The Competition by Donna Russo MorinPublication Date: April 25, 2017
Diversion Publishing eBook & Paperback; 268 Pages Series: Da Vinci’s Disciples, Book Two Genre: Historical/Mystery Donna Russo Morin returns with a follow-up to Portrait of a Conspiracy, called “a page-turner unlike any historical novel, weaving passion, adventure, artistic rebirth, and consequences of ambition,” by C.W. Gortner. In a studiolo behind a church, six women gather to perform an act that is, at once, restorative, powerful, and illegal. They paint. Under the tutelage of Leonardo da Vinci, these six show talent and drive equal to that of any man, but in Renaissance Florence they must hide their skills, or risk the scorn of the city. A commission to paint a fresco in Santo Spirito is announced and Florence’s countless artists each seek the fame and glory this lucrative job will provide. Viviana, a noblewoman freed from a terrible marriage and now free to pursue her artistic passions in secret, sees a potential life-altering opportunity for herself and her fellow female artists. The women first speak to Lorenzo de’ Medici himself, and finally, they submit a bid for the right to paint it. And they win. But the church will not stand for women painting, especially not in a house of worship. The city is not ready to consider women in positions of power, and in Florence, artists wield tremendous power. Even the women themselves are hesitant; the attention they will bring upon themselves will disrupt their families, and could put them in physical danger. All the while, Viviana grows closer to Sansone, her soldier lover, who is bringing her joy that she never knew with her deceased husband. And fellow-artist Isabetta has her own romantic life to distract her, sparked by Lorenzo himself. Power and passion collide in this sumptuous historical novel of shattering limitations, one brushstroke at a time. Buy links - Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | iTunes | IndieBound | Kobo Praise for The Competition “THE COMPETITION is a page-turning, provocative romp through a fascinating time and place―15th-century Florence. Donna Russo Morin has given us a novel for our time, a book featuring strong female characters fighting the odds to break the “glass ceiling,” and reminding us that this battle is not new: women have been waging it for centuries. ―Sherry Jones, author of The Sharp Hook of Love: A Novel of Heloise and Abelard “…a page-turner unlike any historical novel, weaving passion, adventure, artistic rebirth, and consequences of ambition…a masterful writer at the peak of her craft.”―C. W. Gortner, author of The Confessions of Catherine de’Medici “A 15th-century Florence of exquisite art, sensual passion and sudden, remorseless violence comes vividly to life in Donna Russo Morin’s new novel.”―Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Crown “In Portrait of a Conspiracy, Russo Morin’s rich detailing transports the reader to the heart of Renaissance Italy from the first page.”―Heather Webb, author of Becoming Josephine “Illicit plots, mysterious paintings, and a young Leonardo da Vinci all have their part to play in this delicious, heart-pounding tale.”―Kate Quinn, author of The Empress of Rome Saga “In elegant prose, Morin paints a captivating tale of courageous women painters who battle against prejudices in Renaissance Florence. Featuring strong women characters, each with distinctive personalities, this is exactly the type of historical novel I enjoy. Exhilarating and compassionate, The Competition sings a beautiful tribute of women’s talents and underscores Morin’s masterful storytelling. Delightful!”―Weina Dai Randel, author of The Moon in the Palace and The Empress of Bright Moon “An inspiring tale of determined women, empowered by undeniable talent, in the male-dominated art world of Renaissance Florence. In The Competition, Ms. Morin delivers a captivating story rich with historical detail and beautifully woven through with atmosphere.”―Diane Haeger, author of Courtesan About the Author Donna earned two degrees from the University of Rhode Island. In addition to writing, teaching writing, and reviewing for literary journals, Donna works as a model and actor; highlights of her work include two seasons on Showtime’s Brotherhood and an appearance in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed. Donna is the proud mother of two sons, one a future opera singer, the other a future chef. Donna’s titles include The Courtier’s Secret, The Secret of the Glass, To Serve a King, The King’s Agent, Portrait of a Conspiracy, and The Competition. Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. I WANT TO THANK AMY FROM hfvirtualbooktours.com AND THE AUTHOR DONNA RUSSO MORIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN THIS BLOG TOUR.
