Nameless Queen: A Prophecies of Ragnarok Story by Marie Sinadjan- #spotlight #excerpt

 

I am delighted to be bringing you a spotlight and excerpt from Nameless Queen by author, Marie Sinadjan. Do enjoy reading this and there is a purchase link below.

The Blurb

All things end, and all must die.

But death is not always the end.

When Geiravor Lokisdottir was stripped of her name and cast out of Asgard, torn from her family and the life she had known, she thought she’d lost it all. But in the shadows of Niflheim she discovers the path to her destiny, and what it truly means to be queen.

This is a prequel short story to THE PROPHECIES OF RAGNAROK trilogy by Meri Benson and Marie Sinadjan and a retelling of the myths involving Hel, the Norse goddess of death and the queen of the underworld.

Excerpt

Standing on the bank of the river Gjoll, Hel listened to the names of the Dead in the wind. This was her life now, as difficult and strange as it was to accept.

The Allfather had banished her from Asgard for treason, trapping her in Niflheim and erasing her name. However, she eventually realized that the realm itself was alive and had other plans. Niflheim did not intend for her to merely wallow in her despair and slowly starve herself to death.

The realm wanted her to be its caretaker.

A line of longships stretched toward the horizon and disappeared into the mist. In the ships were bodies, and the first one had come alive at Hel’s accidental touch.

The man lurched like he had been holding his breath underwater for far too long. “Where am I?”

For a moment she stared back at him with an equal measure of fear. What just happened? Was it her appearance that scared him?

But it soon became clear that it was not the case. “Who am I?” he asked her, distraught.

His name came to her in the wind. “Egil Hringson,” she repeated.

Her eyes flew wide as the man clung to her and wept like a child. She hadn’t realized how important it was for the Dead to be remembered, not until then. And while she did not have the details of his life, revealing his name seemed to help him find peace.

She did not sleep for three whole days, traversing the bank of the river to bring the newly deceased out of their stupor. There were surely hundreds of them; she’d stopped bothering to count after she reached twenty. Some ships had elaborate carvings on the prow, while others were simple wooden vessels that appeared to have been put together at the last minute. None of that mattered to her, however. It was not her place to judge or choose who awakened in this realm, unlike Odin the Allfather and his band of Valkyries.

At first, only the old woman helped her. But after three days of tireless work by the river, the inhabitants of Niflheim came to see that she was something more than merely a deranged soul who could not embrace the fact that she was dead. One by one, they joined her, seeing those she’d awakened into settlements and communities. Most of them were patterned and named after actual Midgardian locations, which provided a small comfort to the Dead.

“Who is she?” Egil asked the old woman when he returned to the river the day after his awakening.

“Hel,” the old woman answered.

It was not Hel’s real name, but it was all she had.

The one she had been born with had been taken away from her.

Purchase Link from Amazon

Reading Roundup for November 2023

 

How has November been for you, my friends?  It has been a quiet month for me which isn't a bad thing as it has given me lots of reading time.

Have you started shopping for the festivities yet? Hopefully, you are more organised than I am. I have made a start but I still have lots to do! I will get there. I always do.

Have you read anything good this month? Do tell!

Here are the books which I read this month.

Books I Have Read

New York Miracle by Margo Laurie - A sweet Christmassy ghost novella. You can read my review by clicking here.

Number 23 Burlington Square by Jenni Keer - This was my favourite book this month. It scored an easy five stars. You can read my review by clicking here.

Ghosted by Rosie Mullender - This was a delightful rom-com which I really enjoyed. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Counterfeit Detective by Simpson Grears - A dual timeline novel with overtones of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Heretic's Daughter by Michael Lynes - The second book in the Isaac Alvarez series, and probably my favourite of the trilogy. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Red Citadel by Michael Lynes - The perfect book to end the Isaac Alvarez series. You can read my review by clicking here.

Into the Lion's Mouth by Nancy McConnell - I read this book for the BBNYA Awards and I will post my review after the judging has taken place.

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney by Mac Barnett - The age old question is considered in this lovely picture book for children. You can read my review by clicking here.

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson - This was my book group pick this month. One or two members really liked it but the majority thought it was less enjoyable than some of her previous books.

Bunnies in a Sleigh! by Philip Ardagh - I loved this picture book for young children. Lots of reasons to make children (and adults) giggle. You can read my review by clicking here.

Christmas at the Cabin by Rebecca Boxall - A gorgeous tale that is the perfect festive read. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride - I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book which is the first in a planned series. You can read my review by clicking here.

A Woman of Courage by Rita Bradshaw - I enjoyed this book very much. You can read my review by clicking here.

Moroccan Traffic by Dorothy Dunnett - The seventh book in the Dolly series. You can read my review by clicking here.

Books I Am Partway Through

The Chilbury Ladies Choir by Jennifer Ryan

The Only Way Out is Death by Varun Gwalani

The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh

(header photo courtesy of Dollar Gill/Unsplash)

The Library Girls of the East End by Patricia McBride - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Lady Carmichael looked at her daughter in dismay. 'You're not serious! The East End of London? Why on earth would you want to work there? All sorts of unsavoury people live there. Poor people, immigrants, criminals, Jews.' She frowned. 'And where is this Silvertown? I've never heard of it. Is it the principal London centre for making jewellrey?'

