Hit for Six by Isabella May - #bookspotlight #blogtour

 

Here we are at the beginning of another week and I am shining the book spotlight on Hit for Six by Isabella May. It's a sporty, romance type of book and looks like a lot of fun.

The Blurb

A simmering Fangirl Down X Rivals X Crazy Rich Asians (with a British twist)

LOLA is juggling two jobs to make ends meet; underpaid sales exec by day, and waitress in a cocktail bar by night.

MONTY is the captain of Bath Beasts cricket team and heir to a portfolio of luxury properties.

Girls like her don’t normally end up with boys like him. But when she accidentally bares all at his cup final, destiny (and the number six) ensures their match is a home run.

Unfortunately, Monty’s family has other ideas, doing all they can to prevent their golden boy from getting bowled over by the lowly Lola. Can their love survive the attacking shot? Or will they find themselves on a sticky wicket?

Book Details

ISBN:  979 8286818297

Publisher:  Independently published

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

No. of Pages:  360 (paperback)

Series: Book One in the Balls and Banter series

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

About the Author

Isabella May lives in (mostly) sunny Andalusia, Spain with her husband, daughter and son, creatively inspired by the mountains and the sea. She grew up in Somerset on Glastonbury's ley lines and loves to feature her quirky English hometown in her stories.

After a degree in Modern Languages and European Studies at UWE, Bristol (and a year working abroad in Bordeaux and Stuttgart), Isabella bagged an extremely jammy and fascinating job in children's publishing... selling foreign rights for novelty, board, pop-up and non-fiction books all over the world; in every language from Icelandic to Korean, Bahasa Indonesian to Papiamento!

All of which has fuelled her curiosity and love of international food and travel - both feature extensively in her romcoms.

Isabella is also a Level 4 Pranic Healer and a stillbirth mum.

You can also find Isabella at:

Author Website

Instagram

Tik Tok

Blusky

(media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Ace, Marvel, Spy: A Novel of Alice Marble by Jenni L. Walsh - #bookreview

 

With a sigh, Alice lowers the newspaper. She knew the war was coming. Hadn't he - she won't think his name and drudge up all those memories - predicted it? But now to see the state of the world so clearly in black and white... it takes the wind out of Alice, while also igniting a fire inside of her...

***

The Blurb

Trailblazer, superstar, activist, and spy: Alice Marble is a true American icon.

Alice strives to have it all. At seventeen, Alice Marble has no formal tennis skills and no coach. What she does have is an ability to hit the ball as hard as she can and a strong desire to prove herself. With steadfast determination and one sacrifice after another, Alice plays her heart out on the courts of the rich and famous, at national tournaments, and—the greatest of them all—at Wimbledon, rising to be one of the top-ranked players in the world.

But then her world falls apart. With the outbreak of war with Germany, Alice’s tennis career and life come to a screeching halt, and for the first time, she is forced to confront who she is without tennis. As she seeks to understand her new place in the world and how she can aid in the war efforts, a telegram arrives with devastating news from overseas. Heartbroken and lost, she feels like she can only watch as the war wreaks havoc in every area of her life.

Until an unexpected invitation arrives. Alice is given the chance to fight back when the US Army sends her a request: Under the guise of playing in tennis exhibition games in Switzerland, she would be a spy for them. Alice aches for nothing more than to avenge what the war has taken from her and to prove herself against this new opponent. But what awaits her might be her greatest challenge yet.

From her start as a promising athlete with worn-out shoes to her status as a glamorous international star, Alice Marble’s determination to control her own life and destiny fuels a story of achievement, discipline, loss, and love.

Jenni L. Walsh’s Ace, Marvel, Spy brilliantly showcases the life of Alice Marble, a real-life tennis sensation known for her extraordinary talent and indomitable spirit. This fast-paced and action-packed historical novel spans multiple international settings and is enhanced by discussion questions that prompt readers to reflect on Alice’s challenges and triumphs, making it an ideal choice for book clubs.

My Review

This is a fascinating novel based on the life of the tennis player, Alice Marble.

I must confess that Alice Marble was completely unknown to me until I read about her in this book. I am so very glad that I was able to read about her as she was a fascinating woman who overcame much adversity in her ambition.

The narrative is divided into two different time periods which are headed as 'Now' and 'Then.' It was extremely easy to move from one time to the other, and the author has made this seamless. I was very interested to learn about this woman who hadn't even picked up a tennis racquet until she was 15 but had the ambition and determination to go on to become one of the top ranking tennis players in the world. Equally, it was her strength of character that enabled her to later be willing to risk her life by working as a spy.

