Reading Roundup for July 2024

 

Woo hoo! It is finally summer here in the UK. Yay! Don't worry. It will be two minutes before we are all complaining it is too hot!

However, I am so pleased that I have finally been able to retreat to the garden with my puppy, Roxie. My sweet little puppy has turned into a teenager and is testing all of the boundaries at the moment. She is a gorgeous little thing though and I would not be without her.

Anyhow, here are the books which I have read this month.

Books I Have Read

The Book of Longing by Leonard Cohen - I am not a huge fan of poetry but enjoyed reading these.

Maya Angelou: the complete poetry by Maya Angelou - Another poetry book this month but I love everything she has ever written. A remarkable lady.

Courage for the Clarks Factory Girls by May Ellis - This is the second in a series but worked perfectly well as a stand alone novel. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Idle Stance of the Tippler Pigeon by Safinah Danish Elahi - What a fantastic title to catch a reader's eye with. Great book too. You can find my review by clicking here.

A Town Called Solace by Mary Lawson - This was my favourite read this month. Exquisitely written. You can find my review by clicking here.

Creative Crafting: A First Book of Upcycling by Daniela Sosa - A great book for children. You can find my review by clicking here.

My Father's House by Joseph O'Connor - A well written story set in Rome during WWII.

Felicity's War by Jean Fullerton - I love this series. This is the third book in the Stepney Girls series but worked well as a stand alone novel. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Lost Queen by Carol McGraph - Historical fiction featuring the little known queen, Queen Berengaria who was the wife of King Richard I. You can find my review by clicking here.

Where the Water Takes Us by Alan Barillaro - A nice chapter book for children.

Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss -  I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of a middle aged man, and his coming to terms with the ageing of his parents. You can find my review by clicking here.

Prospects by Kate Wilson - This book is set in Los Angeles, and the place is every bit as important as the plot or characters. You can find my review by clicking here.

Smelly Peggy by Helen Stephens - This is an adorable picture book that pet lovers will enjoy. You can find my review by clicking here.

Last Seen Online by Lauren James - If you like a young adult novel with a twisty turny ending you will love this book. You can find my review by clicking here.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams - This is the perfect book for book lovers, and I enjoyed every word. You can find my review by clicking here.

Books I Did Not Finish

The Attraction of Cuba by Chris Hilton - I really wanted to like this memoir of a man's travels to Cuba. Unfortunately, it did not hit the right note for me.

Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi - No idea why I couldn't get into this. Give it a try!

Faith of Their Fathers by Samuel M. Sargeant - I could not get into this one either. I did read a fair chunk of the book though before I gave up.

Books I Am Partway Through

A Class Act by Julie Houston

The Missing Family by Tim Weaver

Ancestry by Simon Mawer

Last Seen Online by Lauren James - #bookreview

 

Folks! I just watched the first episode of Loch & Ness and oh my god! That was some QUALITY television. They've amped up the chemistry of the books to a frankly absurd level. Every time Jayden and Fang (aka Rob Hennings and Nathan O'Donnell) are on-screen together my laptop overheats...

***

When Delilah meets Sawyer Saffitz (son of Anya Saffitz, aka Hollywood royalty), she becomes hooked on a decade-old scandal. In her quest for the truth, Delilah uncovers blogposts written by the mysterious “gottiewrites” and is soon caught up in a world of greed, fandom conspiracy theories … and murder. And the deeper Delilah digs, the more dangerous it becomes – because someone is willing to kill to hide the truth.

***

If you like a young adult novel with a twisty turny ending you will love this book.

The main character is Delilah. She is a teenager who wants to be an actress and who loves true crime stories. When a school audition with Sawyer, the son of famous parents, goes embarrassingly wrong, Delilah gets a taste of what it is like to be splashed all over social media for the wrong reasons.

A few years earlier Sawyer's famous mother, Anya, stars in a television series when one of her co-actors is murdered in real life, and another co-actor is imprisoned for his murder. Delilah and Sawyer decide to investigate the crime together which leads them into some devastating realisations.

The book alternates between Delilah's perspective, blog posts and forum messages. It is an interesting format and easy to get caught up in the various messages that were being posted. 

It made for gripping reading about the cult of celebrity, fame and fandom. It was a quick read as it was fairly addictive. I very much wanted to see where this book was heading and it had a great twist at the end.