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Release date - 1st July 2017
Book length - 448 pages Publisher - poolbeg.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Unravelling the past can be dangerous . . . On a perfect July evening in the sizzling Irish summer of 1976, fifteen-year-old Festival Queen Lilly Brennan disappears. Thirty-seven years later, as the anniversary of Lilly's disappearance approaches, her sister Jacqueline returns to their childhood home in Blackberry Lane. There she stumbles upon something that reopens the mystery, setting her on a search for the truth a search that leads her to surprising places and challenging encounters. Jacqueline feels increasingly compelled to find the answer to what happened to Lilly all those years ago and finally lay her ghost to rest. But at what cost? For unravelling the past proves to be a dangerous and painful thing, and her path to the truth leads her ever closer to a dark secret she may not wish to know. 'A haunting, mesmerising first novel with a chilling secret at its core. It will grip and surprise you to the very last page’ RTÉ Guide MY REVIEW THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is a dark and deeply emotional story about the complexities of family life, and how one act can change everything. The night that Lilly Brennan disappears, forever alters the Brennan family and as the years pass by, the cracks in their once strong unit, slowly widen and eventually shatter what was once a content family home. Thirty-seven years after that fateful night where many people continue to hold onto their own guilt, Jacqueline, the youngest of the Brennan's returns home to Blackberry Lane to visit with her dad, who is all alone. But when her father suddenly passes, Jacqueline struggles with letting him go and this fresh grief builds upon the grief she has always carried for her missing older sister, Lilly. When Jacqueline finds a clue among her father's belongings that may lead to the discovery of what happened to Lilly all those years ago, Jacqueline jumps at this opportunity to find answers and heads off to the UK. With the help of some unexpected friends, Jacqueline soon begins to piece together some of the puzzle, but as the truth starts to unfold, secrets and betrayals will make Jacqueline question everything... THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is not an action-packed, fast-paced, search for answers, but rather a slower-paced, hypnotic, emotional account of the changes and heartbreaking destruction of a family when something terrible like this occurs. The narrative moves from the past to the present which makes this novel come alive in a way that makes you feel like a part of the story. We get to really experience everything firsthand through the eyes of a typical eleven-year-old, Jacqueline, as we see sibling rivalry, jealousy, love, and simple naivety at its finest. But we are also a witness to a child watching her family disintegrate when her sister vanishes into thin air and everyone in this small community start to point the finger of blame. When it moves back to the present, we see Jacqueline the adult, who still struggles with the not-knowing, who leads a solitary life, who has lost the sparkle she once had, but who is also determined to find out what happened to Lilly, and whose strength pushes her to keep looking for answers, to never give up on the sister she envied so much as a child. As secrets begin to spill forth, I had my suspicions about what had happened to Lilly that night but I was completely wrong (I love it when that happens!!), and nothing prepared me for the shocking truth. THE LAST LOST GIRL by Maria Hoey is a marvellous debut and I look forward to more from this impressive author. Author Bio: Maria Hoey has been writing since she was eight years old. Her poetry has appeared in Ireland's foremost poetry publication, Poetry Ireland, and her poems and short stories have also appeared in various magazines. In 1999, Maria won the first prize in the Swords Festival Short Story Competition. In 2010, she was runner-up in the Mslexia International Short Story Competition and was also shortlisted for the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. Maria was raised in Swords, Co. Dublin, and has one daughter, Rebecca. She lives in Portmarnock with her husband, Dr. Garrett O'Boyle. The Last Lost Girl is her first novel. For more information: Twitter - twitter.com/MariaHoey *I want to thank Paula at Poolbeg, and the author Maria Hoey, for the opportunity to review this compelling story. Today I am delighted to take part in the blog tour for Candace Robb's exciting new Kate Clifford Mystery series. I was lucky enough to read both books so far and I will share my thoughts on these books collectively in a little while. But first here is all you need to know about the series so far.... THE SERVICE OF THE DEAD by Candace Robb Paperback Publication Date: May 9, 2017 Pegasus Books Paperback; 256 Pages Series: Kate Clifford Mysteries, Book One Genre: Historical/Mystery/Thriller Expertly recreating the social and political upheavals of late medieval Europe, Candace Robb introduces a new series starring Kate Clifford, a woman forged on the warring northern marches of fourteenth century England. Political unrest permeates York at the cusp