Book Review: The Gameshow by Alexander Raphael

Published October 10, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Alexander Raphael to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Gameshow.

In a waiting room hidden high away from everyone, six disgraced celebrities are desperate to recover their heavily tainted reputations. An incredibly controversial new gameshow is offering them a route back to the big time, along with a $7.2 million cash prize.

But with no consolation prizes and serious consequences every time someone loses out, will signing up prove their salvation or their downfall?

*****

In an attempt to rehabilitate their images, six celebrities agree to go on a brand new gameshow. If they win, they get millions, more fame and maybe a new start. If they fail, something worse awaits them. Standing between each of them and the prize are each other, mixed with pure luck. WIll they come out the other side unscathed or will they have to face what they fear most?

You know that moment when you read the blurb of a novel and you know immediately you are going to completely get pulled into the story before you even begin? That was the case with me and The Gameshow.

This novel features TV executive, Selina and six disgraced celebrities, Linda, Nate, Madison, Denzel, Yasmeen and Jed. All six have been cancelled in the eyes of the public and have nothing to lose and everything to gain when they sign up to a new gameshow. Between rounds, they are forced to live in one apartment and are completely cut off from the outside world – think Black Mirror and Big Brother crossed with a big splash of the I’m a Celebrity Bush Tucker Trials.

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Book Review: Hidden Family Secrets by Evelyn Hood

Published October 5, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Evelyn Hood to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Hidden Family Secrets.

Can a long-kept secret ruin the future happiness of two families?

Paisley, Scotland 1745

Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon, Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret.

To make ends meet, they live in Peter Todd’s household, Duncan’s employer and Meg’s days are filled with domestic duties. But soon Meg and Duncan find themselves caught up in the intricate lives of the Todd family and when a tragic accident causes further conflict, a decision is made to keep a terrible secret from Meg.

As Margaret grows older, she despairs of the town’s inequality and becomes an advocate for the poor. While her philanthropic ideals are tolerated, even accepted by her understanding parents, Margaret’s affection for her childhood friend William Todd is greeted with disapproval.

But Margaret wants more from life than marriage and is overjoyed when she is taken on as a teacher at the local hospital.

As a dark secret from the past looms over the lives of both families,threatening to tear apart their futures, the younger Todds and Montgomery’s must decide between following in their parents’ footsteps or forging their own paths

The start of The Paisley Women saga series from Evelyn Hood, the original bestselling Scottish saga writer.

Previously published in paperback as The Silken Thread.

*****

Meg and Duncan Montgomery are hoping to seek a new and exciting life in the Scottish town of Paisley. When they arrive, Kirsty Todd and her family welcome them with open arms. As time passes, the families get more entwined and secrets are harboured and revealed – ones that could tear everyone apart.

I am excited to be part of the blog tour for Hidden Family Secrets. This was my introduction to Evelyn Hood and the first book in a brand new series. I couldn’t wait to get started as I love a good saga.

This book begins strong and continued to build momentum as the plot unfolded. There is a believable atmosphere and the author does a good job at establishing the setting. I felt as though I was in Scotland in the 1700’s.

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NK Chats To…Michael Wendroff

Published October 5, 2025 | By Laura

Hello Michael. Thank you for joining me today and for inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell us about What Goes Around and what inspired it?

What Goes Around is my debut thriller. It is about mysterious shootings in a small town, and two detectives, one male and one female, are assigned to the case. They hate each other, and have to find the killer before they kill each other. On the pursuit they encounter secret groups-Incels, Boogaloo Boys, supremacists. Torn in the middle is a naive boy. The ending twist is out of this world.

I was inspired by what my mother said to me the second I was born. Or so I’m told. I was put on her chest, she looked me deeply in the eyes, and said, “Oh! How nice to see you, again!” It was that “again” that always intrigued me, and I always wanted to write something about it, but life and working in business got in the way.

It was actually the Covid pandemic that got me to write my novel–there was that period when you couldn’t do anything, couldn’t go to movies, restaurants, couldn’t even go to the beach! So, I had no more excuses. Had to write it, and thankfully, got very lucky, and What Goes Around was born.

I was also “inspired” by events I didn’t understand–like the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia a few years ago. I needed to research that, to understand what was behind some of the crazy thinking, so that’s how I got into the secret world of Incels and Supremacists. Scary stuff!

 

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals and a favourite place to write?
.
I usually write in the mornings, when I’m freshest. Water really inspires me, and I’m very fortunate that I have two places near water. In the winter months I’m in Florida, so I can sit at a beach and think up plots and scenes, and I also get to sit on my lanai and look out on a pond behind my house. Though I do sometimes get distracted by the alligators running around.

Michael’s Writing Space – Lake Garda.

In the summer months when Florida just gets too hot and humid, I head to Italy. I love Northern Italy, and get to write from a terrace overlooking Lake Garda (when I’m not eating the amazing Italian food).

I love writing, and my process is plot, research, write, and edit.

My daily ritual is to sit at my pc to get the words out, just get the story going. I don’t worry about things like grammar or even the specific words used, I just want to get the writing flowing. The next morning I will reread what I’d written, and try to make it real writing. Make sure every word is the right word and fits with the others in the sentence, make sure each sentence fits with the others in the paragraph. Add the analogies and metaphors. After that’s done, I’ll start scribbling out the next part of the story on my pc, which will be rewritten the next day. That process of write then rewrite continues everyday, until I can write my favorite two words: The End

But before I actually start the writing itself, comes the plotting. There are actually two types of writers-plotters and pantsers. Pantsers simply sit in front of their computers and write by the seat of their pants. They have no idea where the story is going. That’s not me. I have to know everything upfront, so after ideating I write a detailed plot outline. I need to know not only what the ending will be, but where I’ll plant the red herrings, and where I’ll put the twists and turns.

And it’s not like things won’t change. Once I became really attached to one of my characters, and the plot called for the character to die, but I couldn’t do it. I had to change the plot. Another time I did kill off a character I loved, but my wife yelled at me because I was walking around for a week in depression. She said “They’re not real!!” But to an author, they are real!

 

If you were putting together a playlist for What Goes Around, which songs would you pick?

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NK Chats To… Evie Jacobs

Published October 4, 2025 | By Laura

Hi Evie, thank you so much for joining me today and for inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell me about your book, Dangerous Decisions and what inspired it?

Thanks for having me! Dangerous Decisions is the story of Nate Hughes, a pilot who shares a business with his siblings, and Angie Liu, a CIA agent who is investigating an informant’s death. The two meet at a casino in Miami and have a one-night stand. Everything is great–until Angie realizes Nate is actually the son of the man whose death she is investigating.

Dangerous Decisions is an interconnected standalone, meaning that while it is technically the second book in the Dangerous Skies Adventure series, it does not have to be read after or with the first book.

I couldn’t tell you exactly what inspired this story, but while I was writing Dangerous Descent, I always knew that Nate would investigate his father’s death in the second. Thinking back, it seems like Angie’s character came easily as well. I wrote a good chunk of this book during COVID and wasn’t happy with the result. It wasn’t until I published Dangerous Descent that I decided to revisit Dangerous Decisions and turn it into something I was proud of.

 

What was your route to publication?

Evie’s Main Writing Office

I queried my first book, Dangerous Descent, with no luck, and was about to shove it in the metaphorical drawer when I decided to try a few small publishers. I wasn’t expecting much, but one publisher responded within a week asking for the full manuscript. After that, things moved pretty quickly, and I had a publishing contract by the end of the month. The experience of publishing through a small press was invaluable. I learned a ton, but more importantly, the validation that someone wanted to publish my book gave me the confidence to stick with it. Despite all the positives, I also wished I’d had more control over the final product. For the second book, I went it on my own.

 

What elements do you feel make up a good thriller?

Tension, danger, high stakes, momentum, immediacy, and characters you care about.

 

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals? A favourite place to write?

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: By The Roll Of The Dice

Published October 3, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s Prompt: By The Roll Of The Dice. 

Find a dice. There’s plenty of free dice apps on the various app stores if you can’t find one.

Roll and use the first line that corresponds to the number you throw.

1 – When walking down an alleyway, your character finds themselves in another time.

2 – Your character is lost in a forest and reach a crossroads. They go left instead of right and end up at an isolated farm.

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Book Extract: The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon by Barry Maher

Published October 1, 2025 | By Laura

I’m thrilled to be kicking off October by welcoming Barry Maher to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon.

Thrillers set in the 1980s have a special kind of atmosphere—before cell phones, before constant connectivity—where the shadows felt darker and the dangers closer. The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon takes full advantage of that tension, weaving together a decaying church, occult rituals, and a reluctant hero who doesn’t believe in any of it…until he has no choice.

Steve Witowski’s life is already in shambles—he’s a failed songwriter and a fugitive—but everything unravels further after he rescues Victoria from a violent assault. Victoria has just bought a crumbling church with a haunted past, and the secrets inside refuse to stay buried. Soon Steve finds himself in a world of grave robbing, fire-lit ceremonies, and a demon whose desperation grows more terrifying by the day. Even as visions plague him and the face of the man he killed appears on his skin, Steve insists it’s all delusion. But denial won’t save him, and the cost of survival may be more than he can pay.

 

Barry has kindly shared an extract from The Great Dick: And the Dysfunctional Demon with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

(Content warning: language.) 

 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

Back in the 60s . . .

 

On Wednesday October 13th, 1968, a faculty panel recommended the dismissal of Professor John Harris—in absentia, as no one at Harvard had seen or heard from him in weeks. Harris later bragged about delivering his final lecture on “one shitload and a half of LSD.” According to the recording made available to the faculty panel, this was the sum total of that lecture:

“Good afternoon. Wow. American Literature, hunh? Let’s see. Moby Dick today. Right?”

“Moby Dick?” asked a confused voice. “No. What happened to The Scarlet Letter?”

“Right. Moby Dick,” Harris continued. “Great book. None of you have read it. None of you are going to read it. Nobody ever does. What you need to understand is that as far as I’m concerned—and I’m the fucking professor—Moby Dick is the same story as The Great Gatsby, which some of you may read. I call it, ‘the half-assed struggle of the individual to put their world to rights in the face of a failure that threatens to define their life.’ I think that’s from my thesis. Though maybe it’s not pretentious enough.”