I highly recommend this for a young adult audience.

ISBN: 978 1406397390

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  320 (paperback)

About the Author:

Wren James is the Carnegie-longlisted British author of many Young Adult novels as ‘Lauren James’, including Last Seen Online, Green Rising, The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker and The Quiet at the End of the World. Amazon MGM Studios is developing The Loneliest Girl in the Universe as a feature film. Joe Roth and Jeffrey Kirschenbaum will produce the film alongside Katherine Langford.

They are a RLF Royal Fellow and the story consultant on Netflix’s Heartstopper (Seasons 2 and 3). Season 3 will guest star Jonathan Bailey, playing a role created by Wren.

Wren is the founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League, editor of the anthology Future Hopes: Hopeful stories in a time of climate change, and a member of the Society of Authors’ Sustainability Committee. They work as a consultant on climate storytelling for museums, production companies, major brands and publishers, with a focus on optimism and hope. They run a Queer Writers group in Coventry.

Their books have sold over two hundred thousand copies worldwide in seven languages. The Quiet at the End of the World was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize and STEAM Children’s Book Award.

Wren’s writing has been described as ‘gripping romantic sci-fi’ by the Wall Street Journal and ‘a strange, witty, compulsively unpredictable read which blows most of its new YA-suspense brethren out of the water’ by Entertainment Weekly.

Wren was born in 1992, and has a Masters degree from the University of Nottingham, where they studied Chemistry and Physics. They have taught creative writing for Coventry University, WriteMentor, and Writing West Midlands. Follow them on Instagram @laurenelizjames.

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(media courtesy of the author's website https://wrenjames.co.uk/)

(all opinions are my own)

No Funeral for Nazia by Taha Kehar - #spotlight #blogtour

Today I am delighted to be shining the spotlight on No Funeral for Nazia by Taha Kehar. 

Please keep your eyes peeled as I will be reviewing this book as part of the blog tour on 14th August. I am really looking forward to reading it.

The Blurb

No Funeral for Nazia is a witty and theatrical South Asian mystery novel set over the course of one single electrifying night, exploring the unfinished business death leaves in its wake.

Nazia Sami is a celebrated author, but perhaps her greatest plot twist is yet to be produced. In her final days, she wields a pen one last time as she fills her diary with instructions for her sister and writes six letters to be delivered after her death.

There is to be no funeral for Nazia. Instead, only six invitees are invited to a party, one of whom is a mystery guest. Over the course of an extraordinary evening, secrets are revealed, pasts reconsidered, and lives are forever changed.

***

ISBN: 978 1911107743

Publisher:  Neem Tree Press

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

No. of Pages:  272 (paperback)

About the Author:

Taha Kehar is a novelist, journalist and literary critic. A law graduate from SOAS, London, Kehar is the author of two novels, Typically Tanya and Of Rift and Rivalry. His third novel, No Funeral for Nazia, will be published by Neem Tree Press.  He has served as the head of The Express Tribune’s Peshawar city pages and bi-monthly books page, and worked as an assistant editor on the op-ed desk at The News. His essays, reviews and commentaries have been published in The News on Sunday, The Hindu and South Asia magazine and his short fiction has appeared in the Delhi-based quarterly The Equator Line, the biannual journal Pakistani Literature and the OUP anthology I’ll Find My Way. Based in Karachi, he teaches undergraduate media courses and is planning a novel about male friendships. 

(media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

Smelly Peggy by Helen Stephens - #bookreview

 

Hello, I'm Pie.

This is my doggie, Peggy.

She is a rescue dog and when we first got her she was scared...

***

This is a book about a very real life, very naughty dog called Peggy. Peggy loves to leap on the bed in the morning, sticking her hairy bottom in Dad’s face. Peggy that loves to roll around on everything stinky and smelly she can find: stinky seaweed; soggy, washed-up old wellies; and worst of all? POOP! And that’s not even the naughtiest thing she does… Do you think her family loves her anyway? Well, look at that little face – how could they not? A happy, big-hearted celebration about our much-cherished dog members of the family, despite their messy, noisy and very (very) smelly flaws.

***

This book is a funny and delightful picture book which pet loving adults and children alike will adore.

Having a puppy myself, I could readily identify with Peggy's antics. She is mischievous and full of life, and whilst she might sometimes try the patience of her owner, they love her just the same.

