Left on the Shelf: February 2025

Friday, 28 February 2025

The Sun's Shadow by Sejal Badani - #bookreview

The Blurb

Celine’s life is spiraling out of control. She’s in danger of losing the beloved equestrian farm that was her childhood home. Her distant husband, Eric, is devoting a suspicious amount of time to a stunning new colleague. Then her young son, Brian, receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. As her life falls apart, she faces an impossible fight

Felicity has uprooted her career and her teenage son, Justin, to get closer to Eric. She’s tired of keeping his secrets―that Eric’s frequent “business trips” have been time spent with her and Justin. Felicity is determined to get her happily ever after, even if it means confronting Celine at a delicate time.

But when Brian’s prognosis worsens, and a transplant from Justin becomes his best chance at survival, Felicity must make a wrenching decision about her son’s well-being―and Celine must accept that the “other woman” is her only hope.

In another life Celine and Felicity might have been friends. Can they put aside the pain between them to do what’s best for their families―and their own futures?

My Review

This is a very heartfelt story which tugs at the heartstrings.

It is an extremely moving story about the main character, Celine who is about to lose it all; her business, her husband and her beloved son. Losing a child is every mother's nightmare, and this made Celine very relatable and definitely made me count my lucky stars that my own children grew up to become healthy young men. Her circumstances seem overwhelming, particularly as she discovers that her husband has another family. Add to that a business that is going to be taken away from her, and her life certainly seems to be spiralling out of control.

Most of the chapters are written from Celine's perspective, but the occasional chapter is written by Felicity who is the 'other woman' in this scenario. She was a very interesting character and I very much enjoyed observing how the circumstances allowed her to mature and become more self-aware.

It is a very thought provoking read and it was impossible not to question myself as to how I might react in this situation. She was enduring a truly awful set of circumstances. Celine demonstrated courage, bravery and determination and I admired her for that.

It was well written with a clever emotive plot which the author brought to life on the page extremely well. As a reader, this book takes you on quite a roller coaster of emotions. It reminded me of novels that I have read by Jodi Picoult and if you enjoy her fiction then I think you will like this one too. It was immersive to read and although its themes were challenging ones it was ultimately a story of hope and positivity. I thoroughly recommend this book.

Book Details:

ISBN: 978 1662509735

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

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

No. of Pages: 333 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Sejal Badani is the Amazon Charts, USA Today, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Storyteller’s Secret and Trail of Broken Wings. She is also a Goodreads Best Fiction award and ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship finalist whose work has been published in over fifteen languages. When not writing, she loves reading and traveling. Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran are always playing in the background.

You can find Sejal at:

(ARC courtesy of the publicist)

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

The Housemate by Sarah Bailey - #bookreview #blogtour

book cover of The Housemate by Sarah Bailey nine lighted windows with three women

Through the dust and faded bird s**t on the windscreen of her Mazda, Oli Groves watches the cops huddled next to the letterbox of 28 Paradise Street, St Kilda...

***

The Blurb

The new standalone thriller from the award-winning writer of the bestselling Gemma Woodstock trilogy.

Three housemates. One dead, one missing and one accused of murder.

Dubbed the Housemate Homicide, it's a mystery that has baffled Australians for almost a decade.

Melbourne-based journalist Olive Groves worked on the story as a junior reporter and became obsessed by the case. Now, nine years later, the missing housemate turns up dead on a remote property. Olive is once again assigned to the story, this time reluctantly paired with precocious millennial podcaster Cooper Ng.

As Oli and Cooper unearth new facts about the three housemates, a dark web of secrets is uncovered. The revelations catapult Oli back to the death of the first housemate, forcing her to confront past traumas and insecurities that have risen to the surface again.

What really happened between the three housemates that night? Will Oli's relentless search for the murderer put her new family in danger? And could her suspicion that the truth lies closer to home threaten her happiness and even her sanity?

A riveting, provocative thriller from the bestselling author of The Dark Lake, Into the Night and Where the Dead Go.

My Review

This was a fabulous book, and I read all of it's 476 pages in two sittings.

