Book length - 212 pages
Publisher - Crooked Cat Publishing Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Joy Norstrom for providing with a copy of this book for review, and for providing an extract for you all to enjoy too. ABOUT THE BOOK Gillian Campbell is out of patience. Her husband is choosing his hobby over her. And the hobby in question? Live Action Role-Play, or ‘larp’. Larp involves dressing up as a character (be it medieval knight, banshee or centaur) and participating in imaginary battles for entire weekends. Gillian is not impressed. She seeks professional advice and is surprised when her therapist encourages her to try larp. Who knows? It may make you smile. It may make you laugh. It may even improve your sex life. How terrible could it be? The advice seems super sketch to Gillian, but she decides to don a costume and give it a go. If larp doesn't work a marital miracle, Gillian will be able to walk away knowing she tried absolutely everything before giving up. Will going on her own role-play adventure heal Gillian's marriage, or will the game shed light on everything that is wrong? MY REVIEW OUT OF PLAY by Joy Norstrom is a funny, often poignant, look at marriage and what can happen when the spark of romance seems to have died and been replaced with boredom and resentment. Gillian is fed up with her husband Ralph. Feeling like they are room-mates rather than partners, Gillian is determined to figure out a way to fix Ralph - after all, it is his fault that he disappears most weekends LARPing with his friends (that is Live Action Role Playing for those who are unsure). So spending more time doing yoga, meeting up with her best friend Jas who has her own issues, and seeing a therapist, will surely provide her with the answers. But when the therapist suggests that Gillian should make more of an effort and join her husband on the weekends and become a part of his hobby too, Gillian is definitely unsure. But surely it is worth a shot, right? With plenty of hilarious escapades, misunderstandings, and tender moments, OUT OF PLAY by Joy Norstrom is a story about real life and realistic problems, with characters that are flawed and more likeable for it. While I did find the pace slow at times, it didn't stop me from enjoying this story and all that it had to offer. I really enjoyed the LARPing element as it was fresh and different, but I have to admit I did not know too much about this type of hobby before reading this book. OUT OF PLAY by Joy Norstrom is an enjoyable tale about marriage and the messiness of life and would appeal to all contemporary fiction fans alike. Author Bio: Joy Norstrom is a Canadian coffee-a-holic. She also happens to be the author of Out Of Play, a women’s fiction novel long on humour and short on romance. She lives in Calgary, Alberta and enjoys hiking with her family, wine with friends and reading late into the wee hours when she should be sleeping. Joy is also a mother and a social worker. When she's not parenting, championing inclusion, or getting lost in a good read, she can generally be found in conversation. A people-person by nature, she looks forward to meeting with book clubs both in person and online. For more information: Website - www.joynorstrom.ca Twitter - twitter.com/norstrom_joy Facebook - www.facebook.com/joynorstromwrites/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/joynorstrom/ Read on for an excerpt from Out of Play ... EXCERPT “Pardon me?” I’d said. “Harping?” “Llllarping,” the flutist had corrected. “L-A-R-P. Live-action roleplay, you know?” She’d answered my question with a smile but her predatory gaze had shifted to Ralph. “Sorry,” I said. “I don’t know.” We were at a gala fundraising dinner for the Philharmonic Orchestra. I’d been performing with them for several years. My instrument, the French horn, might not have been the sexiest, but it was solid. Substantial. Not some flighty, erratic-sounding woodwind reminiscent of a chickadee caught sucking helium. I took a sip of my wine and wondered how we could politely exit this conversation. Lauren, a flutist who had recently joined the orchestra, was droning on about her gap year after university, while Ralph, more interested in his bacon-wrapped artichoke, had been zero help keeping the stilted discussion going. Zero help until she’d dropped larp on him like crack cocaine. Ralph looked up from his plate. “Live action. Is that like acting out a scene from a game? In real time or something?” Lauren nodded. “Doesn’t it attract some strange people?” he asked. His attention was already moving back to his appetizer. “You know, Dungeon & Dragons types who haven’t left their basements since the 1970s?” I gave a polite chuckle. But not Lauren. She howled. She threw her head back, long blonde waves streaming over her bare shoulders, as though Ralph had said the funniest thing ever. The swell of her breasts nearly bounced over the deep neckline of her turquoise gown. Brother. I self-consciously smoothed my black dress – the same one I’d worn to last year’s event – over my Spanx, which were unfortunately cutting off circulation to my abdomen. “Larp attracts all types,” Lauren said, having managed to catch her breath before her breasts escaped clean out of her dress. “If you like adventure and the outdoors and excitement, you’ll like this.” She directed her response at Ralph, who had, after all, asked the question. “You should check out our website sometime. It lists all our upcoming events.” Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a business card and handed it to Ralph. “Oh, er, thanks.” He balanced his plate in one hand, handing his wine glass to me while pocketing the business card. I’d found it there later. I’d taken the card with its heavily embossed gold print out of his pocket before throwing his dress pants in the wash. And if I hadn’t found it? The card would’ve been mashed to a wet pulp and torn into several mucky pieces, later to clog the dryer vent with the rest of the lint. Would that have changed anything? Perhaps not. We live in the Internet age. Yet I still couldn’t help wondering. Because instead of discarding it, I’d placed the larp card in the basket with loose pocket change and odd socks, the ones whose matches were forever MIA. And there the card had sat. Waiting to be rediscovered. And, of course, it had been. All it took was the right series of events. A crisis had hit—the unthinkable had happened. Then, incomprehensibly, life moved on. I remodelled the kitchen. Ralph bought leather-studded armour. **MY THANKS AGAIN TO JOY NORSTROM**
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Release date - 6th November 2017
Book length - 394 pages Publisher - Loughman Press Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Anne Cater for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THE BOOK The bullet in his brain isn't the problem. She is. Michael North is a hero, with a bullet in the brain to prove it. A bullet which has rewired his neural pathways and heightened his sense of intuition. A bullet which is driving him mad. Working for an extra-governmental agency called The Board, North knows one thing for sure. He is very good at killing very bad guys. But what happens when a hero is ordered to kill a good woman rather than a bad man? Because it turns out that rising political star, Honor Jones, MP, can't stop asking the right questions about the wrong people. He should follow orders. Shouldn't he? Not least because he's running out of time. North always knew the bullet in his brain would kill him. Then again, what if he's wrong? What if it's not the bullet, but Honor Jones who'll be the death of him? MY REVIEW KILLING STATE by Judith O'Reilly is a fast-paced, action-packed story of power, corruption, and murder, and nobody could tear this book out of my hands until I had reached the very last word (which, by the way, left me desperately wanting the next book in this addictive new series!). Michael North is a soldier, a killer, and a dead man walking if the bullet that is lodged in his brain ever decides to move slightly and finally finish him off. Determined that he would not waste what little life he had left, Michael became a killer for the elite organisation known only as The Board, who protected the government and the country at all costs. North knows that the people he has disposed of were evil and a danger to everyone so he sees it as his final good deed to the world. But when he is told to take out MP Honor Jones, there is immediately a problem, One - he doesn't kill women, and two - he cannot ignore his intuition which is telling him that she is innocent. And when North begins to dig into the truth it will open up a world of betrayal, lies, greed, and a desperate bid for power and control. With danger and misdirection at every turn, can North trust anyone in this deadly game of cat and mouse? And can he even trust himself? This novel is sure to get your blood pumping and your heart racing as you are sucked into this shady world of wealth and evil, and every page came alive in my mind like a scene in a movie. I could totally see KILLING STATE working as a Tv show or movie and I would be first in line to see it if that day comes. North is really likeable as a character and I wanted him to find that inner peace that he so desperately needed. The current shift in world politics has obviously been observed by the author who paints a picture of what power in the wrong hands can really do to a nation. The pace of the story is energetic and perfectly matches the action of the story and it left me wanting more which is always a sign of a top-notch read for me. KILLING STATE by Judith O'Reilly is an outstanding political thriller with plenty of subtle nuances and