The House of Twisted Shadows by J.H. Mann - #bookreview #blogtour

The first snow flurries danced in the breeze as Amelia Tremayne stepped out of her red Austin-Healey sports car and strode towards Tyler House. Her skin prickled at the sight of a building she had spent ten years trying to forget...

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I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

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The Blurb

A HOUSE ON THE EDGE

 A DAUGHTER DRIVEN TO OBSESSION

A FORBIDDEN LOVE

Winter 1962. Amelia Tremayne has spent the past ten years in London trying to forget the lonely clifftop house where her father was killed. Tyler House was built shortly before the Second World War on Cornwall’s stormy coast by a wealthy German outsider. Its most unsettling feature is a vast glass dome that bends the light, casting twisted, elongated shadows across the walls.

Amelia’s father, Douglas Tremayne, a noted historian, was researching a controversial book about Tyler House’s Nazi origins - and its links to powerful figures in the local community.

As Amelia begins to uncover the truth about her father’s death, she is pulled into a web of buried secrets - and into a forbidden love that could destroy everything she holds dear.

INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY

My Review

This book is an exciting story which I enjoyed reading.

The main character, Amelia, is obsessed with Tyler House, her childhood home in Cornwall. However, Tyler House is creeping closer to the edge of a cliff.  Ten years prior, her historian father was murdered there and Amelia believes the manuscript that he was killed for is hidden somewhere in the house.

In some ways, Tyler House was the main character in this book. It has a dark history, and an eerie, brooding presence. Within its rooms and hallways, secrets are hidden. The author did a fabulous job of describing the house and its rapid decline into the sea beneath. 

The author skillfully brought his characters, setting and story alive on the page. He knows exactly how to create atmosphere, from the decaying house through to the heavy snowfalls which isolated the village. He portrays the sense of isolation and captivity really well.

This novel is full of suspense and tension and kept me turning the pages. It is well worth reading and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful mystery with some eeriness thrown in.

Book Details

Publisher: Dark Spider Books

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

No. of Pages: 344

Series: Part of the Wild Cornwall series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

J.H.Mann is an award-winning journalist and writer living in the South West of England. His second novel, The Echoing Shore, was a Yeovil Literary Prize award winner and the Adult Fiction Winner of the 2025 Selfies Book Awards at the London Book Fair. His third novel, The Silver Tide, has just been shortlisted for the 2026 Selfies Book Awards. He has strong family links with Cornwall. His novels are inspired by the many stories told by his mother and father and his own experiences as a shore-based volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). He lives with his wife, Nicola, and their lively whippet Patch.

You can also find him at:

Author Website

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

My Other Blog Posts of Based in Cornwall

The Cornish Rebel by Nicola Pryce

The Letter by Ruth Saberton

A Mother's Hope for the Cornish Girls by Better Walker

The Vanishing Act by Jo Jakeman

Don't Look Away by Rachel Abbott

The Rescue by S.L. Rosewarne

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

(all opinions are my own)

The Body That Floats by Jayne Chard - #bookreview #giveaway

A crisp February morning. The sun is shining down on Little Clarsden, an English village nestling in the county of Berkshire. At its heart is the village green,,,

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It has recently come to my attention that I must make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the publisher. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

For a chance to win a copy of Jayne's first book in the series, More Than Murder, click on the link below. (open to UK residents only)

Good Luck!

GIVEAWAY of More Than Murder

The Blurb

The mystery’s deep, the water’s cold, and the locals are packing more than just fishing gear...

TWO RETIRED SISTERS. ONE FLOATING DEAD BODY

Julia, a retired head teacher with a fondness for order, and her half-sister Frankie, who believes that rules are more like vague suggestions, are back—this time in the picturesque Cornish village of Portscatho.

Their morning swim off Tatum’s beach is rudely interrupted by a floating corpse. The police declare the death accidental, but the sisters have other ideas.

Soon, they’re knee-deep in smugglers’ tunnels, taking a bumpy ride in the back of a builder’s van, and facing down a gun-toting local with questionable fashion choices.

Can the sisters keep their heads above water long enough to uncover the truth or will the killer make sure they sink without a trace?

My Review

This was an easy and entertaining read and I enjoyed it very much.