Ten years prior to the main narrative of the book, Oli Groves was a junior reporter and was covering the brutal murder of Evelyn Stanley, one of three student housemates in Melbourne. Another of them, Nicole disappears that night and the other, Alex is arrested for the murder.

The main character Oli is now a more seasoned reporter and is paired up with a podcaster, Cooper Ng. I loved reading how this pair worked together. Oli feels like she is babysitting him, whilst Cooper is slightly in awe of her. It was an interesting working relationship to observe.

Oli was an interesting character, and I found her engaging. She lives with widower, Dean and his twin daughters. Being with Dean is all she ever wanted but the case she is investigating is causing Oli to have doubts about the relationship. She was a well-rounded character with many attributes and flaws. I loved her determination and doggedness in seeing the case through to the end.

It is full of twists and turns, and every time I thought I had worked out what was going on, something else would come along and challenge me to revise my thinking. Perfect in a book of this genre. This one kept me on the edge of my seat throughout and I could not put it down. It has an exciting and fast moving plot and was very quick to read.

It is a compelling and gripping novel and I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary mystery fiction.

Book Details:

ISBN: 978 1915523648

Publisher: Datura Books

Formats: e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 400 (paperback)

Purchase Links

About the Author

Sarah lives in Melbourne, Australia with her partner, three children and cat.

As well as writing books, Sarah is the managing director at advertising agency VML, overseeing the Melbourne and Sydney offices.

You can also find Sarah at:

Why not check out some of these other fabulous bloggers

(book and tour graphics courtesy of the publisher)

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Monday, 24 February 2025

Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow by Peter David - #bookspotlight #blogtour

I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this delightful looking book. Buddy the Knight and the Queen of Sorrow by Peter David is a fantasy story aimed at a middle grade readership.

The Blurb

Buddy is no ordinary teddy bear.

He’s a Knight, crafted by The Nameless Wizard himself, and sworn to protect his Person, 10-year old Mieya, from all the Things-That-Go-Bump-In-The-Night.

When Mieya is cursed into a magical sleep, it’s up to Buddy and his friends Esteban the Bard, Sasha the Warrior-Princess, and Copper the Butterfly to journey across The Realm-Under-The-Bed and find the one responsible.

But this is no ordinary Quest. The Realm is a dangerous place, filled with jungles, deserts, lightning storms, and Monsters. But worst of all is The Queen of Sorrow who waits for them in her dark castle in the crags. To break her curse, Buddy will need more than his skill with a blade, Esteban’s witty songs, or Sasha’s ferocious might.

He’ll need Heart.

Book Details

ISBN: 979 8227115102

Publisher: Peter D. Hartog

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 168 (paperback)

Purchase Link

Amazon UK

About the Author:

A native son of Massachusetts, Peter has been living in the Deep South for over 25 years. By day, he’s an insurance professional, saving the world one policy at a time. But at night, well, no one really wants to see him fighting crime in his Spider-Man onesie.

Instead, Peter develops new worlds of adventure influenced by his love of science fiction, mysteries, music and fantasy. Whether it’s running role-playing games for his long-time friends, watching his beloved New England sporting teams vie for another championship, or just chilling with a movie, his wife, two boys, one puppy and three cats, Peter’s imagination is always on the move. It’s the reason why his stories are an eclectic blend of intrigue, excitement, humor and magic, drawn from four decade’s worth of television, film, novels and comic books.

(media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

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

book cover image of murder on west lake by I M Foster

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

The Blurb

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Details

ISBN: 979 8987630631

Publisher: Inez M. Foster – self-published

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

No. of Pages: 458 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

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

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

You can also find her at:

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

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Tuesday, 18 February 2025

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

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

***

The Blurb

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1836172666

Publisher: Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages: 360 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

About the Author

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

You can also find Renita at:

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

(all opinions are my own)

Monday, 17 February 2025

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

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

The Blurb

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

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

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

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1962465632

Publisher: Historium Press

Formats: e-book, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 340 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Barnes & Noble

About the Author

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

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

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

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

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

(all media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Monday, 10 February 2025

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

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

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

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

What do you think?