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Book Review: Murder In Trafalgar Square by Michelle Salter

Published September 29, 2025 | By Laura

I’m excited to be welcoming Michelle Salter back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Murder in Trafalgar Square – book one in The Fairbanks and Flynn Mysteries series. 

A murdered suffragette. A missing politician. A stolen artwork.

London, 1910

Coral Fairbanks is a contradiction. As well as a suffragette, she’s a bit-part actress and nude model, earning her the disapproval of her fellow suffragettes.

Guy Flynn is an artist. He’s also a detective inspector at Scotland Yard, who doesn’t always see eye to eye with fellow officers in the Metropolitan Police.

When Home Secretary Winston Churchill orders the police to terrorise the suffragettes during an afternoon of violence that becomes known as Black Friday, the battlelines are drawn – and Coral Fairbanks and Guy Flynn are on different sides.

But when a young suffragette is found murdered in the National Portrait Gallery and one of their paintings is stolen – Fairbanks and Flynn must put their differences aside and combine their knowledge to track down the killer.

Introducing an iconic detective duo in Fairbanks and Flynn, this is an exciting and gripping historical mystery, which will delight fans of Agatha Christie, Benedict Brown and T. E. Kinsey.

*****

Coral Fairbanks fights for women to have the vote. When a Suffragette mission ends in murder, she meets artist and Scotland Yard detective, Guy Flynn. Can they find the murderer together or will their differences get in the way? 

I absolutely adore the Iris Woodmore stories so when given the chance to read the first in a brand new series by Michelle Salter, I jumped at the chance. 

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Book Extract: The Queen’s Necklace by Adrienne Chinn

Published September 29, 2025 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming Adrienne Chinn to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Queen’s Necklace.

The most famous necklace in the world has finally been found…

Bryher Finch’s life isn’t just a disaster, it’s a catastrophe, until a chance invitation to chart her family tree changes everything. As Bryher uncovers the ancestry she never knew about, she stumbles on the find of the century – Anne Boleyn’s ‘B’ necklace, as enigmatic as Henry VIII’s most notorious Queen herself.

But Bryher isn’t the only one who wants the necklace…

 

Adrienne has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

In this excerpt from The Queen’s Necklace, American actress Bryher Finch, who is filming a Tudor mini-series in England, is out on a dinner date with Dr Pieter de Beer, the historical advisor on the series. She had loaned him her cousin Betty Pilcher’s ‘B’ necklace that she’d found in an old box under Betty’s bed (she’s staying at Betty’s house while she’s filming). The cheap necklace she’d been given to wear in the series was breaking her out in hives so she borrows Betty’s necklace to wear instead. Pieter has examined the necklace and discusses it with her over dinner.

*****

Bryher scoops some dhal onto her plate. She watches as Pieter spoons a dollop of mango chutney onto the side of his plate. He couldn’t be more different from Jake, the quintessential sardonic American hero with all his rough edges. Pieter is smooth and, well, sophisticated. Where she’d always felt like a slightly clumsy girl around Jake, albeit, a lucky clumsy girl, she feels like a grown-up woman around Pieter. And she likes the feeling.

‘You said this afternoon that you wanted to talk to me about something. What is it?’ ‘

Yes. It’s about the necklace.’ He frowns. ‘Where is it?’

She swallows a forkful of the mildly spiced lentil dish. ‘I gave it back to Betty.’

He sets down his fork. ‘What?’

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Book Extract: The Pumpkin Pact by Charlie Dean

Published September 28, 2025 | By Laura

It’s so exciting to be welcoming Charlie Dean to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for The Pumpkin Pact.

Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.

Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.

When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.

Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.

With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?

 

Charlie has shared an extract from The Pumpkin Pact with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

One of my favourite parts of writing romances is the “Meet Cute”, unless of course they already know each other. In this novel, its inspired by Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton season 2. The setting is based on a stately home near wear I live. I think this extract gives a real first feel for autumn along with the character of Pumpkin.

*****

‘Come on, boy, let’s go for a mooch.’ They both headed up the stairs, Pumpkin jumping onto the bed immediately and walking round in circles three times before settling down. Andi pulled out her favourite burgundy jumper, putting it back straight away because it wasn’t quite cold enough for that yet and settled on blue jeans and a burnt orange shirt with a pair of battered Vans that were on their last legs but were so comfy, especially on long hikes, that she just couldn’t bear to part with them.

She felt wonderfully autumnal as she stepped out onto the drive, Pumpkin settled down on the back seat after having his harness clipped in and she drove a few miles to the nearby stately home where she’d been an annual pass holder for the past ten years.

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Book Extract: My Lie Your Lie by Paul Clayton

Published September 27, 2025 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming Paul Clayton to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, My Lie Your Lie.

He thought heartbreak was the worst part.

Then came the need for revenge.

Patrick Tyrrell’s perfect marriage shatters the day his husband, Barney, leaves him—for a woman.

Marcella. Beautiful. Alluring. Dangerous.

Patrick can’t let it go. Why her? Why now? The questions consume him — until obsession turns to something far darker. As unsettling events unfold and violence creeps closer, Patrick faces the one temptation more powerful than love or jealousy:

Revenge.

But revenge has its own price. And once it begins, there may be no way back.

A taut, unsettling psychological thriller about betrayal, obsession, and whether vengeance ever truly heals the wound — or only feeds it.

 

There’s a chance to win a signed copy of My Lie Your Lie below but first, Paul has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

As a child of around ten, I vividly remember another child in the village going missing. The hysteria and panic were instant — the whole village poured into the streets to search. The child was found soon after, curled up asleep in an alleyway, but the memory of that fear has never left me.

In this scene from My Lie, Your Lie, Marcella’s seven-year-old son, Jace, is snatched in plain sight. A teacher’s lapse, a stranger’s charm, and a chillingly calm abductor converge to create one of the novel’s most shocking turns. The extract captures the book’s central themes of obsession, betrayal, and revenge — and the terrifying question of how far someone will go when love curdles into something darker.

*****

Known for her cheerful demeanour and endless patience, Miss Bentham had a strict cut-off at 3:30 p.m. – school was over, the last child collected, her saintly duties done. Tonight, she had plans: Arthur Bullivant, Costa Coffee, and the latest instalment of Alien. Second dates were rare enough to deserve punctuality.

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Cover Reveal: Journey To The Scottish Highlands By Julie Shackman

Published September 25, 2025 | By Laura

I hope you’re as excited as I am as we reveal the cover for Journey To The Scottish Highlands, the upcoming novel by Julie Shackman

Daisy’s career hasn’t exactly been going to plan and the last thing she wants to do is stay home and wallow in self-pity. So, when an opportunity arises to escape her London home, and make some money working a fancy event at a stately home, she jumps at it.

Determined to make the most out of the situation, she decides a road trip to the Scottish Highlands would be the perfect way to reset and take control of her life.

When devilishly handsome Evan finds himself stranded at the event following a cancelled flight to Scotland, Daisy does the kindest thing she can think of and invites him to join her. As they embark on their journey north, will the scenic trip help them rediscover themselves, and possibly even find something they weren’t expecting…

Now we know about the plot, it’s time to reveal the cover.

Drumroll…three…two…one….

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Your Project’s Roadmap

Published September 24, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome Back To The Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, it’s all about our WIP’s. I know I need to focus on mine. If you’re in-between projects, think about an idea you’ve had for a while and been meaning to develop.

First, write down everything you do know about your plot and story.

Write the title of your WIP in the middle of an A4 piece of paper. Then write about what you do know about your main plot, sub-plots, characters, setting, genre, what it needs to meet in terms of beats? Are any elements of it connected to another – for example, if you’re doing a suspense novel, does part of your reveal at the end rely on one of the side characters?

Once you’ve filled in as much as you can with in terms of what you know, try and fill in the gaps. Remember, the novel you write is a living, breathing thing and subject to change but I’ve found this exercise helpful in giving myself a clear overview of the shape of my story.

Here’s an example I made earlier (excuse the handwriting).

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Book Extract: The Truth About You by Michael Clark

Published September 24, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcomng Michael Clark to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Truth About You.

Some stories keep us turning the pages, and others leave us wrestling with questions long after we’ve finished. Michael Clark’s The Truth About You manages to do both.

Lucy and Meg believe their mother will finally be safe after her husband, Greg, is arrested for assault. But when she chooses to stay with him, the sisters take drastic action to protect her: installing hidden cameras in their home. What they capture is nothing like what Lucy expects. Instead of clear evidence, the recordings reveal complexities that defy black-and-white assumptions about abuse, loyalty, and justice.

With echoes of Celeste Ng and Miranda Cowley Heller, The Truth About You is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that explores the unsettling gray areas of family, morality, and truth.

 

Michael has shared an extract from The Truth About You with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

Setting: After Greg is arrested for battering his wife, Paula, Paula remains in a relationship with him. Time has passed, and Paula’s friends determine they need to stage an intervention to “hold him accountable.”

*****

Shortly after 7 p.m., Greg and Paula pulled into the driveway in Greg’s SUV. They stayed in the car for several minutes. Stacy peered through the family room curtains to check what was happening. “They’re still sitting in the car,” she reported.

“Is he hitting her?” someone asked.

“No. At least not as far as I can tell,” she said.

“Are they arguing?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Should someone go out there?”

“I’m not sure about that, either.”

Finally, the doors to the SUV opened and Greg and Paula got out. Greg went to the back and started filling his arms with bags from their shopping trip. Paula headed for the kitchen’s side door.

“Are you okay?” Christine asked Paula as she came through the door.

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Book Extract & Giveaway: A Taste of Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan

Published September 24, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so happy to be welcoming Susan Buchanan back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, A Taste of Christmas Spirit.

AN ALL-NEW CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BOOK FOR 2025

CAN LARA ADD A DASH OF MAGIC THIS CHRISTMAS?