In fact, this was my second foray into the antics of the main characters, Julia and Frankie. It is the second book in the series but it works perfectly well as a standalone novel. However, if you would like to win a copy of the first book in the series, More Than Murder, follow the link to my review of that book for details of how to enter.

Julia and Frankie are half-sisters. Having inherited their aunt's cottage in Cornwall, the will stipulated that they must both live together in the cottage for a year before the cottage becomes theirs. However, they are very different and haven't always got along. This book takes place in the latter part of this one-year proviso to their inheritance.

They are fabulous characters and I love the way they have such different personalities yet complement each other very well. Julia, a retired headteacher, is as organised as Frankie is disorganised and impetuous. When they discover a body floating in the lake, they suspect foul play and it falls to them to investigate what happened and to prove that this was murder and not an accidental death.  They are really fun characters and add much humour to the story.

The book has been well written and I felt that the author had portrayed her plot and characters extremely well. The Cornish setting is nicely described and the perfect location for her to have set the books.

The story moves along at a good pace with some twists and turns along the way. It was easy to read and I got through it in a couple of sittings. It is the perfect read for a lazy weekend and I highly recommend it.

Publishing on 7th May, The Body that Floats is the second book in the Julia and Frankie Mystery series. My review of the first book, More Than Murder, can be found here. 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1068325021

Publisher:  Chapters Crime Press

Formats:  paperback

No. of Pages:  284 (paperback)

Series:  Book 2 in the Julia and Frankie Mystery series

Preorder Links

Bookshop.org

Direct from Author Website

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Jayne Chard began writing plays when she was eight years old and wrote her first “book” at fourteen.

 After graduating with a degree in psychology and drama, she went on to win the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Buzz Goodbody Director Award. She directed a number of theatre plays, including shows at the Royal Court and Riverside Studios. During this time, Jayne continued to write, and two of her plays were performed on the London Fringe. Attracted to the small screen, Jayne became immersed in directing TV dramas. Now a multi-award-winning film and TV drama producer, her credits include the BBC flagship brand, Silent Witness and three feature films.

 In addition to her television career, Jayne was instrumental in establishing a veterinary clinic on the remote island of Koh Tao in Thailand and also worked as a radio presenter. Jayne lives in the West Country with her partner and two cuddly cockapoos.

You can also find Jayne at:

Author Website

Facebook

Instagram

Bluesky

X

For a chance to win a copy of Jayne's first book in the series, More Than Murder, click on the link below. (open to UK residents only)

Good Luck!

GIVEAWAY of More Than Murder

(ARC and media courtesy of the publicist)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

The Rescue by S. L. Rosewarne - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

'She's very bright you know,' Pip said to everyone when I was little. He may have been biased, but it was still gratifying to have my intelligence acknowledged.

He still said it now, five years on; most recently on their wedding anniversary, when we had a day out to our favourite beach. A little boy mis-hit a tennis ball which landed nearby and bounced over to me. I stood guard over it, my eyes fixed on the boy as he ran over.

***

When terrier Moll’s owner dies, she is determined to protect his widow, Suki. And that means finding her anew man to care for her.

As Suki navigates grief, dating and men with baggage of their own, Moll tries gently to push her beloved owner to moving on with someone Moll has chosen, with a good sense of humour, a generous heart, and a steady supply of biscuits.

But Suki has a frustrating habit of doing things the way she wants, instead of Moll’s way. Until she meets Ted, who Moll adores almost as much as Suki does.

Ted, though, has demons of his own - so is he really the right choice for Suki?

With Moll getting older, and Suki still struggling, can this devoted pup fulfil her promise to look after her owner, before her time runs out?

A quirky tale of second chances, told through the eyes of woman’s best friend.

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Dog lovers will adore this book which is narrated by the authors dog, Moll. She tells the story of her owner, Suki's experience as she steers her through a journey of love and loss en route to finding happiness again.

It is a heartfelt account of the routes upon which grief can send you. However, at times it is humorous, at other times it's poignant and at all times it is an enjoyable read.

The descriptive passages of Cornwall made me want to hop on a train and walk through its countryside with my own dog. However, he is elderly and riddled with arthritis and cannot walk far but I think he would strongly identify with Moll's ability to enjoy a good sniff.  Although I have visited Cornwall in the past, and it is indeed a beautiful county, reading this book has initiated my desire for a return visit.