of the fifteenth century, as warring factions take sides on who should be the rightful king–Richard II or his estranged, powerful cousin in exile, Henry Bolingbroke. Independent minded twenty-year-old Kate Clifford is struggling to dig out from beneath the debt left by her late husband. Determined to find a way to be secure in her own wealth and establish her independence in a male dominated society, Kate turns one of her properties near the minster into a guest house and sets up a business. In a dance of power, she also quietly rents the discreet bedchambers to the wealthy, powerful merchants of York for nights with their mistresses. But the brutal murder of a mysterious guest and the disappearance of his companion for the evening threatens all that Kate has built. Before others in town hear word of a looming scandal, she must call upon all of her hard-won survival skills to save herself from ruin. BUY LINKS - Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound Praise for The Service of the Dead “Robb’s deft hand creates a realistic political and commercial climate as King Richard II’s reign draws to a close in 1399. Comparable to Sara Poole’s Poisoner mysteries and Ariana Franklin’s Adelia Aguilar series, with its strong political setting and multiple plot strands.” (Booklist) “A historical novel that deftly captures politics and interactions between different social interests in late medieval England…against the backdrop of social pressures and military actions, Kate’s character and world shine and draw readers into her choices and challenges.” (California Bookwatch) “Kate Clifford is a wonderful creation, hard-nosed in some respects, compassionate and caring on the other. I look forward to the next installment of this delightful series!” (Historical Novels Review) “The novel resonates with its compelling portrayal of an England on the brink of crisis.” (Publishers Weekly) “The Service of the Dead is a tasty brew of political intrigue, larceny, and murder set within the walls of medieval York. Candace Robb’s latest historical mystery is steeped in the atmosphere of the late fourteenth century, and in Kate Clifford she’s given us a no-nonsense heroine and sleuth who is not only smart, but fierce when those she cares about are threatened. You’re going to love her.” (Patricia Bracewell, author of the Emma of Normandy Trilogy) “The Service of the Dead by Candace Robb is a strikingly well-crafted novel that is a compelling page-turner from beginning to end. Very highly recommended for community library historical fiction collections.” (Midwest Book Review) A TWISTED VENGEANCE by Candace Robb Publication Date: May 9, 2017 Pegasus Books Hardcover; 400 Pages Series: Kate Clifford Mysteries, Book Two Genre: Historical/Mystery/Thriller As the fourteenth century comes to a close, York seethes on the brink of civil war―and young widow Kate Clifford, struggling to keep her businesses afloat, realizes that her mother is harboring a dangerous secret… 1399. York is preparing for civil war, teeming with knights and their armed retainers summoned for the city’s defense. Henry of Lancaster is rumored to have landed on the northeast coast of England, not so far from York, intent on reclaiming his inheritance―an inheritance which his cousin, King Richard, has declared forfeit. With the city unsettled and rife with rumors, Eleanor Clifford’s abrupt return to York upon the mysterious death of her husband in Strasbourg is met with suspicion in the city. Her daughter Kate is determined to keep her distance, but it will not be easy―Eleanor has settled next door with the intention of establishing a house of beguines, or poor sisters. When one of the beguines is set upon in the night by an intruder, Kate knows that for the sake of her own reputation and the safety of her young wards she must investigate. From the first, Eleanor is clearly frightened yet maintains a stubborn silence. The brutal murder of one of Eleanor’s servants leads Kate to suspect that her mother’s troubles have followed her from Strasbourg. Is she secretly involved in the political upheaval? When one of her wards is frightened by a too-curious stranger, Kate is desperate to draw her mother out of her silence before tragedy strikes her own household. BUY LINKS - Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound Praise for this book “Lovers of Shakespeare’s Richard II will find Robb’s intricate sequel to 2016’s The Service of the Dead a particular treat, as it charts the course of Richard’s downfall and his cousin Henry of Bolingbroke’s rise through the fears and uncertainties of the residents of the city of York in July 1399. These anxieties are worsened by a series of strange deaths connected to the extended family of Kate Clifford, a fierce young widow struggling to cope with not only her own household of jostling servants and the recently arrived illegitimate children of her late husband but also the return of her quarrelsome mother, Eleanor, from Strasbourg with religious women in tow. The character of Clifford is compelling and finely drawn, and for those readers who are patient enough to manage an unusually large number of secondary characters, the answers to a series of mysteries, starting with the reason for an intruder’s attack on a beguine (or poor sister) in the middle of the night, are