The illustrations complement the book very well. They mimic a child's drawing in style and are perfect for the text.

The book posses questions concerning love and acceptance and demonstrates that we do not have to be perfect to be loved.

I found this to be an utterly charming book and I highly recommend it for young children.

ISBN: 978 1529507133

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  Hardcover

No. of Pages:  40

About the Author:

Helen graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1994.

She says she has no idea how to survive as an illustrator. Her father was a car salesman and he told her that if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. So she did just that. She started creating work and banging on doors. It was only later she was told there are particular rules around approaching publishers. 

(book courtesy of Walker Books)

(media courtesy of the author's website https://www.helenstephens.)com/about)

(all opinions are my own)

Prospects by Kate Wilson - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The brunchers sit at sun drenched tables, measuring out their lives in green juices and matcha lattes, ordering egg white omelettes with half an avocado on the side. "Is this a California avocado?"

***

Arriving in Los Angeles intent on helping an unwell friend, our narrator contemplates the powerful magnetism of California. Like the gold-diggers, the health-seekers and the movie moguls before her, she had come to the state as a young woman to seek her fortune in ‘the industry’, but her dreams were not fulfilled.

What had become of the men who did not strike gold, those who could not be cured of their ailments, the ones who did not find fame? Where are the failures? Where are the women like her?

Before leaving London, her brother had said, “Most people would give an arm or a leg for a month in LA to revisit their youth. You are willing to give a kidney.”

Perhaps he was right. There are no heroes.

***

This book is set in Los Angeles, and the place is every bit as important as the plot or characters.

It is a thought provoking novel which poses some interesting questions, and considers some challenging themes. For example, what happens to those whose dreams have led them to LA and have then failed in their realisation?

The narrator, who is referred to as She throughout the book, highlights the realities of chasing her dreams as a young woman seeking to find fame in the film industry in Los Angeles. The book follows her experiences as she realises that her dreams will not be fulfilled. 

The book also has much to say on the #MeToo movement, as the narrator tells the reader of the sexual harrassment she has endured in trying to succeed in the film industry. 

The time span in the book moves between the past and the present. We find the narrator in the present day back in Los Angeles as a kidney donor. This process unleashes further complications and challenges that the narrator has to face.

It has been well written and is concise at just over 200 pages. It may be short novel but has much to recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1788648899

Publisher:  Cinnamon Press

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  214 (paperback)

About the Author:

Kate Wilson is a writer and activist, and Prospects is her first novel.  

She has worked in the film industry for more than 25 years and is a co-founder of the Call It! which enables film and TV industry workers to report incidents of harassment, bullying and abuse to executives or senior producers on their sets. Bosses receive an anonymised, top-level overview of what happened.

She lives in London with her daughters. 

(book and media courtesy of Read Maxwell Communications)

Borrowed Memories by Mark Foss - #bookreview

 

When I pulled up to the cottage, my father is standing outside the main garage, jamming a steel rod into a metal pipe like he's priming a cannon. It's his latest attempt to build a pole for his air force flag...

***

In the midst of the Arab Spring's upheaval, Borrowed Memories unravels a tale of shifting identities and the profound impact of memory. Meet Ivan Pyefinch, a freelance translator seeking solace in the Thousand Islands as he tends to his aging parents, Horace and Aida. Horace, a former World War II pilot, fights to reclaim his driver's license, while Aida grapples with the relentless advance of Alzheimer's. Their borrowed time is both a burden and a gift, and Ivan is determined to make the most of it.

Enter Mia Hakim, an immigrant filmmaker from Quebec with a penchant for other people's memories and an unyielding quest for her Sephardic roots. When she seeks Ivan's help in translating her scenario for a research trip to Tunisia, the collision of their worlds becomes inevitable. As Mia unexpectedly arrives at the Pyefinch home on the eve of Remembrance Day, a family health crisis sets in motion a profound narrative that explores the intricacies of love, loss, and the perennial search for identity.

***

Let me start off by saying how much I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of Ivan, a middle aged man, and his coming to terms with the ageing of his parents, Horace and Aida.

Aida's health is deteriorating as she has Alzeimer's. Horace, who is totally self obsessed, is not without his health challenges either. Through Ivan, the book asks the question as to how much are adults responsible for the care of their failing parents? Should that care take precedence over their own lives?