subterfuge to really keep you guessing to the very end, and I cannot wait for more from Michael North. Author Bio: Judith has written three books. Her latest book is called Killing State and is out in November. It's a commercial political thriller and her first novel – at least the first one she's allowed to leave the house without her. She likes to describe it as a Lee Child meets Robert Harris, with a young and very British action hero and compelling and dynamic female characters. She may be the only person who ever thinks that. We'll have to see. Judith's a former political producer with BBC 2’s Newsnight and ITN’s Channel 4 News, and a former education correspondent with The Sunday Times where she also covered politics, undercover reporting and general news. She still writes for The Sunday Times. Her two non-fiction books were called Wife in the North and A Year of Doing Good (both published by Viking Penguin, in 2008 and 2013 respectively). Wife in the North reached number three in the UK bestsellers’ chart and was in the top ten for five weeks. It was also a top ten bestseller in Germany. It sold into ten countries, was serialised by The Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week (has she mentioned that already?), and was based on Judith’s eponymous blog which was named as one of the top 100 blogs in the world by The Sunday Times. Judith’s blog is credited with kicking off the popularity of domestic blogging in the UK. For A Year of Doing Good, she did a good deed a day for a year. It did not make her a better person. She has taught memoir and blogging at Newcastle University, and occasionally advises on strategic communications. Most of all though, she writes and drinks a lot of tea. Occasionally, she shakes things up and drinks covfefe. For more information: Website - www.judithoreilly.com Twitter - twitter.com/judithoreilly MY THANKS TO ANNE CATER AND JUDITH O'REILLY FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS AMAZING BLOG TOUR. DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!! Release date - 31st October 2017
Book length - 316 pages Publisher - us.macmillan.com/smp Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com *I want to thank Meghan and Justine from St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book for review through Netgally.com. ABOUT THE BOOK 'Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays―even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything. Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wit’s end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances, and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby―and the inescapable longing in his heart―off the hook, however, is a whole ’nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along? MY REVIEW THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO by Donna Grant is exactly what I needed to read after a long day and I completely fell in love with Clayton and Abby as their story unfolded in front of my eyes. Ex-Seal Clayton East knows death and destruction first-hand but when he leaves the Navy he does not return to his home as the ranch where he grew up, holds too many memories that cut too deeply since that tragic accident all those years ago. But when he receives a phone call telling him his father is ill and they are about to lose everything, Clayton knows that he must return home and sort things out for the people who care about him the most, no matter how difficult it may be. Abby Harper is strong and determined. She had to be ever since the day her mother walked out and left her to raise her two younger brothers, Brice and Caleb. Working all the hours she can while trying to study for her degree still doesn't make ends meet though and there are times where Abby doesn't know how they will survive. But they have each other and that is all that matters. They may not be able to trust anyone else but Abby knows that she will never abandon them. But when she discovers that her brother was involved in a serious crime involving the East ranch, Abby is terrified at what will happen. Meeting Clayton East will change all of the Harper's lives forever, and the closer Abby gets to Clayton the more she craves this kind-hearted man with sorrow in his eyes. But can two broken-hearted souls find a way to heal their pain together? And who is really behind the trouble at the ranch and would use Abby's younger brother in the process? Gripping, sexy, with a dash of danger thrown in for good measure, and THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO by Donna Grant is the perfect cocktail for a wonderful novel. The characters are so engaging and relatable, and I really wanted Abby to find the strength to trust again as she had been through so much taking care of everyone but herself. Clayton is a dynamic and refreshing character who does whatever it takes