan... With plenty of hilarious situations and well-developed characters, this story will have you crying tears of laughter but there is also a deeper side to this book. Grace finds herself in a mess, wanting a man who she has lied to from the start, while Dale is trying to set up 'Louise' with his father as he wants to see him happy again. As things begin to unravel there are plenty of people who could get hurt. The importance of friendship and figuring out what you really want in life is always at the forefront of this tale and makes you appreciate the value of a true friend. GRANNY WITH BENEFITS by Marilyn Bennett is a great debut and hopefully, this is not the last that we see of these crazy characters. Author Bio: I have worked in television production for over 20 years. Working on all kinds of shows and with lots of great people, but three years ago I decided I wanted to do something different. My career has pretty much revolved around working on other people's creative projects and I suddenly got the urge to find out what I was capable of. I was quite the bookworm as a child, but my first trip to the cinema changed all of that and the magic of the small and large screen beckoned and I never looked back. So fast-forward a few decades, I decided that I would write and produce a short film about an elderly woman who ran a dating agency. This morphed into my debut novel, Granny with Benefits and it's sequel, which will be published later this year. I broke a lifelong tradition of never quite finishing something, which has been an accomplishment in itself! I hope you enjoy my books, as much as I have truly loved writing them. For more information: Website - www.marilynbennettauthor.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/mbennett_author Facebook - www.facebook.com/Granny-with-Benefits-669946656544754/ *I want to thank Marilyn Bennett for providing me with a copy of this story for review. Release date - 18th May 2017
Book length - 331 pages Publisher - www.bookouture.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Prepare to be whisked away to the Cornish seaside, where clear blue skies, crashing waves, and a welcoming choir await you. Annie Trebarwith has no family to tie her down, and she likes it that way. But when a letter arrives, unexpectedly inviting her to visit her great aunt Alice in her family’s ancestral home, curiosity gets the better of her and she travels to deepest Cornwall to meet the family she’s never known. Salt Bay is beautiful and Tregavara House imposing – but there’s no phone signal and some of the locals, like the gorgeous but brooding Josh, are incredibly grumpy. But Alice’s poor health compels Annie to stay, so to keep herself busy she relaunches the Salt Bay Choral Society. Annie is surprised to see how much the choir means to the community, and she even starts to break through Josh’s surly exterior. As she begins to put down roots in Salt Bay, Annie soon realises that there’s a lot to be said for finding the place where you belong after all… Annie’s Lovely Choir by the Sea is a heartwarming story about family, belonging and the healing power of music, perfect for fans of Alex Brown, Rachael Lucas and Carole Matthews. MY REVIEW Having read quite a few books set in Cornwall I have really fallen in love with this magical place, so I was delighted that this novel would take me to this idyllic setting again. Hilarious from the start, I immediately connected with Annie and from the very first page, I was hooked. Annie Trebarwith doesn't like complications or commitment but when she finds herself boyfriendless, jobless, and living with a carefree student, she can't stop thinking about a letter that could change everything. For her entire life, it was just Annie and her mother and ever since her mom died, Annie has happily accepted the fact that she has no family - family means relationships and that always spells trouble for her. So when she receives a letter from her Great-Aunt, Alice Gowan, who lives in Cornwall, Annie is thrown for a loop, but her natural curiosity takes over and she finds herself travelling to beautiful Cornwall. But when she arrives it is nothing like she expects. For one thing, it seems to rain 90% of the time, she almost gets knocked down by an infuriating, brooding driver, who also happens to be sexy as sin, there is no Wifi, and Alice wants Annie to stay, which is just not possible. Annie starts to learn secrets about her family and the tragic story of the Salt Bay Choral Society, but it is only when she revives the choir that she begins to establish real friendships and feelings for many of the people in this nosy community. She knows it will hurt when she leaves them behind to return to her real life in London. But she cannot stay. It was never in her plans... ANNIE'S LOVELY CHOIR BY THE SEA by Liz Eeles is such a charming, heartwarming and enjoyable read about love, hope, and opening yourself up to happiness. Annie is such a funny and wonderful character, and I love her honesty as she traverses the ups and downs throughout this story. Annie fears the hurt and vulnerability that comes along with belonging to somewhere and someone and when she revives the Salt Bay choir, we watch as she slowly takes down her guard little by little. Josh, Alice, Kayla, and the many other captivating characters in this novel are all equally as compelling and I really couldn't get enough of the Salt Bay community. ANNIE'S LOVELY CHOIR BY THE SEA by Liz Eeles is everything you want in a contemporary novel, and it's sharp wit and excellent narrative makes it truly shine. I can't wait to return to Salt Bay. Go and buy this book!!!!! Author Bio: Liz began her writing career as a journalist for newspapers and magazines before moving into the health sector as a communications manager and press officer. The low point of her career was abandoning an interview with Cliff Richard after two questions because she was about to faint – her excuse is that she was newly pregnant at the time. Liz is from Gloucestershire but now lives by the sea in West Sussex with her husband and grown-up daughter. She spends a lot of time meaning to meditate, avoiding exercise, and missing her son who lives in London. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/lizeelesauthor Facebook - www.facebook.com/lizeelesauthor/ *I want to thank Kim from Bookouture and Liz Eeles, for the chance to read and review this outstanding novel, and take part in this great blog tour. Happy reading!! Release date - 18th May 2017
Book length - 320 pages Publisher - www.hodder.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK A dark, gripping story of love and obsession from bestselling author Marina Fiorato, perfect for fans of The Crimson Petal and the White. London, 1853. Annie Stride is a beautiful, flame-haired young woman from the East End of London. She is also a whore. On a bleak January night Annie stands on Waterloo Bridge, watching the icy waters of the Thames writhe beneath her as she contemplates throwing herself in. At the last minute she's rescued by a handsome young man. Her saviour, Francis Maybrick Gill, is a talented artist. He takes Annie as his muse, painting her again and again and transforming her from a fallen woman into society's darling, taking her far away from her old life. But there is darkness underpinning Annie's lavish new lifestyle. In London and in Florence, prostitutes are being murdered. There's someone out there who knows who Annie really is - and they won't let her forget where she came from... MY REVIEW This was my first time reading a book by Marina Fiorato but it will certainly not be my last. Straight away we are thrown into the story of Annie Stride, a prostitute in London in 1853, who has reached the point of desperation and is contemplating ending her life. Standing on the brink Annie is saved by an artist who sees something special about her and makes her his muse, catapulting her into a new world of beauty, art, and privilege. But all is not as it seems - a murderer is on the loose and they know who Annie is... CRIMSON & BONE by Marina Fiorato develops at a good, steady pace with plenty of colour and vibrant description to really capture your imagination. Yet, always in the background, there is a sense of darkness and doom hovering, waiting for an opportunity to pounce, which adds a delicious edge to this tale. Throughout the novel, I connected with the characters even though they all seem to have secrets to hide. Constantly questioning my opinions while reading, the ending leaves no stone unturned as surprising truths are revealed. CRIMSON & BONE by Marina Fiorato is a compelling story of art, beauty, danger and lies, and I cannot wait to read everything this author has written so far. It is an exquisitely dark historical novel that will keep you gripped throughout. Author Bio: Marina Fiorato – Best-selling author of ‘The Glassblower of Murano’… Marina Fiorato is half-Venetian. She was born in Manchester and raised in the Yorkshire Dales. She is a history graduate of Oxford University and the University of Venice, where she specialized in the study of Shakespeare’s plays as an historical source. After University she studied art and since worked as an illustrator, actress and film reviewer. She also designed tour visuals for rock bands including U2 and the Rolling Stones. She was married on the Grand Canal and lives in North London with her husband, son and daughter. For more information: Website - www.marinafiorato.com Twitter - twitter.com/marinafiorato Facebook - www.facebook.com/pages/Marina-Fiorato/105564229477128 *I want to thank Emily from Hodder & Stoughton Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book. Release date - 18th May 2017 Book length -384 pages Publisher - www.orionbooks.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Would you know your forever house if you found it? Hunter's Moon is the ultimate 'forever' house. Nestled by a river in the Peasebrook valley, it has been the Willoughbys' home for over fifty years, and now estate agent Belinda Baxter is determined to find the perfect family to live there. But the sale of the house unlocks decades of family secrets - and brings Belinda face to face with her own troubled past. A gorgeous escapist read for anyone needing a hug in a book - perfect for fans of Erica James, Lucy Diamond and Harriet Evans. MY REVIEW You know when you find that special book that you just want to stay inside the pages for as long as possible while at the same time you desperately want to see how it all ends up for the characters that you have come to love? Well, THE FOREVER HOUSE by Veronica Henry is that book for me. The minute I saw the beautiful cover I was desperate to jump into this story, and from the very first page, I was hooked. Hunter's Moon is the type of house