'No Mother. It's part of the East End, between Canning Town and the Thames.'

Her mother's eyes widened. 'Really, Cordelia, that sounds just dreadful...'

***

1940, London

When Cordelia accepts the post of head librarian in Silver Town Library, her mother is more than a little disapproving. The East End has high levels of poverty and illiteracy, and her mother says it’s no place for a woman of her status.

But Cordelia is determined to make a difference in these times of strife, and along with her colleagues, Jane and Mavis, she begins to help the local community, making sure everyone knows what the library can offer them.

And maybe even a romance will blossom, giving Cordelia the strength to make it through the chaos and destruction that constantly threatens their livelihood.

Against a background of war, air raids and rationing, it becomes clear the library is more than a building filled with books - it is the beating heart of a community refusing to be torn apart.

***

The older I get the more I like this kind of feel-good fiction. Or maybe, it is just that there is just so much misery in the world at the moment, that I love to escape into a world that lifts my spirits. Whatever the reason, I was delighted to be part of the blog tour for this book. 

The main characters in this book, Cordelia, Mavis and Jane are a wonderful mix of personalities.  I loved the straight talking East Ender, Mavis. I was born and grew up not too far from where the book is set and I certainly recognised Mavis, as well as many of the secondary characters.

Through both the narrative and dialogue, the author has imbued an authenticity to the setting of this book. I have vivid memories of my parents describing the East End during the Second World War, and it was very easy for me to slip this story into those descriptions.

There are lots of themes running throughout this book; rape and domestic abuse are mentioned (although not witnessed on the page) and the author deals with them with sensitivity and compassion. However, alongside this there are happier themes of friendship and a good dose of romance thrown in.

All in all, it was a delightful book which I highly recommend. This is the first in a brand new series from Patricia McBride, and I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

ISBN: 978 1785139918

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  248 (paperback)

About the Author:

Patricia McBride is the author of the very popular Lily Baker historical saga series. She is now writing a new WW2 series for Boldwood, based in the East End of London during the Blitz, the first title of which, The Library Girls of the East End, will be published in November 2023.

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

(all opinions are my own)

Christmas at the Cabin by Rebecca Boxall - #bookreview #blogtour

 

There are worse places to be homeless than St Helier. Jersey is one of the smartest places in Britain, after all, and the people are generally very nice. They don't like to look at me - I'm a blot on the beautiful landscape - but they're generous when they see me busking, tossing their coins past my dog, Lola, into my open guitar case.

The weather here isn't too extreme - rarely too hot or too cold, though you'd be surprised how bitter it can feel when you're trying to sleep in a bleak multi-storey in the thick of winter. And there are charities, soup kitchens, shelters, hotstels - even some vicar who seems to have made it his mission to befriend me...

***

A festive, coming-of-age tale about an Oxbridge candidate and a young homeless man who find themselves in the bittersweet predicament of falling in love with exactly the right person at exactly the wrong time. 

Well-to-do Jed never imagined he’d end up homeless, but family circumstances have made it his only option. Local vicar, Ben, tries to help him but there’s an element of self-punishment to the homelessness that makes Jed continue to put up with his situation – until disaster leads him to re-consider the vicar’s offer of a place to stay. 

Hattie is on the cusp of adulthood, frantically trying to persuade her mum that she doesn’t want to attend an elite university, preferring the idea of pursuing her love of art and textiles. When she meets Jed, she badly wants to understand his circumstances and why, when she has everything at her fingertips, he doesn’t. 

Hattie’s mum, Christine, has had a hard life and is desperate for more for her only child. When she meets Ben, the vicar who’s trying to help Jed, she finds an unlikely ally, and the two heartbroken souls find themselves drawn to each other. Until they find their relationship suddenly tested to the limit. 

One thing’s for certain: none of these characters is looking forward to Christmas. It’s the worst time of year for each of them, for different reasons. But perhaps this year, the festive season could defy all expectations.

***

This is a lovely story which begins with the plight of a homeless man. However, if that makes you think that the plot will be a little depressing I urge you not to as this is one of the most uplifting books I have read in a while.

It is the story of four people and how their lives interact. Jed is the homeless man I referred to previously, Ben is the local vicar, Hattie is studying for her A levels and Christine is her mum. Christmas is fast approaching (for them and us) and none of them are looking forward to the festive season. Each of them had a complex background which had led them not to trust others.

I was completely gripped by this book and enjoyed reading every word. It has been well written in an engaging style. Ms Boxall brings her story and characters to life on the page which made me want to get back to this book on every occasion. 

Throw in a dog, Lola, to the story and you have the perfect festive read. I have not read anything by this author before and she seems to specialise in novels set at Christmas. I would love to fit another one in before the festivities but I may be being a little optimistic timewise. Never mind, there is always next year!

Formats:  e-book - currently available on Kindle Unlimited

About the Author:

Rebecca Boxall was born in East Sussex in 1977 and grew up in a bustling vicarage always filled with family, friends and parishioners. She now lives by the sea in Jersey with her family and Rodney the cat. 

She read English at the University of Warwick before she trained as a lawyer and more recently worked at a psychiatric unit.