highly satisfying.” – Publisher’s Weekley, STARRED REVIEW MY REVIEW While I do enjoy reading historical novels, historical mysteries is not a genre that I have much experience of, but I am so glad that I picked up the Kate Clifford series as they really are so descriptive and engrossing. Having devoured the first book, THE SERVICE OF THE DEAD, I immediately jumped into A TWISTED VENGEANCE, and I can happily say that both books are equally as addictive. In this series, we meet Kate, a young widow, who is desperately trying to keep things afloat at the end of the fourteenth century where life is harsh. Beginning her own business is tough especially in a male-dominated world but Kate manages to gain a foothold with her guesthouse that allows certain privileges for those in power who need privacy for their mistresses. But when a guest is brutally murdered, Kate must take it upon herself to discover the culprit before she loses everything she has worked so hard for. And later in the series when political upheaval is threatening to destroy everything in its path, Kate finds herself suspicious of her mother's sudden return to York, and cautious and protective of her wards. Kate will do whatever she must to uncover the truth even if it means placing herself in danger. With plenty of characters, action, danger, and historical detail to transport you back in time, the Kate Clifford Mystery series really is a must-read for mystery and historical fans worldwide. Compelling, engaging, and refreshingly different, Kate is such a feisty and strong character that you cannot help but admire and respect her. Sometimes historical novels can be slow-paced as there is so much detail needed to paint a proper picture of the past, but this is not the case with this series. Here you have all of the wonderful detail needed but energetically paced throughout so that you never feel bored or lose interest. The Kate Clifford Mystery Series by Candace Robb is an engrossing series and I look forward to reading more from this author. Author Bio: Candace Robb did her graduate work in medieval literature and history, and has continued to study the period while working first as an editor of scientific publications and now for some years as a freelance writer. Candace has published 13 crime novels set in 14th century England, Wales, and Scotland. The Owen Archer series is based in York and currently extends over 10 novels beginning with THE APOTHECARY ROSE; the most recent is A VIGIL OF SPIES. The Margaret Kerr trilogy explores the early days of Scotland’s struggle again England’s King Edward I, and includes A TRUST BETRAYED, THE FIRE IN THE FLINT, and A CRUEL COURTSHIP. Writing as Emma Campion, Candace has published historical novels about two fascinating women she encountered while researching the Owen Archer mysteries, Alice Perrers (THE KING’S MISTRESS) and Joan of Kent (A TRIPLE KNOT). Candace was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has lived most of her adult life in Seattle, Washington, which she and her husband love for its combination of natural beauty and culture. Candace enjoys walking, hiking, and gardening, and practices yoga and vipassana meditation. She travels frequently to Great Britain. For more information, please visit Candace Robb’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. *I want to thank Amy from hfvirtualbooktours.com and the author Candace Robb, for the opportunity to read both of these gripping books, and take part in this blog tour. READ ON FOR A WONDERFUL GUESTPOST FROM CANDACE ROBB, HAPPY READING! GUESTPOST
The Pleasures of Writing a Series Working on a novel is a long process, consuming my days and nights for months of work and worry. I live with the characters, coax them, argue with them. They wake me in the night with suggestions for plot twists, secrets about their pasts, reminders of threads I’ve dropped. On long walks I eavesdrop on arguments among them. And then, one day, the book is ready to send off to my editor. Such a rush of relief—I’ve done it again! I’ve completed another novel. And then… I don’t know what to do with myself. I could tackle all the things that fell through the cracks while I rushed toward the deadline, but busywork isn’t satisfying. I’m lonely. I miss the characters. The only cure is to dive into the next book, which is easy when writing a series. I go for a walk or go out to work in the garden while imagining what might be going on in Owen’s, Maggie’s, or Kate’s life, continuing a thread that began in an earlier book, something not quite tied up. It might be a blooming relationship, a potential conflict, a long-awaited opportunity, the unexpected return of a character from an earlier episode. This might not necessarily be the central plotline, but it primes the pump, puts my characters in play. I lost this continuity when I stepped away from writing mysteries to work on two standalones (The King’s Mistress and A Triple Knot, by “Emma Campion”). Once completed, I had no easy entrance into the next story. With these, once each book was finished, that was that. There was no “and then” to play with. Only by stepping away did I appreciate how much I enjoy writing crime series. In a standalone, everything is wrapped up in one book. In a series, my characters are on stage across a variety of adventures and