Murder on West Lake by I.M. Foster - #bookspotlight #blogtour

 

What a very pretty winter scene graces the cover of this book. I'm delighted to be shining the book spotlight on Murder on West Lake by I.M. Foster. It is the third book in the South Shore Mystery series.

The Blurb

A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel's heart froze. He knew that voice all too well.

After a pleasant afternoon of ice skating on the frozen waters of West Lake, local librarian Kathleen Brissedon stumbles across a gruesome sight in the nearby gazebo. It only takes a moment for her beau, assistant coroner Doctor Daniel O'Halleran, to determine that the victim was murdered.

To protect Kathleen from the ghastly sight of the man’s slashed throat, Daniel insists she return home while he examines the body further. Though the immediate cause of death appears obvious, he fears the subsequent autopsy will uncover more questions than answers, and it's clear that he has his work cut out for him if he's going to find the person responsible.

Kathleen has no intention of remaining demurely at home, not when there's a murder to solve. Slipping back to the scene, she conducts her own investigation. Though her discoveries prove interesting, Daniel is too concerned about her safety to stifle his annoyance, especially after the killer makes a second attempt closer to home. But as the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place and Daniel starts closing in on the truth, the killer sets their sights on him.

With the danger increasing, Kathleen intent on assisting in the investigation, and his family descending on Patchogue to spend the Christmas holidays, Daniel has his hands full. 

Will he and Kathleen be able to put their heads together and discover who is behind the attacks, or will the killer continue to plague the tranquil South Shore village unhindered?

Book Details

ISBN:  979 8987630631

Publisher:  Inez M. Foster – self-published

Formats: e-book and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages: 458 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth-century archaeologist.

Inez is a historian and librarian, who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys doing the research almost as much as she does the actual writing of the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime.

You can also find her at:

Author Website

Twitter / X

Facebook

Instagram

Why not visit some of the other lovely bloggers on this tour.

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

New Arrivals on West India Dock Road by Renita D'Silva - #blogtour #bookreview

 

West India Dock Road is slightly crooked, like, some say, those who inhabit it. But, its residents stubbornly maintain, this is what adds to its quirkiness, its otherworldly charm...

***

The Blurb

Welcome to West India Dock Road, in London’s East End.

An array of businesses lines this crooked street: a butcher’s, a sailmaker’s, a Jewish shop, a Chinese hostelry, a lodging house for people of all nationalities. A snatch of song wafts from a music hall, mingling with the scent of the public house nearby, the swell of the Thames and the call of seagulls. The air tastes of yearning…

1938: Divya has made the long sea journey from India to England, employed as a nanny by a British family. But once they arrive, she is cruelly abandoned, with no means to return home. Afraid and alone, she faces prejudice and rejection… until she finds her way to an Irish-run boarding house on West India Dock Road and meets Jack, Charity and a host of unexpected friends.

Divya is a good cook, and preparing meals for the other immigrants, homesick for the food they were raised on, gives her a new sense of hope and purpose. In time, she opens a thriving curry house, beloved by the local communities.

But as war in Europe looms, Divya’s fragile sense of belonging – through her business, her friendships and budding romance with sailor Raghu – comes under threat.

A world away from home, will she ever truly find happiness in life, on West India Dock Road?

My Review

I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to read this book. I was initially attracted to it by its title as it is an area that I am familiar with. My grandparents lived on East India Dock Road which runs almost parallel to the titular West India Dock Road.

I found the main character, Divya very easy to engage with. Her abandonment in a foreign land by her employers would have been terrifying for her but I had to admire her spirit. She demonstrates an inner strength through her plight, and the author brought her to life on the page. Equally, there is an excellent cast of secondary characters who added something wonderful to the story.

The author created an atmospheric setting for her book, and she wrote in such a way that vivdly portrayed London's East End very well. The sense of community she created felt very real, along with her depictions of the grey misty weather particularly when compared with the warmth and colour of India. The community aspect resonated strongly with me knowing that my grandparents lived within that particular environment at the time when the book is set.

However, the author does not shy away from the bigotry and racism that minorities would have faced at that time. The docks and the East End attracted people from many other countries and continents, and they were not always greeted with open arms. Ms. D'Silva does a great job in demonstrating this.

It is a heartfelt novel which takes Divya from a desolate place to one filled with hope and optimism.

I am excited that this is the first in a planned series of books as I would very much like to read more.

Incidentally, Divya's plight as an abandoned ayah was not a unique situation. Jacqueline Winspear also addresses this theme in her book, Leaving Everything Most Loved. You can read my review by clicking on the title.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1836172666

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited) 

No. of Pages:  360 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

About the Author

Renita d’Silva is an award-winning author of historical fiction, often set partly in India, where she is from.

You can also find Renita at:

Facebook

Twitter / X

Instagram

Author Newsletter

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahall - #blogtour #bookspotlight

 

I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this gorgeous looking book today. The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahill is historical biographical fiction and looks like an amazing read.