She is the No. 1 bestselling author of Christmas at the Vicarage and Christmas on the Coast as well as the bestselling writer of Home for Winter, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse, in respect of which she was nominated for the Romantic Novel Awards in 2020. She is also the author of Christmas at the Farmhouse and her popular short story, A Winter’s Day. 

(e-book and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Ghosted by Rosie Mullender - #bookreview

Before Andy had tried to contact her from beyond the grave, Emily was panicking about the guacamole going brown. Later, remembering this, she wished she'd realised just how lucky she'd been to be spending her time worrying about avocados, instead of the afterlife.

Zoe poked a finger knuckle-deep into the gloopy green dip, which Emily was dolloping into a row of tiny, jewel-hued mezze bowls.

'Not until the adults get here,' she said, slapping Zoe's hand away from the bowl...

***

How badly have you been ghosted? No, literally.

A year ago, Emily was ghosted.

But it's fine, she's over it. And Andy was never part of the plan anyway. She's working on Project New Emily - New Emily goes to cocktail bars, wears ankle-breaking heels and has her life together. She's looking for a new man to match; Andy's old Converse and bad jokes were never going to work.

Thoughts about Andy are firmly in the past - until his name is spelled out on a Ouija board at a party. Emily discovers that Andy didn't ghost her - he died. And just as she's trying to work out how she feels, Andy turns up in her flat as a ghost. A ghost. In her flat.

Once she's over the shock, Emily realises she needs to get rid of this ghost of dating past so she can focus on the new man in her sights - and that the only way she can do that is to help Andy solve the mystery of his death. But as she spends more time with him, she remembers how nice it was to let her guard down and just be Old Emily sometimes.

Emily must choose between her new life and the past that's come back to haunt her. But she soon discovers that when it comes to putting her ghosts to rest, it's not as easy as she might think...

***

I loved this book from start to finish. I do not read many romantic comedy books but this one has caused me think I really should try more of this genre. Anyone who has any suggestions please let me know in the comments below.

It is a delightful story about a ghost and being ghosted, and it has been written with wit and humour.

It has been well executed and kept me engaged throughout. There is also a suspense element to the story as the characters attempt to solve the mystery of what led to Andy's death. They were a few twists and turns in resolving this which added another level to the story.

Ms. Mullender has created a wonderful cast of characters; not only the main characters of Emily, Zoe and Andy but the secondary characters added much to the story. Emily's work friends and the charismatic Oliver were all well drawn and came to life on the page.

Emily was a great character, despite some of her decisions being questionable. However, in a way this made her even more likeable because as a reader, I was hanging in there waiting for her to realise the error of her ways.

Ghosted was an easy book to read and had time permitted I would have devoured it over the course of a weekend. It was a heartwarming story with a lot of charm. I finished the book with a warm fuzzy feeling; it very much had a feel good factor in the end.

I highly recommend this lovely book to anyone who likes humourous romantic comedy.

ISBN:  978 0751585254

Publisher:  Sphere

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages:  400 (hardback)

About the Author:

Rosie has worked in journalism for 20 years and her experience includes full-time roles as Cosmopolitan's Features Director (and sometime Sex and the Single Girl columnist), and Co-op Food magazine's editor.

 In 2018, she decided to go freelance, and now writes for publications including The Guardian, The Observer, Stella, Sunday Times Style, Grazia, Stylist and Psychologies. She is also an experienced product reviewer.

 As a copywriter, she has produced content for clients including Mars, All Bar One, Fuller's, Rosa's Thai and ibis hotels, as well as volunteering her writing skills to FEAST With Us, a charity that fights food poverty in London.

 Her debut novel, The Time of My Life, was published in hardback by Sphere on 7 July 2022, and her second, Ghosted, was released in July 2023.

(author media courtesy of her website https://www.rosiemullender.co.uk/)

(all opinions are my own)

Wild Court by Matthew Samuels - #spotlight #blogtour

 

I am delighted to be bringing you a spotlight of Wild Court by Matthew Samuels today. 

This week is the blog tour for this book and I am very happy to be taking part.

The Blurb

A secret organisation is losing the battle to maintain the empathy levels that sustain our planet’s barriers against the nightmare worlds.

Meanwhile, a young aristocrat safeguards a terrible secret, sponsoring an archaeology graduate obsessed with biblical artefacts. An all-knowing orphan worshiped by a cult joins a textbook exemplar of toxic masculinity and an introverted librarian. Together with a retired demon hunter, they’ll face the apocalypse.

ISBN: 979 8377565864

Publisher:  Independently published

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  425 (paperback)

About the Author:

Matthew Samuels is a science fiction and fantasy writer based in London, UK. He is the author of the Sci-Fi Hopepunk adventure books Parasites and Dusk, the first two books in the Navigator Series, which you can buy on Amazon or read more about on Goodreads , and urban fantasy titles, Small Places.

The Red Citadel by Michael Lynes - #bookreview #blogtour #IsaacAlvarezSeries

 

As the muezzin's cry announced another dawn, shafts of sunlight from behind the peaks of the Sierra Nevada crept across the face of the Alhambra - situated high on the Sabika hill - suffusing the citadel's red walls with a saffron glow. The variegated light glided down the brick ramparts of the fortress to find Granada at its base. It moved on to illuminate the city's terracotta tiled rooftops, pomegranate studded trees, and blue and white mosaic tiled fountains. It even insinuated itself into the shadowy alleyways of the labyrinthine Albaicin, creeping into the homes of the Mudejares finishing their prayers, most too afraid of their Catholic masters to complete their devotions in the few remaining mosques. The sun did not discriminate though - it lit the houses of poor and rich alike...