to protect the people he cares for and I really felt for him when he opened up about what happened all those years ago. There is plenty of stunning scenery described in this novel, and the pace never lets this story down. THE CHRISTMAS COWBOY HERO by Donna Grant is a thrilling, passionate, and heartwarming story of family, love, and strength and I could not put this book down. Author Bio: Donna is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty-five novels. Her most popular series is the breathtaking Dark King (aka Dragon King) series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae. In addition to her novels, Donna has written over forty short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air” by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization” by Publisher’s Weeklyand “sizzling” by RT Book Reviews. She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews. Donna travels often for various speaking engagements, conferences, and book signings. She is also a frequent workshop presenter at national conferences such as RT Book Lovers Convention and Thrillerfest, as well as local chapters. Born and raised in Texas, she also has ties across the border in Louisiana. Growing up with two such vibrant cultures, her Cajun side of the family taught her the “spicy” side of life while her Texas roots gave her two-steppin’ and bareback riding. She is never far from her faithful 80 pound dog, Sisko, or her three cats. She can often be found at the movies or bookstore with her children. Or buying makeup. And shoes. For more information: Website - www.donnagrant.com Twitter - twitter.com/donna_grant Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorDonnaGrant/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/dgauthor/ Release date - 2nd November 2017
Book length - 320 pages Publisher - urbanepublications.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Abby from annebonnybookreviews.com for the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour, and the author Angelena Boden for her fascinating guest post on identity. ABOUT THE BOOK "the heart and emotion of the story sing through the pages" – Kerensa Jennings, bestselling author of Seas of Snow "A mother's story of longing and loss in today's world, beautifully rendered and never more relevant" - Andrew Smith, bestselling author of The Speech The Future Can't Wait is the emotive and compelling second novel from Angelena Boden, author of the gripping The Cruelty of Lambs. Kendra Blackmore is trying to be a good mother and a good wife, as well as pursuing her pressurised teaching career. Then Kendra's half-Iranian daughter Ariana (Rani) undergoes an identity crisis which results in her running away from home and cutting off all contact with her family. Sick with worry and desperate to understand why her home-loving daughter would do this, Kendra becomes increasingly desperate for answers - and to find any way possible to discover the truth and bring her estranged daughter home... The Future Can't Wait is a gripping story of a mother's love, and the lengths we would all go to in order to know our children are safe. Author Bio: Angelena Boden (M.Soc.Sc PGDE) has spent thirty five years as an international training consultant, specialising in interpersonal skills and conflict resolution. She trained in Transactional Analysis, the psychology of communication and behaviour, her preferred tool for counselling and coaching. Since retiring from training, she runs a coaching practice in Malvern for people who are going through transition periods in their life; divorce, empty nesting, redundancy or coping with difficult situations at work, home and within the wider family. Angelena has two half Iranian daughters and has extensive experience of helping mixed nationality couples navigate problems in their marriages. She is the author of The Cruelty of Lambs, a novel about psychological domestic abuse. Her new book, The Future Can’t Wait tackles the breakdown of a mother and daughter relationship within a cross cultural context. It is published by Urbane Publications and is out in November 2017. For more information: Website: http://www.angelenaboden.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelenaBoden Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bodenangelena/ READ ON FOR AN INTRIGUING GUESTPOST FROM ANGELENA BODEN ABOUT IDENTITY ... GUESTPOST WHO AM I? - Seeking Identity in a Confusing World One of the themes in The Future Can’t Wait is that of the transition from adolescence into early adulthood. Two young people, Rani and Jo, experience an internal struggle as they try to find their place in the world. This theme is highlighted a little more in the girls’ school where Kendra teaches psychology. Having raised and supported two daughters through their teens and twenties, I wanted to show how many young people today find themselves lost in the maelstrom of psychological and emotional development and more importantly how, as parents, we might be failing to support them. My parents’ generation of stoics would have said… ‘Get on with it like we had to.’ Counselling was for the feeble minded. There are many times in life when we all ask ourselves the mammoth question, Who Am I? Two periods on our journey are pivotal; the early twenties as we step tentatively onto the moving platform that is adulthood and the well documented mid-life point around forty. I’m not going to call these times of crisis as I see them a shift in gear in personal growth and development. That being said, in my counselling business I come across many people who feel they are being tossed around like a dinghy in a force 9 gale and are convinced they are having some sort of breakdown. Parents talk in loud whispers about the terrible teens. Emotional turbulence, acting out and bad decision making being the key hallmarks of this period. However, it is the passage through the early twenties that throws up deep-seated fears as we are left on our own to carve out a path to success. Even the definition of success is elusive. Doors begin to close. Not much chance of being an athlete if you’ve been out on the razz every night. See where I’m going with this? School provides a structure and in turn some security. It is hoped that home does something similar but there is an urgency in the twenty- something to break out of the patterns laid down by others even if it means smashing down the walls which trap them in a set of values they don’t buy into or damaging relationships. It’s a fight for freedom and independence. Parents can do nothing but look on and wring their hands in despair. This is a time of life when we figure out who we really are, determined not to be clones of our same sex parent or a mouthpiece for their politics. It’s forty years since I came of age ( 21) and I remember it being a time of adventure and optimism. Ok, so I had no university debt to worry about, career opportunities were plentiful and following a set course of house buying, marriage, children was available to those who wanted it. About a third of young adults today suffer from anxiety, depression, insecurities and loneliness which can forewarn of a crisis – a quarter life crisis as identified by psychologist, Dr. Oliver Robinson. Their launch into an independent life is being delayed by unstable economic factors and unspoken fears so should we be surprised when they drop out of university, announce they are going to save elephants in Thailand and generally turn their backs on a society they feel is failing them? Then… we have the audacity to pin the label of “snowflake” on to their lapels. An identity crisis can be triggered by mixed messages over their roles in society, employment, sexuality, religion and what is expected of them as contributing adults. To escape these pressures, a young adult might take on a whole new persona. I’ve known of people who have given up clubbing and converted to Buddhism. Others have dropped all pretence of being “good and obedient” and gone off to join a commune. It means cutting the ties that bind and finding the essence of who you really are. Anyone with a poor sense of identity and weak boundaries are ripe fodder for cults or some counter-culture. In the sixties I strongly identified as a hippy. In the seventies I played with the idea of converting to Islam. Only now in my early sixties (another of the famous life passages) have I found my authentic self. If there is a destination in mind, that’s it. “To thine own self be true,” says Polonius in Hamlet. Research from neuroscience shows that brains are still rewiring to the frontal lobe up the age of 25 at least which might account for some of the confusion and emotional lability in this age group. Maybe we shouldn’t be too hard on them. Let’s stop putting our young people in the boxes of our own making. Stop the subliminal messaging …. We are all doctors/teachers/clowns in this family. That includes you. We need to talk to the young adults in our families about how they are feeling and not solely about what they are doing, should be doing or not doing. Start listening. Really listening. To what’s not being voiced as well. If we are to help them create a strong sense of self, then we need to support and not judge, to understand and not lecture and above all to keep the doors of communication wide open at all times. Love survives in all weathers. Let them know that. *Thanks again to Angelena and Abby for everything, and don't forget to check out all of the other stops along the way!! Book length - 98 pages