I lost both of my parents some years ago, and so I was readily able to identify with Ivan. He is an interesting character. He has just come out of a failed relationship, and his work as a translator enables him to spend this level of time with his parents. 

Through his eyes we observe his relationship with Horace and Aida and their relationship with one another. Ivan recognises that Horace is not giving his wife the care that she needs, but Horace is insistent that he can look after her himself. I could not help but wonder in how many families that this scenario is playing out. I think it's relatablility elevates this book to another level.

I was mesmerised by this trio of characters and their situation. When Mia, who Ivan is doing some translation work for, enters the picture it adds another dynamic to the household. Her presence opens the readers eyes to how neglected Aida has been. Mia steps in and provides her with some of the care that has been absent.

Mia is an immigrant film maker, and through her we hear of her exile. In many ways, Ivan is an exile in his own life. He doesn't quite belong anywhere. The book considers identity and belonging and the part that memories have to play in that.

I thought this was a fabulous book. It is a short novel at 228 pages. The fact that Mr. Foss was able to convey such feeling and emotion in so few words demonstrates great writing skill. I was really moved by this book.

I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a slower paced literary novel.

 

ISBN: 978 1926716787

Publisher: 8th House Publishing

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages:  228 (paperback)

About the Author:

Mark Foss is the author of the novels Molly 0 and Spoilers, as well as the short-story collection Kissing the Damned. His fiction and creative nonfiction have also appeared in print and online literary journals, including The Fiddlehead, The New Quarterly, subTerrain, Numéro Cinq, carte blanche, and Montréal Serai. A radio drama, Higher Ground, was broadcast on CBC. He lives in Montreal.

(book courtesy of the publicist)

(all author media courtesy of the author's website)

The Agincourt King by Mercedes Rochelle - #bookspotlight #blogtour

 

I am excited to be shining the spotlight on The Agincourt King by Mercedes Rochelle. This is the fifth book of the Plantagenet Legacy series. 

The Blurb

From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father's usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France.

Better yet, why not go for the crown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him.

By the time the English reached Agincourt, they were starving, exhausted, and easy pickings. Or so the French thought. Little did they reckon on Henry's leadership and the stout-hearted English archers who proved, once again, that numbers didn't matter when God was on their side.

ISBN:  978 1734797480

Publisher:  Sergeant Press

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

About the Author:

Mercedes Rochelle is an ardent lover of medieval history, and has channeled this interest into fiction writing. Her first four books cover eleventh-century Britain and events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. The next series is called “The Plantagenet Legacy” and begins with the reign of Richard II. 

She also writes a blog: www.HistoricalBritainBlog.com to explore the history behind the story. Born in St. Louis, MO, she received by BA in Literature at the Univ. of Missouri St.Louis in 1979 then moved to New York in 1982 while in her mid-20s to "see the world". The search hasn't ended!

Today she lives in Sergeantsville, NJ with her husband in a log home they had built themselves.

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

The Lost Queen by Carol McGraph - #bookreview #blogtour

During Advent and the Christmas season, into the Feasts of Epiphany and Candlemas, Berengaria of Navarre crosses the Alps.

She is accompanied by her mother-in-law to be: iron-jawed Eleanor of Aquitaine...

***

1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .

It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina.

There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and, surviving it all, she and Richard marry in Cyprus. England needs an heir. But first, Richard and his Queen must return home . . .

The Lost Queen is a thrilling medieval story of high adventure, survival, friendship and the enduring love of a Queen for her King.

***

Today I am back with the book review that I should have posted for the blog tour on Friday. I had a horrid flu bug, and although my throat is still somewhat sore, I am feeling a little better, although not quite myself yet. Certainly sufficiently better to bring you my review of The Lost Queen as promised.

This was an enjoyable historical fiction book set in 1191 during the reign of King Richard the Lionheart. I like the way this author writes. In fact, this is not the first of her books that I have read. I read The Woman in the Shadows back in 2018, although the title has since been changed to Mistress Cromwell. If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

The author brings both the story and the characters to life extremely well. I really enjoyed learning about the character of Berengaria of Navarre, the wife of King Richard I. She has passed through popular history with little note and it was great to get to know more about her. She was a strong and resilient woman who showed great courage.