that once you encounter it you never want to leave. Perfect in every way, Belinda Baxter knows that there must be some serious reason for the Willoughbys to leave it behind them and sell it. Unusual for an estate agent, Belinda genuinely cares about the homes that she brokers, including the people behind them. She understands what it is like to find your forever home and have it all disappear from underneath you, destroying everything you thought your future would hold... It is time for Sally and Alexander to say goodbye to Hunter's Moon - the place they fell in love, the place where there are living memories around every corner. When they received some tragic news they recognised that they could no longer afford to live in this little piece of heaven any longer. Struggling with what the future holds, they try to hide the truth from their adult children - Leo who is living in London, and their daughter, Jess, who is settled in Scotland. But you cannot hide forever... This beautiful story switches from the past to present. In the past, we get to see a young Sally meet Alexander and become enveloped into the Willoughby clan as their housekeeper. From Alexander's flamboyant mother who is a successful writer, to his quirky sisters, and brooding father, Sally is welcomed and captivated by this unusual family and falls in love with Hunter's Moon. But like all families, the Willoughby's have their secrets. In the present, we get to know Belinda Baxter, who has never truly moved on from her devastating past and has thrown herself completely into her work. Very successful, she hopes to find another home one day that will make her feel complete but has shut herself away from relationships and love. But as she prepares to sell two special homes, she must face her demons if she is to have any chance of the happy future she deserves. We also get to see Sally and Alexander's present-day story unfold, and the love that exists between them and their son, Leo. The main characters are so well-developed and likeable that you cannot help but feel like you know them, as you desperately want everything to work out for them. THE FOREVER HOUSE by Veronica Henry deals with some heavy topics but it is so excellently written that it never feels too much. Life is never simple and plain sailing and this is perfectly portrayed in this novel. The setting of Peasebrook is extraordinary as always, and the community really comes alive in this book. Hunter's Moon is everything you wish for in a home and the writing is so descriptive that you can easily imagine yourself there. Reading about the house from the past to the present really gives the house a life of its own and Hunter's Moon becomes a character in its own right. THE FOREVER HOUSE by Veronica Henry is an emotional and moving tale about love, family, sadness, and hope, and it is a book that should not be missed. A truly perfect read. I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE WONDERFUL VERONICA HENRY ON MY BLOG TODAY WHERE SHE TALKS ABOUT IMPORTANT HOMES IN BOOKS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED HER OWN WRITING. READ ON FOR THIS FASCINATING GUEST POST: GUEST POST FROM VERONICA HENRY
Like my heroine Belinda in The Forever House, we didn’t have a home of our own until I was 15 and my father left the Army. As a result I was always obsessed with the houses in the books I read voraciously – I longed for four walls to call my own. These are the literary houses that shaped my life and informed my writing: LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS – LAURA INGALLS WILDER My father always took me to the bookshop on a Saturday morning. I can remember choosing this because it was the first in a series, and I determined to go back every Saturday until I had the whole collection. I fell in love with the Ingalls but mostly with the homes Ma and Pa built for their children wherever they were. I longed for a calico dress though I’m still not sure what calico is even today … THE GROWING SUMMER - NOEL STREATFEILD So many children’s books start with siblings being packed off to live with someone eccentric (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe!) but this is my favourite. The Gareth children are sent off to the wilds of Southern Ireland to stay with their Great Aunt Dymphna and find a mysterious boy who asks to hide out in her ramshackle mansion.… Years later I went to Bantry Bay and it was as wild and magical as described. Even as I type this bits of the book are coming back to me – including the RL Stevenson poem Aunt Dymphna quotes –‘I will make you brooches and toys for your delight’. REBECCA – DAPHNE DU MAURIER The opening line of Rebecca must be one of the most memorable in fiction – ‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again’. If I ever teach creative writing, I read the first chapter as an example of how to begin a book. It is so incredibly atmospheric, it teases the reader, it’s tense and ominous and how can you not want to read on? Manderley is firmly in charge of the story, holding the characters in its four walls and shaping their futures. It is almost the protagonist of the novel. GONE WITH THE WIND – MARGARET MITCHELL An epic love story, this doorstop of a book is so vivid and memorable, and every reader must have a clear picture in their head of Scarlett O’Hara’s beloved Tara. Her passion for her home is the driver for the narrative. It really