Publisher - Self-Published Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Maxine Sylvester for providing me with a copy of this book for review ABOUT THE BOOK Ronaldo is the top flying cadet at the prestigious Reindeer Flying Academy. He dreams of getting his flying license, just like his hero, Vixen. In this first exciting chapter in the ‘Ronaldo’ series, our hero is faced with his toughest flying test ever – The Endurance Challenge! Can Ronaldo triumph over mean bully, Dasher, and win the 'Golden Wings' medal? Spurred on by Rudi, his quirky, loyal best friend and with a belly full of his favourite carrot pancakes, Ronaldo takes on the challenge of his life! MY REVIEW If you are looking for a festive children's book series to start with your kids before Christmas then look no further than RONALDO THE REINDEER FLYING ACADEMY by Maxine Sylvester. The first in a series, this story will enchant readers of every age as we go through the ups and downs of Ronaldo the reindeer who is determined to win the Golden Wings medal at the academy. With mishaps aplenty, this delightful short story will engage children's (and adult's) imaginations as you get swept up in the adventure, and there were many times when my kids were laughing out loud with Ronaldo. The illustrations were lovely and my kids always love a story that includes pictures as it really adds another dimension to the story for them. RONALD THE REINDEER FLYING ACADEMY by Maxine Sylvester was a huge hit in my house where both my children thoroughly enjoyed it and were eager for the next book in the series (Ronaldo The Phantom Carrot Snatcher). Definitely a must-read for families who are looking for an endearing series this winter. Author Bio: I was born in Hounslow, Middlesex in the south of England. As a child, I loved drawing and took private art classes with a wonderful teacher called, Pearl Lee. She had an abundance of Disney magazines, and I would paint the characters on wood, card, canvas or anything else I was allowed to use, including walls. When I was nine, my mum took me on holiday to Majorca. I clearly remember being fascinated by how other people lived outside of England. Travelling became my new obsession. After Sixth Form College, I intended to go to art school, but my travel bug got the better of me and chose to work as a holiday representative in Greece instead. This was followed by seven years working on cruise ships, two years in Israel and Palestine, and six years in Russia and Armenia. Although I lapped up the different cultures, I found my work over the years very unfulfilling. I decided to dig out my Caran d’Arche pencils, and do something about it! I enrolled in The College of Cartoon Art and was mentored by the renowned caricaturist, Steve Chadburn. I created a character called Ronaldo and decided to write a short story about him. Before I knew it, my head was spinning with ideas and the first book, The Reindeer Flying Academy, went from a small picture book into a fully blown chapter book … but more importantly, I loved every minute of the writing and illustrating process. Nowadays, I live in Bali, Indonesia, with my amazing partner, Mark, (Bristol born and bred) and am currently illustrating the third book for the Ronaldo series, Rudi’s Birthday Extravaganza. I am still a self-confessed Disney geek and get excited as a five-year-old whenever a new Disney animated film comes out. I love the Disney theme parks and have visited Orlando, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo – California and Shanghai are next on my bucket list. I have an unhealthy fondness for pizza and chocolate but a healthy love of Pilates - I like to think they balance each other out. And finally, I am a lifelong Arsenal supporter … although sometimes I wish I wasn’t! For more information: Website - www.ronaldotheflyingreindeer.com Twitter - twitter.com/flyingronaldo Facebook - www.facebook.com/MaxineSylvesterAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/maxinesylvester/ Release date - 18th October 2017
Book length - 281 pages Publisher - Self-Published Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Clare Daly for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THE BOOK Ireland, 1847. Seventeen-year-old EVELYN MOONEY has just burnt a man to death with her bare hands. Now she has to run, keeping it a secret from her brother MICHAEL, until she can figure it out. Together they flee their famine stricken homeland, crossing the Atlantic to New York and into the household of Russian aristocrat VLADIMIR DERMATOV. But their new master has a secret of his own and when his dead brother makes a miraculous return, the stage is set for a reunion unlike any other. For SASHA is now a vampire, seeking retribution on the brother that left him in the hands of a monster. Their fates will be decided in the mansions of Fifth Avenue and far below them, for a dark force lurks beneath the city who would bring them all together. MY REVIEW OUR DESTINY IS BLOOD by Clare Daly is a deeply layered, engrossing tale that blends history and fantasy seamlessly