through time. In the Kate Clifford series, I’ve burdened my main character with her late husband’s debts, his bastard children, an unfriendly clause in his will, a violent past, and a difficult mother. Kate’s issues are presented in book 1, The Service of the Dead, but, as in life, not all are resolved by the end of the first episode. Kate will cope with the hand I’ve dealt her over time, while investigating the crime that propels each book. Having the leisure of following all the recurring characters over time is a perk of writing a series. Their characters deepen as they face new challenges. In The Service of the Dead, Kate’s uncle Richard Clifford, dean of York Minster, is someone whom she trusts, someone who is there for her when she needs a safe place for her ward, Phillip. But in A Twisted Vengeance he steps back, looking to his own interests as the conflict between the royal cousins, King Richard and Henry Bolingbroke, the heir to the duchy of Lancaster, comes to a head. Because I’ve already established the warm niece/uncle relationship in book 1, this estrangement is all the more disturbing and disappointing—and signals just how dangerous the politics have become. Or take Kate’s mother, Eleanor Clifford, who arrives at the end of Service, giving Kate an outlet for her pent up anger. In book 2, A Twisted Vengeance, Kate realizes that her mother holds a secret that is endangering her own and Kate’s households. The challenge for Kate is to put her resentment aside and find a way to break down the barriers between them. The children in Kate’s household are certain to change the most through the series, as they move from childhood to adolescence and beyond. I look forward to exploring how Kate’s headstrong ward, Marie, will adjust to the new member of the household, Petra. And it will be fun to show Marie’s brother, Phillip, finding his way as an apprentice stonemason in the minster yard. And what of Kate’s heart? She has two intriguing men in her life, Berend (her cook, a former assassin), and Sir Elric, a knight in the service of Ralph Neville, the Earl of Westmoreland. With the country split apart by the warring royal cousins, the two men might very well find themselves on opposite sides. What of Kate? Whose side will she favor? Stay tuned! *MY THANKS AGAIN TO AMY AND CANDACE ROBB Book length - 150 pages
Publisher - reddoorpublishing.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk ABOUT THE BOOK Mo, the wealthy dictator of a volatile Middle Eastern country, enlists a ghostwriter to tell his story to the world and enshrine him in history as a glorious ruler. Inside Mo’s besieged palace the ghost forms an unlikely friendship with a wise and seemingly innocent Italian gardener who slowly reveals that the regime isn’t all it appears to be. As a violent rebellion threatens all their lives the ghost struggles to cope with a personal secret too painful to bear. Secrets of the Italian Gardener takes the reader on a heart-pounding journey through the bloody downfall of a doomed tyrant in the company of a young couple struggling to cope with the greatest private tragedy imaginable. MY REVIEW I wasn't quite sure what to expect from SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts, but it wasn't this deeply insightful, often disturbing, short novel that would leave me uneasy and uncomfortable throughout. We follow the actions of the ghostwriter, who always remains nameless in this tale, as they try to piece together the life of a powerful dictator. Confined within the palace with plenty of time to ponder and brood, the ghostwriter happens upon an Italian gardener who opens up the ghostwriter's eyes to what is truly happening in this place, and forces past tragedies back into the present. Extremely clever and well-written, there is a dark sense of foreboding and shadow constantly in play throughout this story which really left me edgy and on alert at all times. The narrative comes alive in the SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts and like the flowers on the cover, the story bursts from the pages and really grips you from start to finish. An unusual story, SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN GARDENER by Andrew Crofts is unique and well worth reading. Author Bio: Andrew Crofts is an author and ghostwriter. He has published more than 80 books, around a dozen of which have been number one bestsellers. His name first became known amongst publishers for the stories he brought them by the otherwise disenfranchised. Travelling all over the world he worked with victims of enforced marriages in North Africa and the Middle East, sex workers in the Far East, orphans in war-torn areas like Croatia and dictatorships like Romania, and abused children everywhere. The enormous success of these books brought many very different people to his door; first came the celebrities from the worlds of film, music, television and sport, and then the real elite in the form of world leaders and the mysterious, powerful people who finance them, arm them and, in some cases, control them. Invited to pubic and private palaces all over Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and tax havens from Monaco to private islands in Bermuda, Andrew listened as they revealed their secrets, gradually piecing together the truth of who really runs the world and how they do it. For more information: Website - andrewcrofts.com Twitter - twitter.com/AndrewCrofts *I want to thank Anna from reddoorpublishing.com and the author Andrew Crofts for the opportunity to review this book and take part in this blog tour. Here are all of the other fabulous stops along the way!! Release date - 26th June 2017 Book length - 339 pages Publisher - www.cranachanpublishing.