The novel was clearly well researched and the author used enough detail to create a realistic feeling Medieval period. There were a few surprises along the way and the novel had a dramatic feel. Any fans of historical fiction, particularly the Medieval period will love this novel.

ISBN: 978 1472297372

Publisher:  Headline Accent

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

About the Author:

Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol is writing Historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in February 2022. The Stolen Crown 2023 and The Lost Queen will be published 18th July 2024. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece. 

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

(all opinions are my own)

The Lost Queen by Carol McGraph - #bookreview #blogtour

 

fafds

***

1191 and the Third Crusade is underway . . .

It is 1191 and King Richard the Lionheart is on crusade to pitch battle against Saladin and liberate the city of Jerusalem and her lands. His mother, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine and his promised bride, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, make a perilous journey over the Alps in midwinter. They are to rendezvous with Richard in the Sicilian port of Messina.

There are hazards along the way - vicious assassins, marauding pirates, violent storms and a shipwreck. Berengaria is as feisty as her foes and, surviving it all, she and Richard marry in Cyprus. England needs an heir. But first, Richard and his Queen must return home . . .

The Lost Queen is a thrilling medieval story of high adventure, survival, friendship and the enduring love of a Queen for her King.

***

I want to apologise that this review is not going to be up to my usual standard. I have a flu bug and am feeling really dreadful. Today is my turn on the blog tour and I really have not been up to writing a review during the last few days. I hate to let the author, and the tour organiser down but I'm afraid needs must.

Suffice to say this was a good book and it was interesting to read about this little known queen. I will be back with a longer review when I am feeling better.

ISBN: 978 1472297372

Publisher:  Headline Accent

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

About the Author:

Following a first degree in English and History, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from University of London. The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066 was shortlisted for the RoNAS in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published April 2022. Carol is writing Historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in February 2022. The Stolen Crown 2023 and The Lost Queen will be published 18th July 2024. Carol lives in Oxfordshire, England and in Greece. 

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

(all opinions are my own)

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams - #bookreview

 

The doors are new: automatic open. Fancy. That has changed since Aidan was here last. The first thing he notices are the sparse rows of books - when he'd been younger, smaller, the shelves seemed to never end, teeming with books of all shapes and sizes...

***

A faded list.

Nine favourite stories.

For two strangers, friendship is only a page away . . .

When Mukesh Patel pops to the local library, forgoing his routine of grocery shopping and David Attenborough documentaries, he has no idea his life’s about to change.

He meets Aleisha, a reluctant librarian and the keeper of a curious reading list – just a scrappy piece of paper with the names of 9 stories. It doesn’t seem anything special. Yet something tells her to keep it close . . .

Story by story, Mukesh and Aleisha work their way through the list – their worries slipping away with every encounter, with every world discovered in their unlikely book club of two.

A fresh chance at life, at friendship, wasn’t on the cards for these lonely souls – but every story starts somewhere . . .

***

This is the perfect book for book lovers, and I enjoyed every word.

It is about the unlikely friendship between the two main characters, Mukesh an elderly man who is recently widowed, and Aleisha a teenager who reluctantly works at the library. It is also about how these two very different people discover themselves and their love of books. When Aleisha discovers a faded list of books tucked away inside one of the library books, she works her way through it and encourages Mukesh to do the same.

The chapters are told from the perspectives of both Mukesh and Aleisha. Both are lonely in their different ways. They are in need of healing and the author does a fantastic job in demonstrating how books can be the conduit to do so.

The entire novel is a love letter to books, reading and libraries. It is a heartwarming novel that demonstrates how books can bring people together, bridge the generational divide and heal us. 

This is a wonderful book, and although it has it's moments of sadness, it is ultimately uplifting and hopeful. It has been beautifully written and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 0008391362

Publisher:  Harper Collins

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

No. of Pages:  432

About the Author:

Sara Nisha Adams is a writer and editor. She lives in London and was born in Hertfordshire to Indian and English parents.  The Reading List was her first novel. The Twilight Garden is her most recent novel.

(all opinions are my own)

(author media courtesy of the publisher)

Under a Cloud by Luv Lubker - #excerpt #extract #blogtour

 

Today I am bringing you an exerpt from Under a Cloud by Luv Lubker, as part of the blog tour. It is the second part in the Rival Courts series. 

But first... a little about the book. Happy reading!

The Blurb

Vicky's father, Albert, the Prince Consort, has just died, leaving her and her family under a heavy cloud of grief, without their dearest friend and advisor, at a most critical time: The political horizon grows dark with storm clouds at the entry of Bismarck to Germany's political stage in 1862.

Will Fritz's courage stand the test as he confronts the spider in its web? Is Prussia really fighting for the rights of the Schleswig people, or is so much blood being shed for the sake of Prussia's aggrandizement?

Join Vicky and Fritz on their journeys under the blue cloudless skies of the Mediterranean to the peaceful heather-clad hills of the Highlands of Scotland; to the burning heat of the North African desert to the raging blizzards of a winter war in Denmark.

When Vicky's closest friend disappears, will she be able to keep the secret? Will old enemies prove to be friends, and old friends prove to be enemies?

ISBN: 978 1962465434

Publisher:  Historium Press

Formats:  e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  318 (paperback)

The Excerpt

“Meine Herren,” Fritz began, his voice shaking slightly, “Winter, I thank you for welcoming me and my wife here.” He paused, taking another deep breath, his voice growing steadier as he went on. “I, too, was deeply astonished and grieved at the news of the Press rescript. It occurred after my departure from Berlin, as did the appointment of my Royal uncle, Prince Karl, as Statthalter. I certainly have had nothing to do with the Press rescript, and would never have left Berlin if I knew a Regency was in question. I have not refused the position; I did not know that these particular actions were in contemplation.”

He paused, gazing out at the crowd. There had been moments of applause, but he hadn’t paused for them. Vicky sensed that he felt he needed to speak his mind fully, before pausing and possibly losing his nerve.

“This is all the doing of Prince Karl, and of Bismarck!” he called. The crowd hissed, and cheered as he went on, “I will do what I can to uphold the people’s rights, and to bring Germany together through moral conquests.”

Vicky saw that he went on; his mouth moved in speech, but the cheers were deafening this time.

“I deplore this conflict within my country, but I must urge everyone to trust the generous intentions of our King, my Royal father, for he, too, truly intends to foster the right and the good for the country, though he often accepts false advice.”

Fritz nodded, shaking Winter’s hand again, and returned to his seat at Vicky’s side.

Winter returned to the dais, smiling and bowing to them again. “I must thank your Royal Highnesses for gracing our hall with your presence. Three cheers for the Crown Prince!”

The crowd rose, cheering loudly.

“And three for the Crown Princess!”

The cheers were repeated.

“And three for our King!”

The cheers were repeated again, but half-heartedly, with several hisses as well.

“And three for the well-being of our country!”

The crowd rose again, cheering wildly.  

Vicky heard cries of “Hoch lebe der Kronprinz!”, “King Friedrich!” and “Down with Bismarck!”

About the Author:

Luv Lubker has lived in the Victorian era half her life, making friends with the Brontë sisters and the extended family of Queen Victoria. Now she knows them quite as well as her own family.

Born in a cattle trough in the Appalachian mountains, Luv lives in Texas – when she comes to the modern world.

When she isn't living in the Victorian era, she enjoys being with her family; making and eating delicious raw food, riding her bike (which she only learned to ride at 25, though she has ridden a unicycle since she was 7), and watching animals – the passion of her childhood.

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Faith of Their Fathers: A Saga of Iceland by Samuel M. Sargeant - #blogtour #spotlight

 

This book has been getting rave reviews and I am very happy to be part of the blog tour. Today I am shining the spotlight on Faith of Their Fathers by Samuel M. Sargeant. It's Nordic historical fiction set in Medieval Iceland and I hope you enjoy.

Blurb

False God.

At the dawn of the 11th Century in a small Icelandic settlement, these words, daubed in blood, herald the arrival of a killer. Soon, a spate of murders threatens the fragile peace between pagans and a growing Christian minority. Arinbjorn, a young pagan farmer resolves to track down the killer before the community is permanently torn apart. His investigations draw in Freya, an isolated housewife whose secrets could either condemn or free her. Meanwhile in Norway, King Olaf Tryggvason has his own designs upon Iceland and its people. War is rife in Scandinavia, and a Christian Iceland would bolster his control over the region.

Only one thing is certain: these murders will change Icelandic society forever.  