together with characters that readers will really connect with. In Ireland it's 1847 and famine has taken over the land, killing mercilessly. Evelyn and her brother Michael have already lost their mother and are now waiting for their father to follow her into the afterworld. And their despicable landlord is itching to throw them out onto the road. But Evelyn has a secret power that will change the course of her life and Michael's as it takes them across the ocean to New York where someone important is waiting for her. But America is nothing like their homeland and in the darkness lies a hidden world that battle monsters that would haunt your dreams ... OUR DESTINY IS BLOOD by Clare Daly is a compelling story about family, loss, and inner-spirit at a time in history where cruelty is the order of the day - from the famine in Ireland to slaves in the USA, the author doesn't try to hide the horror of humanity but rather places it beside the horror of another world where a powerful demon demands power and obedience. Evelyn, Micheal, and Sasha, really got under my skin and I devoured every page of this energetically-paced story as I was desperate to know what was going to happen. The settings and descriptions are top notch and Clare Daly has a way with words which allows you to step into a different time and place and experience it for yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed OUR DESTINY IS BLOOD and I look forward to more from this unlikely family. Author Bio: Clare Daly was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1974. She has been working as a film publicist for over twenty years in the Irish film industry, including time spent at Warner Bros. Pictures, Walt Disney Studios and Twentieth Century Fox. She can usually be found with her head in a John Connolly Charlie Parker novel or revisiting any of the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. In the classics, she adores Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Other favourites include Misery and 11.22.63 (Stephen King), Mystic River (Dennis Lehane), The Girl With All The Gifts (M.R. Carey) and Out of Sight (Elmore Leonard). Our Destiny Is Blood is her first novel, with the next instalment in the series coming in Spring of 2018. For more information: Website - claredalyauthor.com Twitter - twitter.com/cdalyireland Facebook - www.facebook.com/ClareDalyAuthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/claredalywriter/ Release date - 26th October 2017
Book length - 384 pages Publisher - www.hodder.co.uk Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Emily from Hodder Books for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THE BOOK Christmas has arrived in the little village of Welford. The scent of hot roasted chestnuts is in the air, and a layer of frost sparkles on the ground. This year, vet Mandy Hope is looking forward to the holidays. Her animal rescue centre, Hope Meadows, is up and running - and she's finally going on a date with Jimmy Marsh, owner of the local outward bound centre. The advent of winter sees all sorts of animals cross Mandy's path, from goats named Rudolph to baby donkeys - and even a pair of reindeer! But when a mysterious local starts causing trouble, Mandy's plans for the centre come under threat. She must call on Jimmy and her fellow villagers to put a stop to the stranger's antics and ensure that Hope Meadows' first Christmas is one to remember. One thing's for certain: this Christmas, there'll be animal escapades, kisses under the mistletoe...and plenty of festive cheer for all. Hope Meadows is based on the globally bestselling Animal Ark series. Perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Holly Martin and Cathy Bramley. MY REVIEW I was so excited to return to this wonderful series and I am delighted to say that CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE COTTAGE by Lucy Daniels is just as engaging and heartwarming as its preceding novel. Mandy Hope is unbelievably busy what with working at her parent's veterinary practice and building up her own animal rescue centre, Hope Meadows. But as the bills start piling up and Mandy starts to feel the strain, somebody in the village has it in for the centre and they won't be happy until Hope Meadows is closed. Add on to that worries about her mother, trying to buy and renovate her dream cottage, wanting to be there for her friends and all of the animals that need her, and it is no wonder that romance is the last thing on her mind, no matter how interested a certain local gentleman seems to be. As Christmas descends on this beautiful place will Mandy be able to solve all of her problems and embrace the new year with more than hope in her heart? Although you can easily read CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE COTTAGE as a standalone novel I highly recommend that you buy the first