The book contains a certain charm, and it's being narrated by Moll elevates the story. Whilst based on the author's own experiences, it is imaginatively constructed and well written. I am already looking forward to reading the author's next book, Lainy's Tail.

I defy anyone who reads this not to fall in love with this little bundle of canine intuition.

ISBN: 978 1912009343

Publisher: Compass Publishing UK

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages: 308

About the Author:

S. L. Rosewarne writes contemporary women’s fiction with an underlying theme which can be overcoming grief, second chances, how to live with anorexia, dealing with a problem rescue dog - everyday dilemmas that many of us face. 

She hopes that by sharing her experiences, wrapped up in characters that have grown from her imagination, you may laugh and cry with her, and enjoy reading how she overcome her dilemmas.

(author photo and bio information courtesy of the authors website)

(book courtesy of Rachel's Random Resource)

Reading Roundup - October 2021

 

Here in the UK the clocks go back on Sunday. And as much as I don't want to mention the 'Christmas' word just yet, it's really not that far away. I can't believe how fast 2021 has flown by.

Actually, I am a little ahead of the game and have already bought a couple of festive gifts. I know that many people will have already been doing this for a while now, but usually I resist doing so until November.

October has been a great month for reading. As most of you already know, I usually read somewhere between seven and ten books in a month. In an average month I consider myself lucky if I read one outstanding book. Lots of books are good but not that many can be counted as amazing.

However, amongst my reading this month there are two absolute gems which I can't recommend enough; The Girl With the Louding Voice and Matilda Windsor is Coming Home. Details are below.

 How about you? Have you read anything amazing this month?

Books I Have Read During October

The Last Witches of England: A Tragedy of Sorcery and Superstition by John Callow - This is an amazingly well researched book about the Bideford Witches. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Mother of the Brontës: When Maria Met Patrick by Sharon Wright - a biographical account of the oft overlooked mother of the famous Bronte sisters. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Birds and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier - I was unsure about what to expect from this collection of short stories but I enjoyed them very much. Disquieting rather than scary.

Matilda Windsor is Coming Home by Anne Goodwin - This is a fabulously heart-rending book and my review will be up very soon.

Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler - an enjoyable novel which is the first in the Heart of Carolina series.

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare - An outstanding achievement of a book. Well done Ms Dare. You can read my review by clicking here.

Books I Am Partway Through

Tales from the Italian South by Angelina Brasacchio

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Rags of Time by Michael Ward

Mother of the Brontes: When Maria Met Patrick by Sharon Wright - #BookReview

To the little girl gazing from the windows of her cosy attic nursery, the whole world seemed arranged for her entertainment. Six-year-old Maria Branwell's vantage points above the Penzance's busiest street afforded uninterrupted views of a most interesting place. Out front was the sea, with mysterious St Michael's Mount in the distance, sometimes crystal clear in the bright sunshine against a blue sky, sometimes wreathed in sea mists, the waters of the bay slate grey and restless. Not far from her door the small boats and tall ships arriving, or departing to trade or to fight or to fish. All the mercantile and military hullabaloo of a busy port in a seafaring nation. Directly below her window, merchants and redcoats stopped to discuss the French Revolution just over the horizon in one direction, American Independence an ocean away in another.

At long last, the untold story of the mysterious Mrs Bronte . They were from different lands, different classes, different worlds almost. The chances of Cornish gentlewoman Maria Branwell even meeting the poor Irish curate Patrick Bronte in Regency England, let alone falling passionately in love, were remote. Yet Maria and Patrick did meet, making a life together as devoted lovers and doting parents in the heartland of the industrial revolution. An unlikely romance and novel wedding were soon followed by the birth of six children. They included Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte , the most gifted literary siblings the world has ever known. Her children inherited her intelligence and wit and wrote masterpieces such as Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. 

Yet Maria has remained an enigma while the fame of her family spread across the world. It is time to bring her out of the shadows, along with her overlooked contribution to the Bronte genius. Untimely death stalked Maria as it was to stalk all her children. But first there was her fascinating life's story, told here for the first time by Sharon Wright. 

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I initially discovered the Bronte sisters in the school library when I first attended secondary school. Having fallen in love with their novels and back stories at such a tender age, they remain amongst my favourite books. Being a diminutive, bespectacled girl myself, I particularly identified with Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and I love it still.