***

Isaac Alvarez is a heretic, a reluctant spy, and a murder suspect. Can he prove his innocence and quell a rebellion to reunite his family? Granada, Andalusia, 1499 Forced to convert to Catholicism Isaac remains a Jew at heart. Exiled from Seville by King Ferdinand for heresy he is suspected of murdering the Grand Inquisitor, Torquemada. Did he? Andreas, a priest, has been accused of the murder and imprisoned. Alonso, Torquemada's previous deputy and an old foe of Isaac's, has now returned from exile in the Indies determined to prove his childhood friend's innocence. Isaac now lives with Abdul Rahman - a wealthy Muslim spice merchant - his wife Fatima, and his brother Ali Sina, the last apothecary in the city. He works for Archbishop Talavera. Granada is in turmoil. The rulers coerce Muslims to embrace Catholicism. A rebellion is developing, led by Abdul Rahman. The King instructs Isaac to spy on the rebels. He is conflicted by his loyalty to the brothers and his love for Fatima, but reluctantly agrees.

***

This is the third book in the Isaac Alvarez series. If you would like to read my spoiler free reviews of the previous two books, Blood Libel and The Heretic's Daughter you can do so by clicking on the titles.

I have very much enjoyed reading this series. The book has much to say about religious intolerance, albeit in an historical setting, but there are still lessons that apply to the modern world in which we live.

Isaac is a strong character who we have met in the previous books, and this book continues to develop his personality. I feel as though I know him, and his headstrong daughter Isabel very well by now and I shall miss reading about them as this is the final book in the series. I am unaware whether the author is planning on continuing with his characters but I would be thrilled if he was.

This book continues on from the persecution and intolerance suffered by the Jews in Seville during the Spanish Inquisition. This develops the theme when we see the same attitude focused on those of the Islamic faith.

The book is atmospheric, and Mr. Lynes does an excellent job at bringing his historical environment to life with his vivid and vibrant descriptions. I could almost smell the fires and feel the heat whilst reading. The author has clearly researched his material thoroughly, and it really shows in these books. It was easy to understand the chaotic and bewildering environment in which these people lived.

I learnt more of this difficult period in history through these books, and it was an easy and accessible way in which to become more familiar with the times.

This has been an excellent series which I highly recommend to historical fiction fans.

ISBN: 978 1739185749

Publisher:  Romaunce Books

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  358 (paperback)

About the Author:

Michael writes the Isaac Alvarez Mysteries, set in late 15th century Andalusia. He won a prize for his debut, Blood Libel, at the 2020 Emirates Literature Festival. Best-selling author Sophie Hannah called it, 'immensely gripping,' and the Historical Novel Society said, 'Lynes knows his history and tells the story with verve.' He published his second novel, The Heretic's Daughter, in 2022. Awais Khan, author of The Company of Strangers, said it had, 'everything a historical thriller should have, and more.' He is hard at work on the third book in the series, The Red Citadel, to be published in 2023. Michael is a member of the Crime Writers' Association - he is the founding convenor of the Gulf Chapter - the Historical Novel Society, and The Alliance of Independent Authors. He is an alumnus of the Faber Academy's Writing a Novel course. Originally from London, he lives in Dubai with his family.

(book and media courtesy of Love Books Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

Bunnies in a Sleigh by Philip Ardagh and Illustrated by Ben Mantle - #bookreview

 

It's Christmas Eve at the North Pole, a magical, wondrous night. 

But inside Santa's workshop, somethings not quite right...

***

The Sunnytown bunnies are back for a third picture book adventure, and it might just be their best one yet! It’s Christmas Eve and Santa’s elves have fallen suspiciously unwell (just WHO gave them all those candy canes?), so it looks like Santa needs some help. Luckily, our gang of vehicle-loving bunnies are here to the rescue. Cue chaos at every turn – hopping in and out of chimneys, getting stuck in snow, stuffed in stockings, and having the time of their lives on Santa’s sleigh. It’s a crazy Christmas, but it’s SO MUCH FUN.

***

To be honest, I almost knew I would love this book before I even opened the cover. There is a slight craziness to the titular bunnies on the front cover which I found very appealing.

Pre-schoolers and infant aged children (3-6 years) will adore this book. It is the story of how when the elves get tummy ache from eating too many candy canes on Christmas Eve, and are too poorly to help Santa out with his deliveries, the bunnies step in and save the day.

Children will love the rhyming text and the quirky delightful illustrations by Ben Mantle. They are vibrant, joyous and colourful and are a great accompaniment to the text. It is fun and humourous, and adults will enjoy sharing this with their little ones.

Philip Ardagh, Ben Mantle and Walker Books make an excellent team as they have produced this fabulous book that children will love. I highly recommend slipping a copy of this into the stocking of a little one.

There have been two previous 'Bunnies' books, Bunnies on the Bus and Bunnies in a Boat which I think would be worth reading.