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Welcome to Withering, a small town with a big problem in modern, matriarchal Britain. Here the women wear the trousers, while the men hold the handbags. Literally. There’s a serial strangler on the loose and the bodies of teenage boys are piling up on maverick D.C.I. Jane Wayne’s patch. Wayne needs to catch ‘The Withering Wringer’, but it’s not going to be easy. Demoted for her inappropriate behaviour, she must take orders from a man—and not just any man—an ugly one. Still, at least she can rely on her drug stash from a recent police raid to keep her sane… Shocking. Funny. Clever. A gender-bending, Agatha-Christie-meets-Chris-Brookmyre, mash-up. Simply genius. Scully’s debut novel takes classic crime and turns it on its head with a deliciously absurd comic twist. Author Bio: Irish-born; lives in Edinburgh. Unapologetically apathetic. Likes long walks on the beach. Current affairs. Fascinated by gender inequality. Crime shows. Netflix. Crime shows on Netflix. Reading. Writing. Triona’s debut novel, Nailing Jess, takes classic crime and turns it on its head with a deliciously absurd comic twist. For more information: Twitter - @TScullyWriter Website - trionascully.com I AM SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE AN EXTRACT FROM THIS COMPELLING NOVEL FOR YOU ALL TO ENJOY. HAPPY READING!! This extract is taken from Chapter One. It is the first time lead detectives Jane Wayne and Ben Campbell meet.
‘Is there anything you can tell me?’ Ben asked. ‘About this murder? No, doll, I just got here.’ ‘Yes, of course,’ Ben nodded, embarrassed. He stepped away from the body and allowed the doctor to examine it. He glanced around the room, trying to decipher clues from the chaos. The place had been completely ransacked. Two empty bookcases had been toppled over, one knocking a mirror off the wall and smashing it into the living room table, resulting in the cream carpet being covered in shards of glass. A book had been ripped up and its pages were spread all around the body, creating a circle. Despite the upheaval, Ben could sense an order to the scene. He paced the floor several times, taking in every detail. As he grabbed a pen and paper from his rucksack, he was conscious of Baker staring at him. “What’s the matter, Doc? You never seen a bloke with a beard before?” he wanted to ask, but didn’t. Instead, he scrawled some words and hastily sketched pictures in his pad. He bent down to retrieve one of the pages on the floor. A hand slapped it out of his. ‘Not without gloves, you don’t! You’ll contaminate a crime scene. Or didn’t they teach you that on the How to be a Detective’ weekend course they sent you on?’ Ben looked up to see a dishevelled, older woman in a long beige trench coat and a pair of tanned, worn-out cowgirl boots. Her short dark hair was thick and wavy and crowned a lined, but still handsome, face. Her breath smelled of cheap mints and her hair stank like an ashtray. ‘I’m sorry, who are you?’ Ben asked. ‘D.C.I. Wayne, Wayne replied, her tone implying Ben should already know who she was. Ben was taken aback. She didn’t look like a D.C.I., more like a D.U.I. He knew he should ask for I.D., but he didn’t want to create animosity with a senior officer. ‘Fast tracked, I suppose. Have you ever even seen a corpse before, pet?’ Wayne asked. ‘I worked the beat in central London for six months; I’ve seen several corpses.’ ‘Six whole months!’ ‘I was told I was in charge of this investigation.’ Ben’s voice veered towards a whine. ‘And so you are, so don’t go getting your lacies in a twist. I’m only here to observe, act like I’m not here.’ Wayne replied. Ben had a sense that this would be impossible. He scrawled some notes in his pad then approached Baker, who was still kneeling over the dead boy, her face deep in concentration. ‘Can you tell me anything about the body? Has it been moved?’ he asked. ‘I can tell you he had a cute little tushie,’ Baker laughed. ‘Estimated time of death?’ ‘I’ll know when I get him back to the lab.’ ‘Can’t you hazard a guess?’ ‘She could, but she’s a scientist, she’d prefer not to,’ Wayne interrupted. ‘Look, love, I appreciate that your entire knowledge of forensics was gained by watching a C.S.I. Miami box set, but here in the real world, it’s a tedious labour-intensive business. Why don’t you go touch up your make-up, or dare I say it – apply some – and Baker here will have a report by say, one-thirty?’ Wayne glanced at Baker for confirmation. Ben stared at the two women and counted back from ten silently. By the time he got to three, he could speak. ‘I’ll see you after lunch then.’ *I WANT TO THANK TRIONA SCULLY AND CRANACHAN PUBLISHING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART IN THIS BLOG TOUR. Release date - 29th June 2017