A gripping and taut historical thriller set in Medieval Iceland—written by a PhD scholar of Medieval Old Norse-Icelandic sagas. Perfect for fans of Ken Follett and Michael Punke.

ISBN:  978 1915584052

Publisher:  Neem Tree Press

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

No. of Pages:  352 (paperback)

About the Author:

Samuel Sargeant is a Lecturer in the English Literature and Creative Writing department at the Open University. He studied at Cardiff University as part of his doctoral degree programme where his PhD thesis focused upon the structure of Medieval Old Norse-Icelandic sagas. He is currently researching the samtíðarsögur (contemporary sagas) and how their narrative structures compare to the other saga genres. He is viewing these broadly historiographical texts as acts of creative writing and using them in the development of his novels set within this period.

(all materials courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

10 Ten Exciting New Releases in August 2024

 

New Releases in August 2024

I know that the English are famous for complaining about the weather! At the moment almost anyone you speak to will mention the unseasonal weather we are having. We are having so much rain at the moment. We just want some summery weather now that we are in mid July.

What a good thing that there are some pretty, sparkly new release books to distract us. Here are just ten that look fabulous.

The True Crime Lover's Guide to London by Charlotte Booth & Brian Billington

London has a long and fascinating history which has not always been pleasant; it has been peppered with murderers, shoplifters, smugglers, prostitutes, grave robbers and highwaymen. Learn about the darker side of the history of this great city through the buildings and sites on London streets which remain standing to tell the story. Do you want to know where Ronnie Kray shot George Cornell? Do you want to pay your respects to the victims of Jack the Ripper? Do you want to know what went on behind the doors of the most discreet hotel in London? You will find these locations to visit, and many more within these pages. This guide will take you on a journey visiting 299 sites covering the history of more than 60 crimes (or crime sprees) which took place over nearly 1,000 years of London’s criminal past. Visit where heists were planned, murders were carried out, bodies were dumped and criminals were punished. You can follow the pre-set tours which includes a murder site tour, pub crawl and a cemetery tour or you can create a bespoke tour depending on where you happen to be in this great city. But rest assured, you will start to wonder what went on behind every closed door you see.    

The House of the Witch by Clare Marchant

Now: When Adrianna arrives at the small, run-down cottage, near the sea in rural Norfolk, she can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Here she can forget her life in the city, and the problems she’s left behind there, at least for a while.

But – like Adrianna herself – the cottage holds secrets. And when Adrianna finds a mysterious bundle of notes hidden under a floorboard, she can’t shake the idea that they’ve been waiting for her. Especially when – in the rambling, overgrown garden – she then finds a strangely-carved stone, drawing her into a centuries-old mystery…

1646: Between her work as the village midwife and the medicines she sells from her cottage, Ursula has no need for a man. But this ideal leaves her unprotected in a world where just one accusation of witchcraft can mean certain death. So when she catches the eye of a powerful new local doctor, she must use every part of her cunning, or risk becoming his prisoner…

Can the two women – their paths bound by place and history – each find the keys to their own destiny?

When You Were Mine by Emma-Claire Wilson

One mistake could change their lives forever…

My life is a mess. My marriage is falling apart, and I’d hoped the arrival of our baby girl would bring us closer together. Yet, as she grows, I see less of a resemblance to my husband, stirring unsettling questions.

I was hoping a visit from my friend, Victoria would bring some stability. With her seemingly perfect life in Spain, she embodies hope for a brighter future.

But our reunion has taken an unexpected turn. And when a shock diagnosis shakes our family further, Victoria doesn’t know it yet, but she might just hold the key to saving our family.

But if I want her to help, a big secret has to come out. Revealing the truth risks everything – my marriage, our friendship, our families. Can we weather this storm, or will it shatter us beyond repair?

Last Seen Online by Lauren James

When Delilah meets Sawyer Saffitz (son of Anya Saffitz, aka Hollywood royalty), she becomes hooked on a decade-old scandal. In her quest for the truth, Delilah uncovers blogposts written by the mysterious “gottiewrites” and is soon caught up in a world of greed, fandom conspiracy theories … and murder. And the deeper Delilah digs, the more dangerous it becomes – because someone is willing to kill to hide the truth.

Hope for the Blitz Girls by Johanna Bell

London, October 1940. As German bombers increase their nightly raids on the capital, the Blitz Girls must be braver than ever to protect innocent lives and keep the fight against Hitler alive.