The Sugar and Spice bakery sparkles with holiday spirit as Jacob serves up more mouthwatering festive treats, and Christmas spirit Lara tries to sprinkle her magic over those finding the time of year difficult.

Ollie is at his wits’ end. A debt from years ago comes back to haunt him just as he and his girlfriend are buying their dream home.

Rose is dejected as her college sweetheart has dumped her now they’re in their final year. She’s not looking forward to Christmas alone, nor her twenty-first birthday on Christmas Eve.

Sacha has recently moved to Winstanton following the failure of his business. He’s too embarrassed to confide in his family, but can he find the friendship he so desperately needs and begin to trust again?

Diana tries to find her new normal after the unexpected death of her husband earlier this year. All her plans for retirement have been thrown out the window and she feels lost. She needs a renewed sense of purpose and to find her place in the world.

Can Lara provide the answer to a joy-filled Christmas?

A story of hope, love, friendship, community, and of course, Christmas spirit. For fans of Sarah Morgan, Philippa Ashley, Jenny Colgan and Cathy Bramley.

 

There’s a chance to win a signed and dedicated copy of A Taste of Christmas Spirit below but first, Susan has shared an extract below. We hope you enjoy it. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

Sixty-something Diana is sitting in Sugar and Spice, one of her main haunts, whiling away the day.

*****

Diana was on her second latte, reading the final three chapters of A Christmas Carol in preparation for the first Christmas book club event that evening. It had been so many years since she’d last read it that she’d quite forgotten how much she’d enjoyed it first time around. Of course, she’d also watched the various adaptations over the years on TV, but it wasn’t the same as reading the story, particularly from the special edition hardback she’d picked up at Tom and Jerry’s. How handy the bookshop was next door to the café. The only thing that could make it any better would be if they created a door between the two.

Once again, Diana tried to remind herself of all the things she should be grateful for. She had clubs and classes she attended. She had friends. She had wonderful children. A delightful grandson. She was educated. She had a little haven right here in Winstanton, in the form of Sugar and Spice. For a moment tears threatened. These affirmations were all very well, but telling herself of everything she had to be grateful for didn’t diminish the pain she felt at the absence of Martin from her life. Life could be very cruel.

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Book Extract: A Mirror Murder by Helen Hollick

Published September 19, 2025 | By Laura

I’m excited to be welcoming Helen Hollick to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, A Mirror Murder, the first instalment in The Jan Christopher Cozy Mystery Series.

The first in a series of quick-read, cozy mysteries set during the 1970s in North East London and North Devon, featuring the characters of Jan Christopher, her Aunt Madge, her uncle, DCI Toby Christopher and romantic interest DC Lawrence Walker – plus several other endearing, regular characters.

The background of Jan’s career as a library assistant is based on the author’s own library years during the 1970s, using many borrowed (often hilarious!) anecdotes, her life in suburban north east London on the edge of Epping Forest, and her present life in rural North Devon…

July 1971

Eighteen-year-old library assistant Jan Christopher’s life is to change on a rainy evening, when her legal guardian and uncle, DCI Toby Christopher, gives her a lift home after work. Driving the car, is her uncle’s new Detective Constable, Lawrence Walker – and it is love at first sight for the young couple. But romance is soon to take a back seat when a baby boy is taken from his pram, a naked man is scaring young ladies in nearby Epping Forest, and an elderly lady is found, brutally murdered… Are the events related? How will they affect the staff and public of the local library where Jan works – will romance survive and blossom between library assistant Jan Christopher and DC Walker? Or will a brutal murder intervene?

 

There’s some more information on the upcoming novels in the series below but first, Helen has shared an extract from A Mirror Murder with us today. We hope you enjoy it. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

CHAPTER TWO

Summer 1971

Detective Constable Walker

 

(It’s home time after a long day at work for young library assistant, Jan Christopher…)

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Book Spotlight: A New Hope in the Highlands by Rachel Debrave

Published September 19, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Rachel Debrave to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on her latest book, A New Hope in the Highlands – book one in The Highland Hearts: The Haddon House Duets series. 

Amid betrayal and family secrets, a journey to the Scottish Highlands brings unexpected romance, healing, and a second chance at happiness.

Scarlett flees to the Scottish Highlands on her 35th birthday after discovering her husband’s affair. Desperate for a fresh start, she seeks comfort with her estranged mother at the estate of the surly, yet rather attractive bachelor, Edward Cameron-Reid; a reclusive laird devoted to his family’s legacy.

As Scarlett disrupts Edward’s solitary life, an inescapable chemistry sparks between them amid the estate’s last-minute preparations for his brother’s wedding. However, their growing connection faces turmoil when shocking secrets and hidden motives surface, threatening not only the wedding but their blossoming romance.

Will the drama keep Scarlett and Edward apart? Can they overcome their fears and confront their true feelings for each other? Or will they discover that even after heartbreak, love has the power to offer a second chance?

A dual-narrative, spicy contemporary romance set in the Highlands of Scotland, for fans of Elliot Fletcher and Evie Alexander.

A New Hope in the Highlands was released in September 2025. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Waterstones and Amazon US. 

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Book Review: Valour by Richard Cullen

Published September 14, 2025 | By Chris Parish

I’m pleased to be welcoming Richard Cullen to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his latest book, Valour – book three in the Chronicles of the Black Lion series. 

Estienne Wace is forced to play a desperate game of cat and mouse, where the only way to win is to survive.

Burzenland 1223 AD

King András II of Hungary has invited the Teutonic Knights to secure his eastern frontier against the nomadic Cuman raiders, establishing fortresses along the Carpathian Mountains to quell the constant incursions by pagan clans.

Estienne Wace, has found purpose serving at the Order’s fortress of Rosenau, and he has earned respect through his unflinching courage. When a Christian mission, led by Fabrisse of Avallon, arrives determined to convert a pagan clan beyond the mountains, Estienne’s warnings of danger fall on deaf ears.

News soon arrives of Fabrisse’s capture and Estienne, along with a small band of knights, undertake a desperate rescue mission through hostile territory where Estienne will face trials beyond endurance.

In the ensuing crucible of violence, he must decide what price he is willing to sacrifice for survival, justice, and redemption, in a land where mercy is a luxury few can afford.

*****

Set in the 1200’s in Burzenland (a part of modern day Romania) Valour continues the tale of Estienne Wace, a young squire thrust into the house of William Marshal.

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: A New Position

Published September 12, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s prompt: A New Position.

Pick two of the following people –

. A police officer.

. A teacher who has just started their first job.

. A volunteer in a charity shop.

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Book Review: Eagle and the Flame by Adam Lofthouse

Published September 11, 2025 | By Chris Parish

It’s exciting to be welcoming Adam Lofthouse back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, Eagle and the Flame.

Rebellion is in the air at the far reaches of empire.

Wall of Hadrian, Britannia, AD 367. Tribune Sixtus Victorinus is scouting north of the Wall when he first sees the smoke. Riding south he finds a province in chaos, the local populace in flight, the soldiers absent.

Britannia is ablaze, overrun with barbarians and Valentia is the word on everyone’s lips. But no one seems to have the first clue what it means…

Victorinus may have let his life run to ruin and drunk his youth away, but now he must forge himself into the soldier he always wanted to be, the hero his children think he is.

Because his family are among the missing, and traitors lurk much closer than he could ever believe.

To save his family, he must first save an empire.

EAGLE AND THE FLAME will sweep you through the tumultuous years of the late Roman Empire.

***** 

Having read books by this author before, I was intrigued by his latest book, Eagle and The Flame.

This book is the first in a new series and features Tribune Sixtus Victorinus, a man relegated to patrolling the lands north of Hadrian’s Wall. When the flames of rebellion start to burn around him he must pull himself out of the rut he has been living in and become the solider that Rome needs.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Feeling The Fresh Air

Published September 10, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, it’s about getting out and getting some fresh air. If you can get out to a park, a beach or take a walk, that would be great.

Now I know you may not have access to an outside space but don’t worry, just opening the window will do too. It’s all about just feeling the air on your face.

Set a timer for about 10 minutes, observe the things around you. What can you hear? Smell? Feel?

What’s the weather like and how is that affecting the scene in front of you? What’s your relationship with what you can see? Make notes as you sit. You could also record the sounds via your phone if you like.

Once you’ve finished observing, write a short story incorporating everything you’ve written down. Do it from a fictional character’s point of view. Maybe it’s their first time in this area? Maybe they’ve never seen a neighbourhood like yours?

Write up to 1,500 words.

Have fun.

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Book Extract: The Shaw Thing by Tanya Mounts

Published September 9, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Tanya Mounts to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for The Shaw Thing.

Recently separated Demelza is nearing 50 and learning to live life again away from her problematic ex. The menopause is causing havoc with her hormones and after years of frustration she finds herself attracted to a much younger man.

28 year old wanna be comedian Stephen Shaw knows he’s attractive. He’s worked hard on his talent and physique but he never imagined being instantly smitten by a woman old enough to be his mother.

After an almost one night stand, Stephen starts work as Demelza’s new PA and the sparks continue to fly.

When Demelza’s ex comes back on the scene, she has to stand her ground and find the strength to fight for what she believes in.

Stephen shows Demelza what it’s like to have a man that’s kind, considerate and confident in life and also in the bedroom.

Will their relationship turn into something lasting or is Stephen just a Shaw thing?

This dual POV spicy romance has a supportive cast of friends and sizzling chemistry.

 

Tanya has shared an extract from The Shaw Thing with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

This extract is from the opening chapter of the novel. It’s where we first meet Dem and it gives a real feel for her friendship with her old school friends. The whole book was inspired by a weekend I spent with my old school friends where we laughed nonstop and many things in the beginning few chapters are based on real events.

Dem hadn’t laughed this much in a very long time. Her jaw ached, she felt like she had a stitch from the constant giggles and guffaws and her eyes were sore from the tears that kept falling down her cheeks as she rolled around the floor literally pissing herself with laughter. Not for the first time since entering her late forties had she thanked the lovely people who had invented Tena pads.