ISBN:  978 1529507126

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats: Hardback

No. of Pages:  32

About the Author:

Philip Ardagh is a prolific writer who has been published in 40 languages around the world. His titles include the bestselling Eddie Dickens trilogy, High in the Clouds, co-written with Paul McCartney, and Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky, the winner of the 2009 Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He stands two metres tall with a most impressive beard, and lives with his wife and son in Kent, the Garden of England. Find him on twitter and instagram as @PhilipArdagh.

About the Illustrator:

Ben Mantle is the illustrator of Follow the Track All the Way Back by Timothy Knapman, Kiss the Crocodile by Sean Teylor, Bunnies on the Bus and Bunnies in a Boat by Philip Ardagh, and is also the author-illustrator of Frog vs Toad. Find him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram as @BenMMantle.

( book and media courtesy of Walker Books)

(all opinions are my own)

10 Ten Exciting New Releases in December 2023

 

There are some fabulous new releases coming in December. They would be great for reading now, or perhaps as a treat - either for yourself or a loved one for the upcoming festivities.

Here are just ten which I am excited about. Do any of these appeal to you? And if you are wondering why they are no festive titles, there will be a new post soon dedicated to books for Christmas so watch this space!

A Different Kind of Gone by Catherine Ryan Hyde

The truth behind a teenage girl’s disappearance becomes something to conceal in a gripping novel about justice, lies, and impossible choices by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.

When nineteen-year-old Jill Moss goes missing near the Utah-Arizona border, everyone has an opinion. Only Norma Gallagher, a search and rescue volunteer, knows the real story.

Norma’s already found Jill, huddled in a cave and terrified that her abusive boyfriend, Jake, will kill her. If he ever sees her again. To protect Jill from a dangerous man, Norma quietly delivers the girl to her grateful parents in California, even though she’s conflicted. Keeping Jill safe and hidden from Jake, the press, and the public will be their secret. But secrets can’t last forever.

Five years later, the disappearance stirs a new media frenzy when Jake is arrested for the murder of Jill Moss―and Norma knows he didn’t kill her. As Jake is about to stand trial, lust for retribution inflames public opinion and Jill’s family refuses to come forward, forcing Norma to make a life-changing decision.

What are the consequences if she stays silent? And what are the risks if she dares to finally tell the truth?

How Not To Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh

It is 5:30 am on Clio's forty-fifth birthday and her hated ex is lying dead on her doorstep. Even worse, this is no accident. Someone’s killed him...

When single mum Clio’s ex Gary turns up dead on the doorstep of her caravan – the one she’s been forced to live in ever since he stole every penny she had – there’s only one suspect. Her.

What’s more, she doesn’t remember much about the night he was killed – not just because of the forgetfulness that’s been plaguing her along with the hot flushes – but because she definitely had one too many cocktails with her two best friends Amber and Jeanie.

Clio does remember them talking about how much they all hated him though. And, in the frame for murder, she has to ask herself – if she didn’t kill Gary, who did? One of his many enemies? Or someone a little closer to home?And can she and her friends find the real killer before it’s too late?

The Vintage Village Bake Off by Judy Leigh

Now in his seventies, Robert Parkin is stunned to find himself the unlikely sex symbol of the village gardening club.

Living in happy solitude with his cat Isaac Mewton in the Devon village of Millbrook, entertained by his mischievous chickens and goats, Robert has never figured out the rules of romance. But as the local ladies vie for his company, it soon becomes clear that Robert’s Victoria Sponge cake is the lure, and as his baking prowess grows, so does his confidence.

Cheesecakes, meringues, puddings, Robert can do it all, but his real masterpieces are his scones – ginger, rosemary, coconut, fruit, his recipes are inspired and soon come to the attention of the local media. Which county does the best cream tea – Devon or Cornwall? It’s time for an age-old debate to be settled with a competition.

Robert’s sisters Bunty and Hattie are both at crossroads in their lives, so news of their brother’s baking competition is the perfect excuse to bring them to Millbrook. And as the siblings relish each other’s company, and Robert relishes being at the heart of his community, a summer of scones may just light the way to long-lasting happiness for them all.

Enjoy Judy Leigh’s wonderful world of family, friendship and feasting in this perfect feel-good story for all fans of Maddie Please, Dawn French and Caroline James.

Restless Dolly Maunder by Kate Grenville

Dolly Maunder is born at the end of the nineteenth century, when society's long-locked doors are just starting to creak ajar for determined women. Growing up in a poor farming family in rural New South Wales, Dolly spends her life doggedly pushing at those doors. A husband and two children do not deter her from searching for love and independence.

Restless Dolly Maunder is a subversive, triumphant tale of a pioneering woman working her way through a world of limits and obstacles, who is able - despite the cost - to make a life she could call her own.

The Midwife's Promise by Eliza Graham

New England, 1992. Sophie’s hand trembles as she places the birthday card on to the creamy wood of her dresser – this one postmarked from far away, and signed with a name she’s never forgotten, despite their years apart. Downstairs, guests wait around a colourful pile of gifts – Happy 90th Birthday, Sophie! But Sophie has a gift of her own to give today – a tattered collection of photographs she’s never shown anybody. Holding it to her heart, a single tear slides down her wrinkled cheek.