Dot, encouraged by her friends, is finding her independence and takes a full-time role as an ARP warden. As she finds new courage in the blackouts, her past might still be lurking in the shadows...

Peggy makes it her mission to help children caught up in the bombing find safety at her parents' large house in the country. When she returns home, however, she realises her own family need her more than ever. But can she leave her friends in the line of fire?

Vivian spends every moment not behind the wheel of her ambulance at the bedside of the man she loves, helping him recover from a terrible crash while defending the British skies. When she is torn between his hospital ward and the site of the latest blast, she faces a heartbreaking choice.

As each night becomes more dangerous for the Blitz Girls, will they have the strength to help each other through and keep the light alive in the darkness?

One Hundred Moments of Us by Jon Rance

They say life is made up of moments.

So is a relationship.

From the moment he sets his eyes on Ashley Oliver at sixth form on the cusp of the new millennium, Charlie falls in love. It isn’t all sunshine and roses though and it takes several years and more than one chance meeting before they begin their relationship.

Will they survive everything the world has to throw at them or will the pressure of life, love, and London be too much for them?

Told through moments big and small, trivial and significant, this is the moving and uplifting story of a relationship - the ups, the downs, and everything in between.

The Map Maker's Promise by Catherine Law

One night, everything changed…

Air raid sirens wail across London and nineteen-year-old Clare takes her chances in the streets rather than heading to the office basement – and risk being in the same vicinity as him, the man who hurt her in the worst way possible…

… and makes a decision that will haunt her for the rest of her life.

Over a year later, and Clare is heartbroken to be saying goodbye to her newborn daughter Mirren. Leaving her in the care of her sister, in a remote – and therefore safe – house in The Highlands, she heads back south to become a map maker for Bomber Command.

The work is tough, and Clare struggles with having a direct hand in killing ordinary people. Combined with the guilt for leaving her baby behind, her dark thoughts could destroy her… or make her stronger than ever.

A heart-breaking tale of love, loss, and redemption, this is a moving and poignant story of motherhood and the complexities of healing in the aftermath of war.

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse

Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She’s spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie’s dad at sea. Desperate for a change, she challenges herself to take up wild swimming―every morning, no excuses, from March till September.

Daring to take the plunge with the ‘Peacock Swimmers’, Tawrie feels alive in a way she’s never known. Suddenly it seems she might be able to step outside her comfort zone after all and let life surprise her―perhaps even dream of a future beyond the shores of Ilfracombe? Especially when, one day, she spots a man in a pink linen shirt who seems as eager for a new start as she does.

But it turns out taking risks on land is a little different from wading into the sea. Can Tawrie face her fears head-on and find her way to happiness? She knows it’s never too late to pursue your hopes and dreams, but it might be easier said than done…

Close Knit by Jenny Colgan

Everyone knows her life story.

But who will win her heart?

Gertie has always had her head in the clouds, wondering what her life might be like if she could only pluck up the courage to leave the remote Scottish island where she was born.

It's the only place she knows, but you can't do anything there without everyone knowing - the glue of this close-knit community is the Knitting Circle, a group of strong, capable and frankly nosy women who work hard, gossip, knit and support each other through thick and thin. At the centre of this sisterhood is Gertie's mum Jean and her grandmother Elspeth, and the three generations of women live together, surrounded by wool, in one small cottage.

The Fecking Fabulous Forties Club by Freya Kennedy

The funny and uplifting novel from bestseller Freya Kennedy. Find out what happens when Derry Girls become Derry Women...

Becca Burnside isn’t sure where it all went wrong...

How did she end up single in her forties, with the highlight of her weekend being a trip to Big Asda with her mum and the only chance of cuddles coming from her dog?

It’s fair to say that Becca’s life isn’t quite where she’d hoped it would be. She already knew that, deep down, but when she finds the time capsule she and her friends made as teenagers and remembers the hopes and dreams sixteen-year-old Becki (with an i) had for the future, she knows she has to do something, and fast.

Refusing to be controlled by her hot flushes and Unexplained Waves of Sadness, Becca is determined to turn things around – for Becki’s sake. But what will it take to prove there’s life in the old girl yet?

(header photo courtesy of Oliver Hale/Unsplash)