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Book Review: Could It Be Magic? By Fay Keenan

Published September 9, 2025 | By Laura

I’m excited to be welcoming Fay Keenan back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Could It Be Magic?

Thea Ashcombe, a fiercely independent single mum, is about to face her toughest challenge yet: Christmas on a shoestring. As the festive season looms, Thea’s feeling a little like their old family Christmas tree – tired and lacking in sparkle!

Nick Saint, the quiet and devoted farm shop manager in the idyllic village of Lower Brambleton, has secretly liked Thea for years. Trapped in the friend zone since high school, he’s given up hope of Thea seeing him as anything more than reliable ‘Saint’ Nick…

But when Thea steps into Nick’s world to help at the bustling farm shop, something unexpected happens. Suddenly, her sensible head is spinning with a schoolgirl crush she never saw coming! Is it just the enchanting glow of Christmas, the twinkling lights playing tricks on her mind?

As they work side-by-side preparing for the magical Christmas market, and as Nick’s thoughtful gestures – like a perfectly fresh Christmas tree appearing at her door – begin to melt her defences, Thea starts to wonder – maybe all she really needs for Christmas… is Nick!

*****

Thea loves her children. As a single mother, money is tight and the Christmas season is approaching. When she accepts an offer from a childhood friend to work in the local farm shop, Thea sees it as a lifeline. Could love be closer to home than she thinks?

I can never get enough of Christmas themed novels so I couldn’t wait to get started on the latest book by author, Fay Keenan and was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for Could it be Magic, book two in the Brambleton series.

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NK Chats To…Esther Knight

Published September 9, 2025 | By Laura

Hi Esther, thank you so much for joining me and for inviting me onto your blog tour. Can you tell me about your book, Death At the School of Translators?

Of course! Death at the School of Translators is the first full-length novel in my Rebecca de Toledo mysteries. It’s set in 1193, when Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine recruits Rebecca, a Jewish healer from Toledo, and pairs her with Sir John of Hampstead, a returned crusader with a murky past, to investigate the murder of her spy. The trail leads them into the heart of Toledo’s famed School of Translators (a real institution), where scholars were translating Arabic and Hebrew into Latin—and where secrets lie buried deep within the manuscripts.

 

What were the challenges you found when writing a novel with historical elements and what advice would you give to someone wanting to write a novel in this genre?

The biggest challenge is balance. You want to be accurate without overwhelming the reader. I love research (sometimes too much!), from medieval medicine to Jewish customs to the exact layout of Toledo’s streets. But at the end of the day, the story has to come first. My advice: choose one or two historical details that matter to your characters and let those shine. Don’t feel you need to include every fascinating fact you uncover. Save some for your author’s notes or your newsletter.

 

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?

The one constant in my writing life is my daily Zoom group of writers. We meet Monday to Friday at 10:00 a.m. my time and chat for an hour about our stories, marketing, newsletters, Instagram techniques, webinars we watched, etc. Then, from 11:00 a.m. until about 1:30 p.m., we go silent and work—cameras on, microphones muted. Just knowing others are there, writing alongside me, creates accountability and keeps me focused.

 

What’s your writing space like? 

On the right of my desk there’s a door opening onto a balcony, where I can see my neighbor’s house and a tall green “Christmas” tree. I keep things simple: a big monitor for my manuscript, a laptop for my daily Zoom writing group, and a mug of water within reach. A few framed artworks hang on the wall. One of them, El Yuntero, reminds me of my years in Argentina. It’s a light-filled, practical space that keeps me focused and inspired.

 

What’s your favorite word and why?

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NK Chats To…Heidi Field

Published September 7, 2025 | By Laura

Hello Heidi, thank you so much for joining me today and inviting me onto your blog tour. Can you tell me about The Other Boy?

Hey Laura. Thank you for having me. I wrote The Other Boy after watching a documentary about Dean Corl, the Candyman serial killer, who raped, mutilated and murdered over twenty teenage boys and young men. I didn’t want to write from the POV of a victim or their family, or the detectives or even the killer, there was another story, in the shadows, that I wanted to tell. The Other Boy is about parents whose child makes a choice they could never have imagined. A terrible choice. A fatal choice. An unforgivable one.

 

What are the challenges of writing a psychological thriller and what advice would you give to someone wanting to write in this genre?

I have taken a master’s in creative writing and spent many hours watching master classes from Jericho Writers, and a comparison between mysteries and thrillers was a lightbulb moment for me. A mystery is about solving a crime; a thriller is about surviving it. The survival can be physical, or, as in psychological thrillers, it can be mental and emotional. The advice I would give to someone writing in this genre is not to be afraid of how far you push your protagonist, be brave, be bold, be ruthless. However bad the situation, it is how the character claws their way back to life, sanity and freedom that is exciting. The further they sink, the greater the battle back up to the surface, and the more satisfying it is for the reader. The challenge is having the courage to go the darkest places; my advice is to go further.

 

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?

I do love routine, and planning my time, it makes me more productive and makes my days feel more worthwhile. I walk early with my Great Dane, which puts me in a good frame of mind for my day. I have all the early morning school prep madness to do and then the school drop off. I come home and run or lift weights. I am terrified of aging and I LOVE exercising, it gives me an adrenaline buzz, and I listen to all my favourite tunes and sing along. Then I am in my office at my desk, clearing emails, doing the household or children related chores, clubs, appointments, you know the drill, then I write. Ideally I write for about three hours, if I’m lucky, four days a week. There’s always an appointment to fill one of the afternoons, and I take my mum swimming every Thursday. My goal is to write three chapters per week. I’m writing a book every six months since the release of The Other Boy.

 

From idea to finished draft, how long did it take you to write The Other Boy? How did you approach the research and editing process?

The Other Boy was a LONG process. It began at university, the opening chapters serving as my dissertation. The first, very messy draft, took a year. I paid for an editor, and that was another six months of back and forth and many changes. I also used beta readers for a different perspective. I lost characters, whole chapters, started four chapters earlier, then lost the lot and started several chapters later. I added and binned tens of thousands of words. It was a lot of work, and a huge amount of learning. I loved it all.The editing is my favourite part, finding what isn’t working and making it better, knowing that I can change anything and everything until I am happy with it. I had written another book by the time I was approached by Tule Publishing, and a year after I had put the Other Boy aside, I was back with the manuscript making changes for my editor at Tule. The second book, The Other Mother, has been a far smoother experience.

 

If you were compiling a playlist for this novel, which songs would you include?

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Universal Message

Published September 5, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation

Today’s prompt – Universal Message. 

Your character gets a job with a space agency. When an error is made, they are accidentilly sent into space.

Wanting to get a message to earth to be rescued, the message ends up getting broadcasted throughout the universe.

Write about what happens next.

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Book Review: A Very Merry Murder by Kate Wells

Published September 5, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Kate Wells back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, A Very Merry Murder.

Mistletoe, mince pies… and murder

When Jude Gray inherited Malvern Farm, she never thought she’d become so used to farm life, let alone be good at it! But now a beloved national TV show is coming to film their Christmas special on her land, celebrating the charm of rural living and all Jude’s achieved so far.

At least, that’s the plan… until one of the crew is found dead in suspicious circumstances.

At first, it looks like a tragic accident, but when alibis start to crack, it seems like anything but. With a growing list of suspects and enough behind-the-scenes drama to rival anything the cameras are capturing, Jude must dig deep to uncover the truth.

Because someone on her farm is hiding a deadly secret – and this year, the season of goodwill may come with a killer twist…

*****

Jude Gray is looking forward to the festive season, mostly due to her sister’s upcoming wedding. 

What she’s not looking forward to the presence of a TV crew taking over her farm. 

When one of her visitors is found dead, Jude finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. Will the murderer be found before someone else turns up dead? 

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: To Start Not At The Beginning

Published September 4, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Many of us have heard of the saying, ‘let’s start at the beginning.’ I thought it would be interesting to approach our stories at a different place.

‘Two friends fall out within the story.’

Taking this premise, do the following –

Start the story at the beginning – instead of the beginning, wrtie a section from the end of this story. How do you see this premise ending?

Start in the middle – write a section from the middle of the story – from the heart of the action.

Conflict – write a scene that details the actual falling out. If you like, you could write from one point of view and then write it again but from the other point of view.

If you have a work in progress, feel free to use that rather than the premise above.

Have fun.

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Cover Reveal: The Pumpkin Pact by Charlie Dean

Published September 1, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so excited to be revealing the cover for The Pumpkin Pact – the upcoming novel by Charlie Dean. 

Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.

Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.

When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.

Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.

With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?

Now we know a little about the novel, it’s time to reveal the cover. Ready? Drumroll…3…2…1… 

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Book Extract: Wheels of Destruction: Death in Petra by Gina Cheyne

Published September 1, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Gina Cheyne back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Wheels of Destruction: Death  in Petra.

Where do you hide an escaped prisoner? On a wheelchair holiday perhaps.  Like a spoke in a wheel, the villain is seen but not seen.

Aspiring writer Sandy Blee is stuck in a dead-end receptionist job until she wins a working holiday to Jordan, pushing a wheelchair for Wheelchair Warriors Holidays. Even though she quickly realises she was the only entrant in the Blerglergle writing competition she is extremely excited about leaving England for the first time.

However, after arriving in the pink city of Petra she discovers her fellow travellers are not all they seem, and most are not who they claim to be. Moreover, the whole group is under investigation by the SeeMs Detective Agency who have been sent out to search for an escaped convict.

When members of the group are kidnapped and one mysteriously dies, Sandy finds herself pulled into the SeeMs detectives’ investigation. Is she, who so wants to write bestselling crime stories, ready to take on a real-life mystery – one that might just turn deadly?

This book will be enjoyed by readers who like travel crime, plus devotees of Agatha Christie, Grease the movie and MM Kaye.

 

Gina has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

Sandra Blee, an aspiring writer who works as a receptionist, has just been turned down by yet another publisher. She has entered innumerable writing competitions in the hope she might win won and be picked up by a literary agent.