The Blurb

In the heart of tumultuous times, amidst the grandeur of Victorian opulence, there existed an American socialite whose influence altered the course of the Anglo-Irish treaty: Lady Hazel Lavery

Boston-born Hazel ascended from her Irish roots to become the quintessential Society Queen of Chicago, and later London, where she lived a delicate dance between two worlds: one with her esteemed husband, Sir John Lavery, a portrait artist to royalty, and the other with Michael Collins, the daring Irish rebel whose fiery spirit ignited her heart. Together, they formed a love triangle that echoed through the corridors of power at 10 Downing Street, London.

Hazel's wit and charm touched on the lives of the who's-who of England, including Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Evelyn Waugh. The image of her memorable face graced the Irish note for close to half-a-century.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1962465632

Publisher:  Historium Press

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  340 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Lois Cahall began her writing career as a columnist for Cape Cod newspapers and local periodicals, including Cape Cod Life. She spent a decade writing for national magazines (Conde Nast/Hearst). Her articles have been published in Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, SELF, Marie Claire, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Reader’s Digest, Men’s Journal, and Bon Appetit. In the UK she wrote for RED, GQ, Psychologies, and for The Times. In addition, Lois wrote profiles for The Palm Beach Post.

Lois’s first novel, Plan C: Just in Case, was a #1 bestseller in the UK, where it remained in the top three fiction for the year before selling into foreign translation markets. In July of 2014, her novel hit #1 on the Nook “Daily Deal” in America. Her second novel, Court of the Myrtles, was hailed as “Tuesdays with Morrie on estrogen” by the Ladies Home Journal. Her newest book, The Many Lives of Hazel Lavery, is a work of historical fiction and will be published in 2025.

Lois is the former Creative Director of Development for James Patterson Entertainment. She credits her friend, Jim Patterson, the world’s most successful bestselling author, with teaching her about the importance of children’s reading and literacy. As a result, she founded the Palm Beach Book Festival in 2015, an annual event bringing in NYT bestselling and celebrity authors. The event is for book lovers, nurturing the written word for the children and adults of southern Florida.

In 2024 Lois also founded The Cape Cod Book Festival, an annual autumn event that promises to be a new cultural footprint in Massachusetts. It will be for locals and ‘washashores’ alike – a magical place where charitably minded readers can rub elbows with great writers and thinkers.  

Lois divides her life between New York and Cape Cod, although her spiritual home is London. But most importantly, Lois can do the Hula Hoop for an hour non-stop and clear a Thanksgiving table in just under ten minutes.

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti - Question 9 - #readalong #blogtour

Welcome to Question Nine of our Read Along of Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti.

Q Do you want to know what people think of you?

A  Only if it's good! I guess there is an element in all of us that we want to be liked. We want to hear the positive. However, if life has taught me anything it is that you can't please everybody all of the time.

What do you think?

 

The Nameless by Stuart White - #bookspotlight - #blogtour #BBNYA

 

I am so pleased to be shining the book spotlight on this book today. The Nameless by Stuart White was the 16th placed finalist in the BBNYA 2024 Award.

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads. 

The Blurb

The YA debut from award-winning author, Stuart White.

IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY.

In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number.

To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian Autokratōr.

But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge, love and discovering his identity.

For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1739595555

Publisher: Penobi Press

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  334

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

Stuart is an award-winning author and secondary school teacher. He has a Masters Degree in Creative 

Writing and founded, and now runs, WriteMentor. In 2020 and 2022 he was placed on the SCWBI Undiscovered Voices longlist and named as an Hononary Mention for his novels ‘Ghosts of Mars’ and ‘Astra FireStar and the Ripples of Time’. In 2023, he won the WriteBlend award for his middle grade debut, Ghosts of Mars.

Stuart was included in The Bookseller’s 2021 list of Rising Stars in the publishing industry.

(media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti - Question 8 - #readalong #blogtour

Welcome to Question Eight of our Read Along of Aristotle for Novelists by Douglas Vigliotti.

Q How important are believable characters to you?

A  I think they are absolutely essential. It is the characters that usually first engage me with a book and what keep me reading on.

What do you think?

The Leap Year Proposal by Susan Buchanan - #blogtour #authorQ&A #giveaway #authorinterview

 

I am delighted to welcome the author, Susan Buchanan onto the blog today. Susan was kind enough to agree to answer some questions about her latest book, The Leap Year Proposal. She has also been generous in offering a signed copy of her book to giveaway. Information on how to enter is at the bottom of this post.

But first, let me give you some info about the book.

The Blurb

Three women. One crazy hen weekend. 

A life-changing decision.When three women meet on a mutual friend’s hen weekend on the Scottish island of Arran, they get more than they bargained for when one of them has the genius idea of proposing on 29 February, like the age-old Irish tradition.