France, 1944. Sophie is folding Camille into her arms, kissing her daughter’s hair. She’s smiling through tears at the plaintive cries of a tiny, perfect newborn baby – her first grandchild. As a midwife, she’s helped so many take their first breath, but this is special. In the street outside, Nazi soldiers patrol day and night, and each week more people disappear. Sophie clenches her fist and vows she’ll do anything to save Camille and her baby from that fate.

But when evil has stolen everything you know, even the truest promises are tested. Sophie swore she’d give her life for her family. How could everything have gone so terribly, heartbreakingly wrong?

A beautiful, heart-wrenching story of love, sacrifice, and the unyielding bonds of motherhood. Perfect for fans of Anna Stuart, Fiona Valpy and Kate Quinn.

The Witch's Daughter by Imogen Edwards-Jones

A city in flames. A revolution raging. A woman on the run.

Nadezhda has never wanted to be a witch. But the occult is in her blood. Her mother, Militza, conjured Rasputin and introduced him into the Romanov court, releasing the devil himself. Now he is dead but Militza still dreams of him - he stalks her sleep and haunts her waking hours.

As Petrograd burns and the Russian Empire crumbles, Nadezhda escapes through the corpse-laden streets of the capital, concealing on her person a book of generational magic. Magic she once described as foolishness. But as danger grows ever closer, she may be forced to embrace her heritage to save what she loves most.

The Wilderness Way by Anne Madden

1861, Donegal, Ireland

Ten years ago Declan Conaghan’s father died in the Great Famine, and since then, Declan has kept his promise to keep his family out of the workhouse. But all that is threatened with the arrival of new landlord, John Adair. Adair is quick to cause trouble and fear among his tenants. When he turns them off his land, Declan has no option but to break his promise…

Declan is in despair until he receives a letter from America offering him the chance of a new life and salvation for his family. But it would mean signing up to the US Army and fighting for Lincoln. Despite knowing nothing of war, or US politics, Declan leaves behind all he knows.

Set against the wild landscapes of Ireland and the turbulent times of the American Civil War, this sweeping narrative takes us on an epic journey to understand the strength and endurance of the human spirit.

The Haunting Scent of Poppies by Victoria Williamson

A spine-chilling winter ghost story set in the months after the Great War. Perfect for lovers of MR James and Susan Hill

The War is over, but for petty criminal Charlie his darkest days are only just beginning.

Charlie Briggs is never off-duty, even when a botched job means he's forced to lay low in a sleepy Hampshire town for the holiday season. Always searching for his next unwitting victim, or a shiny trinket he can pilfer, he can't believe his luck when he happens upon a rare book so valuable it will set him up for life. All he needs to do is sit tight until Boxing Day. But there's a desperate story that bleeds beyond the pages; something far more dangerous than London's mobsters is lurking in the shadows.

Could the book be cursed? Why is he haunted by the horrors of war? Can he put things right before he's suffocated by his own greed?

This Spells Love by Kate Robb

Have you ever had a break-up so bad you wish the whole relationship had never happened?

Well, Gemma's wish has come true. After one too many margaritas lead to her mystical aunt reading out a drunken spell, she wakes up in a parallel world where she didn't give years of her life to the wrong man.

But you know what they say - be careful what you wish for... Because not only is her boring ex out of the picture, her extremely attractive male best friend also has no idea who she is.

And in this world, Gemma and Dax don't have years of friendship history keeping them from becoming something more...

Brimming with characters you can't help but fall for and off-the-charts chemistry, This Spells Love is a spellbinding friends-to-lovers, small-town rom-com.

What Waits in the Woods by Terri Parlato

Her ballet career derailed by injury, a once-promising young dancer returns to her hometown only to face a grisly discovery - and the increasingly alarming realization that nothing from her past is quite what she believed - in this electrifyingly twisty suburban thriller for fans of Stacy Willingham, Greer Hendricks, and Megan Miranda.

When Esmé Foster left the Boston suburbs to become a professional ballerina, the future shimmered with promise. Eleven years later, her career has been derailed by an injury, and Esme knows it's time to come back to Graybridge to help her brother care for their ailing father. But her return coincides with an unthinkable crime. Kara Cunningham, one of Esme's high school friends, is found dead in the woods behind the Fosters' house.

Esmé is shocked and grieving, but also uneasy. In her dreams, she still sees the man who showed up at the scene of the car accident that killed her mother--and told Esmé he was going to kill her too. Family and friends insisted the figure was a product of Esmé's imagination, that she was concussed after the crash. But she and Kara looked alike, sharing the same petite build, the same hair color. Could Kara's murder have been a case of mistaken identity?

Detective Rita Myers is familiar with close-knit communities like Graybridge, where, beneath the friendliness, there are whispers and secrets. The town has seen other tragedies too, including the long-ago drowning of a young girl in a pond, deep in the woods. Even within the once-close circle of friends that included Kara and Esmé, Rita discerns a ripple of mistrust.

Day by day, Esmé discovers more about the place she left behind--and the friends and family she thought she knew. Soon, shining a light into the darkness to learn what really happened the night Kara died is the only way she can bring the nightmare to an end . . .

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett & Illustrated by Jon Klassen - #bookreview

 

How does he do it?

How does it work?

Does he tighten his belt?