I have read several biographies of the Bronte sisters over the years, but this is the first that I have read that is specifically about their mother, Maria Branwell. I was fascinated to learn how this intelligent, well to do young woman from Cornwall ended her life as the impoverished wife to an eccentric clergyman in Yorkshire.

The author has clearly completed extensive research for this book and as a result has been able to produce this informative volume, and to demonstrate Maria's progression both geographically and socially. I very much enjoyed reading the letters that Maria wrote and sent to Patrick prior to their marriage. Sadly, these letters are one-sided as only Maria's letters survive but the author was able to ascertain information about Patrick based on Maria's responses.

Ms. Wright has written an informative, elucidating and illuminating book about the mother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte. It is a very accessible and easy to read biography which I very much enjoyed.

ISBN: 978 1526757609

Publisher: Pen & Sword History

About the Author:

Sharon Wright is an author, journalist and playwright. She has worked as a writer, editor and columnist for magazines, newspapers and websites including The Guardian, Daily Express, BBC, Glamour, Red, The Lady and New York Post. Her first book, Balloonomania Belles, was serialised in The Mail on Sunday and Sharon was a guest on BBC Woman's Hour. The revised and updated paperback The Lost History of the Lady Aeronauts was published in April 2021. She is also the author of critically acclaimed plays performed in London and Yorkshire.

(bio information courtesy of Pen & Sword)

(early reading copy courtesy of NetGalley)

The Letter by Ruth Saberton - #BookReview

 

May 1914

On her first night at the Rectory the old dream came again. It began, as it always did, with a moon the colour of honey slanting shadows across the counterpane while the night breeze enticed her out of bed. Somehow, she'd reach the window without her feet touching the floorboards, while her white nightgown billowed behind her like the sail of a stately galleon and bore her into the shadowscape.

On the eve of the First World War aspiring poet and Lord of the Manor's heir, Kit Rivers accepts that his duty is to his family and his country. Yet when he falls passionatley in love, Kit discovers hard choices must be made when conflict threatens everything he holds dear and shatters his world beyond all recognition.

One century later, newly widowed Chloe Pencarrow exchanges London life for an isolated Cornish house. Haunted by memories, Chloe's interest in a local war memorial proves a welcome distraction from grief and leads to a fascination with a collection of forgotten poetry. As Chloe's own story becomes entwined with Kit's, she finds herself caught in a tangled web of love, loss, and the darkest of secrets.

* * *

Generally, romance novels are down the list of my favourite genres. I tend to find them a little too sugary, and dare I say formulaic, for my taste. Then every once in a while I find myself in the mood for a little romance (note to self - mention this to my husband and drop hints about flowers and chocolates).

However, this is the book that has challenged my preconceived ideas and may even have converted me to embrace romance as a genre to add into my reading choices more regularly.

I very much enjoyed this novel and the author has done a brilliant job with the dual time narrative. I am always impressed by authors who are so successful in doing this as seamlessly as Ms. Saberton has. The change of voice between Chloe and Daisy was evident and I was equally engaged with both stories.

The main character, Chloe, has recently lost her husband and the beginning of the novel is much about her grief and her need to be somewhere new. Her pain is visceral and very moving to read.

All of the characters are expertly portrayed and I felt completely absorbed in their lives. In fact, her portrayal of the fictional Kit Rivers as a war poet spurred me on to reacquaint myself with the War Poets.

The book is set in Cornwall and the descriptions of the area have been beautifully written. I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of weeks in Cornwall a few years ago and it is a gorgeous part of the country and the author has clearly been inspired by the area.

Although this book deals with the issue of grief, it is about so much more. It is also about hope, love and the promise of life ahead.

This is my first book by Ruth Saberton. She is a skilled storyteller and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

Have you read The Letter? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts.

ISBN: 978 1983623462

Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishing

About the Author:

Ruth Saberton is a British writer with over 26 published books. She has also written under the names of Jessica Fox, Georgie Carter and Holly Cavendish.

Born in London she now lives in Cornwall which she says is a constant source of inspiration for her writing.

She has always wanted to be a writer and as a child filled several notebooks with her stories about horses and ponies. She still likes riding, enjoys walking and spending time with her friends and family.