High-flying businesswoman Anouska and boyfriend Zach are deliriously happy and madly in love. If only they had more time together. But now she’s pregnant and doesn’t know how to tell him since having kids hadn’t featured in their plans.

Dog walker Jess lives with her childhood sweetheart, but they’re already like an old married couple, without the romance, or the wedding, or the ring. When Mark doesn’t propose on New Year’s Eve, Jess is gutted and decides to take matters into her own hands.

Ellie and Scott still live apart after six years, and his lack of commitment is a sore point. She’s up for a huge promotion which involves moving country. It’s make-or-break time. She needs to know he’s worth turning down the job for.

The women meet weekly, helping each other with decisions big and small, becoming each other’s support system in the run-up to ‘the big ask’.

Will love conquer all or will their hopes and dreams come crashing down around them?

***

Welcome to the blog Susan.

Thanks for inviting me.

Q. Intriguing concept – leap-year proposals. Are you a feminist? And do you think the concept of leap-year proposals still resonates today?

A. Am I a feminist? I’m a feminist in so much as I’ve never thought, not even for a second, that I don’t have as equal a right as a man to do something, simply because I’m female. I think whether the proposal idea will resonate or not depends on the person. You’ll have those who rail at the idea of women having to wait until 29 February every four years to propose, and then you’ll have people like me who like the uniqueness of the date and the fact that 29 February only exists every 4 years, and will just roll with it.

 Yes, I proposed on 29 February – although that morning I had no plans to!

Q. How many drafts of your books, and particularly this one, did you do?

A. Nowadays I usually do 2-3 drafts, then more after edits. This one went through a lot more edits as so many things changed based on feedback. I’ll never know which was the better version. I loved both, but clearly I’m biased! 

Q. So, does that mean you cut characters and scenes? Do you delete scenes or keep them? I’ve heard writers should never throw anything away.

A. Yes, I cut both characters and scenes, and that’s not something I usually do. But in traditional publishing, you often have to fit exactly what they’re looking for, so I did that for this book. I keep all versions of my books, so those scenes may be used as a little extra for my newsletter subscribers at some future point. 

Q. What to your mind is the most romantic scene in the book?

A. Hmm, that’s a toughie, but I guess I’d have to say the penultimate one with Zach and Anouska (not including the epilogue). If it doesn’t get the readers rooting for them, I’ve done something wrong! 

Q. What would you say the themes are in the book? Obviously romance, but I get the impression female friendship is a key one.

A. Absolutely it is. The three women end up spending a lot of time together – time when their partners, for various reasons, aren’t around. It works in their favour in one way as they’re trying to craft these proposals in secret. The strength and bond of female friendship is definitely one of the main themes in the book. Betrayal, second chances and forgiveness also feature heavily.

Q. Did you have any actors or people in mind for any of the characters in the book as you wrote it? If not, who would you like to take the lead roles if The Leap Year Proposal was made into a film?

A. Not as I wrote it, no, although interestingly I did for the book I wrote after this one! I don’t tend to normally. Perhaps Claire Foy for Ellie, Emilia Clarke as Jess and Gemma Arterton as Anouska. For the love interests, perhaps Taron Egerton, Theo James and Nicholas Hoult, but I’m not telling you who is who!  

Q. What can we expect from Susan Buchanan in 2025 and 2026?

A. Well, quite a lot, I think! I released the third in my Christmas Spirit series in November 2024 after a gap of almost ten years! I know! And it was so well received, and I’ve had so many ideas for future books in the series, I can confirm there will be another Christmas Spirit book in 2025 and probably again in 2026. However, before that there’s You Can’t Hurry Love, my romance set in Costa Rica, and heavily featuring a sloth sanctuary – if you’ve never been, you really have to go. Sloths are so cute! You Can’t Hurry Love will be out in May and is already up for pre-order: https://books2read.com/u/mKG0p5

Thank you so much for coming onto the blog today Susan. It's been wonderful to have you and I'm sure the book will do brilliantly.

About the Author

Susan Buchanan writes romantic comedy, contemporary romance and women’s fiction, usually featuring travel, food, family, friendship, community – also Christmas!

Her books are Sign of the Times, The Dating Game, The Christmas Spirit, Return of the Christmas Spirit, A Little Christmas Spirit and Just One Day – Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. 

As a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor and proofreader, if she’s not reading, editing or writing, she’s thinking about it.  

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, the Society of Authors and the Alliance of Independent Authors. 

She lives near Glasgow with her husband, two children and a crazy Labrador. 

When she’s not editing, writing, reading or caring for her two delightful cherubs, she likes going to the theatre, playing board games, watching quiz shows and eating out, and she has recently discovered a love of writing retreats.

You can also find Susan at:

Author Website

Instagram

Twitter / X

Blue Sky

Giveaway

To be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of The Leap Year Proposal click on the link below. UK only.

Good Luck!

Enter Giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

(media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)