Book length - 384 pages Publisher - www.bonnierzaffre.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK Can you ever bury the past? She'd recognised in him something of herself: that sense of not belonging, of secrets fiercely kept . . . Five friends, newly graduated, travel together to the Lake District. Young and ambitious, they little imagine the events that will overtake them that fateful summer, tearing their fragile group apart. Twenty years later, they return to the same spot, summoned by a mysterious bequest. It's not long before old friendships - and old romances - are re-kindled. But soon, too, rivalries begin to re-emerge and wounds are painfully reopened . . . How long does it take for past sins to be forgiven? And can the things they destroy ever really be recovered? MY REVIEW First of all, I am so excited to be kicking off the blog tour for this compelling and unique tale about friendship and how the effects of our decisions can ripple through our lives for years to come. Five completely different people from completely different backgrounds forge a strong friendship in Cambridge through the power of music and spend three years in their intellectual and spiritual world, closer than ever. But when they take a summer trip with their mentor Fay, it changes everything for each one of them, some more drastically than others. And their camaraderie and connection disappear on the wind. Twenty years later and they are summoned back to that destination for a mysterious reason. As these strangers converge together in the place that changed them so drastically, will they finally find the answers that they have been searching for? Or by confronting each other again will it cause them to really look at the path that their own lives have taken in the aftermath of their actions all those years ago? EVERY SECRET THING by Rachel Crowther is such a clever, beautifully descriptive story about the complexities of relationships, and how a simple choice can change the course of your life in ways that are unimaginable. The characters are all unique, quirky, and compelling in their own ways, and the pace of the story was perfect as the story jumped from past to present effortlessly. The setting comes alive with breathtaking clarity, and I read this story in one sitting as I wanted a resolution for this magnetic group of people. The ending did leave me a little unsettled as I wanted to know more but that is also a sign of a great book too! EVERY SECRET THING by Rachel Crowther is a gripping read and I highly recommend it! Author Bio: Rachel Crowther qualified as a doctor and worked in the NHS for twenty years before succumbing to a lifelong yearning to write fiction, previously indulged during successive bouts of maternity leave. She has an MA in Creative Writing with distinction from Oxford Brookes, and a string of prizes for her short fiction. Her first novel, THE PARTRIDGE AND THE PELICAN, was published in 2011 and was a Tatler ‘sizzling summer read’. She has five children, two mad dogs and an abiding passion for music, art, cooking and travel, both in Britain and further afield. She currently lives in Surrey. For more information: Website - www.rachelcrowther.co.uk Facebook - www.facebook.com/RachelCrowtherAuthor/ I want to thank www.bookollective.com for allowing me to be a part of the magnificent b-team, and the author Rachel Crowther, for the opportunity to review this compelling book and take part in this fabulous blog tour. Don't forget to check out all the stops along the way!! Release date - 29th June 2017
Book length - 292 pages Publisher - blackandwhitepublishing.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK When was the last time you put yourself first? Thirty-eight-year-old divorcee Courtney Downey has no idea who she is any more. She has devoted her life to bringing up her beloved 15-year-old daughter Susan, but Courtney just doesn’t get the celebrity-obsessed, Snapchat-filtered teenage world Susan is part of, and they’re growing apart. When Susan announces she wants to live with her dad and his new, younger girlfriend, Courtney is devastated. But could the end of one life be the beginning of another? When Courtney is offered a job in beautiful, sun-kissed Cornwall, she and her vivacious best friend Claire follow their hearts and leave their problems behind for a summer of sand, sea and second chances. And when she meets sexy but infuriating builder Tony, Courtney rediscovers her passions for life, for cooking and for love. But just as Courtney is finally looking to the future, a crisis with Susan pulls her back to Dublin, and back into old habits. Will she ever be able to let go of the past and embrace the importance of being herself? MY REVIEW THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ME by Caroline Grace-Cassidy is everything I wanted in a story and more! Fantastic, relatable, flawed characters that I connected with instantly, coupled with a compelling storyline and a descriptive narrative that painted a picture for me as I sat on my sofa on a dull, Irish evening, were just some of the wonderful aspects of this amazing novel that drew me in and held my attention from cover to cover. Courtney Downey is at a crossroads where she is being forced to confront her life and what she really wants. It wasn't the fact that she has lost her husband to the lures of the young and glamorous Mar-nee that has made her question her future, but rather