Or shrink himself down to the size of a mouse?

***

The multi-award-winning duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen tackle a perennial question: how does Santa go down the chimney?

When Santa arrives at a child’s house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feet first or head first? What if he gets stuck? What if there’s no chimney? Maybe he slides under the door, as thin as a piece of paper? Or is it possible he pours himself through the tap? What happens once he’s inside?

Mac Barnett’s iconic talent for earnest deadpan humour and Jon Klassen’s irresistibly funny art honour this timeless question with answers both ridiculous and plausible, mounting in hilarity as the night continues. Channeling a child’s fanciful explanations, this latest collaboration by a bestselling team will find a secure spot among family Christmas traditions.

***

This is a delightful picture book which aims to answer the question that every child has asked at some point, how does Santa get into the house? He is so quiet he never wakes anyone up including the dog!

Aimed at pre-school/infant aged children, every theory is purported in this book and accompanied by stylised illustrations from Jon Klassen. These completely support the text which will aid early independent readers.

It is a charming story with humour throughout and would make a perfect gift. I think most children would be thrilled to discover this in their stocking on Christmas morning.

When my sons were young, we would share a Christmas/Winter themed book every evening at bedtime. With one hundred percent certainty, I can say that they would have adored this book, and it would have fit the bill perfectly.

My little boys are now full grown men with families of their own, and they will love sharing this book with my grandchildren.

ISBN: 978 1529512779

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  32 (hardback)

About the Author:

Mac Barnett is a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. Mac’s books have won many prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Awards, three E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Germany’s Jugendliteraturpreis, China’s Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award, The Netherlands’ Silver Griffel, and Italy’s Premio Orbil. He is the co-creator, with Jon Klassen, of Shape Island, a stop-motion animated series on Apple TV+, based on their best-selling Shapes series of picture books. Mac lives in Oakland, California.

About the Illustrator:

Illustrator, cartoonist, enthusiast. An appreciator and advocate of work that is honest and genuine from its conceptualization to its execution.

Specializing in children’s picture book illustration, editorial cartoons and character design.

Jon currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(author media courtesy of his own website)

(illustrator photo courtesy of Wikipedia and bio info courtesy of the illustrators website)

(all opinions are my own)

A Woman of Courage by Rita Bradshaw - #bookreview #blogtour

 

'Now remember what I said and be careful, hinny, all right? Keep to the streets where the gas lamps are and no taking shortcuts through then dark alleys.'

Josie Gray smiled at her mother, nodding her head. 'Don't worry, Mam, I never do. Toby said he'd meet me out tonight and walk me home, by the way.'

Maggie patted her daughter's arm. 'Did he? That's good,' she said but the worried expression didn't lift...

***

Survival means fighting back.

It's 1890, and Josie Gray is an innocent and beautiful fifteen-year old when Adam McGuigan, the youngest son of a dangerous and influential crime family spots her singing in a Sunderland public house. Adam is handsome and charismatic, sweeping Josie off her feet with his beguiling lies and promises. He charms her into marrying him on her sixteenth birthday, but on her wedding night the fairy tale ends.

Josie finds herself trapped in a living nightmare and there's no one to help her. Events spiral out of control, and when her life is put in danger she escapes with her baby son. Fleeing to a different country, Josie fights to make a good life for her child and then love beckons again.

But the McGuigan family's power is far reaching. When the day of reckoning comes, can Josie survive it?

***

Rita Bradshaw is a prolific author who I have not read before but having read this one I am determined to seek out others. 

Set in Sunderland during the latter part of the nineteenth century, the author brings alive the area and time period extremely well.  It is an easy and captivating read and I was engrossed in Josie's story. 

What we learn from Josie is how to survive under horrendous circumstances. When home should be our place of warmth and safety and it is anything but and how we can be resilient and courageous when we have to be.

The book was inspiring and I found it very hard to put down. It was a dramatic and emotional read, and I was completely caught up in Josie and her story. The setting of the North East of England gave it an edgy feel and kept me captivated from the first page to the last.

It was well written and easy to read and I felt very involved with the story. I felt more like a participant than a reader and felt I knew Josie as a personal friend by the end of the book. This demonstrates how well the author inhabits her characters and involves the reader in her story.

I recommend this book as well worth reading and anyone who likes historical fiction, sagas or books about women will enjoy reading this.

ISBN: 978 1035000326

Publisher:  Pan

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  496 (paperback)

About the Author:

Rita Bradshaw was born in Northamptonshire, where she still lives today. At the age of sixteen she met her husband – whom she considers her soulmate – and they have two daughters and a son and three young grandchildren. Much to her delight, Rita’s first attempt at a novel was accepted for publication, and she went on to write many more successful novels under a pseudonym before writing for Headline using her own name. As a committed Christian and passionate animal-lover Rita has a full and busy life, but her writing continues to be a consuming pleasure that she never tires of. In any spare moments she loves reading, walking, eating out and visiting the cinema and theatre, as well as being involved in her local church and animal welfare​.

(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

The Heretic's Daughter by Michael Lynes - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Isaac yearns for a place that no longer exists - Seville before the Inquisition. A place where Torquemada did not call out the names of the heretics to be punished. Where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand did not watch impassively as executioners smeared a blonde-haired girl's tunic with sulphur - to quicken the journey of the flames from the crackling pyre at her feet. A twisted mercy. Where Isaac did not see white tendrils of smoke, hear shrill screams or smell the bitter stink of charred flesh. Where he did not witness Juan's body melt into the inferno.