Friday, 7 February 2025

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

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

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

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

The Blurb

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book Details

ISBN: 978 1739595555

Publisher: Penobi Press

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

No. of Pages: 334

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Amazon CA

About the Author

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

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

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

(media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

Thursday, 6 February 2025

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

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

Q How important are believable characters to you?

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

What do you think?

Wednesday, 5 February 2025

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

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

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

The Blurb

Three women. One crazy hen weekend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

***

Welcome to the blog Susan.

Thanks for inviting me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Author

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

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

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

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

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

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

You can also find Susan at:

Giveaway

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

Good Luck!

Enter Giveaway

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

(media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Tuesday, 4 February 2025

The House of Echoes by Alexandra Walsh - #blogtour #bookreview

‘The Brandon blood is dark with lies and treachery and as it flows through my heart, my vow is this: they will all pay.’

***

The Blurb

Hampton Court Palace 1530s

Anne Brandon has always understood the power of a king’s patronage and, though the court of Henry VIII is a dangerous place for women, as the daughter of the king’s best friend, Anne feels safer than most. But Anne’s husband Lord Powis is tiring of her childlessness and when Henry VIII begins plotting to rid himself of a queen in his quest for an heir, suddenly Anne’s life is in danger. And as whispers of the name of her friend Anne Boleyn get ever louder, there is peril in every loose word, every forbidden conversation.

Pembrokshire Present Day

Caroline Harvey has spent years helping her grandfather, the reclusive bestselling novelist Dexter Blake, hide from his legions of fans in his home on the Pembrokshire coast. After his death, the vultures begin to circle Dexter’s fortune. When Caroline’s ownership of the house she has inherited is called into question, her research into its history reveals it was once owned by Anne Brandon who had sought refuge there. Intrigued, Caroline is determined to discover why Anne fled the court of Henry VIII.

Two women divided by centuries but joined by secrets and courage. And when a twist in their histories threatens them both with the same fate – losing the man they love – their revenge will be the same too. Because there’s no one mightier than a woman underestimated or more powerful than the need to save those they love.

Bestseller Alexandra Walsh is back with a compelling, captivating insight into the Tudor court through the eyes of a woman who had only her guile to keep her alive. Perfect for all fans of Barbara Erskine, Philippa Gregory, Anne O’Brien and Elena Collins.

My Review

I love a dual timeline novel. It provides me with the perfect reading combination - historical fiction and contemporary. This book is set in the present day and in the 16th century.

The earlier part is set during the reign of Henry VIII. I really enjoyed reading this familiar period of history told from a different perspective. Anne Brandon was the daughter of Charles Brandon, the once exiled father who married the King's sister Mary without first seeking the permission of His Majesty, but who was later accepted back at court. She was also a friend to Anne Boleyn, and we see a slightly different woman through Anne Brandon's eyes.

The contemporary aspect of the novel follows Caroline who is the granddaughter of the famous author, Dexter Blake. There are secrets to uncover in this part of the novel and it was fascinating to read how the reader ties up the stories of the past and present.

The book moves seamlessly between the two time periods, and as I read I found myself excited to get back to the other. The writing was compelling to read and the story was fascinating. The author writes well and I look forward to reading some of her other novels.

The characters were well portrayed, and the author does a great job in depicting these two strong women who are separated by centuries.

If you enjoy books about strong women and appreciate novels which are set in both contemporary and historical periods, particularly during the time of the Tudors, then you will love this book as much as I did. I highly recommend it.

Book Details:

ISBN: 978 1804159651

Publisher: Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages: 400 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

About the Author:

Alexandra Walsh is the bestselling author of dual timeline historical mysteries, previously published by Sapere. Her books range from the fifteenth century to the Victorian era and are inspired by the hidden voices of women that have been lost over the centuries. Formerly a journalist, writing for national newspapers, magazines and TV, her first book for Boldwood will be published in Spring 2023.

You can also find Alexandra at: