The Signare of Goree by Laura Rahme - #excerpt #extract #blogtour

 

 

Isn't this the most gorgeous cover? It has me wanting to dive straight into this book.

I am delighted to be bringing you an excerpt of this beautiful looking book today.

Enjoy!

The Blurb

1846. In the heat of West Africa, the French navy uncovers the corpses of two French soldiers. Inspector Maurice Leroux arrives at the island of Gorée. It seems death has come to this small colonial outpost off the Senegal coast, home to the prosperous mixed-blood women known as the signares.The navy suspects that the Bambara people, emboldened by approaching emancipation, may be out for blood. While confronted by the locals’ strange magical beliefs, Maurice remains skeptical. Does malevolence play a part, or are these deaths accidental, brought upon by the brutality of nature in an island known as the white man's grave?But when murder strikes, it becomes clear that a killer is stalking Gorée.Swept by a mystery unlike any he has known, Maurice meets Signare Angélique Aussenac. The proud métis, deserted by her wealthy Bordeaux lover, casts her spell upon Maurice.But beyond the throbbing sounds of the tam-tams and the glittering signare soirées, danger lurks. Someone is watching. And the deaths go on.Could the killer be one of the rich Bordeaux merchants? Or are they hiding among the powerful signares?

A historical mystery spanning France and Senegal, THE SIGNARE OF GORÉE explores a world of magic, murder, and passion.

ISBN: 979 8866604852

Publisher:  Independently published

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  274 (paperback)

The Excerpt

The crescendo rose and as he passed by the drummers, his ears battered by the sound of the tam-tams, he felt the crowd part. He looked to where all eyes were turned. Even the handsome singer had lifted his eyes which radiated a joy bordering on ecstasy. The young man’s voice eased into a seductive humming and before long, Maurice saw what it was that held the Serer’s attention. 

Her stride was a rhythmic dance. Her bold steps claimed the land. Those who gathered as she passed stole glances upon all her treasures – they found the gleam of her toe rings, the shimmering dust settling upon those feet, the jingle of her gold bracelets encircling her ankles and wrists – all of them delights to behold. And upon that bronzed face, in her eyes, between haughtiness and chastity, burned a green-tinged amber that was neither from this land nor from the cities of Europe. Rare and forbidden, it knew its worth. 

Along the sheen of her arms and cheeks, a glow spoke of endless sensuality. She was something new, carved by the African sun, a creation from centuries of passion, born against all odds, bridging worlds across the seas. 

Draped in bold, intricate fabrics which even folded into a conical shape atop her forehead, she strolled past with a retinue of four young women, two of them bare-chested, save for the jewels that hung round their necks.

And each tam-tam beat that the young man struck, each note of his song, each caress of his hum, it called to her. As the mysterious woman drew near him, the artist’s voice brought a quick smile to her lips, and for an instant, as the crowd murmured its awe, a strange glow flickered in her eyes just as she met the drummer’s own. 

But she did not linger. Maurice caught a faint scent of cloves and patchouli as she passed.

“A princess of some sort?” he asked.

The lieutenant had reached him. Maurice noted he also wore a smile on his face. 

“She gives that impression, I suppose,” answered Candeau. “But she is a signare, like Anna Colas, not a princess. The young women by her side are her servants.”

“Servants? They are loaded with gold…”  Maurice studied the gilded ornaments adorning the younger women’s brown limbs and necks. Silver and gold chains vied for the sun’s rays among coral beads and amulets. Bracelets jingled from their wrists to the folds of their elbows and fine hoops heavy with gold grapes dangled from their lobes. 

“The signares of this island are not averse to making a lavish display of their wealth. Angélique Aussenac is usually an exception to this rule. Perhaps she has a lover in sight. She seems quite pleased with herself.”

About the Author:

Laura Rahme is the author of seven historical novels. Born in Dakar, Senegal where she spent her early childhood, she moved to Australia at the age of ten. A graduate of two Honors degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Psychology, she has worked over two decades as an IT professional. Her greatest joy comes from travel, researching history, and penning historical mysteries. She now lives in France with her screenwriting husband.

(material and media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Operation Tulip by Deborah Swift = #bookreview #blogtour

 

October 1944

Nancy glanced through the slash of rain to where Josef, tall and dark in a belted raincoat, was checking the others were in position. He stooped to tie a shoelace as he came out from the shelter of the weight-house... He looked up briefly and Nancy silently returned his gaze before checking her watch...

***

Holland, 1944: Undercover British agent Nancy Callaghan has been given her toughest case yet. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured, and Nancy must play the role of a wealthy Nazi to win over a notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, and gain crucial information.

England: Coding expert Tom Lockwood is devastated that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving Northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe, and him from his beloved Nancy. Desperate to rescue the love of his life, Tom devises Operation Tulip, a plan to bring Nancy home.

But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Party. Is Nancy in too deep, or can Tom reach her before she gets caught?

Inspired by the true events of occupied Holland during WW2, don't miss this utterly gripping story of love, bravery and sacrifice.

***

Deborah Swift is a great author and with every one of her new releases she seems to get better and better.

Operation Tulip is no exception to that. It is the third in her World War II Secret Agent series and made for gripping reading. I have previously read The Shadow Network which is the second in the series. If you would like to read my review you can find it by clicking here.

Operation Tulip is set in Holland as the war is coming to an end. People are starving to death and the resistance cells are deteriorating. Nancy, a secret agent, is tasked with impersonating a wealthy widow in order to catch the eye of a senior Nazi in order to find a way to release a key resistance member who has been captured.

The atmosphere throughout the book is tense. Every word and every action are imbued with meaning as Nancy attempts to find the information that she needs and not be discovered as a secret agent in the process. 

She is a great character and exhibits bravery and courage throughout. She has been well developed in this book and interacts with the secondary characters in a believable way. Even when her resistance cell fails, she fights on alone in her bid to help others. 

The author clearly does her research very well and clearly understands the time period in which the book is set. She captured the desperation of the people remaining in Holland as they slowly starved to death while the Nazi's ate and their health thrived. 

This is a book that is well worth reading. It works perfectly well as a stand alone if you have not previously read the first two books in the series.

This will appeal to lovers of historical fiction, and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 0008586904

Publisher:  HQ Digital

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  368 (paperback)

About the Author:

Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author of twenty books who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. After taking a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, she enjoys mentoring aspiring novelists and has an award-winning historical fiction blog at her website www.deborahswift.com.

Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today. 

Recent books include The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, which was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade Award, and a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal. Her most recent books are The Silk Code and The Shadow Network both set in the Second World War.

(ARC and media courtesy of The Coffee Pot Book Club)

(all opinions are my own)

Snow is Falling by Sarah Bennett - #bookreview #blogtour

 "You look beautiful," Dylan Travers said to the woman dressed in a confection of pale gold lace and cream silk... The dress was an elegant frame-skimming number... sheer enough to allow Jennifer's all-year tan to glow through...

***

When Sadie Bingham’s life takes an unexpected turn, her children treat her to a well-earned break at Juniper Meadows, the gorgeous Cotswolds estate owned by the Travers family.

The festive season is in full swing, and Sadie throws herself into the packed Twelve Days of Christmas programme, relishing the opportunity to make new friends and new memories.

Single father Dylan Travers hasn’t been to his childhood home of Juniper Meadows for decades. Estranged from his cantankerous father Monty, he has made a happy life for himself in the States. But now with teenage children keen to know more about their roots, Dylan has brought them back to the Cotswolds to meet his family.

As Sadie and Dylan both navigate a Christmas very different from the ones they had expected it's soon clear that, geography apart, they have a great deal in common. And as Dylan confronts his past and Sadie contemplates her future, perhaps the miracle of this Christmas will be the happily-ever-after they both deserve.

Let Sarah Bennett whisk you away to a snowy Cotswolds for the perfect winter romance. A Sarah Bennett book is guaranteed to brighten any day, perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

***

This is the fourth book in the Juniper Meadows series. I have previously read and enjoyed the first book in the series, Where We Belong. If you would like to read my review, you can find it by clicking here. Whilst I have missed out the second and third books in the series, it did not affect my enjoyment of Snow is Falling.

Because I enjoyed Where We Belong so much, I jumped at the chance to read this fourth installment when I was presented with the opportunity for the blog tour. This completely lived up to my expectations.

The main character is Sadie whose husband has left her for a much younger woman. When her children give her the gift of booking her into Juniper Meadows Twelve Days of Christmas celebration, she sets off to spend the holiday alone. However, she is not alone for long when she meets up with some other ladies whose company she enjoys and then meets the attractive Dylan Travers and his two teenage children.

Sadie is a wonderful character. Faced with moving on when she is in her middle years she is realistic in her outlook on life. Dylan lives in Florida and she can see no way in which she and Dylan can move forward with their burgeoning romance. I liked her for her practicality and down to earth characteristics but I was rooting throughout for her and Dylan to find a way.

This is a heartwarming and life affirming book and I enjoyed every page. The author is a skilled storyteller and this was wonderful to snuggle down with. 

This was a joy to read.  It has wonderful characters, a lovely plot and the setting was ideal.   I highly recommend it.

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

No. of Pages:  296 (paperback)

About the Author:

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.

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

(all opinions are my own)

Loose Ends by Ninette Hartley - #bookreview #blogtour

In the small industrial town of Ridley, West Yorkshire, two young women walked out of the shirt factory gates together... They were looking forward to the weekend...

***

It’s March 1941 at the shirt factory in Ridley, Yorkshire. Ness is a typist in the office, and her friend Eileen works as a seamstress on the shop floor. 

Nobody could have imagined the consequences when as a result of a prank Eileen plays on her friend, Ness’s name and address ends up in the pockets of two shirts destined for Royal Navy personnel on active service.

The fallout from Eileen’s action takes Ness on a challenging, life-changing journey where she must develop her talent for dressmaking and acquire the skills needed to run a business. 

It is not easy during wartime, when money is short, clothes rationing is widespread and negative attitudes prevail. 

Can she win through? 

Or will a painful secret she must conceal destroy her chances?

***

The book begins in 1941 with carefree friends Ness and Eileen leaving work in anticipation of the weekend ahead.

The main character of the book is Ness and she is a wonderful main character. When Eileen jokingly puts Ness' name and address in two shirt pockets that she is packaging up at work, she unknowingly sets into motion a set of challenges that Ness will have to face.

What I loved about this book is how we see Ness develop throughout the story. The novel begins in 1941 and we follow Ness right through to 1953, and observe her grow from girl to woman. At an early point in the novel she faces a life altering event which she keeps secret for many years. However, it dogs her path significantly and we witness her bravery and courage throughout.

The secondary characters were equally well drawn. I loved Ness' mum and her friend Rose, as well as the devoted George. The author creates characters extremely well.

This book had everything that you would expect to find in a book of this genre; challenges, romance and secrets. It was extremely enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes fiction about strong women set again a working class background during World War II.

ISBN:  978 1838421045

Publisher:  Horstead Books

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

No. of Pages:  362 (paperback) 

About the Author:

Ninette Hartley is a writer, mother, grandmother, wife and teacher. She has followed many paths – from acting and dancing to magazine publishing, and even driving a pony and trap – but she has always come back to storytelling.

Ninette has an MA in creative writing and has been published in three short story collections. Her first memoir Dear Tosh, published in May 2021 was shortlisted in the Selfies Book Awards and long-listed in the Dorchester Literary Festival Writing Prize 2022. From 2008 -2016 she lived in Italy on an olive farm, returning to the UK to live in Dorset for eight years. Never one to stay in one place for long, she has recently moved to France where she plans to continue writing more works of fiction and poetry.

Loose Ends is her debut novel. You can read more about her on her website: www.ninettehartley.com and you can also follow her on social media.

(e-book and media courtesy of Zooloo's Book Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

Henry V: The Astonishing Rise of England's Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones - #bookreview

 

The doctor is nervous.

John Bradmore is the best surgeon in England. He has a famous practice in London. He attends on rich and powerful clients, including the king...

***

HENRY V reigned over England for only nine years and four months, and died at the age of just thirty-five, but he looms over the landscape of the late Middle Ages and beyond.

The victor of Agincourt was remembered as the acme of kingship, a model to be closely imitated by his successors. William Shakespeare deployed Henry V as a study in youthful folly redirected to sober statesmanship. In the dark days of World War II, Henry's victories in France were presented by British filmmakers as exemplars for a people existentially threatened by Nazism. Churchill called Henry 'a gleam of splendour in the dark, troubled story of medieval England', while for one modern medievalist, Henry was, quite simply, 'the greatest man who ever ruled England'.

For Dan Jones, Henry is one of the most intriguing characters in all medieval history, but one of the hardest to pin down: a hardened warrior, yet also bookish and artistic; a leader who made many mistakes, yet always triumphed when it mattered. As king, he saved a shattered country from

economic ruin, and in foreign diplomacy made England a serious player once more. Yet through his conquests in northern France, he sowed the seeds for calamity at home, in the form of the Wars of the Roses.

Dan Jones's life of Henry V stands out for the generous amount of space it allots to his long royal apprenticeship - the critical first twenty-six years of his life before he became king. It is an enthralling portrait of a man with a rare ability to force his will on the world. But, above all, it is an unmissable account of England's greatest king from our bestselling medieval historian.

***

If you are looking at this book and thinking that it might be a heavy going historical tome then think again. 

This is so accessible to read as the author, Dan Jones has steered away from the traditional style of history writing being in the past tense and has written this in the present tense. This may be unconventional, but Mr. Jones has accomplished this extremely well. It drives the text along, pulling the reader in and allowing them to observe history from a closer perspective.

That said, the book contains a vast amount of knowledge as it covers Henry's entire lifetime - from the time of his birth in 1386 to his death in 1422 via his ascension to the throne in 1413. We learn much about the boy and youth, Hal who became the serious King Henry. However, the author states that these two personas were very much one and the same and he sets this out for the reader perfectly.

Despite the fact that I have a history degree, I actually knew little about Henry V other than on a superficial level.  I focussed more on modern history. Therefore, I was very eager to dive into this and I feel that I am far more informed now. I have ploughed through many history textbooks over the years and by comparison, this made for easy reading and was more like reading a detailed novel.

This book is an intelligent and informative read which made for enjoyable reading. Publishing today, I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys history.

ISBN: 978 1804541937

Publisher:  Head of Zeus/Apollo

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  448 (hardback)

***

About the Author:

Dan Jones is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of many non-fiction books, including The Plantagenets, The Templars and Powers and Thrones. He is a renowned writer, broadcaster and journalist. He has presented dozens of TV shows, including the Netflix series Secrets of Great British Castles, and writes and hosts the podcast This is History. His debut novel, Essex Dogs, is the first in a series following the fortunes of ordinary soldiers in the early years of the Hundred Years’ War. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

(ARC and author info courtesy of the publisher)

(author photo courtesy of Penguin Random House)

(all opinions are my own)

The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz - Illustrated by Sarah Abrehart - #bookreview #blogtour

 

The year lies ahead of us, its full moons, equinoxes and soltices, meteor showers, flowers, cakes and festivities all to come, from the first scent of spring on the cold air [through] to the cosy candlelit cave of winter...

***

The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark, and appreciate each month of the year in your own way.

The 2025 edition has the theme ‘ancient astronomy’ and includes constellation stories from around the world and a ‘megalith of the month’ - exploring the myths and astronomical alignments of stone circles and cairns from across the UK and Ireland. It also includes a brand new Cake of the Month feature.

Readers find themselves referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.

From tide tables to moon phases, wildlife to folklore and mouthwatering seasonal recipes this is the comprehensive guide to 2025.

***

As I sat reading this book, I could see the season changing before my eyes. Although The Almanac covers next year, it nonetheless seemed to speak to me as I observed the sudden drop in temperature and the yellowing of the leaves outside my window.

It is a small volume which contains a wealth of knowledge. As expected, it is broken down into monthly chapters with each of them being folkishly illustrated by Sarah Abrehart.

Each month has a title chapter page listing it's contents which include the religious festivals of a range of religions. These vary from the Chinese New Year through to Litha, the Pagan Midsummer Festival, international celebration days, UK Bank Holidays and so much more.

Within each of the monthly chapters there is a marvellous array of information. There are tide tables, lunar gardening, music, crafts, recipes, all with the theme of ancient astronomy running throughout. There is something to appeal to everyone in this whether your interest is the giant megaliths or the moon cycles.

This is one book I shall be keeping beside me next year as I fully expect to want to reread it each month of 2025.  It would make a fantastic Christmas gift, and I can think of several people who I know that would enjoy referring to this. 

I highly recommend this lovely Almanac and I am sure that you enjoy it too.

ISBN: 978 1856754682

Publisher:  Gaia

Formats:  e-book and hardcover

No. of Pages:  288 (hardcover)

About the Author:

Lia Leendertz is an award-winning garden and food writer based in Bristol. She presents a monthly podcast, 'As the Season Turns', about what to look out for in the month ahead and writes a free weekly newsletter, 'Lia's Living Almanac'.

Her reinvention of the traditional rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers eager to connect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month.

(book and all media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

The Missing Family by Tim Weaver - #bookreview

After they arrested him, they took the suspect down to the basement.

It was vast, a maze of nearly identical corridors and entranceways...

***

One family . . .

On a beautiful summer's day, at a remote lake in the middle of Dartmoor, three members of the Fowler family take a dinghy out onto the water, leaving mother Sarah at the shore. Less than sixty seconds later, she checks to see where they are. The boat is drifting in the middle of the lake. It's empty. Sarah's family have completely vanished.

One killer . . .

At the Skyline Casino in London, the security team have just made a headline-grabbing arrest: they've spotted and detained a man suspected of murdering a high roller. After locking him in one of their holding cells, the team station themselves outside and wait for the police. But when the cops arrive, they find something impossible. The killer is no longer inside the cell.

Two detectives . . .

David Raker is an expert at solving missing persons puzzles – but these mysteries are unlike anything he's ever seen. As he digs into the Fowler's, his long-time ally – ex-detective, Colm Healy – tries to get to the bottom of what happened at the casino. But the men are in danger. Because, buried in the shadows of both cases, is a deadly secret that was never meant to come out . . .

***

 Although this is the thirteenth book in the David Raker series, and I have not read any of the previous books, this worked extrememly well as a stand alone novel.

David Raker is a missing persons investigator who has been called in by Sarah, a woman whose husband, son and his girlfriend have all dissappeared from a dinghy on a lake almost before her eyes.

In addition, he is also called in to investigate a missing persons case in a casino where someone has disappeared from a locked cell. The author does a great job in bringing these two seperate strands of the story together, and there were many twists and turns along the way.

Although this is a fairly long book at 496 pages, it is fast paced and I was able to read through it quite quickly as it made for compulsive reading.

I definitely did not predict the conclusion and there were certainly some surprises held back for the final chapter. It had everything that a book of this genre should have - compelling characters, a fast and exciting plot and several strands that fall together nicely at the end.

I am feeling tempted to go back and read some of the earlier David Raker books as I would enjoy seeing what had brought him to this point in his life.

Well written and perfectly executed and I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 0241586914

Publisher:  Michael Joseph

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages:  496 (hardback)

About the Author:

Tim Weaver is the author of 15 novels, including the David Raker mysteries You Were Gone, No One Home and The Blackbird. He's also written the standalone, Missing Pieces, as well as the limited edition David Raker story collection, The Shadow at the Door.

 Tim's book have been selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club three times, shortlisted for a National Book Award, and been nominated for both the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library and Ian Fleming Steel Dagger awards.  They've also been Sunday Times Top 3 bestsellers and number ones on Kindle, iBooks and Audible. As well as all of that, Tim is also busy developing several original TV series' with Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio's production company​.

Away from writing, he lives in Bath, home to overpriced real estate and Georgian terraces, and he's lucky enough to write full-time, allowing him to build his day around the things he does best: staring out of the window, and making endless cups of tea.

(ARC courtesy of the publisher)

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