book in the series too as it really will make you fall in love with the place, the people, and the animals even deeper. I thoroughly enjoyed this story as we get to see Mandy try to tackle real-life problems with her business and her personal life, and the new additions to Hope Meadows are endearing as always. CHRISTMAS AT MISTLETOE COTTAGE by Lucy Daniels is an enchanting story, perfect for the cold winter nights that darken your door, and is a must for animal lovers and fiction fans alike. Author Bio: Lucy Daniels is the collective name for the writing team that created the bestselling children's book series Animal Ark. For more information: Website - sarahmcgurk.wordpress.com Twitter - twitter.com/SCMcG Release date - 26th October 2017 Book length - 304 pages Publisher - www.bombshellbooks.com Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com *I want to thank Nicola Cassidy and Bombshell Books for providing me with a copy of this book for review. ABOUT THE BOOK Molly Thomas is a feisty, independent soul, born on the Winter Solstice. At every stage of her life, she has faced troubles. As a young woman, her family are evicted from their home at Christmas. Molly swears vengeance on the jealous neighbour and land agent responsible, Flann Montgomery. Then in 1896, her baby son is taken from his pram. While Molly searches the streets for little Oliver, the police are called but her baby is gone. Why does trouble seem to follow Molly? And will she ever find out what happened to her child? December Girl is a tale of family bonds, love, revenge and murder. MY REVIEW DECEMBER GIRL by Nicola Cassidy is a powerful historical novel that emotionally battered me from all angles as I instantly got sucked into another time and place with gritty characters that will haunt me for a long time to come. It is the 19th Century and Molly Thomas is her daddy's December girl but when greed and corruption find the Thomas family turfed onto the side of the road, it will have unbearable and long-standing consequences on Molly who longs for justice. Fast forward a few years and Molly is dealt another blow when her little baby is taken from his pram and simply vanishes into thin air. How can one woman survive the trauma and ordeals that she has suffered? But somehow she does, however, the dark horrors of her past are always there, waiting in the background, calling her name ... DECEMBER GIRL by Nicola Cassidy is the perfect example of a stunning debut with exquisite attention to historical detail, characters that burrow into your heart and soul, and a plot that throws many unexpected twists along the way to take your breath away. This is not a nostalgic look back at a simpler time but a harrowing story that got under my skin and made me so emotional as I prayed, yes actually prayed, that Molly would find the peace that she deserved. The topics of family loyalty, corruption, power, and revenge are expertly handled as the story moves from different characters points of view and different years within the 19th Century. I couldn't put DECEMBER GIRL down, yet I didn't want to reach the last page for fear of what it might hold, but this outstanding story of strength, courage, and that spark of Irish spirit that nobody can ever really explain makes this novel one of the best debuts I have ever read. I cannot wait to see what is next from Nicola Cassidy. Author Bio: Nicola Cassidy is a writer and blogger from Co. Louth, Ireland. She started her writing career early, entering short story competitions as a child and became an avid reader ‘Matilda’ style. She knew that one day, she would like to write a book. Encouraged by her English teachers, she chose to study journalism at Dublin City University and while working in political PR and marketing, studied a series of advanced creative writing courses at the Irish Writers' Centre. Later she set up a lifestyle and literary blog www.LadyNicci.com, which was nominated in the Ireland Blog Awards in 2015 and 2016. December Girl, Nicola’s debut historical fiction novel is inspired by true events and is set in the mystical and ancient Boyne Valley, Co. Meath, famed for its stone age passage tombs, near to where she grew up. She signed with Trace Literary Agency in 2016. As well as being placed or shortlisted in a number of writing competitions, Nicola’s writing has been featured on widely read websites RTE Lifestyle, The Journal.ie, The Irish Times and Irish Central.com. She lives with her husband and two young daughters in Termonfeckin, Co. Louth. For more information: Website - ladynicci.com Twitter - twitter.com/ladynicci Facebook - www.facebook.com/ladynicciblog Instagram - www.instagram.com/ladynicci/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY ON #DECEMBERGIRL BLOG TOUR!!! |
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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