the reality that she seems to be losing her precious daughter to her too, that leaves Courtney frustrated and floundering. Having spent the better part of her life catering to everyone else's happiness, Courtney finds herself unneeded by her teenage daughter who is entering womanhood and trying to find her own place in this crazy world, and Courtney is lost. But when she gets an opportunity to work in Cornwall for the summer, it seems like fate and her beloved grandmother are giving her a push in the right direction, and when her best friend Claire needs to escape her own unexpected problems too, St. Ives seems to be the perfect solution. But as life suddenly seems more vibrant with plenty of exciting opportunities on the horizon, Courtney is suddenly pulled back to Dublin to deal with a crisis which will make Courtney question whether her brand new life is worth it... Compelling and rich in detail, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ME by Caroline Grace-Cassidy is a captivating story of real friendship, family relationships, and the importance of holding on to what makes you who you really are in a world that has become so fast-paced and materialistic. Courtney and Claire are the ultimate in friendship goals and I laughed and cried alongside them throughout their ups and downs. Courtney adores her daughter but struggles with this new phase in their relationship and even though my own kids are younger, there is plenty of good advice packed among these pages which I will definitely remember! Families come in all shapes and sizes and as the story develops, the author perfectly demonstrates this in this exquisite story. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ME by Caroline Grace-Cassidy is a story that will make you slow down from your hectic life and truly think and appreciate the simpler things, and I cannot recommend this book highly enough. A must-read for 2017!!!! Author Bio: Caroline Grace-Cassidy is an Irish writer and actress. She trained as an actress at the Gaiety School of Acting before landing her first role as Mary Mull on BAFTA award-winning children's programme Custer's Last Stand-Up. Since then she has appeared in various productions for BBC, RTE, TG4 and TV3, alongside a variety of feature films. Turning to full-time writing in 2011, Caroline has published four novels. Caroline is also a founding member of an all female Film & TV Production Company, for which she has written, produced and directed five short films. Her first feature film script is completed and in development. Caroline is a contributor for Woman's Way, U Magazine, Irish Country Magazine and has been a regular panellist for the Midday Show on TV3 since 2012. For more information: Website - www.carolinegracecassidy.com Twitter - twitter.com/cgracecassidy Facebook - www.facebook.com/Author-Caroline-Grace-Cassidy-129653703717062/ *I want to thank Lina from Black & White Publishing and the author, Caroline Grace-Cassidy, for the opportunity to review this book and take part in this blog tour. Don't forget to check out all of the other stops along the way!! Another month has flown by in a blur of wonderful books and beautiful covers. This month I found it particularly difficult to narrow down my choices for my cover love feature, but eventually I did what I had to do. So here are my contenders for the most stunning cover in June 2017:
But it is the cover of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL by Andrea Mara that really blew my mind this month and if I'm honest still creeps the hell out of me when I spot it on my bookshelf. Perfectly suited for the title, the cover gave me the shivers as I imagined just what evilness was waiting for me when I turned the page. It is just one of those covers that makes your imagination jump into overdrive and I think it is fantastic! So now you know my favourite cover for June 2017, here is all you need to know about the book itself. Happy reading!
Release date - 6th June 2017 Book length - 392 pages Publisher - poolbeg.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com ABOUT THE BOOK When Sylvia looks out her bedroom window at night and sees a child face down in the pond next door, she races into her neighbour's garden. But the pond is empty, and no-one is answering the door. Wondering if night feeds and sleep deprivation are getting to her, she hurriedly retreats. Besides, the fact that a local child has gone missing must be preying on her mind. Then, a week later, she hears the sound of a man crying through her bedroom wall. The man living next door, Sam, has recently moved in. His wife and children are away for the summer and he joins them at weekends. Sylvia finds him friendly and helpful, yet she becomes increasingly uneasy about him. Then Sylvia's little daughter wakes one night, screaming that there's a man in her room. This is followed by a series of bizarre disturbances in the house. Sylvia's husband insists it's all in her mind, but she is certain it's not - there's something very wrong on the other side of the wall. If you want to read my review of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL by Andrea Mara, you can check it out here - www.booksofallkinds.weebly.com |
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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