does epitomise a sense of belonging somewhere, and I find that very inspiring. COLD COMFORT FARM – STELLA GIBBONS Cold Comfort Farm must be the ultimate do-er-upper. I can’t read it without imagining how it might end up – it’s ripe for renovation. But just as satisfying as fantasising about renovating is reading about the bonkers Starkadders and the redoubtable Flora Poste’s efforts to get them back on track. BRIDESHEAD REVISITED –EVELYN WAUGH A richly detailed and evocative story which is about so much more than Charles Ryder feeling somewhat out of place as he arrives at Brideshead, the home of his university friend Sebastian Flyte. Charles quickly becomes infatuated with the magnificent mansion and its inhabitants, the eccentric and privileged Marchmains. If you’re going to read one country house novel, this should be it. RIDERS – JILLY COOPER I could write a book about how much I love Jilly’s books. She is the mistress of ‘voice’ – her writing is just like she is – glamorous, sexy, witty, warm, mischievous and terribly English. Rupert Campbell Black’s Penscombe is my ultimate dream home, and Jilly’s descriptions of it are so lyrical and pastoral – you can smell the blossom and the hay and the horses. I think I’m in a fairly long queue for the role of Mrs Campbell Black. THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY – H E BATES I love literature that describes the English countryside and the social mores – Hardy and Wodehouse are amongst my favourites – but H E Bates is probably my best-loved author. I long to join the Larkins in their chaotic farmhouse – sit at the table and sip one of Pa Larkin’s cocktails while Ma conjures up one of her feasts. The strawberry-picking scene is a stand out piece of writing for me. If I could evoke a tenth of what Bates evokes with his words, I would be very proud. I WANT TO THANK VERONICA HENRY FOR THIS GREAT GUEST POST, AND ALSO LAUREN AT ORION PUBLISHING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE FOREVER HOUSE, AND TAKE PART IN THIS BLOG TOUR. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY! Release date - 10th May 2017 Book length - 384 pages Publisher - www.harpercollins.co.uk Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB Can fiction kill? Vicky Simmons’s life was supposed to be relaxing after she moved back home to the coast of Maine, but instead of baking bread and gardening she’s been chasing down killers and it’s time to stop. Vicky is ready to slow down again and vows to start focusing more on her roses than solving crime. That is until she reads the new serial in the paper over breakfast, describing a brutal murder that takes place on a cliff top road just above a beach. Only to find herself moments later, walking Coco and Mr. Pug, face to face with a dead body on the sand. The murder victim described exactly as he was in the story… Once again death has come to Glen Cove and this time Vicky and her friends won’t stop until they find the killer before they get away with murder. Don’t miss any title in the Country Gift Shop Cozy Mystery series: Book 1 - Dead to Begin With Book 2 - Grand Prize: Murder! Book 3 - Written into the Grave I am delighted to welcome the wonderfully talented Vivian Conroy to my blog today. Vivian has kindly given us a delightful insight into the thought process and work involved in writing a series. Enjoy!
Writing a series - Guest post by cozy mystery author Vivian Conroy I love to do polls on Twitter, about anything from 'are you a tea or a coffee person?' to 'which do you like better: writing the first draft or editing?' So I also did a poll to ask what this guest post should be about. There were four choices, and 39% of the votes went to: writing a series. Now I'm writing several series for HarperCollins so I should have something to say about this. While my Lady Alkmene 1920s' series plays out at different locations in each installment - London, Dartmoor, Cornwall - my contemporary Country Gift Shop series takes place in the small coastal town of Glen Cove in Maine. The mystery is wrapped up within each installment, so books can be read as standalone. No spoilers of earlier books! But as the series progresses, the readers discover more about the town, the inhabitants and of course the lead characters, Vicky Simmons and her friends Marge and Ms. Tennings. I also introduced a recurring element. If you read all books, you might guess what it is... Let's have a closer look at the way I developed the series: 1) The town. Glen Cove is your typical small town, where people all know each other, care for each other and gossip about each other, only a little of course... Like Vicky's mother Claire says: 'I'm not nosy, I just like to know things.' As a coastal town with a big draw for tourists, at least in the summer season, a lot of the shops sell coastal-themed products, the diner has clam chowder and the beach is never far away. Vicky's shop with British products stands out, and her ideas to draw more tourists to the town during the slow winter season aren't well received by all. Especially the Joneses of Jones General Store right opposite to Vicky's shop keep a wary eye on her. In each book I take the reader to different places around town: the villa of a posh inhabitant, the community center, restaurants in different shapes and sizes (good food is important!) and in WRITTEN INTO THE GRAVE the cliff side where the murder takes place exactly as described in an installment of the newspaper serial Seaside Secrets, written up by the local writing group. 2) The inhabitants. Several inhabitants have a recurring role in the books, such as the aforementioned Joneses, newspaper editor and secret crush Michael Danning, Sheriff Cash Rowland, his deputies and rather talkative dispatcher. Other inhabitants appear only in one installment where they play the part of witness, suspect, curious bystander etc. Even the characters who make a quick appearance to disappear again I try to give personality, like bankrupt beautician and dog groomer Gwenda in book 1. In fact, it can be quite fun to write the minor characters who can muddy the waters with their story, often driven by personal motives. Once a murder has happened, everybody has a reason to tell what they know, and tell it in a certain way. Lies may not indicate guilt but they are always a clue: they do point at some kind of deeper cause, in the life of the liar, his or her relationship with the victim or the suspect(s). 3) The lead characters. Vicky and her two friends who help out at the store - Marge and Ms. Tennings - are ideally suited to make the gift shop a success: Marge is the optimistic organizer who can get people involved without pushing them, while former nanny and royalty expert Ms Tennings has many contacts to draw to the store. Their talents also help with sleuthing: there is always a local to ask about a bit of missing information. To keep it fresh, Vicky also gets sleuthing assistance from other people like Michael who as newspaper editor is often in the know, and even Cash, the sheriff, who is an old college friend of hers. Their former bond gives Vicky some leeway to plead with Cash and get involved in the cases. In WRITTEN INTO THE GRAVE though it's Cash asking Vicky for help, to break the bad news of the murder to the victim's widow whom Vicky knows a little. Once intrigued by the people involved, the accusations flying around, also blaming Marge who organized the serial in which the murder was described, Vicky has no choice but to figure out what really happened at the cliffs. But of course that's not without danger... 4) The dogs. Vicky's mother Claire has two dogs: a bichon frise and a pug, and they are recurring characters in the books. Whether present when important evidence is discovered (in book 1) or leading Vicky to the crime scene on a walk (in book 3) or just providing dog cuddles and support in hard times, the dogs are as much a part of the cast as any human. Mr. Pug is the beggar for treats, the charmer, too dignified to play fetch, while playful Coco likes to tear up the newspaper, run on the beach and get in trouble with bigger dogs, at which point Mr. Pug is not afraid to step in. True friends, to each other and to the people they love. They also make perfect cover models! 5) The recurring element. In book 1 I gave Vicky a nightmare where she was being chased by purple beams (she was changing a rather flashy beauty parlor into a classic British gift shop) and I thought it would be fun to have the dream element return in books 2 and 3. Vicky's dreams are muddled representations of what's happening in her personal life and the murder case, just like real-life dreams often are full of what we are busy with, in an oddly twisted way. Of course the dreams just might contain some sort of a clue element (Vicky's unconscious mind is working on the crime even when she's in bed!), and it's for you, the reader, to fill in what it might be. To sum it all up: in writing a series I can return, again and again, to a place I love, to spend time with people I care for and dogs I want to pat through the pages. I hope you will also find warmth, friendship and twisty mystery in Glen Cove! Please drop by on Twitter via @VivWrites to tell me what you as a reader love about series! Author Bio: Vivian Conroy writes the Country Gift Shop Mysteries and the Lady Alkmene 1920s' mysteries for HQDigitalUK, a division of HarperCollins. When she's not writing, Vivian enjoys hiking, crafting and trying new dessert recipes. For all things books, with a dash of dogs and chocolate, give her a follow on Twitter via @VivWrites. You can also add and review all her books on Goodreads and LibraryThing. Thank you so much to Vivian Conroy for taking the time to write such an interesting piece and giving us an insight into her world. Release date - 16th May 2017
Book length - 337 pages Publisher - us.macmillan.com/smp/ Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB Kate, Aubrey, and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge . . and someone else is urging her to jump. How did things come to this? As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other—but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband? MY REVIEW This book was a strange one for me. I enjoyed the storyline and thought that the plot was good overall. But it is aimed at readers who love suspense and to me, this is a mistake. Having read a previous review from the super-talented book-blogger Chelsea (thesuspenseisthrillingme.com) where Chelsea had stated that it might be aimed at the wrong market, I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree. While there are moments of suspense in this novel, there is not enough for avid readers of this genre, in my opinion, and for me, IT'S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND by Michele Campbell