Without doubt, she was a fascinating woman who passed away in 1990. Her legacy is a great one; not just for her tennis but for the bravery and courage that she faced life with. The author depicts the highs and lows of Alice's life, demonstrating how her strength of character helped her to face the love and losses of her life. 

This is an extremely well written book; a novel based on fact which has the ability to draw the reader in. Personally, I am not a big sports fan but I very much enjoyed this novel about the strong and remarkable woman who was Alice Marble.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1400246748

Publisher:  Harper Muse

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

Pre-Order Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

About the Author

Jenni L. Walsh is a USA Today bestselling author of over twelve books. Her passion lies in transporting readers to another world, be it in historical or contemporary settings. She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy writers, a graduate of Villanova University, and lives in the Philadelphia suburbs with her husband, daughter, son, and various pets.

For adults, Jenni has written historical novels Becoming Bonnie, Side by Side, A Betting Woman, The Call of the Wrens, Unsinkable, and the forthcoming Ace, Marvel, Spy. She also writes books for children, including the nonfiction She Dared series and novels Hettie and the London Blitz, I Am Defiance, By the Light of Fireflies, Over and Out, Operation: Happy, and The Bug Bandits. 

You can also find Jenni at 

Website

Facebook

Instagram

(ARC courtesy of the publisher)

(media courtesy of the author's website)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org afilliated)

Jump 2: You Are Enough by J.G. Nolan - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Dear Diary

Am I actually still alive? Would you tell me if I wasn't?

I guess I am writing this, so I must be. Sort of. But you wouldn't say anything anyway, would you?

It's all one-way traffic with you. I tell you everything, but what do I get in return?

***

The Blurb

In the world of football, a blend of physical prowess and mental strength shapes champions.

Jamie Campbell is a talented young footballer whose sporting journey takes an unexpected twist when a family tragedy shatters her dreams and plunges her into a dark, lonely world from which she feels she will never escape.

In the depths of despair, Jamie finds solace and strength in her loyal friend, Robbie Blair.

Sent to the Lake District for a change of scene, Jamie embarks on an epic journey of self-discovery, where she must confront her fears, unlock the past and unearth her true potential.

But will she find all the answers and ultimately … is she enough?

 

My Thoughts

This was such a nice book to read and will appeal to both girls and boys alike. I think readers of upper middle grade/lower teens would enjoy this.

 Much of the story revolves around sport, and football in particular. I am not a sport fan but I enjoyed reading this. It is the second book in the Jump series and not having read the first book did not hinder my appreciation of this.

The main character is Jaime, who following the death of her mother suffers some mental health issues. This had a profound impact on her ability to play football, which had previously been of huge importance to her. In fact, I learnt a lot about OCD from reading this. It also highlights the importance of speaking out and getting help when it is needed. I enjoyed following Jaime's story of self-discovery and ultimately this is a book about hope and self-acceptance.

The book was well-written and I was very engaged by Jaime's story. I admired her enormously and found her to be likable, corouageous and realistic. I enjoyed seeing the impact that her friend, Robbie had on her and the way in which he encouraged her self-acceptance.

It has also been nicely illustrated by Carina Roberts and this really elevates the book.

Also, there are a set of questions at the back of the book which makes this perfect for the classroom. This is well worth reading. There is something for everyone included in this book and I strongly recommend it.

***

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1739208424

Publisher:  Sergar Creative

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

No. of Pages:  196 (paperback)

About the Author:

JG NOLAN was born and raised in a sleepy village in Shropshire and loved writing stories and playing football as a child.

He has been a teacher for many years, working mainly with children who have had difficult beginnings in life. He strongly believes in positive thinking and feels most things are achievable if you put your mind to it.

When his football-mad son Robbie was much younger, he kept breaking bones and was told by the doctors that he would never play football again. It was during one of JG Nolan’s many lengthy stays visiting his son in the local children’s hospital that the idea for his first book, Jump!, drifted into his mind.

Following on from the success of Jump! JG Nolan was keen to explore the story of Robbie Blair’s footballing friend Jamie, and this led him to delve into another journey of adversity, determination and recovery.

The first two books in the Jump! series reflect JG Nolan’s deep-rooted interest in sporting prowess, mental strength and history.

When he’s not busy battering away at his old computer, conjuring up new tales, JG Nolan can either be found playing squash or strumming his guitar. For many years he tried to “make it” in his indie rock band, The Poet Dogs.

He still writes songs now. When he has the time.

Connect with JG Nolan on TikTok and Instagram @JGNolan3

Why Not Check Out Some of the Other Bloggers on the Tour:

Claire's Book Obsession

Pause the Frame

Books Happy Thoughts

(book and media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

(buy links unaffiliated)