 

Chapter Three: What is Coming is Better Than What Has Gone

 

Preparing for work the next day, Sandy thought she might do something different. Wear a tight-fitting jumper, perhaps? Stilettos? Straighten her wild curls? Tiny pink skirt? Trouble was, no one saw anything above the waist, rather like a news presenter in the old days. Come to think of it, she was a bit like a news presenter, only the news she gave was the arrival of the next client at Percy’s Bifold Doors.

When she got her job, she thought she’d been chosen from hundreds for her Svengali-like personality, a lure for every potential client who saw her sitting at the reception desk in her lacy shirt from Primark. Later, she found out she was the only candidate.

Staff and clients flew in throughout the morning, some saying, ‘Morning’, or ‘Hello, Shirley’.

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Novel Kicks Book Club: Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

Published September 1, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome September. 

I don’t quite know how it happened but we are now in what I call the first of the ‘ber’ months.

For this month’s book, I wanted to pick a novel that sounds like a real rollercoaster of a story. I have only heard good things about this book and I look forward to reading it.

This month’s pick is Famous Last Words by Gillian Mcallister. 

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join the Novel Kicks Book Club whether you’ve read the novel and want to talk about it or will be reading it along with me.

I’ve posted a question in the comments below to kick off the conversation.

I am looking forward to seeing you there.

 

About Famous Last Words – 

It’s Camilla’s first day back at work. And her daughter’s first day at nursery. But where is her husband Luke? The only trace of him is an unfinished note.

Then she sees the breaking news: a hostage situation just streets away. Next the police arrive: Luke is caught up in it.

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NK Chats To…Jane Harvey

Published August 31, 2025 | By Laura

Hello Jane. Happy Birthday to your book, The Landlord of Hummingbird House. Can you tell us a bit about it and what inspired it?

The Landlord of Hummingbird House is book one of a series, and it focuses on April, whose relationship has failed, and she is forced to start again. She moves into the house, where there are a number of tenants in her building from all walks of life – but who are also loyal friends. The book explores how easy it is to make inaccurate judgments about people. April’s first impressions (and the reader’s) are slowly unravelled, and a secret comes to light. It’s quite an easy-read book that touches on some dark themes, but ultimately focuses on the power of friendships.

 

If you could pick a new house and city to move to, where would you go and why?

I’m an island girl and I love sunny weather and sea-swimming – though the warmer and clearer the sea, the better!

If I could move without hassle and consequence, I think I’d go to a Greek island and live alone, with peace and quiet – but close enough to the beach for my swims and to a town for occasional sustenance and socialisation, on the rare occasions I might need these!

 

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals? For example, do you need silence? Are you a morning, afternoon or evening writer? Need caffeine?

When I first came back to writing, I had a strict structure and routine, but now writing is so embedded into my life that it has slithered into all the nooks and crannies and gaps in my life, and I don’t have a routine – except at times of impending deadlines!

I do, however, have high expectations of work count and what I can achieve. I create a calendar for the year and work to deadlines and personal expectations for what I will publish. So I don’t allow myself the luxury of only writing when I feel inspired. If I did, I’d be far less productive. I have to grab ideas and hold onto them, or even chase them, when they do appear. Stories often come to me when I have a moment to let my mind drift. Driving a regular route, doing the dishes, etc. Sometimes it’s the setting, sometimes the twist, but often the character that comes first.

 

From first draft to final publication, how long does it take you to complete a novel? Also, do you have advice when approaching research and editing? When do you know you’ve done enough of both?

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Your Fictional Hero/Heroine Comes To Visit

Published August 29, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s prompt: Your Fictional Hero/Heroine Comes To Visit

Picture this scene…

Your character is sat eating breakfast, minding their own business when there is a knock at the door.

Standing on the doorstep is their fictional hero/heroine. They are there – a living, breathing person.

Write about what happens next. What do they make of our world? What is the same? What is different? How do they react to things?

 

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Book Review: A Billionaire for Christmas by Jo Lyons

Published August 27, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Jo Lyons to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, A Billionaire for Christmas.

When talented chef Molly’s best friend and business partner, Ava, passes away, she leaves Molly their beloved restaurant – and a wild, impossible bucket list to complete. But thanks to a legal mix-up, Molly’s inheritance is at risk unless she ticks off every outrageous item before the Christmas Eve deadline: just twelve days away.

Determined to honour Ava’s wishes and desperate to save her dream, Molly searches for a billionaire willing to share Champagne with her in a hot tub – one of the more extravagant challenges on the bucket list. She’s in a luxurious ski resort in the French Alps so it might just be doable. But then she meets Levi. A devastatingly handsome billionaire, yes, but infuriatingly resistant to getting involved!

As the snow falls and sparks fly, Molly is entangled in a series of increasingly embarrassing escapades. With time running out, can she pull off the impossible – and maybe even find love along the way?

Hot enough to melt the Alpine snow, this romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Portia MacIntosh, Olivia Spring and Sophie Kinsella.

*****

Molly has been a ghost of herself since she lost her business partner and best friend, Ava. With the ownership of their restaurant tied up in Ava’s will, Molly finds herself needing to finish Ava’s bucket list before Christmas Eve. Not sure how to do this, especially the one including Champagne, A billionaire and a hot tub, Molly meets Levi. Maybe this list won’t be as hard to finish after all…or will it?

Having a chance to be on the blog tour for this novel was exciting for me as it would be the first chance to discover author, Jo Lyons. Plus, it’s a novel based at Christmas. I know, it’s not even the end of August but I don’t care. Haha.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Writing Scenes

Published August 27, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, we will be focusing on writing a scene that will draw your reader in.

Pick a scene from one of your favourite books and read it.

Then re-read it. This time though, make a list of bullet points covering the following –

. What do you think is the goal from the author’s point of view?

. What plot points does it touch on?

. What characterisation does it reveal?

. What world-building does it disclose?

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Freaky Friday

Published August 22, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s prompt: Freaky Friday. 

After getting drunk and making a wish, your character wakes up to find they’ve swapped places with the person they admire most in the world or someone they feel has everything together like a rival or a celebrity.

Write about whether the grass is actually greener.

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Cover Reveal: My Rock Star Neighbor by Kathy Strobos

Published August 21, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so excited to be part of the cover reveal for My Rock Star Neighbor, the upcoming novel by Kathy Strobos. 

When a wary rock star and a cynical reporter fake date to bury a scandalous rumor, will true love be exposed as the real story?

Nick: I do my best songwriting while playing my guitar on the fire escape. Unfortunately, my in-bed-at-ten next-door neighbor, Maddie, is not a fan of my music. She clambers out on the fire escape to yell at me about making “noise.”  In bunny slippers, no less. But then she trips and falls into my arms.

That photo of Maddie plastered all over me hits the papers, just as my dream recording company wants to sign my band. Which is a problem, because an obsessed fan is claiming that I’m her boyfriend and now the media is blowing up that I’m two-timing them both. Good-bye recording contract, unless….

Maddie: I’m supposed to cover the story. Not be the story! But when Nick begs me to fake date, I can’t resist the chance to be Nick’s girlfriend—even if fake—the opposite of my life as a city desk reporter. But my ex said I’m a terrible kisser, and there’s no way I want Mr. Hot Rock Star saying the same thing. Hence, clause 11 in our contract: There will be absolutely no physical contact.

Nick: When Maddie receives a threatening photo of the two of us with an X over her face, my desire to protect her suddenly feels all too real. It’s either a troll or her undercover investigation has been compromised. With both our careers at stake, is breaking up the only way to keep Maddie safe?

 

OK, so now we know a bit about the story, it’s time to reveal the cover. OK, are you ready? Three…two…one…

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: The Plot Thickens

Published August 20, 2025 | By Laura

Hello and welcome back to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

For today’s excerise, we will be looking at plots. Pick two of the following –

Rags to Riches – Your character is changed by money.

Coming of Age – Your character potentially becomes something better because of what they’ve been through.

The Quest – Your character must go through a journey to acomplish something great.

Mystery – Your character must solve a puzzle.

Stranger – Someone new upsets the status quo.

Now write a story that combines them. The genre and style is up to you. Try to write at least 750 words.

I’d love to see them in the comments but no pressure to post. Have fun.

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A Moment With…Susan A. King

Published August 16, 2025 | By Laura

It’s so exciting to be welcoming Susan A. King to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for Toffee Apple Strudel.

A NEW BEATTIE BRAMSHAW MYSTERY – It’s the summer of 2001, and for WI Secretary and practised busybody Beattie Bramshaw, it’s a time of new beginnings.

Her much-anticipated wedding to vegetable grower extraordinaire Doug Sparrow is now just months away. However, in the throes of setting up their marital home and new market garden business, she receives a surprise request to care for a distant relative.

Likewise, a number of her fellow Elmesbury residents also find their lives on the cusp of change, and not all for the good. Is it pure chance that the arrival of Beattie’s young ward coincides with yet another murder in the village? Or were plans already afoot?

Once again, Beattie picks up the gauntlet, but can she solve the case and uncover the murderer’s identity before it casts a shadow over her wedding to Doug?

Toffee Apple Strudel is a comedy crime caper in the style of Agatha Raisin and sees the conclusion of the ‘Beattie Bramshaw Mysteries series’. Make a brew, grab a chair, and prepare for a fun-filled finale.

 

Here to talk about Procrastination vs. Circumstance, over to you, Susan. Tbank you us joining us today. 

 

Thank you, Laura, for inviting me to write a Guest Post for Novel Kicks.

Having given much thought to what I could or should write about, I did wonder if discussing the time gap between the publication of my second and third book, and the angst that accompanied it, would make for an interesting topic.

As is well known, an author is often prone to bouts of procrastination and, dare I say, can become rather proficient at it. I have amazed myself at the keenness I have shown towards seeking out cobwebs in the back of a cupboard or tending a flower bed that shows no evidence of plant material, let alone weeds! Indeed, the lengths authors will go to, to seek out an activity with which to postpone the completion of the manuscript waiting patiently on their PC, should probably be re-classified as an art form or, at the very least, a new Olympic sport.