is more general fiction with some dramatic flair, than suspense. Meeting in college, Jenny, Kate, and Aubrey form a fast friendship even though they are all completely different from each other. Fast forward twenty years and one friend is telling another to jump off a bridge. The story of their complicated and complex relationship unfolds as the narrative moves from past to present, which I always enjoy as it keeps the pace moving along. The characters in this book are not particularly likeable but that doesn't stop you from wanting to understand what is happening between them. I enjoyed the writing style and the twists and turns in the plot, and the ending was a surprise, which is always welcome. IT'S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND by Michele Campbell is a solid story for general fiction fans. Author Bio: Michele Campbell is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School and a former federal prosecutor in New York City who specialized in international narcotics and gang cases. A while back, she said goodbye to her big-city legal career and moved with her husband and two children to an idyllic New England college town a lot like Belle River in IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND. Since then, she has spent her time teaching criminal and constitutional law and writing novels. She's had many close female friends, a few frenemies, and only one husband, who – to the best of her knowledge – has never tried to kill her. For more information: Website - www.michelecampbellbooks.com Twitter - twitter.com/MCampbellBooks Facebook - www.facebook.com/MicheleCampbellBooks *I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com Release date - 27th April 2017
Book length - 336 pages Publisher - blackandwhitepublishing.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com BLURB Big Bend, population 500. South Dakota, 1988. Eight-year-old Tiny Mite lives in a ramshackle farmhouse next to her grandfather’s crashed airplane and the pine tree where she trains as a spy. Goddamn is her favourite word. Taking pictures with a homemade camera is her new big thing. She lives with Bee, her apocalypse-obsessed grandmother and Luvie, her hard-drinking great-aunt. And then there’s her mother, Velvet – beautiful, heartbroken, desperate, impulsive. One night, Tiny Mite goes to the basement and hears a cry, but it’s not what she imagines and nothing will ever be the same. Six years later, Clea won’t let anyone call her Tiny Mite anymore. Luvie is sober and Bee’s health is failing. Velvet has been gone for years, and nobody except Bee will even mention her name. Alone, angry and dressed in her grandfather’s old hunting clothes, Clea mopes through ditches and fields taking photographs until she hatches a plan with another loner, a boy with an unspeakable past. This is a story of mothers and daughters. Of people tied by blood and home. Of moments captured and lifetimes lost. And of things never quite turning out as expected. MY REVIEW NOT THE ONLY SKY by Alyssa Warren is a compelling, emotional read about relationships - relationships between mothers and daughters, between other family members, and the relationship that exists between the present and our memories, even the ones you wish to forget. The story is centred around one character but split into two parts. In the first section of the story, we get to know Tiny Mite, a unique, feisty little eight-year-old girl who hungers for a father figure, while trying to get close to her detached mother, Velvet. Stuck in Big Bend which appears to be the place that time forgot, all of the characters are struggling in their own ways, and we see and feel it all through Tiny Mite's flair for the dramatic and her homemade camera lens. In the second part, we are confronted with Clea, who is Tiny Mite all grown up, and she isn't afraid to let the world know about her troubled emotions. Her mother is gone, her grandmother is ill, and life just isn't turning out the way she had hoped, all those years ago. But she still has her camera, and when she meets another lost soul, everything may change. NOT THE ONLY SKY by Alyssa Warren is not a light, quick read, but a slow, in-depth emotional rollercoaster as these flawed, damaged characters try to deal with their pain. Now don't get me wrong, this story is not all doom and gloom. Throughout the narrative, a sense of love and family shines through, sometimes from the most unexpected of places, and you are swept along with the vibrant imagination and rhythm of the tale. NOT THE ONLY SKY by Alyssa Warren is told in a really unique way with vivid descriptions that really paint a picture, and while it may not be for everyone, I enjoyed reading something that is that little bit different. Author Bio: I grew up in South Dakota, and after meeting my Ecuadorian husband while studying English in California, lived in Ecuador, Australia, France and UK in less than ten years, so writing was a way to feel continuity. For the past 12 years we have lived in East London and now have three boys. I am also a printmaker and budding pinhole photographer. For more information: Website - www.alyssa-warren.com Twitter - twitter.com/alyssagwarren *I want to thank Lina at Black & White Publishing, and Alyssa Warren, for the opportunity to review this novel. 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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