***

As the Inquisition’s grip tightens Isaac and Isabel must choose between family and faith. Will they survive the consequences?

Isaac seeks revenge on Torquemada for murdering his wife and best friend. He’s not the only one who wants The Grand Inquisitor dead. The King commands Isaac to investigate. Should he save the man he hates? Fail and he loses the King’s protection — the only thing keeping him alive. Feeling abandoned by her father and con!icted by his heresy, Isabel sets out to discover the truth. The trail leads to the darkest places in Seville. She’s unnerved by a shocking revelation and a surprising discovery about her real feelings. Can Isabel use what she unearths to save her father and their family?

***

This book is a worthy follow up to Blood Libel, which was the first in the Isaac Alvarez series. If you would like to read my review of the first book you can do so by clicking here.

I enjoyed this book every bit as much. It is set in Seville three years after Blood Libel. Isabel is now a young woman and is responsible for the education of her younger brother, Gabriel, and the two orphaned children of a family friend. She is an excellent character and the author has done a great job in developing her character.

Isabel has a large part to play in this book, but there is still plenty of action provided by her father, Isaac. Mr. Lynes takes his readers on quite an adventure with the setting moving to Granada for part of the story. 

It made for an easy read with lots of excitement along the way. The series brings history alive on the page and details the way in which Jews were in fear for their lives during the Spanish Inquisition. There is lots of attention to detail, and the author has clearly completed his research extensively.

Anyone who enjoys historical fiction, particularly that of medieval history will enjoy this book. It would work well as a standalone but is worth reading the first book in the series in order to understand the backstory of the characters.

I will be reading the next book, The Red Citadel, later this month and I am looking forward to doing so very much.

ISBN: 978 1739185718

Publisher: Romaunce Books

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  330 (paperback)

About the Author:

Michael writes the Isaac Alvarez Mysteries, set in late 15th century Andalusia. He won a prize for his debut, Blood Libel, at the 2020 Emirates Literature Festival. Best-selling author Sophie Hannah called it, 'immensely gripping,' and the Historical Novel Society said, 'Lynes knows his history and tells the story with verve.' He published his second novel, The Heretic's Daughter, in 2022. Awais Khan, author of The Company of Strangers, said it had, 'everything a historical thriller should have, and more.' He is hard at work on the third book in the series, The Red Citadel, to be published in 2023. Michael is a member of the Crime Writers' Association - he is the founding convenor of the Gulf Chapter - the Historical Novel Society, and The Alliance of Independent Authors. He is an alumnus of the Faber Academy's Writing a Novel course. Originally from London, he lives in Dubai with his family.

(book and all media courtesy of Love Book Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

The Heretic's Daughter by Michael Lynes - #holdingpost #blogtour

 

I am loving this book and my review will be live tomorrow. Watch this space!

The Counterfeit Detective by Simpson Grears - #bookreview #blogtour

 

You want to make your life a book? Consider. Books are as impermanent as people. Both are eaten by worms. Bindings loosen and break. Paper becomes yellow and brittle. Even vellum dries and cracks. Both lives and books are easily lost and forgotten. Sanctuary there is none. Books disappear into libraries and libraries sometimes burn...

***

An American Professor discovers the diaries of John Ledbury, known as the counterfeit detective, a minor poet who, in Victorian London, is employed to reply to the mail that come addressed to Sherlock Holmes at 221b Baker Street.

Through the diaries he unearths a series of baffling unsolved murders. He travels through England and Scotland but he realizes that, in order to solve the mystery, he has to travel further, back through time itself.

***

I was initially attracted to this book when it was offered to me on a blog tour as it claims to have elements of Sherlock Holmes mixed with Jack the Ripper. Quite a combination!

It does indeed have those things but it also has much more to recommend it. There is a great dual timeline which I love in a book. It is set partly in 1900 and 1973 and the author moves the story between those two periods with ease.

It had an appealing plot which begins in the latter time period when an American University Professor discovers some diaries from the earlier time. The story then moves backwards and forwards as he investigates the entries, and there are some interesting discoveries along the way.

What I had been unprepared for in this book is that some of these diary entries contain examples of sadistic pornography. This was not to my personal reading taste, and it is as well to be forewarned before you read the book.

It has an interesting conclusion when the author brings both the timelines together.

Readers who enjoy historical fiction mixed with a bit of erotica will enjoy this book.

ISBN: 978 1739596088

Publisher:  Rymour Books

Formats: Paperback

No. of Pages:  332

 

About the Author:

SIMPSON GREARS is the crime-writing name of the writer Ian Simpson Grears Spring. His collection of short stories, The Foot of the Walk Murders, was longlisted for a prestigious Dagger award for short story by the Crime Writers Association in 2021. His first detective novel, The Counterfeit Detective, is an epic Gothic literary crime thriller set mostly in Victorian London but also in 1970s England, Scotland and the United States.

(book courtesy of Love Book Tours)

(author media courtesy of https://thecwa.co.uk/find-an-author/grears-simpson/)

(all opinions are my own)