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Book Review: Bad Girl Pie by Marilyn Horowitz

Published August 15, 2025 | By Laura

Bad Girl Pie is a dark comedy set in New York City. Dorothy Sherlock, a prolific ghostwriter, shares her running commentary on the absurdity of the human condition as she navigates her future.

Until now, she’s spent her life crafting other people’s success stories and mourning a failed romance. After a nearfatal encounter with her abusive father and his sudden death, Dorothy resolves to write her own book, blending her expertise in dieting and dessert. A whirlwind trip to a tango festival in Mexico reignites her passion for love through a romantic tryst with a tango dancing firefighter.

Hopeful and happy, Dorothy returns home, only to discover that her agent has stolen the manuscript and sold it to a new client, and her late father has cut her out of his will. As if this weren’t enough, Dorothy reconnects with her exboyfriend, but after a night of bliss, she finds out that he’s living in sin with his cleaning lady. The triple whammy drives her to despair.

Can Dorothy’s sense of humor and talent save her and help her find success?

*****

Dorothy makes a living as a ghost writer. However, when her father dies, her latest book idea is stolen and her boyfriend walks out, it has Dorothy hitting rock bottom. Can the dance of Tango pull her back up?

Bad Girl Pie was my introduction to Marilyn Horowitz and I was delighted to be asked to review this novel.

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Book Extract: The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook by Tessa Barrie

Published August 6, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so excited to be welcoming Tessa Barrie to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook.

The remote village of Didsbrook is thrown into turmoil after its best-known resident, the former actress turned best-selling novelist Jocelyn Robertshaw, is found dead under mysterious circumstances.

Villagers are appalled to learn that the charismatic Jocelyn died from Hemlock poisoning. Police claim she shot and ate a quail that had ingested hemlock. A theory disputed by all who knew her well. The animal-loving Jocelyn would never kill anything, but due to the lack of forensic evidence, police rule death by misadventure.

Jocelyn’s young protégée, Lucy Fothergill, determined to discover the truth about what happened to her mentor, discovers a hidden stash of Jocelyn’s notebooks, revealing jaw-dropping secrets from Jocelyn’s past. The impression Jocelyn gave the world that she lived a near-perfect life was an Academy Award-winning performance.

Believing the events from Jocelyn’s past may have led to her death forty-eight years later, Lucy begins to piece together the clues that lead to the truth.

The sleepy village of Didsbrook is about to wake up!

 

Tessa has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy it. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

In 2018, the renowned actress turned best-selling author Jocelyn Robertshaw was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the small village of Didsbrook, and her young protégée Lucy Fothergill is determined to uncover the truth about what really happened to her mentor.

An Introduction to the village of Didsbrook, written specifically for the opening reading at the launch on 27th July 2025

By twenty-first-century standards, the village of Didsbrook is remote. It nestles in the heart of the West Downs National Park, an area of exquisite natural beauty and home to a diverse range of indigenous wildlife, as well as hundreds of Friesian cows. It is more accessible on horseback than by road, and Mr Beeching axed its railway station in the 1960s.

The village is a magnet for those who value privacy and a slower pace of life, with the added charm of its historical significance and cultural richness. Although many assume it is a pastoral dead end, they would be mistaken. The inhabitants of Didsbrook represent an eclectic mix of retirees and creatives, often a combination of both. The village serves as a vibrant hub for actors, writers, and artists. Every morning, alongside the dawn chorus and the gentle lowing of cattle, the sounds of vocal warm-ups and the click-clacking of keyboards can be heard drifting on the breeze.

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Book Review: Winter Wishes for the Home Front Nurses by Rachel Brimble

Published August 5, 2025 | By Mick Arnold

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Rachel Brimble back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest novel, Winter Wishes for the Home Front Nurses.

Winter, 1942.

Secrets abound for the Home Front Nurses, but will one of them be able to tell the truth about her past before Christmas?

As the weather turns cold, and the war rages on, Veronica Campbell finds herself loving her job as a home front nurse more than ever. She’s spending time with her beloved best friends Sylvia and Freda, as well as assisting on life-saving operations with her fellow nurse Betty Wilson, and feeling valued and happy.

But at home, she wishes things were different. Because even cosied up by the fireside of her lovely little house, there’s a man who lives on her street. Someone she’d once thought she could trust, who – five years ago – had violently attacked her. His threats to her remain, but she’s been terrified into silence.

But everything changes when Betty needs somewhere to stay for Christmas, and Veronica impulsively suggests she move in with her. But can she trust Betty enough to let her guard down and tell her what happened that fateful day? Because if she doesn’t, they could both be at risk?

*****

I was delighted to be asked to join the blog tour for ‘Winter Wishes for the Home Front Nurses, by Rachel Brimble.

As a relatively recent convert to this author, I was hoping for a great third book in this series an I wasn’t disappointed. The author has a lovely, easy writing story, that makes it so easy to pick up where book 2 left off. This is a story about hope and love, and how those are probably the best things you could wish to find in the middle of a war.

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Book Review: See the Stars by Eleanor Ray

Published July 23, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so excited to be welcoming Eleanor Ray to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, See the Stars.

Do you ever feel that life isn’t going to plan?

When Alice Thorington collapses in the street after a particularly hellish day at work, she must finally admit to herself that her outwardly happy life – steady relationship, well-paid job, beautiful flat in the city – isn’t everything she’d hoped it would be. Burnt out by long hours and living a life that doesn’t fulfil her dreams, Alice returns home to Yorkshire.

Her childhood home brings complicated family dynamics, a rediscovery of her passion for stargazing and two new friends: Berti, a boy who finds it easier to count the stars than interact with people, and Matt, her brother’s best friend and Alice’s teenage crush. With each of them facing their own struggles, can the stars that meant so much to Alice in her past help them to find their way in the present?

Filled with heart and warmth, this uplifting novel reminds us all that we need the darkness if we want to see the stars.

*****

Alice has always loved the stars. It was a passion she shared with her beloved Grandfather. However, when certain events occur in her life, Alice steps away from her dream and goes into the world of finance instead. 

When she ends up retuning to the north for a while, can she recapture her love of astronomy and the life she left behind? 

Although I’ve had the pleasure of hosting Eleanor Ray on this blog before, it’s the first chance I’ve had to read one of her novels. I was excited to be invited onto the tour for Eleanor’s latest book, See The Stars. 

The cover for this book is possibly one of my favourites. It’s so wonderfully done. 

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Book Extract: The Next Breath by Laurel Osterkamp

Published July 21, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Laurel Osterkamp back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her novel, The Next Breath. 

Can you fall in love again while still holding onto the memory of someone you’ve lost?

Robin thought she’d done the hard work of moving on. A decade after her first love Jed died, she’s finally in a new relationship with Nick—a man who’s everything Jed wasn’t: stable, sincere, and ready for a future. But when Robin agrees to perform in the play Jed wrote for her before his death, she’s flooded with memories—and guilt. Jed’s ghost lingers in her dreams, encouraging her to move on, but her emotions keep pulling her backward.

Caught between two stories—one that ended in tragedy, the other still unfolding—Robin must confront her grief, her fears, and the secrets she’s been keeping from Nick.

The Next Breath is a deeply moving novel about love, theater, and the quiet strength it takes to face the future when your heart is still tied to the past.

 

Lauren has shared an extract from The Next Breath with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

Jed stood on the porch, alternately breathing and coughing. He didn’t have a beer, just a bottle of water that rested against the railing. I stood next to him. “Hey. What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

“Too smoky in there. I need a break.”

“Yeah…” It was a cool night; fall was resigning to winter. Hugging myself, I pulled on the sleeves of my belted sweater, worn over a black t-shirt and stretch pants. My beatnik look.

“What’d you think of the play?”

He coughed so he could speak. “You were brilliant.”

“Right.”

“No, really.”

“I’m pretty much the scenery, Jed.”

He shook his head. “That’s not true. During Jacques’ ‘All the world’s a stage’ speech you have this great look on your face. I love how you respond to him.”

“Why?”

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Book Review: The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

Published July 20, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Kelly Oliver back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Case of the Body on the Orient Express.

Paris, 1928: Agatha Christie and fellow writer Dorothy L Sayers board the Orient Express, bound for Constantinople. Christie in particular is looking forward to a break from recent dispiriting events in both her work and private life – the finalisation of her divorce from her philanderous husband Archie, and the miserly reception of her latest book.

But before the duo can settle in to enjoy the luxuries of their first-class journey, their journey is derailed when a fellow guest drops dead during the dinner service. And as the last person to speak to the victim, Dorothy finds herself a prime suspect in his murder.

As the train hurtles East, Sayers’ resourceful assistant Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate a maze of suspects. But with each passing mile, the stakes rise, and when another body is discovered, their search to find the killer before they reach their destination becomes increasingly complicated.

Can Eliza and Theo stay one step ahead, crack the mystery and clear Dorothy’s name? Or will this be one journey too far for the amateur sleuths?

***** 

It’s 1928. Fellow writers Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers are looking forward to a trip aboard the Orient Express to Constantinople. Eliza, who works for Dorothy, is accompanying them. Once the train gets underway, Eliza soon runs into Theo, someone she’s not seen for a long time. 

Also, it’s not long before there’s a murder. Eliza, Theo, Agatha and Dorothy must find the perpetrator before it’s too late. 

It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to read a novel by Kelly Oliver and so I was very happy to be invited onto the tour for The Case of the Body on the Orient Express. This is book two in The Detection Club series. If, like me, this novel is your introduction to these characters, don’t fear – it can be read as standalone. Having read this book, I very much want to read book one though. 

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Lucky Day?

Published July 18, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s prompt: Lucky Day?

Your character wakes up to find that they are able to grant wishes – one per person who asks for their hearts desire. However, as the number of wishes they grant grows, the newly found genie discovers that luck runs out for someone else each time.

Write about one such case. You can begin the story at any point, from when the person discovers they can grant wishes, or when the luck runs out and any point in between. It’s up to you.

Have fun.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: All The Feels

Published July 16, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Wednesday. Welcome to another Novel Kicks Writing Room session. 

Today’s writing will focus around emotions.

Listening to a favourite song, reading a great book or watching a compelling film – these are great ways of feeling all the feels.

Do one of the following –

. Pick a favourite song and then a favourite lyric.

. Grab hold of your favourite book and then re-read your favourite scene.

. Think of your favourite movie and think back to an important scene.

Once you’ve done one of these things, think about the emotion it elicits. Then, write a piece where your character is listening/reading/watching the same thing. Do they react differently to you to the film/song/book?  Try to write for at least 10 minutes.

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Book Extract: Murder Most Wilde by Helen Golden

Published July 15, 2025 | By Laura

It’s so wonderful to be welcoming Helen Golden back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Murder Most Wilde.

In the world of amateur theatre, the drama isn’t all onstage…

Tragedy Strikes the Windstanton Players

Popular local actor, Noel Ashworth, who collapsed during the rehearsal of Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, was pronounced dead at the scene. As shock ripples through Windstanton’s tight-knit amateur theatre group, the Fenshire Police are looking at them as suspects.

I can’t let Perry’s acting debut end in disaster! With the cast spooked and the local police under-resourced, Bea—along with Perry, Rich, Simon, and her trusty Westie, Daisy must shift through the cast’s petty jealousies and diva behaviour to unmask the killer before they strike again.

When the show must go on…will everyone make it to opening night?

 

Helen has shared an extract from Murder Most Wilde with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

Perry Juke is excited to take on the part of Algernon in The Windstanton Player’s adaptation of The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde. As rehearsals begin in the village hall, Perry is settling into the role and looking forward to opening night. Four weeks before the preview they move to the Windstanton Theatre Royal for their rehearsal in the historic theatre and everyone seems a little nervous. For Perry it suddenly feels very real…

*****

Perry Juke’s chest tightened as he stepped onto the stage of the Windstanton Theatre Royal. The smell of dust and old wood enveloped him, and a thrill of excitement shot down his spine. He looked out towards the red velvet seats, then up at the glittering chandelier. This is it. I’m a real actor now.

Emily Shaw, the stage manager, clapped her hands. “Alright everyone, listen up! This is our first walk-through in the actual theatre. With four weeks to go before we open, I expect you all to be off-script. No excuses!”

Noel Ashworth raised his hand, a sickly sweet smile on his face. “But, Em, my dear,” he said in his best actor voice. “It’s only been a month since the first read-through. And I have the most lines of anyone, you know.”

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Book Review: The Silent Witness by K.J. Mcgillick

Published July 13, 2025 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming K.J. Mcgillick to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for, The Silent Witness – book one in The Art Of Deception series. 

History is fragile. A single brush can forge it anew.

When a stolen Klimt painting becomes a death sentence, lawyer-turned-writer Saoirse St. James must choose between justice and survival.

Eleanor Ashford should have been safe in her Boston home. Instead, she’s found murdered—and The Golden Veil, her priceless Gustav Klimt, has vanished without a trace. As executor of Eleanor’s will and the painting’s unexpected heir, Saoirse inherits more than art: she inherits a target on her back.

What begins as a simple insurance claim spirals into a deadly conspiracy stretching from Boston’s elite galleries to Venice’s shadowed auction houses. Alongside enigmatic investigator Matthew O’Donnell, Saoirse uncovers a criminal network that has been rewriting history itself—using forged masterpieces to manipulate the past, reshape power, and conceal the truth behind decades of crimes.

But Eleanor’s death was just the beginning. As bodies fall and evidence vanishes, Saoirse realizes The Golden Veil hides secrets that could expose this empire of lies—and powerful people will kill to protect it. Every step toward the truth draws her deeper into the crosshairs of Maximilian Devereaux, a ruthless powerbroker whose fortune and influence were built on stolen identities, forged provenance, and silenced witnesses.

From Zurich’s cobbled streets to Venice’s labyrinthine canals, this fast-paced thriller follows Saoirse as she stays ahead of assassins who erase their victims as cleanly as they forge the records of history. Because in a world where beauty masks brutality and culture conceals corruption, the most dangerous thing isn’t possessing a stolen masterpiece—it’s knowing who forged it and why.

Some inheritances are worth dying for. Others are worth killing for.

*****

Saoirse St. James plans to leave the world of law and become a writer. However, when her friend is found murdered and a Klimt painting is stolen, Saoirse finds herself in a race against time, following the breadcrumbs her friend left behind. 

During her investigation, she crosses paths with Matthew, an insurance investigator. Together, can they find The Golden Veil before it disappears forever? 

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Musical Days

Published July 11, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s prompt: Musical Days

Your character, who is usually someone who keeps to themselves, hates music and loves quiet, finds that when they wake up, they are singing. Everyone around them is singing and there is a full orchestral backing too.

Write about the day as your character tries to find out what has occurred? Who do they meet along the way?

Have fun!

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Audiobook Review: Salt & Honey by Candi Miller

Published July 9, 2025 | By Chris Parish

We’re pleased to be welcoming Candi Miller to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Salt & Honey, book one in the  Koba series. 

‘Hide!’ shouts her father. Then he breaks cover to draw the hunting party away across the blackened plain. The child sees them shoot him. And murder her mother.

It’s the 1950s but Koba is a hunter-gatherer from an ancient living culture. She’s a survivor.

Alone in a cave, she fends for herself, talks to her ancestors, breaks taboos. She gains healing power and tries to ignore the warnings she feels. She trades with the teenage son of the family who orphaned her – bushcraft for jive dancing, salt for honey.

But now she’s in the greatest danger she’s ever faced: she’s falling for a white boy in Apartheid South Africa, where love across racial divides is brutally punished. She hears the axe shatter the bedroom’s wooden shutters but Koba won’t run.

Book 1 of this fast-paced saga introduces a striking character into romance-writing, offering readers a fascinating glimpse into a forgotten way of life and into recent black history.

*****

Salt and Honey is the story of a black African girl, Koba, orphaned by white farmers and then subsequently raised by them. Struggling to reconcile her situation with her heritage, she find herself falling in love with a white boy.

I was given this novel to review via Audiobook. The narration was superb. There are a lot of native African names and dialects with clicks in it and the narrator brought those to life wonderfully.

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Book Review: The Twin by Amanda Brookfield

Published July 8, 2025 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming Amanda Brookfield back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, The Twin.

A splintered childhood.
A family divided.
An ugly past resurfaces…

From birth, twins Cath and Rob are inseparable. When their mother dies, their bond deepens as their father hastily remarries a woman with a volatile temper whose sole focus is her own baby – Oliver – who arrives nine months later.

When, aged 48, Rob tragically dies, Cath’s world begins to crumble. Her grief compounded further by Oliver’s out-of-the-blue decision to attend Rob’s funeral, opening old wounds after three decades of estrangement.

Thrown together, the half-siblings are forced to confront a past that sends shockwaves through both their lives due to the huge discrepancies in their respective recollections. But could both their versions of the truth be correct…?

*****

When they lose their mother, the bond between twins, Catherine and Rob only deepens. However, when tragedy strikes, Cath is forced to face a past that threatens to overwhelm her. 

Oliver doesn’t have good memories of a childhood that was plagued with bullying by his siblings. Can he find a way back to a side of his family that’s been lost for decades before he loses everything he holds dear? 

The premise of this novel intrigued me so I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for The Twin, the latest novel by Amanda Brookfield. 

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Book Review: Hit For Six by Isabella May

Published July 5, 2025 | By Laura

I’m pleased to be welcoming Isabella May to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her latest book, Hit For Six.

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?

*****

Lola works two jobs trying to make ends meet. Monty is on the verge of becoming a professional cricket player. However, he’s the heir to his family’s vast wealth. Will Lola and Monty find love or will people get in their way? 

Having been a fan of some of Isabella May’s previous novels, I was eager to get started on Hit For Six. From the blurb, it looked like a fun read and it absolutely was. 

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Book Review: Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay by Eliza J Scott

Published July 4, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Eliza J Scott back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for, Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay.

Every night, Jasmine Ingilby dreams of delicate sugar flowers and perfectly swirled buttercream. By day, she steals moments between her cleaning shifts to craft stunning cakes from her tiny kitchen, hoping to transform her passion into something more. But as a fiercely independent single mother of two, finding time to grow her fledgling business feels like reaching for the impossible.

Just when her hard work seems about to pay off, Jasmine’s carefully balanced world begins to crumble. Her landlord puts a ‘For Sale’ sign outside her rented home. Then a figure from her past returns to town, reopening old wounds Jasmine thought had long healed and causing trouble at school for her young children.

Then Max Grainger – her childhood best friend – unexpectedly returns to Micklewick Bay after twenty-five years away, and Jasmine is blindsided by the emotions his presence stirs. Now a successful businessman with a son of his own, Max seems determined to solve all her problems. But years of self-reliance have built walls around Jasmine’s heart that even the sweetest gestures struggle to break through.

Will Jasmine’s fear of getting burned again stop her from accepting help when she needs it most? Or will the loyal support of her friends help her discover the perfect recipe for love?

A heartwarming, emotional read about second chances, friendship, and finding the courage to believe in yourself, perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Jenny Colgan, and Phillipa Ashley.

*****

Jasmine is spinning a lot of plates. As a single mother with several jobs, she doesn’t have time for a lot, especially love. However, when old friend Max returns to Micklewick Bay, could space be made for love after all? 

Being a big fan of Eliza J. Scott’s novels outside of this series (I’m really not sure how this is the first time I’m discovering these books) I was really excited to be invited into the blog tour for Cupcakes and Kisses at Micklewick Bay. 

Although this is book five in the Micklewick Bay series, it can be read as a standalone. 

Eliza J. Scott has a wonderfully way of pulling you into her stories from page one by creating endearing, relatable characters. 

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NK Chats To…Liz Mistry

Published July 3, 2025 | By Laura

Hello Liz. Thank you so much for joining me today and for inviting Novel Kicks onto your blog tour. Can you tell me about your novel, Deadly Reckoning?

The short answer is: A body, a missing child, and a vengeful sister dash detective’s Jazzy Solanki and Annie McQueen must race against the clock to stop a killer with a personal grudge. This one is all about coming to terms with her Jazzy’s relationship with her sister and her brother there’s a lot of twists and a lot of turns in it themes are all about nature versus nurture mental health coping with PTSD and with all of that going on struggling to catch a killer who’s quite diabolically clever

 

Which songs would make up a playlist for your book?

I’ve just been looking at some songs that might relate to Deadly Reckoning and one that springs to mind has got to be a Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads.
I played it a few times whilst I was writing to get me in the mood for writing about Jazzy’s sister, Mhairi, who is the antagonist in Deadly Reckoning.
Another one I listened to, will probably seem a strange choice, but those of you have read the book will understand. It is Wild Mountain Thyme and there’s two versions that I really like one is by The Silencers and the other is by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers not Peppers but Pipers and both Scottish bands.
Another song that appealed to me whilst I was writing it was Tainted Love by Soft Cell – an all time favourite and quite appropriate for Deadly Reckoning

 

What are the challenges and advantages when writing a book that’s part of a series?

The advantages are of writing a series are that as an author you get to know your characters more and more as the series goes on and, in each book, you can reveal a little more about each of the characters. I’ve got two main characters in Jazzy and Queenie and their stories tend to be front and foremost but I’ve also got stories in my mind about the rest of the Jazz Queens and that’s Fenton (Haggis) and Geordie (Misty Thistle) so the advantages are that you you get into their lives they become real characters to you. The disadvantages are that you become too attached to them and sometimes you don’t want to put them through the mill and I have to say we’re writing crime fiction so, yeah, we need to put them through the mill.

 

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing rituals?

I don’t have a typical writing day because I’m a bit of a procrastinator but when I’m writing I do have I’ve got some multi-coloured fairy lights lit in my room – when you’re writing dark fiction you can’t have too much light in your life. I have my candle on – I like to have a multi-sensory environment. If I’m editing or doing social media I tend to have a musical accompaniment of some description – usually from my playlist, but other than that no I don’t really have any rituals… I mean I don’t wear my knickers on back to front or anything like that although I’ve heard that some authors do.

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Novel Kicks Book Club: The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Published July 1, 2025 | By Laura

Hello July. We’re pleased to see you. 

It’s time to pick a new book for our book club and it’s a title that’s been on my TBR list for so long – The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton.

I know you shouldn’t judge a book by it but just the cover alone would make me want to read.

Anyone can join our book club, whether you’ve read the novel picking up for the first time this month. You can also join in the conversation at any point through July. I’ve put a question in the comments to kick off the conversation.

I look forward to chatting about this book for you.

*****

About The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton:

There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed . . .

On an autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. She has come from the country to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt, but instead she is met by his sharp-tongued sister, Marin. Only later does Johannes appear and present her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in unexpected ways . . .

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Book Review: Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop by Sharon Booth

Published June 26, 2025 | By Laura

I’m so pleased to be welcoming Sharon Booth back to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop.

The beautiful Cotswold village of Rowan Vale is run as a living museum, allowing tourists to see history in action. But there’s more to the place than any visitor would guess…

Fifty-something Shona grew up in the village and now runs its vintage, 1940s-themed teashop. Not everyone knows that the previous manager, her great-aunt Polly, still lives there too… as a ghost!

When newcomer Max arrives, hoping to find out more about the place where his German grandfather was a prisoner of war, both Shona and Polly are unsettled. Shona, because handsome, interesting Max is the first man to catch her eye since her divorce, and Polly, because she must finally confront the terrible truth about her past.

A 1940s-themed weekend planned for the village brings the families’ connections to a head and tragic secrets to light.

Can Shona help her ghostly great-aunt to find love and forgiveness once more, while also creating her own happy ever after?

The second in the comforting, feel-good, romantic series with a dash of fantasy that started with Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall.

*****

Shona has spent her whole life in the special Cotswolds village of Rowan Vale. Along with its living museum, the village has a close guarded secret… ghosts.

When Shona meets Max, a man visiting the village to find out more about his grandfather, she has surprising feelings. However, her Aunt Polly isn’t happy, especially when Shona and Max start looking into her murder.

Yay, another book in the Ghosts of Rowan Vale series. I was very excited to be invited onto the blog tour for Loving Spirits at the Vintage Teashop.

Don’t worry if you’ve not read the first in the series. This can be read as a standalone. I do totally recommend Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall though.

This book follows Shona, the manageress of Mrs Heron’s Teashop, as the village of Rowan Vale prepares for a 40’s themed weekend. I adore this idea. I also loved her. She’s fun and strong. Aunt Polly was also wonderful. It was also great to see other wonderful characters return. It’s one of the things I love most about these kind of book series. It was like going back to visit friends.

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Novel Kicks Writing Room: Show, Don’t Tell

Published June 25, 2025 | By Laura

Welcome to the Novel Kicks Writing Room. 

Today, the exercise is going to be focusing on showing, not telling. With your writing, you want to try and be as sensory as you can to pull the reader into your story.

The scene: your character is drunk and they’ve just arrived back at what they think is their home. Write a passage about what happens without once saying they are drunk.

What are they feeling? 

What can they hear? 

What can they touch? 

What can they see? 

What are they tasting? 

Set a timer for 10 minutes. Have fun.

How did you find that exercise?

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Book Extract: The Side Project by Laurel Osterkamp

Published June 25, 2025 | By Laura

I am delighted to be welcoming Laurel Osterkamp to Novel Kicks as we shine a light on her book, The Side Project. 

For anyone who’s ever wondered “what if,” Laurel Osterkamp’s The Side Project is a deeply resonant story about second chances, unfinished business, and the redemptive power of storytelling.

Rylee once dreamed of moving to California and becoming a writer, but life had other plans. A decade later, she’s stuck in her Minnesota hometown, working odd jobs, caring for her teenage brother, and haunted by the incomplete novel her late father left behind. Carson was her high school love—the one who got away, or perhaps the one who ran. Now a single dad, he’s focused on providing for his daughter and avoiding the messiness of emotional entanglement. When the two are unexpectedly assigned as writing partners in a graduate workshop, a no-strings-attached collaboration emerges—but the emotional strings are impossible to ignore. With their final class approaching and unspoken truths threatening to break their fragile trust, Rylee and Carson must decide: will they keep editing their past, or finally write a new ending?

 

Laurel Osterkamp has shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

 

*****beginning of extract*****

 

I steel myself and step out of my car, determined to keep things businesslike today. The sight of Carson outside raking leaves, ruggedly adorable with Ferris running circles around his feet, does nothing to break my resolve. I tell myself: You’re here to work. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Hey, Rylee.” He grins, pushing up his sleeves. “You’re right in time to hold the leaf bag.”

I don’t have time to respond before a happy splash of black fur races past us, yipping and barking. I laugh, and Carson shakes his head, smiling as well.

“Ferris loves chasing leaves,” Carson says.

Ferris circles us. Running in the autumn wind, his mouth is full of fluttering colors and twigs.

I contemplate Carson’s leaf bag. “The hardest part is always getting in the first few handfuls of leaves. Did you know they have these cardboard insert thingies that keep the bag open?”

Carson holds his rake with one hand. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah. My dad was excited when he discovered them at the hardware store. It used to be our thing, my dad and I, bagging leaves together.”

“Oh.” Carson’s mouth goes slack, and his eyes pool with sympathy. It’s like he backed over a bunny rabbit by accident. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up old memories.”

I wave off the awkwardness as if I’m shooing away bugs. “No worries. It won’t break me to hold the bag open, and I’ll even push down the leaves as you put them in.” My words come out in a rush. “Where should I put my computer?”

“I’ll put it inside. Do you also want me to take your purse?”

“Sure, thanks.” I hand him both.

He takes them through his front door as a gust of wind threatens to upend Carson’s carefully constructed leaf pile. I snatch up the rake, ready for battle. “You won’t escape me, bitches!” I yell at the flying leaves.

I look over to see Carson on his front stoop, watching my wild efforts like I’m a vaudeville spectacle he can’t quite believe. Embarrassed, I kick at the ground. “I didn’t want all your hard work ruined.”

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Book Review: The Forever Cottage by Jill Steeples

Published June 24, 2025 | By Laura

It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Jill Steeples to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Forever Cottage.

It’s never too late to change your story…

Tess Alexander lives an enviable life with her husband Charles, at Hollyhocks Cottage in the idyllic Cotswold village of Lower Leaping. Dreaming of their early retirement, Tess’s plans are dashed when Charles shares some devastating news and suddenly she’s left alone with only Barney, her adorable Beagle dog, for company.

Facing an uncertain future, Tess tries to reconnect with her old self. She begins to transform the neglected garden office into a beautiful retreat, the perfect spot for her to indulge in her long-forgotten creative passions.

However, a chance encounter with charming but down on his luck, Rob Templeton, soon puts pay to her plans, when she offers him the place to stay instead, sensing a kindred spirit.

With the support of old friends, Gina and Suzy, Tess must now step out of her comfort zone and embrace a different way of life, one that is filled with secrets, possibilities and second chances, if only Tess is prepared to take them.

With so many demands on her attention, will Tess find a way to follow her heart and discover her own happy ending?

*****

Tess loves her life in Lower Leaping with her beautiful home, husband and her dog. Having raised their daughter, she’s looking forward to the future. 

However, when an announcement from her husband shatters her marriage, for a moment, she isn’t sure what she’s going to do next. 

I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for the latest novel by Jill Steeples. Having not read anything by this author (I’m not sure how this happened), I was looking forward to discovering what this book had to offer. I am going to try and make this review as spoiler free as possible. 

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Novel Kicks Fiction Friday: Three’s A Crowd

Published June 20, 2025 | By Laura

It’s Friday which means it’s time to start writing some fiction.

Fiction Friday is our weekly writing flash fiction prompt.

The aim is to write for a minimum of five minutes and then keep going for as long as you can.

Don’t edit, just write. Once you’re done, you’re welcome to share in the comments but there’s no obligation.

Today’s prompt: Three’s a Crowd

You have the chance to spend a day with three people of your choice. However, it’s all at the same time and not everyone gets on.

Write about the day.

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